Wedding Party
Zahra Zalotrawala
Maid of Honor
“Sister, best friend, occasional rival, and lifelong partner in crime.” Hi everyone! I’m Zahra, the proud (and sometimes traumatized) younger sister of the beautiful bride. I’ve had the absolute joy of growing up with Ummae which means I’ve witnessed firsthand her impressive ability to boss people around—so naturally, she was born to be a bride! I’m beyond excited to stand by her side on this special day, and I can’t wait to celebrate with all of you! Just don’t ask me for any embarrassing stories… unless you bring wine.”
Elise Patton
Bridesmaid
I have had the pleasure of knowing Ummae for the last 5 years as the sister of her fiancé, Ryan. While I was hesitant to let someone new into the family, I got lucky enough to be introduced to Ummae, one of the smartest and kindest people I have ever met. I have had the pleasure of spending multiple Christmases, trips to our cabin, and camping trips with Ummae. I am so grateful to be part of the bridal party and am excited for Ryan and Ummae to spend the rest of their lives together.
Anisha Reimert
Bridesmaid
Hi! I’m Anisha, and I’m so excited to celebrate Ummae and Ryan, two of my closest friends from UCSB. From the moment I met Ummae on our first day of college, it felt like looking into a mirror and we’ve been inseparable ever since. I’m incredibly grateful she met Ryan soon after because he not only became a great friend, but he has managed to keep us both alive through the chaos that ensues when Ummae and I get together. I can’t wait to celebrate the start of their beautiful life together with all their friends and family in Mexico!
Phoebe Lam
Bridesmaid
I’m Phoebe, a longtime friend of Ummae’s. We met in the 7th grade, so it’s been over 10 years now! She has always been one of my closest friends and who I now consider my long-distance bestie :) I’ve been here since before Ryan came into the picture and I hope that this friendship will last the rest of the century. As we’ve told this story again and again, we started out resenting each other over a boy who was not good enough for either of us. I gave her a bag of stale popcorn for her birthday so I could feel half nice. Really, I was such a generous person. With time, I grew to like and then love the version of her I knew in high school, then college, until now and beyond. Every version of her is someone I will support and cherish; and meeting Ryan the first few times, I knew she was in the right hands. I’m also notorious for disapproving of every guy she might’ve liked or dated for a while, so this meant a lot (at least to me). I was unsure if they were necessarily a match made in heaven at first, but I realized how beautiful their companionship and care for one another was and is as each year passed. I might not have been there for all of the little moments, but I’m confident in Ummae and her decision-making in life and I know that her marriage to Ryan is one that’s built to last.
Malika Kapasi
Bridesmaid
Hi, I’m Malika! I’m so excited to be part of this special celebration! A little about me—I love art and design, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. I’ve known Ummae my entire life—literally! We were born just three days apart, and she’s always been more of a sister to me than a friend. Growing up together meant countless sleepovers, renting movies from Blockbuster (wow, we are getting old) loading up on snacks, and laughing until our stomachs hurt. I still remember my very first heartbreak was when I found out my best friend was moving to California. I am so grateful that no matter how far apart we are, our bond will never change. Now that she’s moved back to Atlanta to pursue medical school, I couldn’t be happier to have her back here. I am so excited to spend my 20s with my best friend. Ummae is so intelligent, hardworking, and beautiful on the inside and out. She has the kindest heart, and I feel so lucky to call her my best friend. I can be unapologetically myself around her, and I’m so grateful to have a forever friend like her. We have so many unforgettable memories together and many more to come! Seeing her start this chapter in life with Ryan fills my heart with so much love and happiness for them both. They are the cutest couple and I admire the way they love, respect, and embrace each other. They are both so kind, funny, smart, and they truly are a power couple! I am so happy they have each other and I wish them the most beautiful life together!
