Chelsea & Nick
Wedding Party
Cam Balch
Groomsman
The reason all of this is happening! Cam was one of Nick's closest friends in the Peace Corps and encouraged Nick and Chelsea to test their feelings for one another. Cam always pushes Nick to get out of his own head and enjoy life!
Kristin Delbridge
Bridesmaid
Chelsea and Kristin lived down the street from each other and grew up playing outside together. Kristin also had (and continues to grow) a book collection that was way better than the local library and was kind enough to lend Chelsea books. Kristin's strong moral compass and quick wit make for great conversation and lots of laughs. She is deeply intelligent -- if you're wrong she's not afraid to correct you, but balances this with the perfect amount of silliness. Recently, Chelsea and Kristin went to Iceland together and saw a lot of gorgeous scenery like glaciers and waterfalls, but the most indelible sight was of a peddlers cap blowing in the wind.
Marc Butiong
Groomsman
Marc and Nick first became friends as freshmen at Lane Tech High School as they discussed the prospect of a young Derrick Rose. The friendship turned into lunchtime chats about music, sports, life, and love. They visited each other in Detroit, New York, and also saw each other in Manila where Marc first met Chelsea!
Jessica Lucas
Bridesmaid
Jessica and Chelsea became fast friends in the third grade. They share a love of games, jokes, and quoting the Fairly Oddparents (it’s a girl nickel!). Jessica has an incredible memory and is an expert at regaling Chelsea with forgotten childhood memories. She never forgets a birthday! Jessica was an amazing friend to Chelsea after the Peace Corps and she helped make Chelsea’s transition back to the states a lot less lonely. She is thoughtful, kind, and so much fun! It’s hard to maintain adolescent friendships into adulthood, but unlike our brains, this friendship has continued to develop well into adulthood.
Gil Chen-Zion
Groomsman
Gil was one of the first people Nick met in college and soon after pledged AEPi together. Gil has been a wonderfully supportive friend through breakups, P90x, and sophomoric mistakes. They roomed together, with Scott, junior and senior years of college only growing tighter.
Kate Jordan
Bridesmaid
One member of the real Ifugao Girls! Kate was the sitemate of Chelsea’s dreams during their Peace Corps Philippines service. They lived in Lagawe, Ifugao and bonded over a love of so many things: writing, reading, snacks, long walks, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Pedro’s pizza, and deep conversations. Kate is insightful, hardworking, and incredibly clever. She gives Chelsea the best advice and is a wonderful travel companion. They have traveled ten countries together and both align on the unpopular opinion that Prague is perhaps the world’s most overrated city. Chelsea grew immensely as a professional and a person because of Kate’s support and friendship.
Benjamin David Cohen
Groomsman
Benjamin and Nick were bunkmates their first summer at Camp Ramah. That sparked a fabulous friendship of semi-weekly phone calls, holiday celebrations, and double dates with Benjamin's phenomenal fiance Amy. Benjamin even visited Nick in Catmon and was able to meet his host family! their long loyal friendship has spanned time and oceans. Who would have thought Halutzim bunkmates would still be this close!
Tory Lunkes
Bridesmaid
Tory and Chelsea were in the same college sorority and then became roommates. They reconnected in Chicago when they realized they were both living on the North Side! Tory has an amazing eye for design, is the most knowledgeable about Chicago architecture, and is the best hostess! She holds an annual Academy Awards party and to prepare for the event the pair (+ their fiances!) watch a lot of movies together. Tory is a wonderful listener and bolsters the friendship with her thoughtfulness, creativity, and diverse interests. From ghost tours, to murder mystery dinners, to Gator football watch sessions, Tory knows how to bring excitement and fun to the friendship.
Max Davis
Groomsman
One of Nick's oldest and closest friends. They met in Kindergarten at Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Days School and were in every cabin together at camp!
Alysia Moran
Bridesmaid
Alysia and Chelsea were roommates in college and completed the same education program called ProTeach. They have tons of fun together; they were two little peas in a pod senior year, spending all day together in class then choosing to do activities together in the evening. Alysia has a sarcastic sense of humor, is a committed educator, and is deeply supportive. She is a friend who you can confide in and count on to provide honest advice - a trait that is greatly appreciated by Chelsea. Alysia once drove hours to walk around in a swamp with Chelsea on a recent trip to Florida which is a mark of a caring and loyal friend.
