Vivienne & Chris
Wedding Party
David Duncombe
Best Man
David is Chris' older brother. The two spent their childhood playing and battling together with friend Dan Guisbond. Not scarred by childhood rivalries, they have gone on adventures traveling across Spain, Ecuador, and Vietnam together.
Lily Baldassare
Maid of Honor
Viv's sister and lifelong best friend. From a childhood spent playing with barbies and dinosaurs together to today, Lily never fails to make Viv laugh and is always there with advice, love, and support. Viv treasures every moment they can spend together whether they are cooking, watching Chicago, shopping, dancing to Blackpink on a 1500 mile road trip, or escaping a dust storm.
Brandon Jackson
Groomsman
Brandon and Chris raced in kindergarten to see who was the fastest person in the grade. The result is still in dispute. Friends throughout their school years, they dominated recess soccer and unsuccessfully navigated female relationships (until recently!). Brandon and Rachel's wedding allowed Chris to show Vivienne around the 'Cuse.
Rosie Capps
Bridesmaid
Rosie and Viv lived down the hall from one another in the Hunter College dorms. They knew their friendship was meant to be when they discovered they shared a shoe size despite Rosie being five inches taller than Viv. Viv misses their nights of sharing sour cream and onion Pringles and Friendly's watermelon sherbert in the dorms and is endlessly grateful for Rosie's friendship over all these years.
Ethan Hogan
Groomsman
Chris and Ethan's friendship started in elementary school. They played Eastside soccer together and reenacted Cool Runnings on Ethan's hill. They were friends in high school and afterward, living down 95 from one another and traveling around the country for Syracuse basketball.
Anya Guy
Bridesmaid
Anya and Viv are both professors in the Physics and Astronomy Department at WSU. They had coffee shortly after Viv moved to Pullman and quickly bonded over a shared love of hiking, physics, and cocktails. Movie nights, happy hours, and backpacking trips with Anya helped Viv survive her first year as faculty in a new town. Viv is so grateful to have such an incredible friend in Pullman and at WSU.
Eric Altman
Groomsman
Chris and Eric's friendship started in middle school with Harlem World and Battletanks. Eric recruited Chris to lacrosse and cross country, which started Chris' love for running. By happy coincidence, Eric moved all the way from Maine to Spokane where he lives a short drive from Vivienne.
Sam Goldklang
Bridesmaid
Sam and Viv met while hiking on the Tour du Mont Blanc in France in summer 2019. Sam lives in Seattle, so Viv was super excited to hang out more when she found out she would be moving to Washington. They have already climbed Mount Rainier together, and there will undoubtedly be more adventures to come!
Josh Tiger
Groomsman
Josh was Chris' roommate for four years at Dickinson College. They bonded over a shared love for sports and fantasy books. They parted ways to study abroad; Chris in Mexico and Josh in Cameroon. They reunited and were joined by Peter, Ryan, and Mike for an amazing senior year. Recently, they faced off against a snowstorm in the Cascades.
Wayne Baldassare
Father of the Bride
Vivienne's dad grew up in Yonkers, NY. When Vivienne and Lily were growing up, he always told them that they could do anything they set their minds to, and that math is fun. He helped Vivienne move out west and loves visiting Pullman and exploring the Palouse with Viv.
Joe McMahon
Groomsman
Joe went to graduate school at Syracuse with Chris and helped jump-start his career in public policy! Joe and Becca welcomed Chris to Richmond, where in collaboration with Drew, Katie, and Shannon, they formed their own Maxwell Mafia in RVA. Between VCU basketball, happy hours, flag football, and indoor soccer, Joe made Richmond into a home.
Andrea Baldassare
Mother of the Bride
Viv's mom grew up in Staten Island, NY, though her heart is now in Hawaii. She instilled a love for animals, a spirit of generosity, and a sense of humor in her daughters. She is always up for a fun time, and is a good sport when Viv drags her on hikes into volcanic craters.
Julie Thomas
Mother of the Groom
Chris' mom retired in Moscow, Idaho where she grew up and met her husband and Chris' father Bill. Chris was out visiting Julie when he met Vivienne. Julie has tried to teach Chris many things including patience. After a career in early education, she is very excited for Chris and Vivienne's future family.
Henri
Feline of Honor
Vivienne's gruff and beloved sidekick since being adopted in Vivienne's second week of grad school. Henri quickly welcomed Chris into the fold, adding distractions, cat hair, and cuddles to his work from home days. Henri greets us in the morning with a 5 am yowl, reminding us to always seize the day.
Steve Thomas
Officiant
Steve is Julie's younger brother. He was born and raised in Moscow and became a Youth Pastor for the Church of the Nazarene in 1985. Steve is an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene and has served as Youth Pastor for 26 years. He lives in Lewiston with his wife Jeana.
Sudo
Ring Bearer
Our trusty border collie accompanies us on many hiking adventures. He will transport the rings down the aisle unless he is distracted by something to play fetch with en route.