Nazneen Husain
Bridesmaid
Hi everyone! I’m Nazneen, a childhood friend of Ummae’s. Growing up in Atlanta with Ummae and our other childhood friends is a core part of my life. From sleepovers to spa days to playing Nintendo, Ummae has been an important part of my childhood, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m sure if I told my younger self that she’d be a bridesmaid at Ummae’s wedding, she would jump up and down in joy (then proceed to beg our parents to let us have yet another sleepover). It’s safe to say that I reacted pretty much the same way, and I am so excited to celebrate this next chapter for Ummae and Ryan!
Batul Chitalwala
Bridesmaid
Hi, all! My name is Batul Chitalwala, and Ummae and I have been friends from a very young age, growing up together in Atlanta. I have endless memories of sleepovers, birthdays, and all the mischief we caused while our families stayed late for Mosque events. Our friendship only deepened as we got older; one of my favorite memories is our girls’ trip to California, filled with laughter and joy! Now that she’s back in Georgia for medical school, it’s been wonderful seeing her often and growing together as adults. I’m so proud of her, and I’ve loved her as long as I can remember. I’m thrilled that she invited me to celebrate this special time with her and Ryan, and I look forward to seeing them continue to thrive as they embark on this incredible journey!
Insiya Ujjainwala
Bridesmaid
My name is Insiya Ujjainwala, and my friendship with Ummae began in Georgia when we were just babies, meeting through our shared community at our mosque. What started as weekend gatherings and playing together at religious events slowly blossomed into countless playdates and sleepovers—a friendship that has now spanned over 20 years! I am ecstatic to be a part of the bridal party and beyond excited for all of Ummae's new chapters in life; I know she will crush it in med school and her married life with Ryan by her side. Ummae has moved around to so many places since we have been friends, but our friendship has gotten stronger with each move. My favorite memories with Ummae are all the laughs we shared at our childhood sleepovers and our incredible girls trip visiting her in California! I've loved watching her and Ryan's relationship blossom, and I couldn't be happier to celebrate their love!
Kyle Patton
Best Man
My name is Kyle and I’m Ryan’s younger brother. Growing up with Ryan wasn’t always easy, it meant trying to match his perfect report cards, always getting stuck with the bottom bunk, and even getting bit one time. But it also meant having the most amazing mentor, role model, and friend right by my side. From playing legos in our room to backpacking through Europe, we’ve made countless memories together, but one of the most vivid will always be picking him up after his first semester at SB and hearing him gush over this girl he met. As we soon got to know her, Ummae was as wonderful as promised and just as sweet, caring, and passionate about life as Ryan is. Seeing them together, they are even more perfect as a pair and have that rom-com relationship that everyone wants. I’m so excited for both of them to finally get married and so happy that I get to be a part of it.
Brendan Sanders
Groomsman
Hello I’m Brendan, Ryan’s “associate.” Ryan and I have been through a thing or two together. Whether it’s traveling the world or experiencing some of the highest highs and lowest lows that life has had to offer, I couldn’t have asked for a better pal to go through it all with. Ryan has a heart of gold, is really funny (often in a surprisingly devious way), and he’s pretty damn smart too, but don’t tell him that part. So it stands to reason that he’d find a partner who matches his remarkable character, but even still meeting Ummae blew me away from day one, and getting to know her has been an absolute pleasure. Like Ryan, she is strong-willed, highly intelligent, and above all, a phenomenal friend who will go above and beyond for those she loves, as she has proven time and again. I’m so lucky to call you my best friends and I love you both dearly.