Andrew Heisler
Groomsman
Andrew and Nick first met at Camp Ramah but have built a wonderful and supportive friendship in Chicago. They enjoy watching NBA games, trying new fruits, sharing comedy, and memories of mashup master, "that mixed everything but milk and meat."
Amanda Smith
Bridesmaid
Amanda is Chelsea’s younger sister. Of all the bridesmaids, Chelsea and Amanda have likely seen the most growth in each other throughout the years – height wise and figuratively. Amanda has grown from silly younger sibling to Chelsea’s confidant and friend. It has been wonderful for Chelsea to watch Amanda create a successful career, build an amazing romantic relationship, and develop a strong sense of self. Amanda may be an accomplished adult, but she has maintained enough silliness and heart to be someone Chelsea loves to be around. Although, the greatest achievement between the pair is likely moving past childhood battles over outfits to being people who intentionally share clothes when they are together.
Daniel Kanter
Groomsman
Nick and Dani have known each other since high school as they both went to Camp Ramah, but really became close in the magical summer of 2014! Daniel would regale Nick with stories of his dreams, love, and life. Daniel is one of the sweetest, nicest and silliest people Nick and Chelsea have known. Daniel is one of the rare humans in this world that brings out the best in people. vai tomar no cu!
Stephanie Smith
Bridesmaid
Another member of the (real) Ifugao Girls! Stephanie and Chelsea sat next to each other on the plane ride from the U.S. to the Philippines. Neither had traveled very much and both were impressed by the airplane food. They were then roommates for initial training and were both placed in Ifugao for their full service, solidifying their friendship. Stephanie was another dream sitemate for Chelsea! Steph is always calm and collected – she’s amazing at lending an ear to vent, but also offers great advice. She is a wonderful friend who is supportive, funny, and always down for a jeepney trip to McDo’s. Chelsea is very lucky because Stephanie is still her neighbor, this time in the midwest!
Scott Scheff
Groomsman
One-third of the roommate team, Scott has been the warm positivity that helps ground the schemes and dreams of Gil and Nick. Scott and Nick met in University Writing, Nick unwittingly sitting next to him on their first day. This propelled their friendship through AEPi parties, hungover museum visits, and a few shabbos in Rockland.
Chelsea Wilmoth
Bridesmaid
Chelsea W. was Chelsea S.’s “big” in the college sorority that they both dropped out of - luckily they remained friends well past the final payment to Sigma Kappa. In college, Chelsea W. coaxed Chelsea S. out of her shell by telling her she loved her on a daily basis, giving lots of unreciprocated hugs, and forcing her to build her social skills by interacting with the waiters at restaurants. Chelsea S. has come a long way thanks to Chelsea W. and can now (almost) say “I love you” with limited awkwardness, happily engage in Chelsea W.’s hugs, and will even correct a waiter if they bring her the wrong order instead of silently eating it as she did before. Chelsea W. dazzles whatever room she is in with her dry sense of humor, positivity, and genuine interest in others. Chelsea W. is the best kind of friend because she makes you feel great about yourself while simultaneously inspiring you to be even better.
Deen Rosenberg
Usher
Deen and Nick have been a dynamic due since their days at BZAEDS! They lived their young Jewish life together: School, Camp, Shul, USY, Israel, Poland! One of Nick's favorite memories of Deen was after a ruckus night out in Tel Aviv. Back in our hotel room Deen, close to passing out, puts something in his mouth. Concerned, Nick asks, "DEEN! What is in your mouth?" Deen responds, "Chocolate!" Deen proceeds to fall asleep drooling melted chocolate all over the bedspread! Ever since then their friendship has withstood the test of time!
Alieza Hoffman
Ketubah Signer
Nick and Alieza have been good friends for years! They met a kids at Camp Ramah Wisconsin, then traveled to Israel on the Golda Mier Bus, and worked together on staff! They would often try new recipes, complain about their love life, and Nick was Alieza's prom date! Chelsea and Nick are so thankful Alieza can sign her name on their marriage contract!
Owen Boardman
Ketubah Signer
Nick and Owen are part of Camp Ramah's historic due the Twin Ps, modeled off of the Houston Rockets Twin Towers. They were some of the tallest kids on the basketball team, but you may be wondering if they were any good. In fact, no, not at all...but they became fast friends embracing their bullies and finding their awkward lanky selves. Their friendship weathered the rain looking for Lou Mitchell's Restaurant and heat in San Antonio! Nick and Chelsea are honored to have Jean Shorts himself slap that John Hancock on a special piece of paper!