Henry & Perry
Meet Perry's Party
 
The "Who's Who" of our Celebration
So often, when you go to a wedding, you may know the wedding couple and perhaps even one of the bridesmaids or groom's attendants. But usually, the line of people entering the ceremony ahead of the couple, seem like random strangers. Of course, they're neither random, nor are they strangers to the wedding couple - as being chosen as a member of a wedding party is a great honor bestowed on the most special people in the couple's life (and the occasional obligatory "had to ask" attendant!). Throughout the wedding ceremony and the following cocktail hour and dinner reception, when doing a little digging, you can find out who these "random" people were and how they came to be part of the wedding party.

But we felt that the people that we've chosen are SO special to us, that we wanted you to have an introduction to each of them, and to know a little about why they are each so special in our lives. That way, they won't seem quite so random and unfamiliar as you watch them participate in our wedding celebration. So we invite you to enjoy as we share a little bit about the wonderful people who will be making up our wedding party!

PERRY's Wedding Party

   
Danielle Poussard
Maid of Honor
Danielle was born in May 2001, while I was finishing up my Sophomore year in high school. This was a very exciting year in school, as I knew my parents were determined to have a little girl to round out the family. It had been years in the making with multiple hurdles to jump along the way.

I distinctly remember when we went to get the ultrasound where the baby's sex would be revealed. Dad was at work, and Mom told all of us to stay out of the room, so that only she would know until she was able to tell Dad. We brought a DVD along, and the staff recorded the ultrasound, so that we could bring it home to watch. It was an agonizing day waiting for Dad to come home. Once he did, we popped that DVD in, and low and behold, a girl was on her way!

My very special relationship with Danielle stems from the fact that as a sibling 16-years her senior, I was a built-in babysitter and able to care for Danielle in many ways that I wasn't able to with my other siblings. Danielle and I even shared a bedroom until I went off to college. Being that I wasn't always around, time spent with Danielle held extreme significance and was always treasured. Many times, I would leave my childhood home in tears, for the mere fact that I wasn't able to grow up with my sister.

Now, Danielle is a budding teenager. She is full of energy and very vibrant. As an athlete, she's been involved with gymnastics, softball, volleyball, and bowling. She's very much still involved with most of these and is giving us all a run for our money, especially at bowling. She's also a great student and well liked by her peers.

What I love most about Danielle is how she's developing into a young woman with an appreciation for acceptance and diversity. We've often called her the hippie of the family because PEACE, LOVE, and FLOWERS are symbols and mantras of her life. She does not tolerate unacceptance, bullying, or pain, and that is why (among so many other reasons), as my sister, I am proud and so happy to call her my Maid of Honor.

   
Audrey Benet
Matron of Honor
Audrey and I met in the summer of 2003 at Gospel Roads II, the second part of a three-part community service program that we would be a part of as the Salesian family for many years.

We hit it off right away, as we both were growing and developing our spiritual and personal lives in much the same fashion - "Am I supposed to become a religious figure, or should I explore who I am in other ways?" With so much common ground, it's no wonder that we are great sounding boards for each other when it comes to new ideas, spirituality, human behavior & relationships, business analysis, and so many other topics.

In Spring 2004, Audrey told Perry about the Disney College Program and that she thought I would be a perfect fit for the program. I had applied and been accepted as an Attractions Host for Fall 2004, but I didn't want to break up my two physics classes, as I thought that would be too long between classes to work on that subject matter. I pushed my acceptance back to Spring 2005 and was moved into Food & Beverage; thus began my love affair with being a Disney Cast Member. Once I began working for Walt Disney World, I was drawn back to the Orlando area, where Audrey lives, each year to remain in the Disney system, in addition to my continuing efforts with the Salesians and the multitude of retreats/projects they ran.

Audrey has been with me through thick and thin. She is an incredible woman, and I cannot say enough about the love and support she has given me through the years. I am truly blessed that God put such a sweet and generous soul in my life, as she's truly been the best of friends to me. I look forward to the day where we conquer the world together. ;)

   
Taylor Bonino
Best Man
Taylor and I met in Summer 2011 when I joined the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas DreamWorks Experience cast for a 9-month performance contract. The contract was meant to be a "pay off my student loans" gig, but little did I know that some of my greatest relationships would be born of this opportunity.

