Bridal PartyMEET OUR
Marisa Espat
The Official MOH & Sister of the Bride
(Maid of Honor)
Marisa and Steffanie met when their parents decided to procreate again and grace the world with another rare Espat daughter.
In addition to having a degree in paste eating and macaroni art, as well as being an expert on “spectacle,” Marisa is a school marm fashion historian and a staunch advocate that pigeons are people too. Marisa and Steffanie can often be found laying on top of one another, jabbering about inside jokes, saying each other’s names over and over again, and/or asking the other when they will actually take a dance class. (Update: they actually took one!)
Michael “Mike” Ng
The Bestest Mensch and “Bird of War”
(Best Man)
Mike had the misfortune (or incredible luck) of living across the hall from Tommy and Kevin their freshman year in college.
Mike is the whole-package. Without lessons from Professor Ng, Tommy would never have been able to pass his grad school economics courses. He is a Soulsborne professional with lightning quick reflexes, a data wizard, and an amazing and loyal friend. Mike and Tommy have bonded over their shared love of bird-themed football teams, Kingdom Hearts lore, and Star Wars. Mike is the type of person to fall asleep anywhere at any time, eat a coaster without hesitation, and design a custom app to optimize his fantasy football draft (and still miss the playoffs).
Nandita Ravishankar
Professional Speed Reservation Maker
(Bridesmaid)
Nandita and Steffanie became friends their freshman year in the Honors Humanities Living and Learning program at the University of Maryland (UMD) (even though Nandita did not get to participate in the “living” part of the program because they tried to place her in a boys dorm room…boo!)
Nandita is a jack of all trades: she can quote Trixie and Katya from memory (one of her, Steffanie’s, and Marisa’s favorite past times), she has perfected the “eyes of judgement” facial expression, and she holds the world record for most chili flakes ingested in a single meal. Plus, she does it all with perfect eyeliner and eyebrows!
Kevin Silverman
Niche Mountain Dew Flavor Connoisseur
(Groomsman)
Kevin was Tommy’s randomly assigned college roommate freshman year. While most randomly assigned roommates are duds, Kevin turned out to be one of Tommy’s BFFs.
Kevin is one of the most unique people you will ever meet. He can be found battling Pokemon gym leaders, losing his glasses in a mosh pit, or traveling to an obscure global capital on the far side of the world. His deep expertise of YouTube cult classics is only rivaled by his uncanny ability to find bespoke attractions no matter the destination. Kevin is a Tommy Bahama aficionado and an incredible friend who is always there if you need help.
SaraFrances “Franki” Abraham
Power Throuple Founding Member
(Bridesmaid)
Franki and Steffanie met in the Masters of Social Design (MASD) program at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), and bonded over visual design, Panic! At The Disco, and their shared disdain for people getting credit for work they have not done themselves.
Franki is a powerhouse with the can-do attitude of a thousand suns. “You have an idea? Of course we can build an entire shelving system that fits perfectly along the wall of your dining room and has that weird L shape you’re imagining!” This is literally an idea that Franki helped Steffanie execute after it sat in her brain for months. Franki is also an expert mirror selfie executioner, a secret (or not-so-secret) fashionista, and is partially fluent in Gen Z.
Robert “Bobby” Minter
Pwner of n00bs
(Groomsman & Groom’s Brother)
Bobby is Tommy’s older brother and first friend.
Feared explorer of the gnoll forest, Bobby has always been Tommy’s gaming idol. Beyond his prowess with the mouse and keyboard, Bobby is also a modern day renaissance man. He will read a book series faster than you can watch the TV adaptation; he is a multi-talented musician and performer; he is known throughout the land as the great protector of Penny (the Minter family’s yellow lab) during the holidays; and will gladly enjoy herbal remedies while strolling around town in his Birkenstocks. Not only is he an incredibly competitive and adept video game player, but he is also a top ranked player during Minter family board game nights. Bobby is incredibly kind-hearted and loyal to those he loves.
Alexander “Alex” Whipp
The Artist Formerly Known as Fishbucket
(Bridesman)
Alex was Steffanie’s first official college friend! They met on a Facebook group for UMD Honors College freshmen and then met in-person on campus several weeks later.
