Betty & Jason
Wedding Party
Kat Saberon
Bridesmaid
Kat and I met back in 2002 - just a couple of film geeks on the Video Yearbook staff of our respective high schools. She's my oldest friend and we've been through it all, but somehow my fondest memories are 1) us sitting in bed in a hotel room at 1 a.m. eating the worst hot wings I've ever had and 2) going to her NBC work party at Comic-Con where we randomly met former late-90s MTV VJ, Jesse Camp and he said I was dope.
Tuan Bui
Best Man
I met Tuan in 8th grade choir. We played poker under the risers during rehearsals. In high school we switched to Magic: The Gathering and played during ASB (sorry Kristine). You might think Tuan is whispering an actual secret into my ear but no, it’s a pose. If you aren’t a male model you wouldn’t understand.
Kori Teas
Bridesmaid
Kori and I met on Myspace in 2003/2004, in the era of mirror selfies, Dashboard Confessional, and razor cut scene hair. I spent the majority of my partying phase with her, clubbing in LA every week. Even though we don't go clubbing anymore, we still hang out monthly to take turns complaining about our aging, ailing bodies, and the soul-crushing responsibilities of adulthood. 15 years later, she's still in my Top 8.
Chris Hyde
Best Man
Hyde and I became roommates in college after he was tired of his Hawaiian roommate setting the room temp to 80 degrees and I was tired of Dallas spraying with WD-40 in my ear while I was sleeping. I was going to choose a pic of Hyde and me together but couldn't pass up sharing this gem of Hyde in college wearing Serena's jacket.
Nikita Russell
Bridesmaid
Nikita is my Project Manager at work, and for this wedding/life. Similar to the natural bond that develops between soldiers in combat, somewhere between all the stacked project deadlines and last minute client requests over the years, plus the shared trauma of planning both our weddings at the same time, Niki and I became good friends (and as she likes to put it, "an award-winning dream team").
Sean Kramar
Groomsman
Sean and I also met playing basketball. In high school, we co-founded a fake extra-curricular club called the Outdoor Adventures Club. We staged photos of us on a “hike” in Hyde’s backyard and used our “connections” to get our club featured in a full-page spread in our high school yearbook. Here’s a pic of us on our way to island-hop in Greece. Little did we know we were about to get owned by a storm coming in.
Janet Wong
Bridesmaid
I met Janet through Jason, and we immediately bonded over two things: we're both Taiwanese, and we share a dirty, shameful secret. That secret is we are both obsessed with the hit ABC reality franchise, The Bachelor. Though our friendship is only 4 seasons old (6 if you count Bachelor in Paradise), I would jump over a fence for her (yes, that is a Bachelor reference). This is going to be the most dramatic wedding ever, and I'm excited she's a part of it.
Justin Wong
Groomsman
Justin and I played high school basketball together. Justin impressed Kelly by singing all the harmony parts from the High School Musical 3 soundtrack on the way to watch High School Musical 3 for the first time. Here’s a picture of us just killing it on the dance floor. I’m shielding my eyes from the chaos and Justin is grabbing an imaginary big booty.
Brooke Buchanan
Bridesmaid
Brooke and I have shared so many memories over the course of our 12-year friendship, and there's never been a dull moment. Being her friend is a little like watching a Final Destination movie. She’s survived multiple car accidents (none of which were her fault), being pinned under a 10’ Christmas tree that fell on her, being electrocuted by her fish tank, going on a date with a probable serial killer, etc...I'm happy she's going to be a part of our wedding, but also nervous.
Shaunak Parikh
Groomsman
Shaunak and I learned how to be real adults while living together in college with Hyde and Jason Pae (and an assortment of special guests that Hyde got off craigslist). Whether it was vacuuming the apartment biannually or procrastinating cleaning the trail of ants frozen in our freezer for several months (it’s cool it’s cool they are frozen) we shared some good times. Here’s a pic of us imitating a sisterly portrait of Sonia and Shipra.
Ruth Fox
Bridesmaid
From the moment we met, Ruth has always made me feel welcome in Jason and Dallas’ group of tight-knit high school friends. She and Dallas are one of our favorite couples to go on double dates with. Here's a picture of us doing what we do best - eating desserts.
Dallas Fox
Groomsman
Dallas and I were the two weird kids in both Boy Scouts and 5th grade so we naturally became friends. Dallas waited until we were a few feet from every peak we summited and sprinted to the top to beat me to the top. Here he is coddled in my arms during an A-Team (high school) trip. I’m not sure what I miss more: the bird silhouette graphic t-shirt or skinny mustache.
Emily Ko
Bridesmaid
Emily is the awesome big sister I never knew I wanted until she married my brother. And now like the annoying littler sister I am, I go to her house all the time to complain about things, seek advice, lounge around, and eat all her expensive organic snacks. She's also the mommy of my two awesome nieces, Riley and Avery.
Andrew "Chensy" Chen
Groomsman
Chensy and I met playing taiko together at UCLA and later shared an apartment with David. Chensy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and sometimes when we are talking I realize Chensy is providing me with therapy. Here’s a pic of us from college wearing what looks to be 1MX Modern Fit Express shirts.
Kelly Akemi Osajima
Bridesmaid
In the words of Riley, “Uncle Jason’s sister name is Kelly AND I LOVE HER!” Being with Jason has brought so many more wonderful people into my life, and I can't wait to have Kelly officially be a part of my family.
David Wells
Groomsman
David and I were taiko rivals in college but ultimately became taiko allies, good friends and roommates. Like Hyde, David prefers cooler climates and can be found playing computer games in his underwear at home. Here’s a pic of us probably singing some epic song.
Howie Ko
Officiant
Howie is Betty's older brother and Jason's new BFF. When he isn't researching the latest & greatest backpacks, taking care of two girls, planning his family's financial future, learning how to draw, practicing his handwriting, learning how to play piano, working as a project manager, owning an ice cream shop chain, cooking...actually he doesn't much free time after that so we're very grateful he's making room in his schedule to marry us.
Kristine Cimafranca
MC
Kristine is one of the few people that was friends with both Jason and Betty separately in high school. She once saved Jason's life in college when he got appendicitis after eating 10 Taco Bell tacos. Despite being very skeptical of how sick he actually was, she agreed to drive him to the emergency room (with Hyde) and proceeded to sign off on an experimental laparoscopic appendectomy on his behalf. If not for her, this wedding would not be happening.
Riley Ko
Flower Girl
Riley is our niece - she's my favorite person and a total weirdo in the best way. I once said to her, "Riley, you're my BEST friend. Am I your best friend?" She replied matter-of-factly, "No," and happily skipped away. Here she is on her first trip to Disneyland a year ago, excitedly getting her face painted.
Daniel Kramar
Ring Bearer
Daniel is Sean and Jenny's son. He's into boats, trucks, and pretty much any vehicle.
Avery Ko
Flower Girl
Avery is Riley's little sister. She's super cute and hopefully by the time the wedding rolls around she'll have overcome her inexplicable fear of me, Jason, and literally all humans, to flower-girl her way down the aisle.
James Wong
Ring Bearer
James is Justin and Janet's son. He likes water fountains, balloons, and orange traffic cones.