Wedding Party
Natalie
Maid of Honor
Natalie, my "Bean", and I met when we became accidental roommates during our time at the University of Florida. Even though UF awarded me my degree, the most important thing I got in Gainesville was a sister for life. Natalie is strong, intelligent, warm, tenacious... the list goes on. She faces challenges with ferocity, her many victories with humility, and stands by her friends and family with unparalleled loyalty. She inspires me everyday to be better than the day before. Our relationship has also been long distance, (with Natalie attending Emory University for her Masters in Public Health and, and now Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in South Carolina!) but I always feel close to my bean.
Carlos
Best Man
Carlos is my one and only younger brother, and we share the typical brother relationship- getting each other in trouble, wrestling, breaking things that shouldn’t be broken at the most inopportune times, the list goes on... We didn’t always have the easiest of relationships but regardless, he has been there for me when I’ve needed him, including a cross-country move from Phoenix to Atlanta. Over the years we’ve become a lot closer and gotten to make up for lost time. He’s always had the urge to travel and now he’s made his way to Spain as part of a teaching program. He’s truly taken the road less traveled and I respect him for it. It hasn’t always been easy, but he’s always found a way to make it work under his own terms. I’m glad he can be there for me on such an important day.
Jessica
Bridesmaid
Jessica is everything I could've ever wanted in a future sister-in-law: Kind-hearted, witty, beautiful inside and out, and a compatible weirdness that rivals only mine. I know that even if Octavio and I had never met, Jessica and I would've found our way to each other eventually. It doesn't matter what else is going on in my life, I know that if I need to genuinely laugh, I could turn to Jessica. I am also forever grateful to Jessica for my job at SJWH, because when I was looking for jobs, I purposefully tried to find one where she was working. Though she works on Mother- Baby, I am always running into people that know her, and only have her praises to sing.
Miguel
Groomsman
Miguel has been a part of my life as long as I can remember, as close to me as my own brother. He moved to North Carolina from Bogota, Colombia when he was 12 years old and knew very little English. Needless to say it took a while for us to find anything in common. We shared a room for over 10 years, not always the easiest situation (He liked listening to music on his CD player and singing along in the middle of the night to help him go to sleep). One of his only downfalls is that he’s a University of Central Florida alumnus, but he’s still family so I forgive him for it!
Endia
Bridesmaid
Endia and I met at orientation for nursing school at Utica College, and I can't help but feel that it was fate that we ended up together in that cohort (and eventually working together at St. Joseph's Women's Hospital NICU). We are both Florida natives (her from St. Petersburg, myself from Tampa), and we both attended the University of Florida for three overlapping years. After having been parallel for so long, I am incredibly blessed that our paths finally crossed in 2016. I knew immediately that she would be a special person in my life. Besides being incredibly gorgeous, she is confident, sweet, charming, and intelligent. Everyday, she is unapologetically herself, and she always encourages me to do that same! I am so grateful for her friendship and sisterhood!
Nick
Groomsman
I don't know what my life would look like if I wasn't so close with Nick. From the time we were little I have always admired how intelligent and thoughtful he is. Not only has he been one of my most important role models, but he has also been one of my best friends for as long as I can remember. Even though he is living and working right now in San Francisco as a medical consultant, Octavio and I are always FaceTiming him and staying up to date on his life. It is my hope that one day we won't be separated by so many miles, even if the next time happens to be on mine and Octavio's wedding day.
Michelle
Bridesmaid
Another reason I am thankful to St. Joseph's Women's Hospital is for bringing Michelle into my life. Tall, blonde, beautiful, and dressed in head to toe pink scrubs, Michelle definitely stood at our orientation; so I sat next to her. Over time, we discovered our shared passions for Friends, wine, dogs, and after work mimosas.However, I also discovered that Michelle is sweet, handy, goofy, determined, and nurturing (more than she would like to admit). Countless times, I've seen her go above and beyond for her family and friends, regardless of whatever is already going on in her life. She is the support system anyone would be lucky to have, which is one of the many reasons I am glad to have her next to me on 4/17/2021.
Joseph
Groomsman
Joseph has been by my side since day one, so it seems only fitting that he stands by Octavio and I on one of the most important days of our lives. Joseph has the sweetest disposition of anyone I have ever met- What makes him happiest is seeing his friends and family doing well. Along with being so loving, Joe is incredibly driven and intelligent. After graduating with his Bachelor's degree from Beacon College and getting some experience in the workforce, Joe began his journey with the DAVE (Digital Animation & Visual Effects) school in Orlando, Florida. I am so proud to have such an amazing twin, and so lucky that Octavio asked him to join us up at the altar on our wedding day, since it wouldn't be complete without him.
Nora
Bridesmaid
The absolute sweetest, warmest, most genuine human you'll ever meet. I consider myself exceptionally lucky to have lived in the same dorm as Nora during our Freshman year at the University of Florida. I told her then that we would be in each other's lives forever, and luckily, she has let me stick around. Having worked as a PICU nurse, Nora is compassionate and determined beyond measure, and is one of the people that inspired me to go to nursing school. Today, though we are separated by hundreds of miles as she completes her Masters of Business Administration at Vanderbilt University, she still serves as a daily reminder for me to always keep dreaming.
Leo
Groomsman
Leo is easily one of my closest and most trusted friends. We’ve known each other for a long time, going back to high school varsity soccer. I might have thrown my shoulder into his back in the middle of the game once, but in my defense, he never lets me hear the end of it. We’ve kept up through college and always managed to reconnect any chance we could. He’s one of the most successful people that I’ve known, having left his corporate job at a Fortune 500 company to start his own successful business several years ago. He’s one of those types of friends that pushes you to be better.
Camila
Flower Girl
Octavio and I are forever grateful to Jessica, Camila's mother, for bringing her into our lives. The past three years have been filled with love and laughs because of this little girl. She is affectionate, smart, and strong-willed, and we know that these qualities will help her to grow into an amazing person, and we feel so lucky to be witnesses to that. We cannot wait to watch her grace the aisle with her sweet smile.
Rylan
Ring Bearer
Rylan is my first nephew and is a handful to say the least (in a good way). We love spending time with him whether that means playing Pokemon cards, looking up Fortnite videos, playing board games, or just having him over so he can roller blade and play in the pool. He has more energy than any kid his age I’ve ever met, but he’s a great nephew and an even better big brother to his sister Camila. He hit it off extremely well with Gaby from the get go, so when we asked him to be our ring bearer he was obviously thrilled, much to our excitement. We know he will bring the same great energy to our wedding!
Emerson
Flower Girl
Emerson Ava, or Emmy, at the age of 3 is feisty, inquisitive, bright, and a seasoned flower girl. She is the center of the Englezos/Weiss universe and completely lights up any room. We look forward to seeing her many adventures and are certain that her bubbly spirit will continue to illuminate her bright path, as well as our aisle.
Tripp S.
Ring Bearer
Tripp is our miracle baby. Though he was born extremely prematurely and with the odds stacked against him, he persevered!! Today it is with such pride and joy that we invite him to be a ring-bearer at our wedding. Although only three years of age, he serves as an inspiration to us all that we should cherish every day and take absolutely nothing for granted. We look forward to seeing him meet all of his mile stones and achieve many successes.
Tripp C.
Ring Bearer
Though we do not get to see our little Tripp nearly as much as we would like to, he takes up a big piece of our hearts. Sweet, bright, and gentle, Tripp has grown to be an amazing little boy, and an awesome big brother to his baby sister, Piper. We know that with time, he will only continue to become the amazing person he is meant to be. We are so excited to be able to share this day with Tripp and have him as our ring bearer!