Maid of Honor
Harini and I met on our very first day of college, and from that moment on, she’s been my ride-or-die. My favorite memories with her always involve nothing more than good food, long conversations that stretch late into the night, and many many laughs. One memory that will always stand out is when we visited Barcelona and spent an afternoon restaurant hopping, trying fit in many dishes as we could. What makes our friendship so special is that no matter how much time passes, we always pick up right where we left off.

Anisha is my cousin, so we go so far back that I don’t even remember our first meeting! Growing up, I’d see her once a year during visits to India, where, as the oldest, she’d spend most of the time bossing me around. But over time, our relationship grew into something much more meaningful, especially as we bonded over books and Maggi noodles. Now that we live in the same country, we never miss a chance to catch up, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company like old times.

Erin and I met freshman year of college through Harini, but we really became close in sophomore year thanks to our shared computer science classes (and our shared tendency to procrastinate). One of my favorite memories is when we were supposed to be working on a project but ended up baking and stress-eating a batch of brownies before finally getting it done. We’re both total foodies, and Erin is my go-to for restaurant recs, especially when we’re traveling. No matter how chaotic life gets, if we’re in the same city, you can bet we’re finding time to catch up over a great meal.

Izzy and I officially met freshman year of high school during field hockey preseason, though I’d seen her at church before where I spent most of the mass marveling at how big and lookalike her family was. Once we got to talking and discovered we both have basically no filter, we became instant friends. From field hockey and musical theater to our shared love of trying new coffee shops and all the food, we’ve always clicked. Even with time and distance between us, our friendship has never wavered. Izzy’s the friend who will always have my back and always tell it to me straight.

Jasleen and I met junior year of college when we joined the same dance team and I was instantly drawn to her infectious laugh and endless positivity, even during those 3 a.m. practices. We got even closer the next year while serving on the team’s leadership board: I’d come up with wild production ideas, tell Jasleen the (usually ridiculous) budget, and she’d somehow make it happen as finance chair. We also shared a few computer science classes, where we’d study together hoping to learn from each other, but really we both knew nothing. Now we’re both software engineers on the West Coast, and I always look forward to our catch-up calls and the joy she brings.

Mani and I have been friends since (I think?) second grade. At this point, it’s hard to remember a time when she wasn’t in my life. She’s been one of my most constant, grounding friendships, and I’ve always admired her hilarious sense of humor and fearless authenticity. From lunch table shenanigans and spa nights to musical/band performances and quiet hangouts, we’ve shared so many moments that it’s impossible to pick a favorite. After all these years, Mani feels more like a sister, and any time we get to just hang out and be silly is time well spent.

Meena and I first became friends through our dance team’s leadership board, but we truly grew close when we started working the same job at the same company. Some of my favorite moments with her are our late-night chats — usually just before bed, once all our East Coast friends are asleep — catching up on life, venting about work, or just talking about nothing in particular. Even though we work in different locations, our FaceTime hangouts feel effortless. We like to joke that I’m her honorary roommate because we always know what’s going on in each other’s lives. Any time spent with Meena is time I treasure.

Nidhi and I met in 4th grade when she moved to Florence, and our parents forced us to hang out, thinking their two Indian kids in the same town would hit it off. At first, we both thought the other was super weird and wanted nothing to do with it. But by high school, we had the exact same schedule and ended up becoming besties. Somewhere along the way, I’m pretty sure we morphed into the same person and have even lived in Boston together! One of my favorite memories is when we watched a breathtaking sunset on Martha’s Vineyard together. Even though our schedules aren’t the exact same now, every time I come back home, I love hanging out with her.

Rhea and I first met at a meet-and-greet for new dance team members, and we instantly bonded over our love for the same characters in different TV shows. We agreed on pretty much everything, except reality TV. I go for the sane, grounded characters, while Rhea is all about the drama. Since then, we haven’t stopped hanging out. We love discovering new coffee shops and calling to catch up almost every Saturday. During college, Rhea and I loved going to Urban Grind, a nearby coffee shop, and grinding homework out together. (I hope you love the pun as much as we do). Rhea is one of those people who makes you feel recharged just by being around her, and I could talk to her for hours without ever getting bored.

Rima and I also met through our dance team and got close while working together on the leadership board. I hope you’re sensing a theme here, because I love everyone from that leadership team. I always thought Rima was so cool — like, way too cool to ever be friends with me — until we realized we both secretly thought that about each other. One of my favorite memories with her is actually a recent one, when she visited me in Seattle. We spent the day exploring Pike Place Market, nerding out over our shared taste in books, and swapping reading lists. Now she lives in my dream city, Boston, and I’m counting down the days until I get to visit her there.

