Wesley & Kathryn
Wedding Party
Christine Ross
Maid of Honor
Christine lived just 5 blocks from Katy and Wes in Brooklyn, but it took business school to bring them together. Katy and Christine met at an early section mixer. Later that night, just as Katy was telling Wes and Dan about this *fabulous* girl from the party, Christine came skipping by cradling a Felipe’s burrito like a baby. Clearly, it was meant to be. Since then, Katy, Wes, Christine, and Andrew (see Groomsmen) have followed each other across the world from Bangkok nightclubs and German beerhalls to quiet dinners at home. Christine is a force of a nature and hopeless romantic. If you don’t know her already, she’ll be the one running the show and openly weeping.
Austin Painter
Best Man
Middle brother, wild card, and the life of any party, Austin played a particularly important role in Wes’s childhood - wearing out the parents so Wes could have it easy. But Wes has always been inspired by the way Austin pairs his energy with an unwillingness to do things just as the world expects - and secretly believes that is what will make him the most successful of the brothers in the end. Austin and Wes have shared many of the same hobbies and interests over the years, one of which is a hobby of starting and abandoning hobbies. If you’re looking for effortless conversation with the right touch of controversy, be sure to seek out the best man.
Lauren Ball
Bridesmaid
Lauren has been one of Katy’s closest friends for 15 years. They came together as freshman at Emory University, bumping into each other over and over in physics classes and at beer pong tables. By graduation they were saving on rent by splitting a room and making plans to be neighbors when they grew up. Today, Lauren splits time between and Argentina and Atlanta, just a 10 minute walk from Katy and Wes’s house. When Katy needed help reconciling a budding romance with Wes and 2,000 miles of distance, Lauren was the practical but endlessly supportive confidante who helped her make the leap to Brooklyn. So in a way- we’re all here thanks to Lauren!
Rob Painter
Officiant
Eldest brother, Painter clan namesake, and undisputed all time champ, Rob is playing officiant because he has the eloquence to make you laugh, cry, or do a prison stint. But don’t let his prosecutorial presence intimidate - Rob has always been the nicer older brother type to Wes. Despite a difference of 8 years, they have always managed to stay close. Now a father of 3 of his own, Rob still refers to Wes as his first child. Just give him one or two coors night of and he’ll be sure to entertain. More than that and he’ll be asleep on the couch.
Deb Gravina-White
Bridesmaid
Deb came to us by way of Dan (see Groomsmen)- his greatest gift to the world until Nora (now tied for 1st place). Deb is immeasurably patient and loving- evidenced not only by putting up with Dan’s shenanigans for 15 years and ours for 10+, but in the way she cares for everyone around her. Deb makes art and a sense of family appear out of thin air. She is a poet, educator, mentor, mother, wife, sister, and incredible friend. She also got Katy into Harvard. Seize your moment to party with this angel!
Dan Gravina-White
Groomsman
Dan has been deep in the mix on both sides of this relationship right from the beginning. Katy and Dan met under mysterious circumstances their freshman year, and have been Thanksgiving-at-your-mama’s-house friends ever since. Wes and Dan met a year later, but they made up for lost time when Wes unofficially moved into Dan’s house senior year, then became partners in crime during their 20-something Brooklyn era. Dan introduced Katy and Wes, brought them back together in Zion National Park years later, and coached them through their long-distance rollercoaster when Wes lived in New Orleans. Dan is boisterous joy personified- he lives out loud and shows up at 100% for his people. To know Dan is to love him, and trust us, you’ll know him when you see him.
Lauren Thomas
Bridesmaid
HBS section president and always the last to board a flight- find you a girl who can do both! Lauren was one of Katy and Wes’s first friends in Boston. They threw themselves together for a cabin getaway just as classes got underway, because how else are you going to turn total strangers into your new best friends? They’ve shared highs (looking at you, NYE in Brazil) and lows (still you, NYE Brazil), each one infinitely better for being together. Lauren is fearless, and she inspires everyone around her to be their best selves. By that I mean she WILL drag you to the dance floor just as you’re trying to sneak off to bed. Fun fact: Wes and Lauren have been to 5 continents together!
Anand Patel
Groomsman
Living his life always locked in, Anand is constantly willing to go deep on conversations and a good time. Anand and Wes were friends in college but became close in NYC where they both took their graduate school mission very seriously - to delay adulthood just a little bit longer. While most of those stories aren’t fit for public consumption, their lasting bond has carried over to present day Atlanta, where they've traded (most of) the late nights for work-at-home days. Anand is a self starter, future self-storage mogul, patriarch in waiting of the Patel motel empire, and always willing to talk about a good real estate deal.
Tess Gips
Bridesmaid
Guaranteed to be the last one on the dance floor and still the first one up to order bagels in the morning, Tess keeps the party going. She is authentic and compassionate to her bones. Tess and Pete’s apartment in Boston was a second home to Katy, Wes, and Lana (and everyone else). By day, Tess and Wes weathered the long, gray winters working from home together, commiserating over their unemployed partners. At night Tess hosted endless board game nights, family dinners, and party pre-games that melded our friends into a family. Keep an eye on this one! She’s a pusher, but in a good way.
Andrew Morgan
Groomsman
Better known as Christine’s partner, Andrew is so honestly himself and always looking for the best experiences life has to offer. Andrew and Wes grew close during Katy’s time in business school, where the settings of their fast friendship were wildly varied and always adventurous. From driving the entire Great Ocean road in southern Australia, to riding Mopeds to remote Thailand villages, to most recently snowmobiling in middle Michigan, they’ve been more places and seen more things together in the past two years than most people do in lifetimes. Definitely the man with the most interesting hobbies in the room, but don’t forget to ask him about his time living in Malawi!