Jessica & Anthony
The Playbill
Jessica Anne Hethcoat
Bride
Jessie will be the one walking down the aisle in white. This whole shin dig is about her (and Anthony, a little).
Anthony Michael Taranto
Groom
He's coming too!
Kathy Hethcoat
Mother of the Bride
Kathy is Jessie's mom, but she is much cooler and knows FAR more about pop culture. She is a walking urban dictionary (seriously, try her) and loves RuPaul's Drag Race. She is also extremely good at personalized book and TV recommendations. She regularly ships Jessie books and clothes, pretty much singlehandedly keeping her current.
Tammi Taranto
Mother of the Groom
Tammi is Anthony's mom (obviously). Pretty much the glue that holds everything together - she and Anthony basically share the same type A personality. Jessie was very impressed when, one day, Tammi and Anthony had a short debate about the right way to cut a ribbon when tying a bow. She was probably right (as she is most of the time).
Gary Hethcoat
Father of the Bride
Strengths: Fixing things, moving helper extraordinaire, math homework aficionado, and the kindest Dad you could ask for. Weaknesses: Any museum around the world that features anything with an engine, including, but not limited to airplanes, submarines, and ships.
Michael Taranto
Father of the Groom
Mike is Anthony's dad. While he claims to be go-with-the-flow (and compared to Tammi and Anthony - he definitely is), he has also probably already planned all of logistics of the vacation so that others do not have to. One thing that you should know about him it is that if Guinness (aka the milk of the gods) is on the menu do not bother offering him anything else. Full Italian, but cannot turn down an Irish pub.
Erin Hallagan
Maid of Honor
Erin and Jessie have been friends since high school. Together through thick and thin, they also played water polo together and were pretty bad at it. She has a history of doing genius-type-things, like graduating in the top 10th percentile of her UCLA law school class. Erin is considering washing her hair for the wedding.
Jayson Reguly
Best Man
Jayson and Anthony met in high school when Anthony cheated off Jayson in Spanish and then somehow got a better grade. He and Anthony have pretty much been side by side during some of the best nights and some of the worst nights (which probably both took place at a bar). He and his wife, Kendra, have a daughter, Violet, who shows up later in the playbill. At the end of the day, there was no question, Jayson was always going to be the Best Man at this wedding.
Erin Wong
Matron of Honor
Erin is Jessie’s work wife from her startup days in San Francisco. If you receive a text or email from Erin Wong, I hope you like to read, because she has never been able to type out and send anything that is less than a 5 paragraph essay. She is now a real-wife to John and a mom to baby Fern, who appears later in this playbill.
Paco Felix
Groomsman
Paco is one of Anthony's friends and shares Anthony's deep appreciate of whiskey. Even though Anthony knows absolutely nothing about the sports, Paco was always sure to invite him over for drinks when folks were drafting their fantasy league. He, his wife, Emily, and there three little ones decided their next adventure lies in Tennessee, but they will be making the trip back for the big day (and a mini vacation from the little ones).
Genevieve Kelly
Bridesmaid
Genevieve was Jessie’s very first friend in high school and later her roommate in San Francisco after college. Genevieve shares Jessie's love of reading and was an anthropology major in undergrad at Wellesley. They painted the town in the good ol' days. They also bonded over their athleticism. In high school swim team, their practice lane had the slowest free style split times 3 years running.
Michael Dwyer
Groomsman
Michael is one of Anthony's friends and aside from family has actually probably known Anthony the longest out the whole wedding party. Michael and Anthony reconnected when they both moved back down to San Diego (and Michael and his wife, Christie, were nice enough to invite Anthony to Michael's birthday brewery crawl). Pre-covid, they were also regulars for Friday happy hour, which Anthony very much hope that these happy hours start back up on the regular when he moves back down from Sacramento.
Julia Hethcoat
Bridesmaid
Julia was born exactly one day after Jessie and their dads are brothers, making them cousin-sista-twins. They have only grown closer with age. Julia is living her best life in the city of her dreams, Nashville, with her baby poodle, Einstein. Jessie and Julia used to get into lots of trouble together when they were little, including using the laundry shoot at Julia's house as a secret passageway and getting stuck a few times.
Ryan Hageman
Groomsman
Ryan is one of Anthony's counsel. Born mere months apart, Ryan and Anthony grew up together. Thick as thieves they were trying to determine which parent to ask if we could spend the night and then if they said no, asking the other parent. No one had a clue; it was a perfect plan. Ryan has finally moved up to Escondido, where Anthony was born and raised, and now Ryan and Anthony spend their time trading texts trying to get together for dinner/drinks but for some reason always having competing schedules (Damn being an adult). I believe in us; we will make it work.
Nicole Taranto
Bridesmaid
Nicole is Anthony’s sister and Jessie's soon-to-be sis-in-law. She, like Jessie, is a Hufflepuff. But like Anthony, she is majorly organized and has got it together. Besides her loyalty, her other super power is picking out the best item on any menu.
