Meet the Bridal Party

JOSH JORDAN

GROOM

Josh Jordan and Serena Valley are delighted to share their love story as they begin this next chapter together. Josh, 41, originally from Fairbanks, Alaska and raised in Edgewood, New Mexico, works for Crash Champions and is the proud father of Alise Coronado (21), Andrew Coronado (20), and Daniel Jordan (12). Serena, 38, is originally from Fitchburg, Massachusetts and grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico; she is a family law attorney and partner at Macias & Valley, P.C., and the devoted mother of Sylas Moore (14). Their story began one Saturday night at Billiard’s Palace, where they met while playing pool and talked for hours—though if you ask Serena, Josh was on a date that night, a claim Josh still vehemently denies. Despite an instant connection, they parted ways without exchanging last names or phone numbers, prompting Serena to launch a determined two-week search armed only with Josh’s first name and the fact that he worked as a package courier, with help from her sister and best friend, Leanne. Just as hope was fading, fate intervened when Serena and Leanne returned to Billiard’s Palace and found Josh there once again; this time, Serena wasted no time and handed Josh her phone to put his number in. The rest, as they say, is history—and that night marked Josh and Serena’s last single Saturday night.

SERENA VALLEY

BRIDE

LEANNE RADICIONI

MAID OF HONOR

Leanne is 35 years old and was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Aside from being Serena’s longest and closet friendship in life, and perpetual third-wheel to Josh and Serena, Leanne is also Serena’s younger sister. Leanne and Serena have a lifelong closeness and Leanne’s support has helped Serena achieve so much in her life that she would not have otherwise been able to do. Serena and Josh also credit Leanne with being the catalyst to their relationship. So, of course, Serena could think of no person better suited to serve as Maid of Honor. Leanne is a warehouse manager for Quality Buick GMC and the proud mom to two amazing children, Julian, age 15, and Raylee, age 6. When asked to share a memory of the couple, Leanne had this to say:

“Let’s talk about how Serena met Josh…because honestly, this story deserves to be documented. After she first saw him at Billiards, this man disappeared! And for the next two weeks, Serena talked about him nonstop. We worked harder than the FBI on a national manhunt trying to find this man again and to be clear, I was really only willing to help with this search in order to give my ears a break. Only knowing his first name and occupation made it impossible! The next two Saturday night, we went back to Billiards with no sighting of Josh. Finally, one Saturday. while we were playing pool at Billiards (like we always did), we decided to call it a night after yet another unsuccessful search. I headed to the bathroom and as I rounded the corner, low-and-behold, there he was, Josh, wandering around looking for his friends like a man who had no idea his life was about to change. Without hesitation, I walked straight up to him, and said, “Follow me!” No explanation. No context. Just full confidence. I power-walked him across the room like I was delivering a very important package, and when Serena saw him… she was glowing. I mean glowing, glowing. At that moment, I knew two things, 1) Serena had found her guy; and 2) my work here was done! That night will always be special to me. Not only did my best friend meet her soulmate, but I also gained a new best friend, a brother, and three amazing kids to love.”

For anyone wondering, Yes, Leanne is amazing; and Yes, she is single and accepting boyfriend applications. Any interested candidates should apply by finding Leanne on the dance floor or the bar!

ANDREW CORONADO

BEST MAN

Andrew is Josh’s oldest son and Best Man, giving him an especially meaningful role standing beside his dad on this very special day. At 19—and very nearly 20—Andrew has already proven himself to be one of the most focused, disciplined, and determined people Serena and Josh know.

When Andrew decides to do something, he doesn’t just talk about it—he does it. Perhaps the perfect example came when he simply decided one day that he wanted to run a marathon. With only a few weeks to prepare, Andrew trained nearly every day, showed up on race day, completed the entire marathon in a pair of busted Adidas sneakers, and finished among the top runners in his age group. For Andrew, apparently, deciding to casually run a marathon is just another goal to check off the list.

That same determination has now taken Andrew into an exciting new chapter. He recently enlisted in the United States Navy and is pursuing the demanding path of becoming a special warfare diver—a challenge perfectly suited to his discipline, athleticism, and willingness to push himself beyond his limits.

As driven as Andrew is, he is equally thoughtful, dependable, and willing to help. If someone needs a hand, Andrew is the kind of person who will step up without hesitation. When he isn’t working toward his next goal, he loves working out, spending time with dogs, and—if history is any indication—probably finding another way to test exactly what he is capable of.

Serena has loved watching Andrew grow into the impressive young man he is today, and Josh could not be prouder to have his son standing beside him as his Best Man. It is difficult to imagine anyone more meaningful to fill that role. Andrew’s determination, kindness, loyalty, and strength of character make him an incredibly special part of their family and the perfect person to stand at his dad’s side as Serena and Josh begin this next chapter together.

ALISE CORONADO

BRIDESMAID

Alise holds an especially meaningful place in Serena and Josh’s wedding—not only as a bridesmaid, but as Josh’s daughter and Serena’s soon-to-be stepdaughter. As Serena and Josh officially join their lives and families together, having Alise standing beside them makes the day that much more special.

Alise lives in Wylie, Texas, with her husband, Jesse Cortez, and the newest—and tiniest—member of the family, their beautiful baby boy, Wesley. Watching Alise begin this exciting new chapter as a mother has made this season of weddings, growing families, and new beginnings even sweeter.

Alise is a devoted Christian whose faith is an important part of her life. She is also wonderfully creative and has a talent for turning just about anything into something adorable. Whether she is working on one of her many cute crafts or creating something in the kitchen, Alise always seems to add her own special touch.

And speaking of the kitchen, Alise is an amazing baker—the kind of person everyone hopes will volunteer to bring dessert!

