Lori and Joe's Wedding | Wedding Party

Maid Of Honor: Katelynn Anderson

"Every time I sit down to write my blurb...I start to cry. Plus I need something for my toast speech!"

Maid of Honor: Elisa DeMarco

I grew up with Joe in Westchester, NY. As the younger sister, I always looked up to him. He was a great older brother and we were always close siblings. Many years ago, at my eighth grade graduation, Joe first introduced me to Lori. Little did I know then that I would get to know Lori so well in coming years and that she would become my older sister! I am so happy that Joe has found a special person like Lori to spend his life with! Though it already feels like Lori is part of our family, I can't wait for it to be official.

Best Man: Andrew Vasile

On the day he gets married, I will have known Joe more than half my life (and Lori for very nearly as long -- but I'm one of the groomsmen, so I'm going to keep this mostly about the groom). I dug out my senior yearbook to see what Joe had written in it, and he told me, "You have provided us with countless hours of entertainment just by being yourself." Ignoring the tongue-in-cheek aspect of that, I just want to say, right back at you, buddy. Joe has been a great friend for many years, and my wish for Joe and Lori's marriage is all the health, peace, happiness, and love in the world.

Also, if none of the groomsmen make it to the wedding, I want everyone to know that Joe made a special request that I drive them to the church in a 16-year old Toyota. (Joe's response: THE WHITE KNIGHT RIDES AGAIN!)

Best Man: Brian McClure

9/7/2011: "blurb to come at another time. but keep reminding me."

Junior Bridesmaid: Cindy Owens

Lori is my older sister. Now she has many names for me, but this is not really about me. I don't want her to move cause she is mine, all mine, mine, mine, mine. Sooooo on the day of her wedding, don't tell Joe, but I am locking her up. If you don't see Joe looking worried, tell me so I can battle him. Then her and I will watch Biggest Loser every day and eat veggies. If by chance Joe tickles me and gets her back, I have reserved a wing in their house.

Bridesmaid: Jessica Borek

Lori and I were born two years and four days apart--spring babies of the Aries astrological sign, tried and true rams growing up in a family where the Aries traits of fire, energy, independence and intelligence have served us well. though both hailing from New York, I left the state in 1995, moving to Canada, New Jersey and finally settling in Washington, DC, where Lori and I have consistently tried to rendezvous on her school's field trips down to the nation's capital. Lori and Maid of Honor, Katelynn, were my first friends--and we've certainly enjoyed a lifetime of laughs as our bond continues to strengthen. Some of my favorite memories include sleepovers, at-home beauty parlor sessions and Easter egg hunts with at least a dozen cousins under the age of ten. And of course, we've enjoyed many family barbeques and holiday dinners where it certainly wasn't the food that created the memories, but the insane stories that are born out of a room of 20+ relatives. From running with sparklers us the drive way on the Fourth of July without a care in the world, to trying to find the beeping smoke detector in a house filled with 63 candles and a backed-up chimney on Christmas Eve (how did it get under the couch cushion anyway?). I think it's safe to say we're lucky to come out of some of the get-gogethers relatively unscathed. It's only fitting that the first time I met Joe was at a family function, and the fact that he still keeps showing up to the celebrations is a great sign! AS our family grows, I look forward to continuing to share in many more vacations, barbeques, dinners and parties. For Christmas this year, I hear the Feast of the Seven Fishes would taste great with pierogies!

Groomsman: Lee Hingula

When Joe first heard he was going to have a freshman year roommate named Lee, Joe decided that I must be Asian. Joe was later discussing this fact with our third roommate Allon, who asked, "uh oh, does that mean he is going to study a lot and make us look bad?" To which Joe replied, "oh definitely, he's going to be a total gunner." Well the big first day of college arrived and the three of us met. After I had gone downstairs to unpack clothes from my car and was well out of earshot, Allon was the first to point out that, "dude, he's not Asian." I think Joe believed him. And though I think Joe continues to be slightly disappointed because to this day I am still not Asian, we have managed to become good friends.

Bridesmaid: Stephanie Vano

Lori and I met at age 3, tapped our way through dance class and kept our noses in books for 4 years of high school. It was a busy life, but good thing she took time out to go to the school ice skating party, where I witnessed she and Joe figure eight their way into each other's hearts.

Groomsman: Brandon Mercado

Since our freshman days at Vassar, Joe’s presence has improved and shaped my life. How?

A.) I repeatedly raided the Capri Sun/Gatorade stashes in his dorm room AND his home in order to fuel my studies and video game habit.

2.) Our combined studying powers helped us to kick the crap out of Mort Tavel’s physics class.

:-) Joe introduced a Texan like me to the glory of: a.) disco fries, b.) homemade fried calamari, and c.) Joe’s Italian Feast. And diners.

Seven.) Critiques of my research from Joe are always thoughtful.

~.) When I moved West and knew no one, Joe always answered the phone and listened.

14teen.) While at Vassar, my home was far away. Joe welcomed me into his home and made me feel like one of the family.

$$ y’all.) Joseph heroically snuffed a grease fire (see :-) b.) that would have surely burnt down my new home in Irvine.

Are you still reading? This list could literally go on for days… But I’ll spare you any more bullets and just say: Joe, you are a great friend, and I wish you and Lori a long and happy life together!

Bridesmaid: Erin Koch

While I know that I met Lori during orientation at our small, all girls high school and we had most of our classes together, I don't really remember meeting her until a couple of months into the school year. I decided to attend the first dance of the school year--alone--and shortly found myself fed up with the overly crowed, dark, strobe-light lit gym, the selection of only one kind of soda, and several hours until my Dad was coming back to get me. I had settled in on a bench near the front doors to wait when Lori approached me, also dissatisfied with our first dance. That night started a conversation that has now continued for 13 years, and I sincerely hope it keeps going for many, many more. Having now known Joe for nearly as many ears, I am very excited for Lori & Joe to FINALLY start their lives together.

Groomsman: Luc Peterson

Luc's initial correspondence: sorry i've been lame, joe. i will do this, soon. i promise. kinda crazy right now, finishing dissertation and prepping for a conference this week that i don't want to go to but have to anyway. (surprisingly and not so surprisingly Luc was the 1st of Joe's Groomsmen to submit his blurb)

Luc met Joe (and consequently his other half, Lori) while at Vassar College, where the two bonded over mutual loves of soccer, video games, MacGuyver and Prof. Mort Tavel's extracurricular lectures. Oddly enough, come Luc and Joe's graduation, they still weren't sick enough of each other's company and instead embarked on a month-long traipse around the European Continent. While their adventures of this time, legendary as they may be, might eventually fade from memory, their friendship surely will not. Luc is both thrilled and honored to be an active witness to the start of Joe and Lori's life together.

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