Our Wedding Party
A heartfelt thank you to the great friends
who have been by our sides,
have helped us grow,
and who will be with us on our most cherished day.
HER GIRLS
Evelyn Lai, Maid of Honor
Evelyn is my older cousin and the big sister I never had. Growing up, we were virtually inseparable, and the cause for many Kleenex boxes going missing as we stuffed our shirts at the tender ages of 6 and 8. Always the first phone call if I was in bind or had great news to share, Evelyn was undoubtedly destined to be my Maid of Honor. Who else would I choose to bear the brunt of my Bridezilla moments?
Gabriela Benitez, Bridesmaid
Gaby and I met in 2009 in NYC while working at McCann Erickson on Verizon. As we quickly climbed up the corporate ladder, Gaby has always been my inspiration, work champion, and biggest cheerleader. Gaby is my go-to for random "I was just in the neighborhood" drop-ins, late night Chipotle and wine slumber parties watching Sex and the City, sob fests over the state of our lives, and emergency babysitter for my dog Bolt. Without Gaby, life in New York would just never have been as complete...or wine-filled.
Kiran Belani, Bridesmaid
Kiran and I met on the tennis courts in high school almost 14 years ago and became partners for life. Like really. Kiran was my doubles partner through countless tennis matches and off-the courts champion for all things work, love, life and friendship related. She is undoubtedly one friend that I am most proud of, for all the hard work Kiran has put into becoming a successful doctor and still having enough time to listen to my random voicemails - "How are you? Okay we're both busy - I love you bye!" Kiran unashamedly voices her opinion when I really need to hear it, and the only friend who consistently says, "I love you" to me, opening up a whole new world of expressing honest appreciation for the people around me.
Kendra Curtis, Bridesmaid
Kendra is a serendipitous friend, coming into my world by way of three different close friends at different times. We both are from Maryland, were in advertising and lived on the Upper East Side - it was meant to be! Kendra has been a dependable partner-in-crime, always ready for anything - random parties, last minute brunches and dinner dates, and car aventures getting lost in New Jersey. Since Kendra moved back from NYC to the DC area, I am beyond ecstatic to have my sounding board, my support system, and one of my biggest believers back by my side.
Danielle Decatur, Bridesmaid
Danielle and I met during our summer advertising internship in college. Halfway through the internship, Danielle went on a weekend trip and called me while at the airport. We talked on the phone for almost 2 hours and I hung up, thanking God for a new friend who I had only known all of three weeks but connected with as though we had been friends for eternity. Dani has always been there for me, too fast for life but always finding the time to slow down just enough to catch up with me. She is a constant reminder of how true friends can always pick up right where you left off.
Fidan Karimova, Bridesmaid
Fidan holds one of the rare titles of being one of my oldest friends, my first new friend in high school, and still like a sister to me after 15 years. We met on the first day of tennis tryouts in our freshman year. She asked if I wanted to rally for a bit, I was intimated and thought she was a superstar at tennis...and it turned out that both of us had no idea what we were doing. We became doubles partners, best friends, and ultimately inseparable in high school. Notes being passed in the hallways evolved into tea and turkish delights at her house and terrifying joy rides getting lost on the highway on the way to Kiran's house. Fidan comes in and out of my life like a sunbeam on steroids...I always forget how crazy she is, but the way she brightens up my world is priceless.
HIS GUYS
Rong Li, Best Man
My best friend since Middle School. Ever since he wrote “empty threats made by spineless hippie” on a white board in reference to some punishment from a teacher, I knew he and I were cut from the same cloth. We’ve come a long way from shooting model rockets at buildings and driving around with no seats in the Acura Integra. While our careers have led us in opposite directions sometimes, his level-headedness, insight, and support throughout my life have helped lead me to become the man I am today. We have a running joke that when Tiffany and I have kids, they’ll look more like Rong than like me. If my children can grow up to be anything like my best friend, I will have led a truly blessed life indeed.
John Gorman, Groomsman
John is my younger cousin, we're separated by 10 years. That makes it easy to keep tabs on his age (unlike the majority of my family). While the nature of my job keeps me away from my friends and family far more than I would like, I have had the privilege of watching John grow into a resilient, hard working, and industrious young man. While attending college, he is simultaneously holding down a part time job as a security analyst at a global provider of network and data communications. Not bad for a 20 year old! I'm proud to call him my cousin and look forward to being a part of his life in the years to come.
Randy Coggin, Groomsman
Randy and I had an asymptotic relationship for about six years. We went to school together for five years, and didn’t hang out once. We even lived in the same building (Monteith Hall) for one of them. It wasn’t until we both volunteered to teach Cadets how to do Land Navigation at Ft. Lewis after commissioning that we were able to unite under the banner of solidarity that is “the alumni network”. Then somehow we ended up at Ft. Campbell together. Somehow we both ended going through the entirety of the Civil Affairs pipeline and are somehow both Team Leaders in Civil Affairs! Obviously he and I think alike, and Randy brings a remarkable sense of harmony to life. His ability to maintain his devotion to his family while balancing the demands of work and the pull of hobbies is extraordinary, and I strive to live my life with the same level of poised demeanor he projects every day.
Leif Klockner, Groomsman
Leif and I met back in Middle School, before he was a lawyer, back when he still had twin blue mohawks. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I still think it’s the coolest thing ever. The more things change, the more they stay the same. We’ve grown up geographically separate, but spiritually very close. Whether it’s something as significant as helping me move out of my parent’s house for the last time en-route to Tennessee (and to live like a grown-up) or just playing video games together, Leif continues to impress upon me the significance of the Delphic maxim “know thyself”. Leif knows himself and lives his life in the way that best suits his needs. His individuality and firmness of intent are uncommon traits, and I am fortunate to count him as a friend.
Austin Wiese, Groomsman
I trust Austin so much that I bought a house in North Carolina without even seeing the thing because he vouched for it. We were in the same freshman class, along with Drew at Virginia Tech, and it wasn’t until our sophomore year that Austin and I started hanging out pretty much every. Single. Day. Our free time was spent either at the gym, kicking water fountains, powering up, or getting out of trouble by the skin of our teeth (NJP whaaat?). Austin and I share a lot of values, but what I appreciate the most about him is his self-confidence and his practical way of approaching problem sets. After years of witnessing his pragmatism first-hand, it has proven to be an invaluable asset when considering my own problems. I am extremely grateful to him for providing me with a sounding board, and for offering me this rational lens through which to see the world.
Stanford Chang, Groomsman
Stanford and I were both kids when we first met, but knowing Tiffany had a brother helped keep me in line and made me take the relationship more seriously. Their dedication towards each other as siblings is something that I’ve always envied. Stanford has supported Tiffany, even through some of her wildest moments, and I respect him for his devotion. Stanford has a “still waters run deep” personality, so it’s a rare treat to see him actively beaming with energy and enthusiasm. I’m looking forward to our interactions as brothers and hope that I will be able to support him in the same ways that he’s supported his sister these many years.
LITTLE CHERUBS
Helen Gorman
Junior Bridesmaid
Katie Gorman
Junior Bridesmaid
Liana Chan
Flowergirl
Sabrina Leong
Flowergirl
Zachary Leong
Ringbearer