Erica & Michael
Wedding Party
Diana Solomon
Maid of Honor
Erica has known Diana for her entire life. While seemingly impressive, it’s always the case when you’re born only 15 months apart. Diana and Erica have always been close. While not a guarantee that they would be the best of friends, that's the way the cookie crumbled. The two have grown up side by side, wearing the same uniforms for Varsity volleyball and now still finding ways to get on the court as a duo in tournaments. While she is the little sister, Diana is someone that Erica looks up to (literally) and is inspired by every day. You’ll find this multi talented beauty leading a morning yoga flow, on the keys of the piano, and devising new beer recipes for her and Rush to brew at home.
Kyle Ray
Best Man
Kyle and Mike have been friend's for nearly ten years. Over that time they've traveled to Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Dominican Republic and most recently to Puerto Rico where he survived six weeks living with him and Erica. In between those trips have been plenty of days hanging on the beach, watching Liverpool games, and spending time with their ever widening groups of mutual friends. Kyle and Erica also get on famously, essentially coparenting both Mike and Kyle's new four legged addition to the family, Utah. You'll most likely find Kyle dancing the dance of his people - the wacky inflatable arm guys - and advise you give him a wide birth to avoid being struck by a flailing appendage.
Miranda Moore
Bridesmaid
Mike's had the pleasure of knowing Miranda for over 30 years while she's put up with him for entire life. As Mike's younger sister, Miranda has truly been his original travel companion going all the way back to braving their original trip across the Atlantic from England to New York in 1992. In the years since, she's been a pain in the butt, a constant pest, but in truth nothing but a perpetual source of pride and joy. Miranda successfully braved her little sister status to become one of the most accomplished people we know. Winning frisbee tournaments, publishing scientific papers or just being the worlds best dog mom are just a small subset of her growing list of achievements. In addition to co-officiating our wedding, you'll most likely find Miranda pulling funny faces at Michael at slightly inappropriate moments, as well as trying to keep their dad from doing too much of the same.
Michael Solomon
Groomsman
Mike has known Erica for her entire life. Only 15 or so months older than her, Mike has always been the best big brother to her. While in their diaper days Mike was a great sharer and fun loving friend. As they grew up he was happy to teach Erica how to play Grand Theft Auto, crawl through the snake bunker at paintball, and try to Ollie a skateboard. Lucky for her, this relationship has carried on if not grown into their adult lives as Mike continues to be her dependable and fun loving big brother. Whether this has meant meeting her at the subway to get home safe, taking her for a last minute concert while living together in Brooklyn or just hanging out at the bar or the beach, he wears the big brother title with pride. You’ll see him doing the honor of officiating our wedding and who knows if he’ll be swinging a microphone at the after party.
D.D. Yanoti
Bridesmaid
We know, we know “what’s with all the Diana’s !?” That’s why we call this one D.D. Sandwiched between the two Solomon sisters birthdays, D.D. like Madison, grew up with the 2 girls. They attended kindergarten as a threesome, spent summers learning to swim in the bay, and grew up with so many mutual passions that they couldn’t help but be great friends and not just cousins. Playing in their grandparents attic when they were younger and bopping around the town of Sayville with D.D.s artful eye had opened up Erica’s, and lead her to find a love for antique things and thrifting. If it were not for her, who knows what the days decor would have been.
Richard Byrne
Groomsman
Richard is Mike's youngest and joint favorite (out of two) cousin. While they grew up an ocean away Mike and Richard were fortunate to still spend family holidays together - a likely impetus for their mutual love of traveling. Richard has spent the last few years living in Australia, where Mike was able to spend a week with him the week before he met Erica. Without a doubt, Richard will be a shoe in for the longest distance traveled award and we are truly grateful for him making such a journey for us. Here's to hoping he can schmooze his way into business class once again. You'll likely find Richard at the bar telling funny stories, so long as you can understand his scouse accent, la.
Madison Bayer
Bridesmaid
Growing up only 4 houses apart, Madison is a bonus kid for the Solomons and had earned the title of Erica’s oldest and one of her dearest friends. A friendship born in riding bikes and playing tag that grew into playing Varsity sports alongside one another, exploring local LI wineries, and traveling to tropical locations. This friendship has been formed for nearly 25+ years and Erica is only better for it. If she’s not on the dance floor, Madison’s likely at the bar and will be trying to get you to do shots of Tequila.
Chris Cox
Groomsman
Chris is Mike's first of what is soon be two brother in-law's. He is the loving husband to his sister Miranda and a genuinely swell fella that Mike is grateful to have as a part of his growing family. You'll likely find Chris chopping it up on dance floor, give his low-key but not really low-key smooth moves out there. If not there, maybe at the bar wondering why they don't have a beer you've never heard of, from a brewery you don't know about, from a state you've never been to.
Ashley Schubart
Bridesmaid
If you hadn’t heard the words Fire Island yet, you’re about to. Erica and Ashley were passing ships at Maguires, but that didn’t stop these two from tearing up the town of Ocean Beach together. While 2014 feels like just yesterday, their friendship feels longer. From Ocean Beach their friendship spanned to Brooklyn Roommates, back to FI houses and Puerto Rico travel buddies. Erica credits Ashley for bringing her over to Ocean Bay Park, where she still takes up summer residence. Now working as a travel nurse, Ashley is and has been one of the best adventure buddies. You'll most likely find Ashley cutting it up on the dance floor, and if all goes well, not nursing anybody back to health on the day.
Ryan Kelly
Groomsman
Mike and Ryan have known each other for the better part of 7 years, having spent the first five of them working together and becoming fast friends as a result. The growing pains and opportunities afforded in those earlier years provided them just the right type of chaos that necessitates sharing drinks over, laughing about and forging a long lasting friendship throughout. You'll most likely find Ryan at the bar making obscure advertising or work related jokes that only he and Mike still find funny after their 50th retelling.
Corinna DaCruz
Bridesmaid
Erica and Corinna will call each other college roommates, but the truth is they never actually lived together. They first met 10+ years ago in their sophomore year at SNHU, and having clicked immediately were inseparable during their remaining time there. However, it was only after school when they both had their first “big girl jobs” in Manhattan that the pair found themselves living together in Brooklyn, alongside Ashley. Maybe it’s because they both have Italian mothers, or because you might mistake one of their curly heads of hair for the other, but whatever the reason their bond has lasted beyond that of ex-boyfriends, and distances of thousands of miles. While she may nerd out on Harry Potter, she is Erica’s pop culture concierge. Don’t be surprised when you see her sneaking behind the DJ booth to request the coolest and newest songs that Erica has never heard of.
Christian Bonilla
Groomsman
Mike and Christian 'CB' Bonilla have known each other for over 10 years, having met when Mike was working at his job after graduating college in 2010. While it's never been made entirely clear why, something in those earliest years led Christian to hiring Mike a few years later. While the professional opportunity was an important one, the opportunity to establish a lasting friendship has been arguably more so. Over those years we've commiserated on the myriad of poor NYC sports decisions and helped to keep quite a few slightly better than mediocre margarita and burrito bars in business. You'll likely see CB at the bar catching up with other former coworkers, and you'll know he's having a good time when the tie gets loose and the hair gel even looser.
Jade Juma
Bridesmaid and Groomswoman
Mike and Jade formed their sour patch kids inspired friendship nearly 6 years ago, while Erica and her knew each other from Fire Island for just about as long. As their previously mutually exclusive friendships grew, Jade took it upon herself to inadvertently or otherwise bring them together on that fateful night in late December. Whether she set us up or simply introduced us is no longer relevant, as she is the reason we know each other and why we are here - and for that we owe her everything.