Vanessa & Jason
Wedding Party
Alicia Jewell
Maid of Honor
I’m so grateful to have Alicia as my Maid of Honor! Alicia was actually the president of our sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, which is how we met (along with many of my other bridesmaids!) It really is true that the girls you meet in your sorority will be sisters of for life, and that is what Alicia is to me, a sister. Alicia and I became fast friends with our shared love of music festivals, mostly house and techno :) and even lived together in our sorority house! I’m so lucky to have a friend like her who is one of the kindest, most welcoming people I know!
Michael Eastman
Best Man
Where to start! We have been friends now for 25 years! Mikey and Jason. Growing up we spent basically all day every day together whenever we got the chance and if we couldn't be in the same place we would talk on the phone. I believe our record for time on the phone was 8 hours! We have experienced so many firsts together including several types of camps, alcohol (ask us the story some time) and all that was College. We have also broken up a few times over the years but quickly found our way back together. I have been very lucky to have a friend who has stuck with me for so long and has always been there through each new step in life. I look forward to many many more memories to come.
Mary Brazer
Bridesmaid
Mary is my longest known friend! We met in the second grade and I’ve been calling her my best friend ever since. Although in the last couple years we have been separated from some distance (Mary has been living in Santa Cruz) we have remained just as close as ever. She has been a big part of my life over the years from helping me park my car when I first got my license to celebrating the news of Jason and I getting engaged! Mary is adventurous, driven, and compassionate. She recently got accepted UCSD and will be moving there soon which I am super excited about for my own selfish reasons of finally having her back in SoCal. I’m so happy to have her be a part of this big day!
James Schonzeit
Groomsman
Also known affectionately as Jimmy Goodtimes he was one of a handful of first friends in Chicago. He was always up for fun and adventure whether that was summer sailing, pouring beer at an event or following around some actors and drinking way to many Matildas (ask us about it sometime!). He continues to be a great friend who I enjoy nothing more than to sit with a good beer or whiskey and chat about the deep and meaningful things in life. Someone who I look to as a role model for what it means to be a good, kind and passionate human in this world. I can point to many of our conversations that have changed my perspective about life and how I go about living. I am so grateful for his friendship and look forward to many more adventures with him and his most wonderful wife Lauren.
Reena Takamura
Bridesmaid
Reena and I also met because of Gamma Phi, and another wonderful human that I consider to be a sister! She is also one of the first friends I made at USC and couldn’t imagine USC without her. We have shared many exciting adventures together such as a spontaneous trip to Shanghai and many music festivals. We have also shared a lot of less glamourous but equally important moments such as lots of late nights and Leavey Library studying for Finals wondering if we would survive. Reena even brought Alicia and I to Reena’s hometown, Honolulu for Spring Break one year! I’m so grateful for all the memories we have shared and all the future ones I know will be just as amazing!
Jeremy Gilbert
Groomsman
My first friend! Jeremy is the second born in our family of 6 siblings and we were instantly the lego building, game playing and super smash bros dynamic duo. We shared a lot of fun memories growing up and learned many things together. We had some epically funny times crashing and capsizing sail boats, surfing waves that were super wild and crazy and some times terrorizing our younger siblings. I admire his drive towards success and willingness to take big risks to achieve his goals. I always enjoy our conversations about the future and what a better world might look like. I am grateful to have him in my life and look forward to many more fun adventures together.
Kimberley Kwan
Bridesmaid
Kimmay is my little sister in Gamma Phi! I was on the hunt for the perfect little when Kimmay actually found me! She came up to me at an invite and said I heard you like elephants and I like elephants too and that became the start of our wonderful friendship! Kimmay is someone I am so glad to have on my side. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and she’s always had my back since day one! We have had many great adventures together such as traveling to Hong Kong and Thailand where got to see some elephants (obviously our favorite animal) I feel so lucky to have her by my side and celebrate this amazing day with me and our friends!
Joel Gilbert
Groomsman
Joel is the third sibling in the family and that came with some extra challenges, namely me! While there was certainly a time when we might have been "mortal enemies" it was short lived and we have in fact become fast friends. Joel has a larger than life personality and is one of the most welcoming humans I have ever met. He was so quick to adopt Vanessa into the family and is always a source of joy at every family gathering. He is incredibly generous and thoughtful which makes him a wonderful friend. We have enjoyed some very fun times together including a wild weekend in Chicago when he came to visit. I am very grateful to have him in my life and stoked for lots more wild weekends ahead.
Kaitlyn Mize
Bridesmaid
I also met Kaitlyn through Gamma Phi Beta! She is actually Alicia and Reena’s little. Kaitlyn is such an amazing human and one of the kindest people I know. We instantly became good friends and have bonded a lot through our love of live music! She has some killer dance moves and is always down to go to a show with me (along with her wonderful husband Andy) and I love her so much for that. She has been a great friend to me over the years and I’m so happy to her be a part of this special moment. Jason and I recently just went to her wedding with Andy (which was so stunning) and they have such a loving relationship that really is inspiring!
Jesse Gilbert
Groomsman
Jesse is number 4 in the sibling line up and while many of my earliest memories with him where when he was little he has become a great friend over the years. His love of music and his creativity has always impressed me. Vanessa and I's second date was watching Jesse perform at his first live show in Long Beach and he has been a part of our story ever since. We had an incredible time at our first Coachella where he got a chance to get to know Vanessa a bit more. He has an amazingly optimistic spirit and is always a reminder that it takes hard work and dedication to pursue a dream. I am so happy we have had the chance to get to know each other better over the last several years. Can't wait for his next song to drop! - Be sure to check out MANUVA BEATS on Spotify for all his music!
Annie Gilbert
Bridesmaid
Annie Gilbert is my soon to be sister-in-law! Annie is the youngest sibling out of 6 (and all boys) so she is pretty tough! She has been so welcoming to me and has truly made me feel part of the family! I love spending time with her and having her come over for dinner and Catan nights! We introduced her to sushi and pho so she would be ready for ASU. She is a killer Catan player, she went undefeated for a long time, she can be pretty competitive! I am so excited to be getting a sister as amazing as Annie and looking forward to all the upcoming adventures we will have together!
Ryan Grainger
Groomsman
Ryan is my soon to be Brother-in-law! Ryan has become someone I look forward to hanging out with at family gatherings, taco nights and weekend events. Lucky for me he also comes with the sweetest of dogs named Harley who is lots of fun to play with. He is an incredibly talented musician and has made some amazing artwork. We have had some really great conversations about the future of money, politics and what it will take to make a better world. I admire his passion for whatever he gets into and his willingness to share his in-depth knowledge on a variety of topics. He is a great Catan player and always makes for a challenging match when he comes by for dinner and drinks. I look forward to sharing many more game nights and learning new things from him for years to come.