Wedding Party
Santana Vicencio Labarre
Maid of Honor
If you know Santana and Yasmene, you've probably been subjected to The Great Debate. Legend goes that one fine day at Christ Child Pre-School Santana walked in. Yasmene had already been in school and was signing "I love you" to her dad from the big window at the time. Now, this is where the Great Debate was born. Both Santana and Yasmene claim the other walked up to them and asked if they wanted to be best friends. Yasmene thinks Santana saw a well established member of the pre-school environment and seized the opportunity to fit in right away. Santana thinks Yasmene saw a new girl and decided to add to her gang. The world may never know the truth (but Yasmene does), but the undisputed outcome is the two have been stuck with each other ever since.
Filmon Fishastion
Best Man
Filmon, AKA Fil, Filly, Filburt, and Malik , AKA Shahbaz, grew up on the same street in High Point. They formed a fast friendship surviving the horrors of having unique names, having siblings who terrorized them, battling stray neighborhood dogs, and almost setting Filmon's house on fire (sorry Mrs. Fishastion). With each harrowing tale their friendship grew stronger and continued into adulthood. Except now, Mrs. Fishastion doesn't have to worry about them setting her house on fire, that's Yasmene's problem now.
Kellilyn Arnold
Matron of Honor
Kellilyn, AKA Kelli, and Yasmene met by both joining a gaming app as they drove down to start college at HPU. Kelli quickly became the fun mom figure of the group, helping with everything from planning nights out and Spring Breaks to talking Yasmene down from freaking out because she had long nails for the first time and couldn't get her contacts out of her eyes. They formed a fast friendship that lasted even after Kelli graduated early. Now, every year Yasmene goes down to NC to visit Kelli and her family. She has been deemed "Aunty Yas" to Kelli's three kids and is being forced her to overcome her fear of children one baby at a time.
Victoria Tran
Groomswoman
Victoria, AKA Vic, and Malik met at community college where they both accidently took a bio class for Nurses (that Malik still brags about to this day). Although Malik remembers almost nothing about biology, the same cannot be said about remembering Vic. Throughout the years their friendship continued, with Malik visiting her at App State (a perilous trip for him) and then more once Vic and her husband, Stef, moved to Greensboro. Once Malik and Vic introduced Stef and Yasmene to each other it became clear to both couples that Malik and Vic were the same personalities, while Stef and Yasmene's personalities also mirrored each other. The friendship grew with them all and Malik and Yasmene's music taste is much better thanks greatly to Vic. If you like our playlist be sure to thank her!
Meghan Weeden
Bridesmaid
Meghan and Yasmene met through their parents at a young age. Growing up one street apartment, Yasmene and her brother used to sprint through the neighbor's yard, past their vicious dog, in order to spend a summer day with the Weedens. They spent days throwing frozen grapes over fencing, jumping in the pool, and then jumping on the trampoline (a combination that almost cost Yasmene her life once). Their friendship continued into high school, where Yasmene took Meghan to her first party (oops) and then into college where Meghan took Yasmene to her first college party (see it all evens out). When Meghan found out from a third party (thanks Katie Z.) that Yasmene had a boyfriend, she called her from a bar and yelled at her for not telling her. It all worked out though as Meghan is currently in the lead for friend who has visited Buffalo the most, with bonus points for converting to a Bills fan and attending her, Yasmene, and Malik's first Bill's game together.
Marcello Virginia
Groomsman
Marcello, AKA Uncle Marcel, Marcel the Shell, and Pasta Bender, moved into the Church Apartments at the same time as Malik and Yasmene as the caretaker. Noticing Marcello's affinity for anime attire, Yasmene secretly began encouraging the two to hang out. The encouragement was not needed, as Malik and Marcello hit it off after Marcello invited Malik to go to an anime movie with him and his friends at North Park Theatre. From there, Malik joined Marcello's group of friends, affectionately referred to as "The Dumbasses." Marcello remains one of Mac's favorite people, has built Yasmene a little free library ("I am NEVER doing this again." -Marcello), and remains unable to avoid Malik and Yasmene's friendship as he lives in the same building as them.
Erin Brady
Bridesmaid
Erin has been Yasmene's friend since freshmen year of college, and was her roommate for the three years that followed that. A true feat of survival, Erin not only supported Yasmene while she over extended herself in college, but also prevented her from committing murder (sorry Jess), made sure she didn't fall when Yasmene climbed on surfaces not meant to be climbed on, and witnessed first hand Yasmene spiraling out over thinking she was in love with a boy she had only been dating for two weeks and was about to be apart from for six months (it's okay though, that one worked out). Following graduation, Yasmene and Erin both remained in NC working at HPU, their alma matter, and continued their adventures, though more tame and usually resulting in a trip to McKay's for books.
Josh Less
Groomsman
Josh, AKA JJ or Miller Boy, is one of the aforementioned "Dumbasses." Malik and Josh formed a fast friendship and Josh can be contributed as the reason both Malik and Yasmene conversion to Bills fans (and even understand football at all). Josh was quick to make them feel welcomed to the group and always made Malik and Yasmene's out of town friends feel like they belong ("That's a really nice dude." -a true quote from Wade Weeden). Josh can always be found telling Malik how much he values his friendship with a smile on his face and a pack of warm Miller Lite in his hand. In the same sentence he will then finally agree to play Mario Party with Yasmene, which is greatly appreciated, though he never lets her win.
Emily Jefferson
Bridesmaid
Emily, AKA Em. J, and Yasmene became friends in middle school after overcoming the Oak Street vs Momont turf war at Stafford Middle School. Yasmene distinctly remembers Em. J telling her how "f*cked up" it was when Mrs. Wallpole told everyone about the loss of one of Yasmene's loved ones and then started comparing it to the death of her dog. This was the moment Yasmene knew she was keeping Em. J. As the years passed Yasmene spent more and more time at Em. J's house, did whatever Em. J told her to as Key Club Executive members, and laughed often about by how easily Em. J was grossed out (she is now a literal scientist so she overcame that). Last year, Yasmene got to be a part of Em. J's wedding where she managed not to cry, but made fun of Em. J for crying when Yasmene was saying goodbye, stay tuned to see if the tables will turn.
Sharyar Hussain
Groomsman
Sharyar, AKA Sherry and other names not polite enough to list here, is Malik's younger brother. We can all thank Sherry for Malik's parents finding out about his and Yasmene's relationship as, in true little brother fashion, he exposed that Malik was dating a girl while he was getting in trouble for something. In other true little brother fashion Sherry still does not let Malik or Yasmene follow him on Instagram, but likes posting pictures of Mac when left to babysitting duty. Yasmene is only okay with this because she like's Sherry's wife who is much cooler than him. We also must give Sherry credit as without him we would not have Mac, as he is the one who sent Malik the flyer that was listing corgi puppies.
Mac Hussain Dergham
Most Important Little Man
Mac, AKA Bubba, Macaleezza Rice, Maccy, Little A**hole, Habbibi Jidu, Big Chungas, Mac-A-Doodle-Dandy, Mac Daddy, and Mister, is the reason this wedding was so delayed so please give him extra pets and comment on his nice two new ACLs.
Bridgid Murnane
Officiant
Bridgid is Yasmene's de-facto sister and Santana's real sister who has terrorized them both growing up. Now, Bridgid is pretty cool, one of Malik's favorite people, and made Yasmene a godmother to her daughter Rayne, which is a bold choice and an honor.