Nālani & Erin
Wedding Party
Eric Loya
Nālani’s Best Person
Nālani first had the pleasure of meeting Eric through his magnificent wife, Catherine (our officiant), whom they volunteered for at the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica back in 2010. Their first thought/comment upon seeing Eric (from afar) was, “Hm…I didn’t think Catherine had any kids. Is she even old enough to have a teenager?” 🤣🤣🤣 Turned out that was her husband! We had a great laugh over that and became fast friends. Nālani always admired Eric’s witty banter and seemingly unending knowledge of pop culture. He’s got a keen mind, sharp observation, and a heart as big as the state of California. Their friendship grew as did their family, with the birth of their kiddo, Evan, who is possibly one of the kindest sages they’ve ever met. Despite their move to Knoxville a few years ago, the Loyas are forever friends, indeed.
Matthew Mohr
Nālani’s Wedding Party
Brother of the Bride, and friend to Nālani, who is so grateful to be gaining such an awesome big brother! He's kind, intelligent, interesting, and so incredibly talented... Make sure you check out his work all around Columbus! Nālani is beyond honored that both Erin's brothers said yes to joining their side of the wedding party.
Mike Mohr
Nālani’s Wedding Party
Brother of the Bride, and friend to Nālani, who is so grateful to be gaining two more big brothers! Mike is hilarious, kind, ready for adventures, and is also a talented artist. Nālani is beyond honored that both Erin's brothers said yes to joining their side of the wedding party.
Brandie Salisbury Brannon
Erin’s Person of Honor
Erin first met Brandie during their sophomore years while attending Kent State University. They became friends, then roommates and even took a poorly planned trip to the Cayman Islands together. Quick tip: When traveling to another country, immigration officials appreciate it if you book your hotel ahead of time. During those collage years, each would come to rely on the other for what was most likely, very bad advice on dating and life in general. Brandie has remained a close friend and confidant over the years. With her cheerful smile and positive attitude, Erin could think of no one better to have as her Person of Honor.
Stephanie Mohr
Erin’s Wedding Party
Hostess with the mostest, Erin’s sister-in-law, Stephanie, seems to have an uncanny intuition on exactly what you need, from smoothies to croissants! At home, Erin enjoys a protein smoothie for breakfast every day, which isn’t a secret but also isn’t widely known. So, it was a lovely surprise to wake up at Matthew & Stephanie’s house, after flying in late last Christmas, to find she had laid out all the smoothie fixings Erin could want. Stephanie knows just how to make you feel at home.
Karri Mohr
Erin’s Wedding Party
Erin called her sister-in-Law, Karri, to ask her if she would make her famous Corn Chip Potato Salad for our wedding. Karri assumed she was being asked to join the wedding party. Rather than make a scene, Erin just went with it. So, here we are. If Erin had wanted to have Karri in her wedding party, it would be because of her sharp sense of humor, warm demeanor and ability to always make sure everyone around her is having fun. Erin is also appreciative of Karri's ability to take a joke, even on places like Wedding Announcement websites.
Ray Santiago
Father of Nālani
He was Nālani's first real-life hero; they used to love going to the fire house to see him and all the other firefighters at the Honolulu Fire Station in Ewa Beach, where Ray was Captain. He's still Nālani's hero, from whom they learned nearly everything...even though it NEVER seemed like Nālani was listening. Ray is an avid golfer, woodworker, and tinkerer. It seems like every time Nālani goes for a visit, he has built something new out at the lake house - some of Nālani's favorites: a little babbling water feature, hammock park, a small foot bridge, and a cover for the sewage pipe - designed to look like an old outhouse! Ray plays ukulele and used to sing with a group that played live for Nālani's mom's hula group. He may have moved the whole family off the islands, but the islands never left our hearts. It was something special to grow up still connected to that place - that incredible, beautiful, and peaceful place.
Marilyn Santiago
Mother of Nālani
You could say that Nālani has no shortage of things to admire and feel proud of about their mom, Marilyn, from whom they also learned nearly everything. A surgical RN by trade, Marilyn jet sets around the globe with a few different charitable organizations providing much needed, life affirming surgeries to children and folks in underdeveloped nations. She started doing this shortly after Nālani (the baby in the family) graduated high school and maintains her nursing license so she can continue doing it in retirement. Marilyn's a hero in her own right! Marilyn is busier in retirement than she was ever before, with her thousands of interests. When she's not traveling for fun or surgical missions, she can most often be found hiking in the mountains, kayaking on the lake, painting, dancing hula, reading, playing cards with her friends, researching genealogy, and enjoying time spent with their grandkids & 5 great-grandkids (with #6 due in December). Where does she get all that energy?!!!
Thomas Mohr
Father of the Bride
If anyone were to ask Erin where her lifelong obsession with music and collecting records came from, she would tell you that it would be from her Dad. Erin would sit on the carpeted steps outside her parents bedroom while Dad played records to keep him going while he worked on paying the bills. Many times, Dad would invite her in, show her the cover art and tell her about what they were listening to. Erin has a particularly fond memory of her Dad showing her the cover art of the Beach Boys album called "Little Deuce Coupe". That particular album is currently in Erin's collection and, out of the hundreds of records she owns, that's among her most cherished.
Sandra Mohr
Mother of the Bride
Erin’s passion for comedy could have come from no one else but her mother. They shared a love for Monty Python, Tom Lehrer and Saturday Night Live. Erin has a very clear memory of sitting on our stairs inside the house and crying over a skinned knee. After patching her up, mom’s cure for the tears was to sing to her: Nobody loves me Everybody hates me Going to the garden to eat worms Big fat juicy ones Tiny little squiggly ones Watch them wriggle and squirm Erin learned that comedy could heal. She also learned that uncomfortable emotions should be avoided whenever possible. In that moment, a comedy career was born, in addition to years of therapy.
Catherine Farmer Loya
Officiant
Nālani has cherished their friendship with Catherine & family since the beginning and could not think of anyone better they’d rather have guide and shape their wedding. Catherine was the Director of Religious Exploration at the UU Church in Santa Monica when Nālani started going there (in a previous life). As it happens in those types of places, they were called to volunteer teaching "Sunday school" with the youth and then with the committee that shaped the RE curriculum. Catherine quickly stood out as one of the finest examples of what choosing to meet folks from a place of love and compassion - where they are at - looks like. Nālani considers it an honor and privilege to have worked with Catherine over the years and to maintain a life-long connection with this special person (and family!), who - along with her husband Eric - also happen to be some of the most awesome parents around. Now living and serving in Knoxville, TN, Nālani and Erin are very grateful the Loyas could travel to be with us and play such poignant roles, respectively, in their nuptials!