Best Man

Dante and I have been close friends since the 8th grade at Northern Burlington. From freezing at the Polar Bear Plunge in Ventnor to road tripping through Myrtle Beach, Tennessee, and Philly, we've made countless memories. Dante is now preparing for his residency in Greenville, SC, and I could not be more proud of him. Through all the years and miles, he's remained a rock-solid friend.

I first met Dan the summer before freshman year of high school when he stepped in to replace our injured friend David for a 5K mud run at Six Flags. I still remember crawling under chicken wire caked in mud, with only Dan’s shoes in sight ahead of me. Since then, Dan and I have shared some great adventures—Atlanta, Myrtle Beach, Big Bend. The entire Virok family, including Dan, David, Emily, Mr. and Mrs. Virok, have been more than friends; they’ve been a second family to me, full of generosity, hospitality, and unwavering support.

David and I met in 8th grade at Northern Burlington, and we’ve been friends ever since. We bonded over countless hours playing Call of Duty and Minecraft, and later, board games at his house after the pandemic. We've been on several unforgettable trips together—from Atlanta to Big Bend—and I’m grateful for the brotherhood we’ve built through the years.

Jessie and his twin brother Shane were among the first friends I made after moving to Georgia. Jessie and I spent countless hours grinding through classwork together. One of my favorite memories with him was during the pandemic—I was back home in New Jersey working without a desk, and Jessie, completely unprompted, had one shipped to me. I still use that desk today. Even now, we stay in touch and catch up on the latest projects and pursuits we're both diving into.

Mathias is Elisabeth’s older brother, and we all grew up together in Florence. He and I share a deep love for Marvel and DC. The first time we hung out was a trip to NYC with friends—hitting up music stores, the Nintendo store, and Midtown Comics. If I remember correctly, it was the release of Captain America: Steve Rogers #1, the infamous issue where Cap is revealed to be a Hydra agent..

Matt and I became friends after a few good conversations at Boys State, and the rest is history. From NJ to Boston, Big Bend to Atlanta, we've shared more adventures than I can count. I had the honor of being Matt’s best man at his wedding, and I’m thrilled to have him standing with me now. Matt is deeply rooted in his faith, and he played a huge role in introducing me to Christian life. His unwavering dedication to serving God continually inspires me.

Matthew—affectionately known to me as “Dr. Young Matthew”—has been a treasured friend since our time at RCBC in 2019. Though we never shared a class, we met waiting in a hallway, bonding instantly over our love for learning and academia. His joy and kindness are constants, and his commitment to excellence is remarkable. He's currently finishing his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Rice University.

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Mike is my oldest brother, and fun fact—his daughter Mariyah was born just two months after I was, making us a very unconventional uncle-niece duo. Even with the age gap, we’ve made plenty of memories doing what we do best: putting up fences and hauling materials in his truck. Since I moved to Georgia, we don’t see each other as often, but every summer when I visit, he takes me out boating on the Delaware River. Those peaceful moments together are some of my favorites.

I first met Noah through RCIA at the Georgia Tech Catholic Center, where he taught classes and led our men's small group. After my confirmation, Noah was instrumental in introducing me to his community and his faith-filled family. During my last year at Tech, I moved in with Noah and Sebastian, and together we made a home of adventure, friendship, and faith filled devotion. Noah and his family—Mr. and Mrs. Vrazel, Jake, Lucy, Aiden, Peter, Fiona, and friends like Michael Talbot, Bryan Landry, and Crouton—have redefined for me what it means to live the faith. Their family has been the gold standard for the domestic church.

I met Sebastian through Noah, and our shared love for the Lord, Vampire Weekend, movies, and gaming sparked an instant friendship. Sebastian has always been selfless and dependable—whether I needed help or some company. We’ve taken two incredible road trips together: one to Austin to see Vampire Weekend, and another when I returned from Seattle to Georgia. I truly see him as a brother and thank God for his presence in my life.

I met Shane, along with his twin brother Jessie, during my first semester at Georgia Tech. We bonded quickly over long days and nights tackling Intro to Object-Oriented Programming and General Psych. One standout memory was when we attended a lunch-and-learn with Dr. Yousef Khalidi, a pioneer of Microsoft Azure. Everyone else left after the lecture, but Shane and I stayed for lunch—and ended up having an extended conversation with Dr. Khalidi and his team. Shane’s networking skills were top-tier; he kept the conversation going while I scrambled to create my first LinkedIn account in the bathroom. Thanks to Shane, my first connection on LinkedIn was Dr. Khalidi himself.