BRIDAL PARTY | Pjdolewedding

The Brothers and Sisters we never had!

"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

"Cherish the friend who tells you a harsh truth, wanting ten times more to tell you a loving lie."

~Robert Brault

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Cousin of the Bride

Matron of Honor

Evelyn Sawi Reyes

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Friend of the Groom

Best Man

Ben Lopez

Evelyn is my cousin and is the closest to a Blood Sister I will ever have. We are both only children and ever since we were thrust into each others lives when I arrived in the US (I was 9, she was 10), we have fought, competed, motivated, supported, inspired, grieved and loved each other like Sisters.

Ben has been a long time and trusted friend. He’s given me a place to stay when I needed it; 10+ years living together. He has on several occasions invited me to his parents’ house for the holidays; great people! Ben truly values all of his friendships – every year taking his closest friends out for holiday dinner - and you can always count on him to give you his honest opinion.

Adriana, Cathy, Gabriela and Vera are my Spirit Sisters! I met Adriana, Gabriela and Vera through Cathy, whom I met back in 2011 during Salsa Thursdays at Alberto's Salsa Club.

Cathy was the architect of an epic journey through Peru starting with the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and ending at the Amazons. It was my chosen 40th birthday celebration and it is one of the truly most memorable, remarkable and spiritual journey that Cathy, Gabriela, Vera and I will forever share. Adriana was unable to join us in Peru but she has been on every adventure since: from the dance floor to Napa and on to whatever other journeys life has in store for us.

Although we do not see each other every day, when we do get together it's as if it were yesterday; the connection still deep, the transparency ever present as our sisterhood continues to grow strong with time.

I met all these fine gentlemen back in the summer 1989 at our first role-playing gaming session. It was at Damian’s parents’ house – would essentially become the regular gaming spot. Ben, Jose, Damian, Peter, Robert and Jason (who is no longer with us but deserves honorable mention) would become a regular hang-out group. Not only did we game together but we would go to the movies or pile into Jose’s Ford pickup – yes, all of us in the cab! – going wherever and having a grand time in the process.

It’s been close to 30 years, our lives have grown since then sometimes losing contact with one another for a while but eventually reconnecting. And when we do get back together, the conversation continues where it left off.

We’ve had a lot of great memories over the years. I hope to continue creating more memories with these guys! When’s the next board game convention?