Amel Metjahic
Groomsman
On one shoulder Ryan has an angel and on the other is a cymbal wielding monkey. I am the monkey. My name is Amel and I met Mr. Ryan Patton in 2022 deep in the Central Asian Steppe. To date Ryan remains the only person I’ve met that not only joins in my ventures into the eccentric parts of the world but drives me to explore further. Through our engagement in dangerous nomadic sports, haggling in bazaars, fumbling through new languages, and tasting of a variety of fermented milks I found not only a lifelong friend but a brother. But unlike most friends you make abroad, we did not stop at Kyrgyzstan, but continued to go on adventures and make memories from LA to Montenegro. During all of these adventures I would listen to Ryan dotingly describe his angelic Ummae back home. It was heartwarming to watch him debate over which gift he thought was better to bring back for her, while a merchant is trying to up-sell him on the camel socks. When I finally had the privilege of meeting Ummae, I was able to witness the perfect compliments that are Ummae and Ryan. That is why upon receiving the much anticipated news of their engagement I ecstatically burst out with expletives and profanities while dancing like a toddler that needs to pee. I cannot wait to see these two continue to build a life together.
Jack Chudacoff
Groomsman
Hey, I'm Jack, one of Ryan’s good friends since 7th grade. My time knowing Ryan has been characterized by many incredibly spirited and thought-provoking debates - however none of which lasted long as one of us (not me) would quickly become disagreeable to the others opinion and overall demeanor. Throughout our friendship he has been not only an excellent debate opponent, but tennis partner, and fantasy football player. It has been a pleasure to know and laugh with Ryan for all these years, and to call him one of my closest friends. When he first introduced me to Ummae, it was clear to see what a fantastic couple they make. It’s moving to see them be the first in our friend group to take the leap and get married 5 years later. I am so proud of both of them and look forward to being a part of celebrating their new life together.
Husain Shabbir
Groomsman
Hello everyone! I'm Husain, and for those of you who don't know me, I'm the only boy cousin in the family! That brings all the responsibility of being the party planner and getting the front seat to mock all her bad decisions;) We've shared countless laughs, secrets, and adventures. I'm so proud of the person she's become, and I'm incredibly happy to be here to celebrate her special day.
Nilay Desai
Groomsman
Hi, I'm Nilay! I went to middle and high school with Ry Patt, and we have been homies since 7th grade. Ryan and I have been homies since we met, and he's truly one of the coolest guys I know. We all started bonding over FIFA and our love for the beautiful game, and the fact that he had a PlayStation (trash) when we were all on Xbox. He also had an Android device during this time, so we also made fun of him for that. Enough making fun of Ryan. Ryan and I comprised a dynamic duo in the backline during our pickup soccer matches (Tristan likes to take too much credit for his services to the backline. In reality, it was Ryan and me). I remember when we all left for college, and Ryan specifically left for SB. He came back, and he had already met Ummae, and naturally, we were all very curious and excited to meet her. I like to think my influence played a tiny role in Ryan finding the love of his life because he can't get enough of Indian people now. I'm so proud to see how far they've come and I'm excited for them to take this next step in life together.
Tristan Haddadi
Groomsman
I'm Tristan, a lifelong friend of Ryan's, and I've known the lovely couple since their inception. Ryan and I became friends in Kindergarten and my memories reach back to playing at his house on Swarthmore. We've spent many hours hiking the trails in the Santa Monica Mountains, battling it out on the tennis and pickle ball courts in the Highlands, and holding down the backline in pickup soccer games. It's incredible to see how far he's come and I'm truly proud of him and Ummae taking this exciting step together.
Akhil Mathews
Groomsman
My name is Akhil Mathews and I’m one of Ryan’s closest friends. I’ve known him since kindergarten. Going to the village every Friday after school to eat food, play soccer at pali rec center, and then play some fifa. I remember the first time I met Ummae, she was in town visiting Ryan and we all got lunch on a Saturday. Ryan and Ummae picked me up from my house and we had lunch with Jack and Tristan at the tables on the field in the parking lot of Pali rec center and we had a great conversation. The whole time I was in the car with them, I thought to myself these guys are 20 and already sound like they’re married so it’s no surprise that Ryan and Ummae are getting married. I’m incredibly honored to be a groomsmen and celebrate this monumental life step with both of you. To you, your love, and many more pickleball games🥂