Wedding Party
Ryan Parker
Officiant
Ryan Parker is the oldest friend that Andrew and Robin share who they met at the same time. Married to Robin’s Matron of Honor, Ryan has joined the happy couple on countless national park adventures, sometimes against his better judgment. (Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas for spring break…really?) But he does an excellent job of finding great breweries near the national battlefields they visit so they can cool off afterwards.
Sarah Gerstein
Matron of Honor
Sarah has been by Robin’s side since grad school, and they have explored countless national parks together. Some awe-inspiring and majestic (who knew you could snorkel the continental divide in Þingvellir National Park in Iceland?!) And some more mundane (they are still trying to figure out why they drove all the way out to Weir Farm National Historic Park in rural Connecticut to celebrate the NPS Centennial).
Becca Certner
Bridesmaid
Becca and Robin met at NOAA, and since every patch of grass in DC seems to be classified as a national park, they’ve explored many together while trekking across town to various networking events. One time, they even found themselves enjoying Presidents’ Park in a unique way–by going bowling in the White House!
Jillian Loveless
Bridesmaid
Jill and Robin met at Yale, and during a policy trip to the Middle East, they explored the area around Jerusalem Walls National Park. When they were departing the country and the security guards were questioning them on their activities, doubtful that Jill–then on crutches–walked around the Old City of Jerusalem, Robin calmly told the guards that they dragged the folding wheelchair from the hotel up the cobblestone steps behind Jill.
Hannah Mazjanis
Bridesmaid
Hannah and Robin met at NOAA, where they frequently seemed to dress alike and everyone thought they were interchangeable. Robin had the great honor of accompanying Hannah on her first ever backpacking trip along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, where they discovered that it does, in fact, get really cold in the DC area, even in the spring.
Ryan Godwin
Best Man
Ryan and Andrew met at Wake Forest during graduate school. Andrew has Ryan to thank for his disc golf hobby and love of soccer, and they shared many a trivia night together with friends. While most people endure Andrew’s puns, Ryan usually fires back a few instead of groaning.
Zach Lamport
Groomsman
Zach and Andrew have been friends since they went to grad school together at Wake Forest University, both working in the same lab together. Zach endured countless puns while they shared an office and traveled to conferences together, and Andrew learned many things from him: from how to properly throw a frisbee to evaporating metal in ultra-high vacuum.
Grant Maltba
Groomsman
Grant and Andrew met in high school, and have been friends ever since. From riding together to away football games in band, to epic hikes through the wilderness, Andrew credits Grant for inspiring his love for hiking, backpacking, and the great outdoors. Throughout all life’s changes, Grant has been one of Andrew’s longest friends.
Summer
Bitch of Honor
Summer came into Robin’s life in the early days of the pandemic. She did a stellar job of keeping Robin company under social distancing protocols until Andrew came into her life, and then she gained a second human to love. An adventurous pup, Summer has joined Robin on many national park adventures as part of the Great Sniff Tour of America® and she earned her first (of many) bark ranger badges at Fort Stanwix National Monument.