As a part of a cast that is working non-stop together, hardly ever apart, it's inevitable that close bonds are formed. Such was the case with Taylor. Our relationship was made even stronger when I became Coordinator of the program and Taylor became my right-hand man as Costuming Coordinator. We were inseparable, except, of course, when I made out that I needed to be working all the time...lol

Taylor is an exceptional socialite. He can mix and mingle with ANYONE, and I truly envy how easy it is for him. I absolutely credit him with making sure I didn't go crazy on such a long contract.

The other thing I love about Taylor is how much I can trust him, and I know that he'll never judge me for being me - the workaholic that needs to be forced to have fun every now and then. He and I went through some great highs and lows together on the ship, concerning ourselves and others, and we've only come out stronger in the end.

With such a carefree and lovable spirit, Taylor is the kind of person I aspire to be and that is why I am honored to have him as my Best Man. 

   
Laurie Duke
Maid of Honor Stand-In
I am grateful to Laurie for agreeing to stand in for my sister as Maid of Honor. But I want to be sure to say that Laurie would have been a member of the wedding party in some capacity regardless of taking on the role as "Maid of Honor Stand-In".

I met Laurie the same night that I met Henry, and our group has been a force to be reckoned with ever since. As a heart transplant survivor of over 10 years, Laurie has a lease on life that is unparalleled.

Henry and Laurie go way back to their days in high school, and that relationship has only grown stronger over the years.

One of my favorite moments with Laurie was when we went to Iceland, and we visited a waterfall where we were able to climb the mountain of which it was a part. Laurie was determined to climb it, and Henry and I told her we'd stop however many times we needed to in order to accomplish the climb. There were many stops along the way, BUT when we finally ended up at the top of the moutain, overlooking the falls, the moment was surreal and magical. Laurie and I had a good cry together at how majestic the experience was and how present God was at that moment. That trip was filled with much laughter and many tears, as we continued to bond. Laurie has a laugh that is contagious and there is nothing more fun than to get her laughing so hard that tears come out of her eyes.

Laurie is vivacious and fearless, and her ability to calm, push forward, and love are incredible. As a great friend to both Henry and I, we are extremely excited to include her in our special day, not only as a stand-in for my sister, but also as a part of the service.

   
Chris Poussard
Groomsman
My Uncle Chris is also my Parrain/Godfather and Confirmation sponsor. He is the youngest brother of my Dad's siblings, and I credit him with so much of how my faith as a Catholic Christian was formed.

Chris was always an inspiration to me. I remember that he used to design artwork for the Church fairs each year, and I recall wishing I had that kind of artistic ability. Little did I realize that the arts would become my future!

Chris is a very spiritual individual, so I often received religious gifts from him that I treasured. My rosary that Uncle Chris brought home from Medjugorje has always remained close by me, and my Vatican II Daily Missal, embossed with my name, was used daily at times and now sits on my bookshelf in my office, always close at hand. Chris even discerned the seminary and the priesthood, so I've always been very happy to consider him a spiritual guide in my life.

Now, even moreso, I am happy that Chris is a part of my life and my journey. He and his family are not only extremely spiritual but also very open and accepting of everyone they encounter. In a recent phone call, my Parrain assured me that he loves me for who I am, accepts me for who I am, and will support me unconditionally for who I am, and I couldn't be prouder to have such a strong individual standing by me on such an important and spiritual day in my life.

   
Melissa Hernandez
Groomsmaid
My Aunt Meme is my Godmother. She is one of the most forward and progressive thinking people I know, which is why I feel so close to her.

Meme was the first person in my life who introduced me to being an entrepreneur rather than just working for and feeling stuck in corporate America, as well as pushing me to work within the Entertainment industry, which has always been a passion of mine. With her guidance and encouragement, I've started a multitude of businesses and look forward to financial independence that is reliant on my personal successes, rather than those of a corporate structure.