The scientific terms that would be used to describe Alex are “best frand” and “silly goose.” Over their 10+ years of friendship, Steffanie and Alex have bonded over their mutual silliness and sarcasm, as well as their love for Anthony Bourdain. In terms of special skills, Alex is an expert-level Mario Kart player and is world renowned for his one-time-only signature cocktail of gin and grape soda. It is rumored if Alex speaks to you in Spanish, your pants might fly off…so proceed with caution. (Sorry ladies, he’s married.)
Michael Minter
Cavelier King Charles Translator
(Groomsman & Groom’s Brother)
Michael is Tommy’s younger brother and second friend.
Michael is one of the most naturally gifted people in Tommy and Steff’s lives. Born too soon to be a professional streamer (despite his short-lived semi-professional Counterstrike career as a child, not joking), Michael took his otherworldly hand-eye coordination to the football field and his charisma to the business world. However, all of that high-performance does make him incredibly “teepy” so Michael can often be found taking a nap on the couch instead of helping with chores. Despite their childhood games of manhunt and sand tag (note to all parents - playing “sand tag” is not good for your eyes), Michael and Tommy are thick as thieves and can be found screaming “BROTHERRRR” at each other.
Juinell Williams
THE “Dawkta”
(Bridemaid)
Juinell and Steffanie also became friends through Honors Humanities at UMD (unlike Nandita, she did get to live in the Honors Humanities dorm and somehow ended up living in a double room without a roommate with an AC unit their first semester! …this is truly luck and/or magic.)
While Juinell is often seen sporting colorful hair and makeup, and even funky earrings (like the ice cream cones Steffanie made her), do not be fooled! Her B.S. detector is always functioning with 100% accuracy (and she will call you out on it). Steffanie and Juinell are strong supporters of drag shows, the notion that everyone should “take dat ass to therapy,” and mutually feel that the movie “The Borrowers” is indeed an American classic.
Joshua “Josh” Nelson
LA Party Aficionado…After Dark
(Groomsman)
Josh and Tommy have been close friends since high school, and lived together with Ryan and Mike in the most fabulous of college living spaces, The Pine Palace.
Life is always an adventure when you are with Josh. A gifted artist and craftsman, Josh has enriched Tommy’s life for close to two decades with his art, personality, and spontaneity. 90% of the new music in Tommy’s life comes from Josh sending him the latest hyperpop banger. Josh is a world renowned FDP-thrower (fancy dinner party), and can make anyone talking to him feel like the most important person in the world.
Kyra Ng
The Countess of Woonsockett
(Bridesmaid)
Kyra is one of the several fabulous people Steffanie met and became friends with through Tommy. The details of Kyra and Steffanie’s first meeting have been lost to the sands of time, however, it is common knowledge that they have spent many hours together since 2015 onward.
Kyra is a fierce friend and supporter. She will let you know that you are indeed THAT bitch, and will do it while flawlessly donning a floral maxi dress. She will also make sure you buy that dining room table you’ve been eying for a while and will ask you about it until you buy it online in front of her. While she may be the Countess of Woonsockett, she is also the Dutchess of Applebees, a James Beard award winning chicken caesar wrap food critic, and is one of the only people in existence whose dance moves could challenge those of Thomas Minter.
Ryan Eskalis
The Mudskipper Expert
(Groomsman)
Ryan and Tommy have known each other since high school and became close friends in college whilst living at The Pine Palace.
Ryan is not only close friends with Tommy, but he is also Steffanie’s “Boyfriend by Proxy.” Tommy, Steff, and Ryan cannot remember exactly how this started, but today, you can still hear Ryan and Steffanie refer to one another as “Proxy.” In addition to being a skilled photographer, videographer, and Do-It-Yourselfer, Ryan is a professional organizer only to be rivaled by Marie Kondo. Instead of asking, “Does this bring me joy?” Ryan asks, “Does this item exist?” If the answer is yes, he gets rid of the item. Ryan is always DTC (down to clown) and is a wonderful, goofy human.
