The Wedding Party
Maya Kalman - Maid of Honor
Hometown: Old Westbury, New York
3 Facts about you:
I currently live in Washington, DC with my boyfriend, James. I am graduating from The George Washington University Law School this Spring, and in the Fall I will be beginning a clerkship at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
My hobbies include fashion, cooking, and wine tasting.
I met Gabriella in our freshman year at the University of Michigan, where we were roommates in South Quad.
Favorite Memory with Gabriella + Gregory:
Hoarding these for my speech!
Blayke Gladstone - Bridesmaid
Hometown: Weston, Florida
3 Facts About You:
I currently reside in NYC and work in advertising for Spotify.
I just completed my second half marathon and intend on completing at least one a year.
I love doggies, and pretty much stop just about every single one on the streets of Manhattan to say hi.
Favorite Memory with Gabriella + Gregory:
Too many to pick just one, either the time we all slept in the same NYU dorm room, or most recently when I went to visit La and Greg in Boston and got a little taste of their day to day (esp the 1 hr soul ride and lobster roll day).. or the time we went from Rin Tin Tin to Prince Street Pizza, and then Van Leeuwen within the same few hours. TBH any day with them is a great day, and I am so blessed to be part of their love story. Gabriella has known he was the one for quite some time now. ;) Here's to forever!
Eva Gutt - Bridesmaid - Bride’s Cousin
hometown: Mahopac, New york
3 facts about you:
I love riding horses and have been taking lessons since I was 4.
I will be starting college the week before the wedding.
I am a snowboarding instructor at Stratton Mountain in Vermont.
favorite memory with gabriella + Gregory:
I first met Greg over FaceTime (on Gabriella’s phone about ten feet away so I couldn’t see him) on a Family skiing trip. I had no idea who I was talking to, so I just waved and went back to whatever it was I was doing. Every night for the week-long trip, she spoke to him, giving a quick debrief of our days not skiing (because there was no snow). Sharing a room with Gab, I gagged at how sweet their conversations were; her giving every detail so it was almost as if he were there, and him giving commentary and well earned moral support. I mostly ignored their conversations because I didn’t want to eavesdrop, but from the little I did pay attention to, I knew that I’d be seeing a lot more of Greg with Gabriella.
Sarah Hale - Bridesmaid
Hometown: Weston, Florida
3 Facts About You:
I sing opera.
I play golf.
I am a fabulous whistler.
Favorite Memory with Gabriella:
With Gabriella I remember singing Broadway songs, making up dances, and putting on shows just for us (and occasionally anyone else who wanted to watch) and singing super loudly until Jordan would yell at us to stop! Some things never change.
Favorite Memory with Gabriella + Annette:
Gabriella, Annette, and I had a lot of what I call “table talks”: conversations around the small white round table in the Gutt kitchen, always accompanied by dessert and a good glass (or three) of prosecco. On this particular night, it was Shabbat, and we had indulged in an amazing dinner cooked by Annette and at least a couple of glasses of wine already. We stumbled upon an interesting conversation. “Mom, seriously, is Greg going to propose on our ski trip?” Gabriella stated over and over. Gabriella’s really not one for surprises. She wanted to know; she wanted to feel the excitement; she wanted to be prepared. This would be the first time the Gutt family went on an actual extended family vacation with Gregory, maybe a new addition to the family? We took turns hounding Annette with questions, all of us eventually breaking out in unending laughter. That night Annette convinced both of us that she “did.not.know!” saying that the event was unlikely to happen, even. “Wouldn’t he have come to us to ask permission?” she insisted. Now, looking back, we can discern that, in fact, Annette did know, and was a much better sneak than we thought. The surprise remained pristine, and I’ll always be thankful to witness the unfolding of this beautiful time in Gabriella and Gregory’s lives.
Jessica Moore - Bridesmaid
Hometown:davie, florida
3 facts about you:
Currently living in Coconut Grove with my fiancé Josh and completing medical school at the University of Miami.
Lover of horses, rose gold, and a good glass of Rosé.
Went to lower school/middle school/high school with Gabriella, a time when we heavily pursued music and art and both found a love for yoga.
