Hometown: Del Mar, California
Current City: Palo Alto, California
Age: 29
Current Endeavors: reading fantasy novels, dancing, baking (then rationing Jason’s portion), and worrying about my lack of hobbies.
Short Term Goals: graduate from my MD/PhD program
Long Term Goals: graduate from my MD/PhD program
Hometown: London, Ontario (mostly)
Current City: Palo Alto, California
Age: 31
Current Endeavors: coming to terms with my slower metabolism, training to be a pediatric ear, nose, and throat surgeon
Short Term Goals: keep my houseplants alive
Long Term Goals: meet all of Mollie’s relatives
Current City: Del Mar, California
By Mollie: A couple of months into our relationship, Dad was in the Bay Area (using "work" as an excuse to visit one of his children). Neither of my parents knew that Jason existed at this point, so it seemed best for Jason to stay in hiding. The night before Dad came into town, I blurted a thought in Jason's direction: "Maybe you should just meet my family. Then, if you don't get along, we can stop wasting each others' time." It was a classic "whoops-I-said-that-out-loud" moment of honesty that relayed how my parents raised their children: family first.
About 6 months later, Jason met all 9 of my family members at once when he was unwittingly dragged into an elaborate scheme to surprise my parents for their 40th wedding anniversary (pictured above). My parents somehow survived raising 5 children while both in medical training, and they cultivated an incredibly strong family unit and marriage during the process. Jason witnessed tears, countless family stories, and exactly what he was getting himself into that first weekend in San Diego. He knew from very early on that I came as a package deal (Mollie + the Friedlander clan), and my parents are excited to adopt another loving, quirky child into the family.
Current City: Clifton Park, New York
By Jason: We moved a lot growing up – from Australia to America to Canada then back to America again. I remember being really nervous each time to start over again in a different country. But then I realized that none of my moves compared to what my parents faced when they moved from China. I couldn't imagine what it must have been like to leave their families, food, language, and culture all to give us a better life. So now that you know the origin story of my Chinese-American guilt, know that I've always tried to make decisions that would make my parents happy (or at least, not mad).
Mollie is, according to my parents, the best decision I've ever made. In Chinese culture, the term “love” is used sparingly but when my mom declared “I love you, Mollie!” within 24 hours of meeting her, I was very impressed but then kind of shocked because I couldn't remember the last time she said that to me. Since then, the Qian family is thrilled to have Moll in the fold and is counting down the days until October 23rd.
Hometown: Del Mar, California
Current City: Washington DC
Right before my 4th birthday, my brother Mike and I got into an argument: Mike said Mom loved him more, so she would have a boy. Meanwhile, I had already informed our pregnant mom that she would most definitely be having a girl. Maura was born, so I clearly won.
Since birth, "Little One" (who stands an inch taller than me) has run the Friedlander household. With two decades of shared experience on Jason, Maura knows me better than any other person in this world. We've shared bedrooms, clothing, hobbies, and Bowdoin experiences, and I take it as a huge compliment any time someone declares that I'm "exactly like!" my cooler, more thoughtful little sister. I'm so lucky to have Maura as Maid of Honor for a day and sister for life!
Hometown: Del Mar, California
Current City: Denver, Colorado
Probably due to a cancelled babysitter, I found myself sitting in Mom's waiting room and scouting out co-conspirators amongst her patients. Lucky for me, Jess was waiting to have a mole removed off her back. I approached my fellow 4-year-old surreptitiously: "Hiii," Sideways glance; soft whisper, "Want to steal lollipops with me? I know where Patti keeps them..."
Twenty-three years later, Jess and I are still partners in crime. Since college, we've visited each other in Maine, North Carolina, England, Argentina, and Spain. For graduate school, I followed Jess to the Bay so that we could continue our adventures together in Northern California. Jess' bubbly and fun-loving personality has inspired countless stories, which many of my other friends hear long before they meet and instantly befriend Jess herself. Jason and I are so excited to have Jess officiate the big day; we can't imagine a more fitting friend!
Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia
Current City: New York, New York
Prashasti and I met on Facebook Messenger. She found my name on the Google Sheet of medical school classmates looking for roommates, guessed by my sleeping preferences and music taste that I was (hopefully) not crazy, and messaged me to ask about applying for housing together. Thus, the "Praj Moholl" (aka Rains 217, Apartment 310) was born.
We were housemates, study buddies, and emotional supports to each other for four years before Prashasti paved the path by starting residency. It means so much to have Prashasti represent our medical school family in the bridal party!
Hometown: McLean, Virginia
Current City: Chicago, Illinois
My older cousin Caily taught me every Annie lyric I know today. She also taught me what it means to be a profoundly caring person and how to make everyone else smile by laughing at yourself. We've been building forts, choreographing dances to JT, choosing brownies at family reunions, and singing on road trips until we go hoarse for as long as I can remember.
My extended family, including roughly 30 cousins, has played an enormous role in the personality, moral fiber, and ridiculous stories that define me today. I can't wait to sing off-tune with Caily's beautiful voice and dance with the rest of the Fried-Fallon clan at the wedding!
Hometown: San Diego, California
Current City: Atlanta, Georgia
I met Ami in middle school, and our relationship solidified into a best friendship by high school. Ami would scold me for walking too quickly across campus (probably because I'm almost a foot taller than her), but I was the one struggling to keep up with her moves on the dance floor. Since high school, we've laughed and cried together over everything from the Jonas Brothers come back to the emotional roller coaster of basic science research.
I'm constantly inspired by Ami's work ethic, strength, thoughtfulness, and chocolate chip cookie eating abilities. Jason and I are so excited to have her walk by our side (at a reasonable pace) on the big day!
Hometown: Olympia, Washington
Current City: Marina Del Rey, California
Right after Jason met my family, I found my sister-in-laws whispering in the kitchen. They had decided that 1) they like Jason and 2) the criteria for marrying into the Friedlander family include being from a small family and wielding a camera with expertise. In addition to sharing these qualities, Danielle (my sister-in-law) and Jason are proud co-conspirators in the "Asian invasion" of the Friedlander clan.
Danielle's strength of character and creativity are clear at every family event, and it's been such fun seeing her energetic side at Danielle's "Dirty Thirty" in Las Vegas and our short-but-sweet time together in Barcelona! While it may seem that I don't need any more siblings, I couldn't be luckier to have Danielle as another sister.
Hometown: London, Ontario
Current City: Boston, Massachussets
"You don't marry a person, you marry a family." These are the powerful words that my mom used to close the weekend that Jason's family, including his little sister Grace, met my parents in San Diego.
Grace and I first met on the phone (during a conversation she had with Jason about science classes) and in person when Grace was an amazing host during our visit to Montreal. Grace's calm, thoughtful, and refreshing presence has made it easy to bond over experiences ranging from poutine feasts to pre-med discussions.
Early in our relationship, I learned that Jason is a wonderful person. It must be genetic, because Grace and the rest of his family are just as special.
Hometown: Del Mar, California
Current City: San Diego, California
Corey came into my life in second grade. Somehow, despite me being in the height of my bitter fat phase, Cor befriended me (or maybe she just liked Jess and put up with me?). In any case, she's been a grounded and grounding presence ever since.
Even though she went to a different high school, Corey made a point of staying in her elementary school friends' lives. She was our school dances MVP for doing everyone's makeup, and she was so dedicated to the cause of coming to Homecoming that she wore a wig and glasses to sneak in using a borrowed ID. Corey and I bond over both being one of five kids, struggling through anatomy classes during graduate school, and marveling over how we now love so dearly the little sisters we used to run away from together. I can't imagine our wedding day without her.
Hometown: Radnor, Pennsylvania
Current City: Hillsboro, North Carolina
Alex has been with my brother Dave for nearly half my life. Over this span, we've shared holiday onesies, matching Bowdoin jackets, and countless family memories. As per "criteria for marrying into the Friedlander family," Alex is also a talented photographer. She's lent her sharp eye to our wedding preparations and been a much-appreciated source of wisdom during the wedding planning process.
