Wendy & Jeff
Wedding Party
Katherene Cuza
Maid of Honor
My bestie, my shopping partner, my shoulder to lean on now and always - Katherene has been there since high school. We've been through school dances, teenage shenanigans, college parties, club hopping, Sunday funday brunches and, as of lately, wedding dress shopping. She's been my consistent confidant, always the pragmatic voice of reason and has never been afraid to tell me to calm down. The adventures we've had would make for one awesome memoir. She gets the MOH role because I just couldn't see anyone else reminding me to hand her the bouquet or wrangle family members she's never met or look at 6 different venues for the bridal shower to get the right one. But mostly, she is my Maid of Honor because I could never see myself walking down that aisle without my girl right by my side.
Astrid Gonzalez
Bridesmaid
The youngest of the bunch, representing both the Urteaga AND Lira side (with her own Gonzalez flair) - the self proclaimed "favorite cousin" - Astrid. Astrid brings her years of dancing experience and teacher clipboard to keep the wedding party in line and looking fly. I've known her since she was born y'all! Had to throw in the Texas love since she's coming from way down south - the Lone Star state. She's been a constant support through my bad times and always knows how to party during the good times. Be prepared for the bridesmaid dance that she's choreographed - because hello - she used to be a Houston Rocket dancer!!!
Jennifer Monroe
Bridesmaid
Call her Jen, Jenny, Mrs. Monroe, Jenny Franco - just don't call her Ms. 305! Jenny is coming from the Sunshine State of Florida. While she is only 30 min north of Miami and all the fun of South Beach, don't get it twisted - she's a Broward girl now and she'll always correct you. She and I met while I lived in the hot, hot heat of Miami. She was my mentor at work and taught me all I needed to know about working as an acute care PT. You know, the essentials - "those pastelitos de guayaba are no good, get these instead," "steer clear of that doctor, he's a bit of a jerk" - all a girl needs to know to make it in the hospital setting. We were constantly being confused for one another and she has been like a sister to me. I couldn't be happier that I can share this special time with her.
Michele Semma
Bridesmaid
3" silk tape!!!! Inside joke, of course. Michele is another gem of a person that I met while down in Florida, but - she's a New York girl at heart and you'll hear it right away ;) She had just started her 3 year residency as a podiatrist right as I was starting up as the new Wound Care Clinic PT. We discovered right away that our birthdays were 2 days apart and since Virgos are the best kind of people - we just HAD to be friends. We've seen each other through many a hospital scandal - none involving us of course. I was right there when she met her person and I saw them fall in love, get married and have a family. Naturally, she's right here when its happening all to me. I was by her side at her wedding and you better believe she's going to be right by me when I say "I do!"
Vanessa Paul
Bridesmaid
My out of town boo! Another inside joke. Vanessa is ANOTHER Florida girl - say what you will but there are some GREAT people coming from that state. She was the very first person I met when I moved to Florida. No joke, she took me to my first South Beach club - and what a night it was. When she wasn't driving up to Orlando to see her beau, she and I were tearing up the town. From sushi nights to Mango's, happy hours at Monty's to house parties at Coconut Grove, we had some amazing times. There wasn't a dance floor that we didn't like. She's my little firecracker and my experience in Miami would've been completely different if we had never met. I'm so grateful to have her in my life and share in these momentous occasions together.
Michael "Rocket" Richards
Best Man
There can be only one Best Man, and the honor goes to my one and only brother. We've been through so much together, from getting kicked out of Brother's to picking a fight at Merry Anns on multiple occasions. Also other things besides getting into trouble on campus in college, but we'll save that for another day. Thankfully we've both mellowed with age, and the most worked up we get now is talking about politics, or maybe baseball (He's a Sox fan). I'm very proud that he's a great husband and father, and glad that he's by my side on my wedding day. Oh, and make sure to ask him how he came to be known as "Rocket," he'll love to tell you.
Jim Gollings
Groomsman
AKA Gogo, the hater from Decatur and the Big Daddy from Cincinnati (Columbus, close enough). Jim and I met in college through the world class institute known as University of Illinois Catering, where we worked so many weddings in a summer that we could probably still set up a table with our eyes closed. He's also the start of my brief but intense relationship with the Chicago Cubs, which I only cured myself of by actually living on the north side of Chicago and dealing with Cubs fans on a daily basis. He's got two great kids, Ronan and Leo that I've had the pleasure of watching grow up over the last 15 years or so. Other things that solidified our friendship: driving to Dallas from Champaign on spring break, braving the elements of Iowa in January to work on a political campaign, and watching more than a few Cubs games. Jimmy, you're my second brother.
Luke McWilliams
Groomsman
If there is a more honest, earnest, and thoughtful person, I haven't met them yet. When I first met Luke, the only thing I knew about him was that he was a hard-partying punk rocker from the suburbs of Chicago. We also met during college via University of Illinois Catering, and in Luke, I found the most fun and social friend of all time. Many an afternoon was spent watching the Cubs lose a game with a cold one on hand to keep us in good spirits. He will never be afraid to tell a total stranger a story, or carry you home after a long night. Truly one of my favorite people, if you're ever in Los Angeles hunt him down and prepare for a good time.
Vijay Singh
Groomsman
Born and raised on the mean streets of Urbana, Illinois, Vijay is the only groomsmen that I actually had as a roommate. We've helped each other through some rough times, and had a lot of fun doing it at the same time. Working together at both Piccadilly and Friar Tuck, many a misadventure was had while dealing with absolute fools at work and then chasing it with cold ones at Triptych or the Piglet. On the outside, Vijay is the muscular tough guy, but on the inside he's crying over nature documentaries. He loves video games as much as me, and so many hours were spent yelling at a tv together playing Gears of War or Dragon's Crown that I'm surprised no one ever called the cops on us. He's rocking it as an uncle to two, and creating balance in the group by also being a White Sox fan.
Zach Ehrat
Groomsman
Zach is, by leaps and bounds, the youngest person to stand beside us for the wedding and is still in his *gasp* twenties. He more than makes up for his young age by being a wisened soul in the ways of tomfoolery, jack-assery and crass humor of the highest level. His razor-sharp wit will catch you by surprise if you aren't paying attention, but I love having a lightning round conversation with him about politics, music or movies. Compared to the rest of us, he's also mostly got his stuff together at the age when the rest of us were still rolling out of bed in the afternoons unmotivated to do anything. Unfortunately, he doesn't care even a little about sports, and so baseball fandom amongst the guys remains tied. Try to convert him Houstonians!