Our Wedding Party
Jenna Zimmerman
The Officiant
Jenna met Todd and Esther when she joined AMP Agency in Boston back in 2018. Initially, Jenna and Todd's friendship formed within a difficult account they both worked on together for a number of years—with Todd working out of the NYC office, and Jenna in the Boston office. And with Esther, they bonded over their love of shopping and food. And also over the fact that Jenna and her husband almost named their cat (Townes) Esther. Wouldn't that have been cool!?
It is a known fact that Jenna and Esther are able to convince each other to buy pretty much anything and everything. Weird. After Esther and Todd started dating, Jenna has been that one person that knew both of them and have ever since been such a big part in their journey. There is no one better suited to be the officiant.
Alexander Kamanu
The Best Man
Alex and Todd became best mates almost instantly. When they met, Todd was studying abroad at a university in London, while Alex was an incoming first year student (aka a “fresher”.) And as one might guess, with young people involved, hijinks ensued. But throughout all of the mayhem of uni, Alex and Todd had a brotherly bond. Serious discussions about life, religion and politics were regular pastimes for them. That is, of course, if they weren’t already having a pint.
Those uni days are long gone, but Alex & Todd have remained constant friends since. Alex, his fianceé Laeti, and their brand new baby boy Raphael have become a found family for Todd & Esther—and there’s even a group chat for it!
Kelly Deans-Birmingham
Where to even begin with Kelly and Esther's friendship? The two were random roommates freshman year at Northeastern University, way back in 2012. The rest is history. People have described the two as an old married couple (sorry, Todd), always bickering over something. But behind that bickering are two people who understand each other like no one else.
On one hand, there's Kelly who's an introvert, is more reserved and quiet and much more logical (than emotional). And then there's Esther—an extrovert who is much more open & loud, and who happens to be very emotional. It's true what people say— opposites do attract. From college parties to vacays in Costa Rica, the two have experienced it all toegther. There is no doubt in Esther's mind that Kelly would be a (co-) Maid of Honor.
Co-Maid of Honor
Scott Fenton
Brother of the Groom, Groomsman
Naturally, being Todd’s older brother, Scott has seen him at his highs and lows. However, being an incredible older brother, Scott has never judged or admonished him for the lows. Scott is an incredibly supportive man, whose quiet confidence brings a sense of stability to whoever he is around.
Though the brothers are different in personality, they’ve always gotten on extremely well—as far having two boys in the house usually goes, anyway. Some of Todd’s fondest memories are playing video games with his brother, from when they started out on an original NES, all the way up to today. Todd couldn’t imagine anyone else being his brother.
Audrey Goettl
Audrey and Esther met in the halls of Shanghai American School in 2006. It was Esther's first year at Shanghai, and Audrey's second year. While they were in the same circle of friends in 7th grade, the two didn't become close until the next year in 8th grade. They bonded over many school trips together -- from sleeping in yurts in Inner Mongolia, to listening to each other poop in a hole in Guizhou, from toga parties in Sichuan, to their first ever international trip together to London. Unfortunately, Audrey ended up moving to Singapore after sophomore year of high school.
These two knew they were destined to be friends for life, with no distance tearing apart their friendship. They've been long-distance since 2010, but have realized they will always be a part of each other's lives. These two have even pinned their respective dream weddings on Pinterest back in high school, so there's no one else Esther could imagine being another (co-) Maid of Honor.
Co-Maid of Honor
Naomi Boase
Naomi and Todd originally met— of all places—at a Christian summer camp. Both of them were working there and met through (a wonderful) mutual friend. They became friends themselves, both navigating through a workplace system that was, to say the very least, problematic.
That following autumn, and completely by coincidence, Todd and Naomi both decided to attend graduate school in London. This is when the true bond started. Having known each other beforehand, sharing common experiences, and both being in the UK for study made for an extremely quick friendship. Naomi & Todd spent a lot of time together—at pubs, attending each other’s unis for social events, hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for Brits, spending the 4th of July at an American BBQ in the park, stumbling home late on buses and the tube, etc. The list is long. And throughout every experience together, Todd knew that Naomi was, has been, and will always continue to be a true friend, in the very sense of the phrase. Naomi is deeply committed to others, and whose heart arches for the least of these. (casual bible reference, tyvm.) Todd is so proud to have Naomi at his side in September.
Groomswoman
Erin Fouhy
Bridesmaid
Erin and Esther became friends when their old head of Account Management (who was, let’s say, not great) at an advertising agency sat the two together, and gave them a pet fish to care after. Their friendship truly blossomoed over taking care of Finz (their new pet fish) and over their love of eating and snacking. Someone once coined them the Snack Sisters ( they were proud of that nickname, don't worry.) There's no shame to finishing family-sized Salt & Vinegar Lays in one (maybe two) sittings. They would frequent many restaurants in town and order perhaps way too much food. But hey, how else do you enjoy a good meal if you don't try everything on the menu?
In all seriousness, Erin and Esther have so much in common and are always up for an adventure together (in New England or elsewhere in the world) or just chitchatting away on the couch. Esther of course needs her snack sister to be standing by her side.
Dan Duey
Groomsman
Dan Duey was Todd’s first true best friend. They both met in middle school..and Dan, by proxy of being in the grade above Todd, was cool. It also was helped by the fact that Dan is (and was) an extremely friendly, personable, and funny person. Dan strike up a conversation (and keep that conversation going) with damn near anybody.
Dan & Todd would spend a lot of time at each other’s houses throughout middle and high school—drinking sickening amounts of soda, drawing crude comics, and waiting together for one song to download off of Limewire on dial-up internet. Later, when they got their licenses and cars, they would drive aimlessly around their small, rural town. Even after they had both graduated and Todd had moved downstate for college, they remained close friends. And after all these years, they still remain friends. The physical distance between them has expanded and shrunk throughout the years, but the friendship has always remained.
Zara Brooks
Bridesmaid
Zara and Esther's friendship really blossomed during one particular toga party in Sichuan, all the way back in 2009. Along with the toga parties, there were many (too many) wild singing/laughing sessions on long bus rides—there’s even still photo evidence of that one.
Even after high school, Zara and Esther seredipidously ended up in Boston together— one at BU, and one at Northeastern. The two have been with each other throughout all of their eras—from high school, to college, and into the working world. Zara interned at AMP Agency first, then referred Esther for her to complete her full-time co-op at AMP. It's a given that Esther needs her hotpot loving (or just general food loving gal) standing alongside her.
Vlad Abramyants
Groomsman
Vlad & Todd met each other working together at an advertising agency in New York. Vlad was the designer with experience, but Todd was new to the scene entirely. Nonetheless, Vlad showed Todd the ropes and pitfalls of advertising, agencies, and especially advertising agencies. Work hangouts and lunches eventually led to a group of coworkers actually becoming friends and actually choosing to hang out with each other, Todd & Vlad included.
Their tastes align in many ways— music, design, and TV, to name a few. When they’re in the same area (and sometimes even when they’re not), they’re concert buddies. But more importantly, they’ve always had each other’s backs—whether that’s hooking the other up with freelance work, or even the occasional cat-sitting. Todd is honored to have a friend like Vlad, and is excited to share his favorite bits of London with him.