Stephen & Yaritza
Wedding Party
Yanessy Peña
Maid of Honor
Yanessy is Yaritza's Twin sister. She is 60 seconds older and will not let you forget it! Yanessy is special to Yaritza because apart from being her Twin, she was the person who introduced her to the Love she was praying for. Yanessy taught Yaritza how to get lost in her dreams, to hold people accountable, and to always be reliable. Yaritza admires Yanessy for always standing up for her, introducing her to traveling, and showing up for her no matter what. On her wedding day, Yaritza would love for Yanessy to speak on behalf of Love, Yaritza, and Stephen.
Martin Navarette
Best Man
It's an apt title to consider the "Best Man" to literally be the best man Stephen knows. Martin is a steadfast, loyal and deeply kind friend. Stephen and Martin met in 2009 when they were both transfer students to Dickinson College and were placed in the same suite of rooms. From day one when Yaritza and Stephen met, Martin was there. When Stephen was finally ready to propose to Yaritza, Martin was the person he called to help plan the amazing event. Martin took literal point on the engagement planning organizing a cadre of volunteers and creating a surprising experience for Yartiza and one the couple will remember for ever.
Latiise Wilkins
Bridesmaid
Latiise is Yaritza's best friend. Yaritza met Latiise the first year she moved to Philadelphia. Stephen is the reason Latiise is Yaritza's best friend, he introduced the two. This is one of the reasons Yaritza loves Stephen. Latiise has been Yaritza's home from the moment they met. Latiise is loyal, kind, and trustworthy. Yaritza knows how to be a better friend because of Latiise. On Yaritza's wedding day, she hopes Latiise knows she will be becoming Yaritza's sister.
Andrew Williams
Groomsman
Andrew is the second oldest of the Williams clan of boys! He was also in many ways Stephen's partner in crime and collectively the two of them account for most of the gray and white their father has in his hair and beard. They share countless memories including backyard "tennis ball", shared love of Harry Potter and endless amount of competition. However, while Stephen always wanted to win, Andrew was the peacemaker and the fun-loving individual who simply wanted everyone to have fun! In short, Andrew is Stephen's oldest friend, who also shares the title of brother.
Dariana Gomez
Bridesmaid
Dariana is Yaritza's cousin. Dariana has always been the older cousin that provided a space to speak and many words of wisdom. From teaching Yaritza how to take care of all her dolls, to showing Yaritza different perspective, Dariana is the calm to the storms in the cousin's many storms. Yaritza loves Dariana because Dariana has taught Yaritza how to love water as much as she loves fire; because of this Dariana and Steve have a special bond, their Zodiac signs! Yaritza hopes for her wedding day to have her cousin Dariana pray wisdom over her and her bridesmaids from start to finish.
Zach Williams
Groomsman
Zach is the 3rd of the Williams brothers! He is also the brother closest in personality and demeanor. That as you can imagine led to some heated debates between the two in their younger days. Just as they used to get on each other's nerves, they also had a shared passion, compassion and deep love! Stephen admires Zach for always being who he is and being unapologetic in that. He also admires his deep wisdom and intelligence. A fair warning to all though, some drink and competition between these two and you will see competitiveness like no other! Stephen couldn't imagine taking this next step in life without his brother and is grateful he will be there and accepted the invitation of groomsman.
Kimberly Mendez
Bridesmaid
Kimberly is one of Yaritza's younger cousins. She was taught to dance by Yaritza and she will not let her or Kiana forget it, aka Christina Aguilera. Yaritza admires her cousin for being vulnerable and letting go of things that are not meant for her happiness. Kimberly shares a care-free spirit that continues to search for happiness. On Yaritza's wedding day she hopes Kimberly can continue to help provide the joy Kimberly emanates that Yaritza admires.