Favorite Memory with Gabriella:
We were high school seniors recently accepted to college. Good colleges, if I may add. Let the debauchery begin. Ready for the joy of senior summer, we spent more days together than not, riding around Weston in Gabriella’s Volkswagen and blasting the indie tunes of our day: vampire weekend, passion pit, etc. etc. Soon we were traveling to Davie, my hometown and the location of our school, for a get-together at a friend’s house. We arrived and the festivities commenced. After we decided that it was time to go home, or, rather, as always, one of our parents started calling interminably. We arrived at a common stoplight, one we had been at many times before, and turned on one of our favorite Calvin Harris songs. After being at the stoplight for what felt like an hour, we turned to each other and burst out into nonsensical laughter. It’s that kind of laughter with Gabriella that we find time and time again when spending time with each other. I’m so lucky to still be able to call her one of my closest friends: may our ability to sink back into the past and realize our true selves with each other never fade.
Jackie Stearns - Bridesmaid - Groom’s Sister
hometown: santa monica, california
3 facts about you:
I’m obsessed with Korean skincare products.
I get horribly seasick, but choose to work on boats as much as possible because I freaking love whales.
I am currently an Assistant Producer on a National Geographic series.
favorite memory with gabriella + gregory:
Stalking Gabriella on Instagram right when Greg told me about her (more to follow).
Ella Stearns - Bridesmaid - Groom’s Sister
hometown: santa monica, california
Scott Lessans - Best Man
hometown: baltimore, maryland
3 facts about you:
I have a mini golden doodle named Murphy named after Murph from Interstellar.
I build intelligent robots for work, but none of them are as smart as Murphy (yet).
Greg and I once drove deep into the woods of Michigan and bought a bengal cat.
favorite memory with gregory:
The second time we met, Greg walked into my dorm room, put his bag on my desk, and pulled out several high-powered lasers. How did he acquire said lasers? No idea. But he told me they could burn holes into stuff and blind you if you pointed them directly at your eyes. It was at that point that I knew we were going to be very good friends.
Brian Gelfand - Groomsman - Groom’s Cousin
Hometown: Santa monica, california
3 Facts About you:
Proud father of the flower girls – Ayla Rose, Addy Lee, Riley Jo.
Best tennis player in the Gelfand family 2001-2011
Prioritized the preservation of Marshall Gelfand’s legacy as a brother of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity alongside:
Greg Stearns
Todd Gelfand
Dean Gelfand
Ben Gelfand
Drew Gelfand? (tbd)
favorite memory with gregory:
Raced Greg in the championship round of the Lake Arrowhead New Years Eve Grand Prix. I won! He cried…
Ben Gelfand - Groomsman - Groom’s Cousin
hometown: santa monica, california
Jordan Gutt - Groomsman - Bride’s Brother
hometown: weston, florida
3 facts about you:
I enjoy playing/watching hockey and tennis, and taking long strolls.
Sunglasses are my favorite accessory.
I created a startup in college.
favorite memory with gabriella + Gregory:
A favorite memory I share with Gabriella and Greg is driving them to Ft. Lauderdale on New Years 2016. Another favorite memory is visiting Gabriella and Greg in Michigan, specifically walking through the Arb and eating Zingerman’s sandwiches.
Hayden Gutt - Groomsman - Bride’s Cousin
Hometown: mahopac, new york
3 facts about you:
I like long walks on the beach, but I love long trails down the mountain.
I probably know at least one underground dining or beverage purveyor in your city.
I play 1 instrument well, 1 not so well, and several others very badly.
favorite memory with gabriella + Gregory:
Well, my favorite story with our favorite couple must be the weekend of the proposal, although I’m sure Annette has it covered so well that it doesn’t bear repeating! That being said, my fondest stories of Greg are long and meaningful conversations to the sound of the sea, both while sailing around Los Angeles, as well as while nearly capsizing into the Charles; and my dearest memory of Gabriella has been the empathy she’s shown me, in kvetching over our families’ neuroticisms in Vermont, and when commiserating over our many educational tribulations, to name just a few times. Ask me about each and I might have a few gems of theirs to share better left off the page.
Spencer Jarrold - Groomsman
Hometown: overland park, kansas
3 facts about you:
I perform stand-up comedy weekly.
I’m dating Greg’s sister, Jackie.
