It all started in the summer before middle school in 2007, when one fateful summer day in an online game called Maplestory, I met Shelly's older sister, Kristine. I discovered that Kristine had a little sister named Shelly who was about to start 7th grade at the same middle school I was going to. So, Shelly and I planned an in-person meet-up on the first week of school and became inseparable since. We've made so many precious memories together throughout our 18 years of friendship - sharing the silliest and stupidest inside jokes. In our youth, I'd come to her house every day after school and we would eat her grandma's Bo Kho or make a bunch of mi goreng packets together. We spent countless of hours playing video games together, fangirled over FT Island and 2PM, met a bunch of online friends at Knott's Berry Farm, and had the best sleep overs. She was the only person whose house I was allowed to sleep over! We had a dramatic break-up at the end of our senior year in high school, and while we were not as present throughout our college years, our friendship became stronger than ever when we both reunited after we graduated college. Now, as successful working professionals, we've made new amazing memories together as we've traveled across the U.S. (even having a solo bestie trip to Hawaii!), going on our brunch and shopping dates, walking our fur babies while catching each other up on life, and dancing the night away together at the many concerts we've experienced jointly. Now, we never fail to text each other good morning and good night every single day. We still randomly burst out laughing over nothingness and we are so in-tune that we speak our own language that others can't seem to follow. We complete each other's thoughts and just understand each other without needing to say much. It's hard to put into words the type of friendship that Shelly and I have because it is truly a one of a kind relationship that I do not share with anyone else. It goes without saying that she is not only my bestest friend in the entire world, but also my sister, my ride or die, and my other half.

Lani and I met in our freshman year of high school on the first day of swim practice 16 years ago. I excitedly greeted her, introduced myself, and got an uncomfortable "hello" in exchange. Soon after, she finds herself stuck with me as we become lifeguards and swim instructors for the summer months. Perhaps it was through the tiring, long work days that brought us closer, or maybe my persistence in winning her friendship that finally worked! Lani quickly became a sister to me. With our first big girl paychecks, she and I would go on shopping sprees together at Irvine Spectrum. She taught me how to put makeup on and how to curl my hair. And that was the start of our actual friendship. Now, I can always count on Lani to have a good time regardless of what we end up doing. She is one of the only people that I can find peace in our silence, the person whose house I can randomly show up to and rot for hours watching some trash TV or K-pop show together. She is the one that will always be down to go to a concert last minute, dance with me in the middle of the night with no music, karaoke at the top of our lungs at 2 in the morning, wrestle with me (and beat me up), and have a dance battle in the middle of a classy wine event. Beyond the fun times she and I share together, she also gives me the most encouraging, supportive, and validating words; hypes me up when I need it the most; provides me new perspectives and an alternative point of view to consider, and cheers me on despite our busy schedules. Lani is truly is such a loyal, fun, and thoughtful friend/sister. She challenges me to enjoy life and to be more spontaneous. We always joke about how unexpected our friendship was because we are the complete opposites of each other. From our preferences, problem solving approach, thought processes, fashion choices, and sleep schedule, there is absolutely no overlap. But this is actually what I love so much about our relationship. We are ying and yang, and I need her to be complete. She is the black cat to my golden retriever energy.

Giahan and I technically became friends in 2007 when we both were placed in the same class in middle school. For years, we've exchanged friendly greetings in passing, and she's always been that kind, sweet, friendly, and pretty face that I've gotten to know over the years. It wasn't until freshman year of college at UC San Diego that our acquaintanceship turned into friendship. After finding out that Giahan was also taking the same courses as a fellow aspiring engineer, we found ourselves studying together. Our study dates became more frequent once she transitioned into my chemical engineering program after my attempt to convince her to switch over. It was through the delusional nights studying for our physics and math class, listening to Beyonce through her headphones, and dozing off in Geisel that I knew this was a start to a great friendship. Giahan gave me a sense of home when I was away from home throughout college. Over the next five years together in San Diego, we've created countless of precious memories together, and our friendship turned to a deep sisterhood. We became housemates after freshman year and did almost everything together. Taking the 150 or 237 to and from school, walking around campus before exams to help me "dumb" down and suppress my test anxiety, taking a break in the middle of studying to go to the beach and get fresh air, going grocery shopping and watching running man together as a study break... the list can go on and on. Giahan is one of the main reasons why I have such a fond memory of my college experience. I would not be the person I am without her. She's helped me through every single one of my engineering classes, cooked me dinners on days I was too stressed to eat, kept me company during the late nights at the library. I also would have never met Eric if it weren't for her (and her fiance Mo). Nor would I have discovered my love for BTS if it wasn't for her :-). She's seen me at my lowest and at my highest; she has always picked me up when I was down and showered me with love and support during my success, no matter the time of day. There is no one as selfless, kind, and hardworking as Giahan. Even when she now lives 3,000 miles away, I know that she has my back no matter what the circumstance may be. I am so beyond lucky to have her in my life, and so thankful to have found an amazing sister for life.