Kyle Williams
Groomsman
Kyle is the last and youngest of the Williams clan boys. He is incredibly kind, caring and with a wit that will catch you off guard. No seriously, he strikes you as someone you can make fun of and get away with but I have seen him come for people's whole existence. I suppose he needed to know how to do that with 3 older brothers. While 12 years separate Kyle and Stephen, Stephen has a ton of love and respect for Kyle. Stephen is excited Kyle agreed to be his groomsman!
Emily Mendez
Bridesmaid
Emily is Yaritza's youngest cousin, which makes her the princess. Yaritza is the only one that called Emily that! Since the moment Emily entered the cousin circle, she has always showed us what hope for a better tomorrow looked like. Yaritza admires Emily for her child-like faith and joyous way of showing up to the spaces she encounters. On her wedding day, Yaritza hopes that Emily remembers the wedding day through the eyes of hope and faith in a form of a letter for the second page of Stephen's and Yaritza's wedding album.
Darnell Fitton
Groomsman
Darnell is Stephen's high school best friend! They met while in a culinary arts program and became exceptionally strong friends. Stephen and Darnell were the definition of a comedic friendship in high school and together got in more trouble then either of them could handle. Today, Stephen is the godfather of Darnell's two phenomenal kids. Darnell is still to this day a person who tremendously impacted Stephen's life and whose friendship he appreciates. While life only allows them to chat once or twice a year, they keep in regular contact and have a deep bond. Stephen and Darnell talked about being their for each other on their wedding day and Darnell agreed to be Stephen's groomsman when the time presented itself!
Jeremy Wright
Groomsman
Jeremy was Stephen's first mentor when he became a teacher. Due to Jeremy's mentorship, Stephen was able to shorten the dramatic learning curve of becoming an educator and become more effective at a faster rate. Beyond his mentorship in the work environment, Jeremy proved and still is an invaluable friend. Stephen and Jeremy have shared interests in wine, scotch, and being experts at drinking while poorly playing golf. Over the last 11 years, Jeremy has been a huge proponent of Stephen and Yartiza's relationship offering his families beach house as a vacation destination, to going on vacations and wine tastings with them. Yaritza recently started learning how to golf and joined Stephen and Jeremy's outings. Stephen was elated when Jeremy agreed to be his groomsman!
James T. Brooks IV
Groomsman
James will loudly and proudly proclaim in competition with Yanessy that he is the reason Stephen and Yaritza met. In truth, James' birthday was the event we both attended that evening! So it is undeniable James or simply his birthday party was the meeting place and setting in which the inception of the Yaritza and Stephen love story originated. More importantly though, James has been a core friend to Stephen during his adult life in Philadelphia. James is a optimist if you ever meet one and may have been told several hundred times he has irrational confidence. It is that exact mindset though that has enabled Stephen and James to have many shared experiences and a deep respect and love for one another. Stephen loves James for who he is and deeply values his friendship.
Vance Lewis
Officiant
Vance was also there the night Yaritza and Stephen met and admittedly engaged her in conversation before Stephen worked up the courage to do so. Yaritza still remembers their conversation on space and how engaging Vance was and authentically excited he was to talk about it. Vance was one of Stephen's housemates at the fabled 207 West Master bachelor pad. He and Stephen shared many movie nights and ate copiously of Stephen's cooking. A event Yaritza hopped in on when she moved to Philadelphia. Vance has an enrapturing personality and as someone who truly understand and gets both Stephen and Yaritza the couple couldn't have been more excited to have him as one of the co-officiants.
Eddie Navarette
Officiant
Eddie is Martin's brother but never hesitated in actually accepting Stephen as a apart of the family as well. Eddie is literally one of the kindest, genuine and funny people both Stephen and Yartiza know and every moment with him is one in which leaves the future Mr. and Mrs. smiling and their hearts full. He is a source of wisdom, reflection and constant encouragement. For the last 7 years, he, Martin and Stephen have met and discussed life, our successes and failures and most importantly dreams. Eddie not only supports but pushes Stephen to be better and Stephen hopes Eddie says the same of him. Yaritza and Stephen were so excited when Eddie accepted the role as Co-Officiant.