I once borrowed Jackie’s uncle’s car and scraped it against a pole.
favorite memory with gregory:
My favorite memory of Greg is from his father’s 60th birthday party. After an evening of wonderfully performed music in front of a sold-out crowd, it came time for Greg’s dad’s band to step aside and allow the rest of the family to sing ‘Happy Birthday’. Throughout the evening, Greg had been preparing for this performance by drinking a medically-irresponsible amount of tequila. Once on stage with the rest of the family, Greg immediately stole the spotlight/hogged the mic. The noises that Greg let loose that evening in an alleged rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ could’ve made doves cry. Please, ask me for footage.
Marcus McBride - Groomsman
Hometown: san diego, california
3 facts about you:
Married to Ilana, Greg’s cousin.
Went to college at Gonzaga, the best basketball program in the land.
Has a new little pup, Petey!
favorite memory with gabriella + Gregory:
I met Greg before most of Ilana’s family members in my happy place, the most magical place in the world — the Costco parking lot. He had hair as long and wavy as Fabio with a beard for days. Fast forward to a few years later where Greg, Gabriella, Ilana and I were in Boston having dinner in a very polished, “Greg-like” restaurant with much shorter hair talking about a future engagement, just months after Ilana and I tied the knot. Gabriella definitely has had a HUGE influence on him.
Adam Oxman - Groomsman
hometown: chicago, illinois
3 facts about you:
Big Bravo reality TV fan (favorite shows include Vanderpump Rules, Southern Charm and Below Deck).
Make a mean guacamole.
Greg is my “twin brother” – in the fraternity sense. We shared the same big brother in our fraternity lineage!
favorite memory with gabriella + Gregory:
A number of years ago, Greg, Gabriella, my girlfriend Jordan and I were having a night on the town in Ann Arbor (also the first time Greg introduced us to Gabriella). After finishing dinner at the couple’s favorite Italian eatery, Mani Osteria, bellies full of good wine and balsamic & burrata pizza, we called an Uber to take us to a bar for a nightcap. Per usual, Greg was in a very conversational mood. When the car arrived, Gabriella, Jordan and I piled into the backseat, and Greg slipped into the front passenger seat. Little did our thick-accented, Eastern European driver know that he was in for a wild ride. Greg dove right into conversation with the driver, commenting on his choice in music, asking questions about how long he’s been driving for Uber, inquiring about the Nissan Versa we were riding in – on and on. This driver was not having it, but Greg persisted. Meanwhile, the three of us were laughing uncontrollably in the backseat. Finally, Greg turns to the driver and says, “This seat has some phenomenal lumbar support.” The driver stops the car, turns to Greg, and says, “GET OUT!” We were all shocked, but we obliged and continued laughing about it throughout the night. This story makes me laugh every time I tell it, and it shows what a people-person Greg is – always taking an interest in everyone’s stories and trying to make connections!
Kourosh Shaffy - Groomsman
hometown: santa monica, california
3 facts about you:
Tacos Por Favor in LA is my favorite restaurant.
I got to choose my own middle name.
I once sat next to Larry David during a movie.
favorite memory with gregory:
I travelled with Greg to Europe the summer after high school and we went to Rome. We went there from Florence, and were only going to spend a night, so we foolishly thought that we wouldn’t need a place to stay in Rome, that we could just catch the train early the next day and sleep on the ride back. Well, it was incredibly hot and humid in Rome, and we were really feeling the effects of it. But even after a full day of walking and sweating, at night we still thought that we’d be fine, that we’d maybe find a cool bar to relax at, and not sleep. I’m still not sure what we were thinking. We kept walking until we really couldn’t anymore, and it was only 2 am. We couldn’t find that relaxing bar we thought we might—every bar near us was just blasting club music. We settled on sitting in an outdoor patio area in Vatican City, which we wanted to tour the next morning, and were bit by bugs all night long. At the same time, our phones had died at this point and we hadn’t brought chargers, so we really felt disconnected. We did manage to sleep a couple hours, but only to wake up when it was sunny and find that a group of tourists were staring at us, likely because of how incredibly disheveled and tired we appeared. We looked hilariously bad. At that moment we looked at each other and we both clearly knew we would never make that mistake again. We obviously should’ve gotten a place to stay that night, it makes no sense that we didn’t. But despite all of that, we still had a great, funny time just exploring Rome together, and despite our tiredness we still excitedly made our way through all of Vatican City. And we fell instantly asleep on the train ride back.