Meme has also influenced me when it comes to health and wellness, as that is her area of expertise. I can't help but see the success she has had in her own life and with those of her family in eating properly and exercising regularly. She inspires me everyday to be keenly aware of what I put into and do to my body, so that I can maintain an active lifestyle well into my later years.

Whenever we talk on the phone, Skype, or hang out together, our energies resonate so highly that we never want to stop because we feed each other the positivity and encouragement we need to live healthy and productive lives.

For these reasons and so many more, I look forward to sharing this day with Meme by my side. Then, we'll be off to make our millions and billions. Haha.

   
Lisa Sutton
Groomsmaid
Lisa and I were introduced through Audrey. They are partners in crime and now, as of March 2013, legally wed.

Lisa and I have had a roller coaster of a relationship, but in recent years, I've learned that Lisa's ability to tell the truth, no matter how much it may hurt, is her way of showing love and caring for you. She will protect those closest to her, no matter the cost.

We also share a deep love for "old/traditional Disney," as we have such history with the company - Lisa as a Cast Member of over 15 years and I as someone who grew up with Disney every step of the way, including my eventually becoming a Cast Member. We have a great appreciation for what Walt desired in his company, especially the theme parks, and neither of us wants to let go of "what once was," as much as we have to watch it happen with American economic shifts.

Lisa is an absolutely amazing individual with a great heart. Hopefully there won't be TOO many antics going on behind me at the altar.

   
Richie Zamorski
Groomsman
Oh, where do I start!? LOL...I first met Richie when I signed him on to the Allure of the Seas, as a replacement cast member for the DreamWorks Experience team. After touring him around the ship and getting him settled in, I thought, "OK, he's an awesome guy; things will go smoothly from here on out." And he is an awesome guy! But what I didn't realize that first day, though, was how many challenges he'd throw my way. Some challenges almost ended with him being pushed overboard, and other challenges, quite frankly, changed my life.

Richie is not afraid to tell you that you're wrong, nor does he feel the need to follow every rule to a 't', especially if he doesn't agree with it. As his supervisor, that poses certain difficulties at times. And there were moments when we were like oil and water. I'm very structured and rigid about rules being followed, and Richie often thought I should let go and relax. Richie has a very big personality, and there are those that don't know how to take him. Most people who only know him peripherally, see only the theatricality of his personality.

However, there's another side to Richie that only very few people get to see. I am privileged to be one of those people. We had our tiffs on the work-side of things, but on the personal-side of things, Richie helped me grow to realize that I had to take control of my life. Ultimately, that's what he's always doing - taking his life's reigns full throttle - whether other people like it or not.

We had many heart to hearts during our time together on the ship, and Richie helped me to realize that I had lost control and sight of my personal goals. Not only did he help me get back on track, he also pushed me to be sure I was working towards those goals - we sang at Christmas Mass together on the ship, even pushing me to cantor, which I hadn't done in such a long time! Richie helped me regain some confidence in myself.

Richie also ensured that I didn't take work too seriously (anyone seeing a common theme among my friends? lol). He pushed for me to take time off and relax. He, of course, was also the person who introduced me to Henry and the beginning of the rest of my life.

I can't thank Richie enough for pushing me and allowing me to see the heart and soul he has and wants to share with this world. I look forward to sharing that together on this special day and for many years into the future, as we push forward in our successes. 

   
Ralph Valencia
Groomsman
In the short time I have known Ralph, we have forged an immediate bond. Henry knew Ralph from his time out in California, and Henry couldn't wait to share this amazing individual's personality with me when we visited.

Ralph and I are Disney soul-brothers. Truly! Walt inspires us. Walt's vision inspires us. Our passion drives us. My relationship with Ralph may be short, but it is impressive how something as simple as a mouse bonds us, which is why I can't wait to see where our bond takes us over the years.

Our bond and our fun-loving approach to life is exactly why I feel that he must stand with me at the altar. Ralph is truly an inspiration and a joy.