On top of being a fun-loving sister-in-law, Alex is also an incredible role model as a mother. While my brother jokes that hanging out with their 4-year-old is the surest form of contraception, Jason and I are enamored with and impressed by the adorable product of their masterful parenting. I'm so happy to have my big sister and niece in the bridal party!
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Current City: Chicago, Illinois
The housing gods were looking over me when Natalie and I were assigned as roommates our freshman year. With no kitchen, we both suffered acutely from baking withdrawal. Of course, Natalie had a solution (if you know Natalie, you know that she is a resourceful and constant problem-solver): we'd steal apples from the dining hall, sneak into our affiliated social house, make the apples into a baked creation, then one of us would create a distraction while the other snuck out the back door with the (baked) goods.
Throughout college, Natalie taught me how to be a better friend by example: an encouraging sticky note, a dove dark chocolate when I needed it the most, open ears to immediately debrief on college's questionable life decisions... Natalie and Sam also taught our friends that your spouse should be your best friend: partner in life and partner in pranks. So happy to have this creative, caring woman represent our Polar Bear clan in the bridal party!
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Current City: San Diego, California
Emma, daughter of David and Alex and first of her name (aka my niece), has usurped Maura as ruler of House Friedlander. She melts hearts with a smile, has more energy than the rest of the house put together, and could get away with murder. Jason and I are so obsessed with her that we speak in "Emma-isms" (the funny things she said when she was two years old). We love Emma more than words could do justice and are so excited to have her as our flower girl! Enough description; let's hear from the Flower Girl herself...
Q: "Emma, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
A: "A unicorn. No wait, I want to be a cooker and a mommy. Not a mommy of stuffies [stuffed animals], a real mommy that takes care of real babies that cry."
Q: "Emma, what's your favorite activity?"
A: "Going to the museum."
Q: "Emma, who do you love?"
A: "Peppa!"
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, California
Current City: San Francisco, California
Mike was my co-resident at Stanford and former landlord. Now he's my best man (and I'm his - isn't that cute?)
Hometown: Del Mar, California
Current City: Hillsboro, North Carolina
Dave is Mollie's oldest brother and is a professional pecker checker by choice.
Hometown: Del Mar, California
Current City: Marina Del Rey, California
Jeff is Mollie’s second oldest brother and identifies as a juvenile member of Yoda's species.
Hometown: Del Mar, California
Current City: Medford, Oregon
Mike is the youngest of Mollie's older brothers and has a deviated septum.
Hometown: Orange, California
Current City: Portland, Oregon
Brian and I were co-residents at Stanford where we did not receive enough of the positive feedback that we deserved.
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
Current City: Seoul, Korea
James and I met during undergrad in Toronto. Now he's a fancy international corporate lawyer and I clean people's ears for a living (and am still in training at that).
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Current City: Denver, Colorado
Steve and I third and fourth-wheel Mollie and Jess's relationship, which is an interesting arrangement that has been working out so far.
Hometown: Southfield, Michigan
Current City: Chicago, Illinois
Hasani and I met during medical school at Columbia and continue to be each other's financial counselors, which has not been going particularly well for either of us.
Hometown: Halfmoon Bay, California
Current City: Halfmoon Bay, California
Jonny and I tried to be fashionable together throughout medical school in New York City, but then promptly gave that up back in NorCal and have been living like country bumpkins on the peninsula since.
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Current City: Boston, Massachusetts
By Mollie: Chris and Mich Jedrey invited all seven Friedlanders to their summer home in Maine throughout Mollie's childhood. This is evidence of the Jedreys' endless generosity, warmth, and insanity. Over the years, the Jedreys evolved from Marty's oldest friends to Marty's childrens' extended family. Anna (Chris and Mich's daughter) and her family (Hudson, Huddy, and Simone Evei) are a party of this extended family tree. We're so excited and honored to have Huddy as our ring bearer! Let's hear some of Huddy's thoughts on life and love...
Q: "Huddy, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
A: "A Fireman!"
Q: "Huddy, what's your favorite activity?"
A: "Throwing rocks on the beach with granddad."
Q: "Huddy, who do you love?"
A: "Baby sister!"