Cecily and I met in December 2021 at our current work place, Dexcom. While my friendship with Cecily is relatively new in relation to the almost-30 years of life we've lived, we quickly became best friends and formed a deep sisterhood bond that one would typically achieve over the course of a lifetime. Our friendship blossomed from our shared common interest in clothes/shopping and fitness (though at this point she's completely surpassed me and is an incredible athlete and my ultimate fitness role model). We'd face time on a daily basis and share pictures of our outfits, travels, food, aesthetic and non-aesthetic photos we'd take of ourselves. She's like the little sister I've always wanted - we would wear each other's clothes and shop each other's closets when we needed something new to wear, and show up to our houses when we were bored, hungry, or just wanted to talk and hang out. We'd send each other loving texts on one day, and the next we'd be nagging and bickering. We'd randomly send each other texts and ask each other for opinions over anything and everything. I always found it difficult to make new friends post-college, but I am so glad that I found Cecily. My time spent with Cecily is always filled with laughter. Her laughter brightens up my day and she always keeps me entertained by saying or doing something silly, breaking out into random singing and dancing bursts, and yapping for hours straight. Beyond the great entertainment she's provided me during our hangouts, she's taught and shown me resilience and how to persevere through difficult times. She's also taught me to be humble and to always be open to learning new things and receiving feedback. She's held me accountable and makes me a better person. In the past 4 years, she's always been there for me through everything - my ups and downs, highs and lows, ins and outs. She's supported me in reaching many milestones in my adulthood - from buying my first home, to my first job promotion, my engagement (fun fact: she helped Eric find the proposal spot!), and soon, my wedding. She has always been there to celebrate every success I've had and cheers me on as if it were her own. She goes out of her way to drive up from Mexico (just kidding, Chula Vista) to see me and takes care of me when I'm sick or getting eye surgery. Cecily has shown me that friendships don't need to have a long history to be this deep and this rich, and I don't know how I got so lucky to have found her in my life.

Victor and I have known each other for almost our entire lives and I'm so honored to have him as my best man. We first met in pre-school probably around 25 years ago and were inseparable throughout our childhood. Family parties, sleepovers, basketball, and video games (especially NBA Street and SSX Tricky) defined our relationship growing up. Even though we have been split on opposite sides of the country since the start of college, we pick things up where we left off like nothing happened every year we reunite. It's easy to say that Victor has held a spot in my entire life like no one else. Side note: in an incredible coincidence, the wedding day just happens to be on his 30th birthday! Be sure to wish him a happy birthday when you see him!

Phil and I first met in elementary school, but it wasn't until middle school that we started hanging out more frequently. From all of our sleepover gaming nights, band practices, lunch time shenanigans, and our love for Linkin Park, we only grew closer. At a certain point and time, he suddenly started calling me his son and the joke has stuck until now. Phil is also an absolute master at taking progress pictures and he deserves to share them with the world. In fact, our entire friend group is named the "Progress Bois" after him - what a trendsetter. Phil is always known for his silly humor and stylish flair, and he is always the perfect man to hype me up in any situation (especially at a wedding)!

An afro, huge basketball shorts, Adidas high-tops, and silver chains defined this man when I first met my freshman year roommate at UCSD. We were both Chemical Engineering majors, had all the same classes, and ended up continuing to be roommates for three years and two summers. We were classic engineering nerds that would spend weekends studying in the library and team up on group projects together whenever possible. Some core memories of our time on campus include simple things like gym sessions, the most expensive Subway meal on Earth, biking between crowds to classes, "accidentally" dropping... things, rogue shopping carts, and Mo showing off his ungodly taste in death metal. Mo has been both a mentor and a source of inspiration that has helped shaped me into who I am today. In fact, he and Giahan were the ones who introduced me to Khanh. It goes without saying that I'll be forever grateful for that! It's an honor to have him as a groomsman and lifelong friend.

I knew who Collin was before I even met him. Sounds strange, but I always recognized his voice as the loudest guy at our freshman year campus food truck yapping away. He just happened to be in the same places as me: freshman year dorms, Chemical Engineering classes, and ultimate frisbee practices/parties. We eventually bonded through these very same things and ended up as roommates during our last few years at school. Collin witnessed the early stages of my relationship with Khanh before we started dating and as he says, he totally called it. Time flew by with this guy as we spent late nights studying, playing Catan, and watching anime. Before we knew it, we had both graduated from our Master's program. Not only is he one of the most outgoing people I know, but also the most talented in making people laugh with his uncanny humor and wit. He knows how to make a lasting impression on everyone he meets and I'm so excited to have him as both a groomsman and officiant.