Wedding Party
LAUREN (BEST MAN)
Ryan's sister and partner in crime since 1989. They've spent the past 27 years bonding over their love of Disney, music, and Avenue Q, and their sense of humor is so similar that it's almost as if they've lived together for 18 years. Lauren is a teacher and craftsperson extraordinaire in Memphis, and fuels Jessica's Harry Potter addiction every birthday and Christmas.
PATRICIA (MAID OF HONOR)
Years ago, Patricia was one of Jessica' research assistants and later became her first honors student. Jessica medallioned Patricia at her graduation, and the following week, they hung out as friends for the first time. The rest is history: Patricia is now one of Jessica's very best friends—a friendship that has moved to the Bay Area, where Patricia is a program manager at Intel.
DOUG (GROOMSMAN)
Ryan and Doug are fast approaching their 10-year anniversary of friendship, dart-playing, and general hilarity. Doug is a professor of theory and composition at Concordia in Minnesota, where he's already starting to say "you betcha."
ERIK (GROOMSMAN)
Almost a decade together on stage has made Erik one of Ryan's very dearest friends. Erik is a world-traveling tenor and fast-clapping competitor, and has named Ryan and Jessica godparents to his and Kerry's wee but fierce tabby, Sweet Pea.
FREEMAN (BRIDESMAN)
Jess first met Freemster in a first-year stats course at ASU, where he's finishing a Ph.D. in marketing. When they're not nerding out over psychology, they can be found dancing, sipping jäger things, and quoting The Devil Wears Prada.
HANNAH (BRIDESMAID)
One of Jessica's roommates and closest college friends. They first bonded while storming Franklin Street together after UNC's NCAA win, and have been close ever since. Hannah is finishing her Ph.D. in biochemistry at Northwestern.
IZZY (GROOMSWOMAN)
A Downey family friend for almost 15 years, and practically Ryan's second sister. Izzy is completing a residency in urology in Memphis, Tennessee and has spent the past three and a half years teaching Jessica how to recognize sarcasm.
KERRY (GROOMSWOMAN)
Since 2007, Kerry and Ryan have spent countless rehearsals shooting looks at each other when innuendo or musically hilarious events occur. Kerry is a professor of music at Durango's Fort Lewis College, and remains a dear friend.
MARY (BRIDESMAID)
One of Jessica's closest friends from college. The duo spent almost every single weekend of junior and senior year together, and their joint house parties were second to none. Mary is a marketing manager in Asheville, North Carolina.
SHEETAL (BRIDESMAID)
Sheetal and Jessica go way, way, way, way (way) back. Their earliest photos together date back to dress-up parties in 1996, and their travels have taken them all over the east coast. Sheetal is a physical therapist in Washington DC.
TAYLOR (GROOMSMAN)
Ryan's roommate and best friend from college. Taylor co-runs Casa Ravenclaw as Ryan's and Jessica's housemate, and introduces both to the hipster life on a weekly basis. He is a classically trained violinist and fiddler.
TOBY (GROOMSMAN)
A fellow bass classical singer with an equal love of craft beer. Ryan and Toby can usually be found in their natural habitat: nerding out over music while exploring Phoenix's microbrewery scene. Toby is a web production coordinator at ASU.