Bryce Hageman
Groomsman
Bryce is Anthony's cousin. He started out tagging along after Ryan and Anthony and then one day ended up cooler than both. Well, at least Anthony; I will let Ryan and Bryce decide on who is cooler between the two of them.
Vanessa Estrada
Bridesman
Vanessa and Jessie met in grad school. Vanessa is a “ride or die” and a forever friend to Jessie. Vanessa almost became a doctor too, but came to her senses and now has a very good lifestyle and job. Vanessa was extremely right and should have convinced Jessie to get out while she still could. Jessie forgives her. Vanessa now lives in San Francisco with a lot of plants.
Brian Reguly
Groomsman
Brian is one of Anthony's friends. Their friendship dates back to the football field in high school. From there, Jayson and Anthony pretty followed him to every high school and college party we would find, followed by nights out to Pacific Beach and then clubbing downtown. Brian is always up for a good time and somehow always has a connection or runs into someone that he knows whenever we go out.
Stephanie Dal Porto Kujanpaa
Bridesmaid
Steph is Jessie’s coresident and fellow cat lady. Steph enjoys baking and performing surgery. She is also an ex professional ice skater and military wife to Dan! In a prior life before becoming a surgeon, Stephanie ice skated on cruise ships and quite literally toured the world doing so. She can still do crazy spins and Jessie has videos. She contains multitudes.
Jeff Hethcoat
Groomsman
Jeff is Jessie' brother and Anthony's soon to be brother-in-law. During a zoom with Jessie's family early in the relationship, Jeff looked over at Anthony and just said "suspect". A scary start, but all part of Jeff's humor. Now days, Anthony gets whole sentences out of Jeff as they relax in the Hethcoat's backyard or on the couch watching TV.
Kelsi Nutter
Bridesmaid
Nutter is Jessie’s coresident who traveled with her to Sacramento for third year. She is a badass who had a baby our first year of residency and is now Dr. Mom to baby Mila. Nutter has a husband named Mike, but her true love is probably running. She does strange things like run marathons. If you want to feel bad about yourself, check out her split times on her Strava account.
Violet Reguly
Flower Girl
Violet is Jayson's daughter who Anthony and Jessie knew until the age of 1 and then reconnected with in July 2021 (thanks Covid). She and Anthony bonded as soon as he came over for drinks and she only wanted to sing "I have a dream" from Tangled over and over and over again.
Fern Huizar
Flower Girl
Fern is Jessie and Anthony's Goddaughter. Oh yeah, and Erin Wong's daughter. Fern's hobbies include creating chaos wherever she goes and being adorable 24/7. Fern loves to look for the neighborhood cat(s) - "GAT!" and will also settle for Facetiming Jessie and Anthony's GATS, Shrek and Fiona. This pleases Jessie because as everyone knows, a penchant for cats is a sign of higher intelligence.
Mila Anderson
Flower Girl
Mila is Kelsi's daughter. If you're rolling with Mila, every day is Crazy Hair Day. Seriously, this girl has the best hair. Mila's interests include the park and spotting Daddy while he works out in the backyard. She is a good eater but not super into utensils. Mila's dislikes include clothes.
Michael Hethcoat
Officiant
Michael is Jessie's uncle and her Dad's brother. He is also Julia's Dad. A natural orator, Uncle Mike was a clear choice to ask to marry us. He said yes! Uncle Mike recently moved to South Carolina in a family-wide California exodus but we forgive him. He is enjoying retirement with 6 boy grandchildren and the first girl grandchild on the way.
Walter Hageman
Grandfather of the Groom
Walter is Anthony's maternal grandfather. Born December 22, 1922, Walter will be ninety-nine years old this year.
Anne Louis
Grandmother of the Bride
Anne Louis, MD cannot be summed up in a paragraph. A retired neurologist and Jessie's hero, Dr. Louis is Jessie's Mom's Mom. She is an introvert but she will make an exception for this wedding.
Irene Hageman
Late Grandmother of the Groom
Irene is Anthony's maternal grandmother. Year after year, Irene is always twenty-nine years old.
Fiona Sophia Taranto
Honorary Bridesmaid
Fiona is one of Jessie and Anthony's cats and an Honorary Bridesmaid. She will not be at the wedding to greet guests, because she would go into fight or flight mode if we actually brought her. Probably - fight as she is the protector of the group. While we will miss her at the wedding, she will be there with her brother waking us up for breakfast at 5:30am each morning until then and then again after.
Shrek Giovanni Taranto
Honorary Groomsman
Shrek is one of Jessie and Anthony's cats and an Honorary Groomsman. He will not be at the wedding to greet guests, because he would go into fight or flight mode if we actually brought her. Probably - flight as he hides behind his sister Fiona to protect him. While we will miss him at the wedding, He will be there with his sister waking us up for breakfast at 5:30am each morning until then and then again after.