Serena is incredibly happy to be gaining Alise as a stepdaughter and to officially become part of the family she and Josh have built around them. Having Alise beside her as a bridesmaid is a beautiful way to celebrate not only Serena and Josh’s marriage, but the joining of their families and all the wonderful new chapters still to come.

DANIEL JORDAN

GROOMSMAN

Daniel has an extra-special role in Serena and Josh’s wedding. Not only is he one of Josh’s groomsmen, but he is also Josh’s son and Serena’s soon-to-be stepson, making him an important part of the family at the very heart of this celebration.

At 12 years old, Daniel is a seemingly endless source of energy. He is naturally athletic and especially talented at baseball, where his athleticism, determination, and competitive spirit have a chance to shine. When he isn’t on the field, there is a pretty good chance you’ll find him immersed in one of his other great passions—video games.

But beyond his energy and athletic ability, what makes Daniel truly special is his kind and thoughtful heart. From the beginning, Daniel welcomed Serena into his family with wide-open arms. For nearly four years, Serena and Josh have had the privilege of sharing their home with Daniel part-time, creating countless everyday memories and building a relationship that Serena treasures.

Daniel’s enthusiasm, humor, kindness, and big personality bring an incredible amount of life to their home. Over the years, Serena has had the joy of watching him grow from a little boy into the remarkable young man he is becoming.

As Serena officially becomes his stepmom, she couldn’t be happier to have Daniel standing beside his dad on their wedding day. This wedding is about more than Serena and Josh becoming husband and wife—it is about celebrating the family they have already built together, and Daniel is an irreplaceable part of that family.

SYLAS MOORE

GROOMSMAN

Sylas “Sly” Moore is Serena’s 14-year-old son, best friend, and one of her absolute favorite people in the world. A ninth grader with what Serena will confidently tell you is the best taste in music ever, Sylas brings his own quiet humor, creativity, and incredibly kind heart to Serena and Josh’s wedding party.

Serena affectionately describes Sylas as her “gentle giant.” He is extremely bright and creative, with an artistic side that comes through in everything from painting to working with markers and other art mediums. More importantly, Sylas is simply a genuinely good person. Those who meet him consistently describe him as a respectful young man with a kind heart and a gentle nature—something that makes his mom incredibly proud.

Like most teenagers, Sly is also an avid gamer and loves spending time online playing computer games with his friends. He plays high school football and dreams of eventually playing football in college. Looking even further into the future, Sylas hopes to turn his natural curiosity and talents into a career working in the mechanical field.

But what makes Sylas’s role in the wedding particularly special is the relationship he has developed with Josh. Over the years, Josh has become an important father figure in Sylas’s life, and the two have grown incredibly close. Sylas isn’t simply accepting of Serena and Josh getting married—he is genuinely excited to officially become a family.

In fact, before Josh ever proposed, there was one very important person whose blessing he wanted first: Sylas. When Josh asked Sylas for permission to marry his mom, there was no hesitation. Sylas emphatically said “YES!” His explanation was simple, heartfelt, and perfectly Sly:

“You make my mom happy.”

For Serena, there could never have been a more meaningful endorsement.

Having Sylas stand with Josh as a groomsman represents so much of what this wedding is really about: two people getting married, two families becoming one, and the relationships they have already built along the way. Serena could not be prouder of the young man her gentle giant is becoming, and both she and Josh are incredibly happy to have Sly standing beside them as they make their family official.

AUDREY ARNOLD

BRIDESMAID

I suppose every wedding party needs at least one bridesmaid who remembers life before Wi-Fi, and apparently that’s me. Somehow, despite the tiny little detail that Serena is 23 years younger than I am, she became one of my very best friends — proof that age really doesn’t matter when you find your people. I first met Serena when she applied to work for UNM Anderson School of Management. Ironically, her resume included experience from an organization where I had previously declared I would never hire anyone from again. Ever. But her cover letter was so genuine, personal, and real that I had to meet her. The moment I did, I understood. Serena was one of the most positive, driven, no-nonsense people I had ever met. Smart, funny, professional, ambitious, and somehow also endlessly fun — she was hands down one of the best hires I could have imagined. And of course, she exceeded every expectation. She helped move our department forward in huge ways, with intelligence, diligence, creativity, and a lot of laughter. I knew from the beginning she was destined for bigger things, so when she announced after about a year that she was heading to law school for family law, I wasn’t surprised at all. The world is genuinely better because Serena is in it — and even more so because she’s advocating for others. The funny thing is, after she left work, we became even closer friends. I remember being at her son Sylas’s birthday party when she casually introduced me as her “BFF.” It caught me off guard for a second, but it also felt completely true. And it has ever since. Over the years, Serena has welcomed me into her incredible family. Her mom, Cissy, is responsible for the best hair of my life. Her son Sylas has completely stolen my heart — I’ve loved cooking with him, swimming with him, and watching him grow into such a wonderful young man. And her sister Leanne? Family. If you read Leanne’s bio, you’ll understand why you’ll definitely find us together on the dance floor tonight. Our dogs even fell in love years ago, so honestly, we may already be legally related somehow.

And then came Josh. When Serena told me, “He’s the guy,” I paid attention — because this is not a woman who says things casually. The first time I met him, yes, I noticed he was gorgeous, but what stood out most was how kind he was to Serena and to everyone around him. Josh is sweet, generous, grounded, and clearly adores her. Watching the two of them together just makes sense.

Serena, I am endlessly grateful to have been welcomed into your life and your family. You deserve a love that is joyful, supportive, adventurous, and full of laughter — and I truly believe you found it. I could not be happier for you and Josh as you begin this next chapter together.

JULIAN MARTINEZ

GROOMSMAN

Julian “Juju” Martinez is 15 years old and a sophomore in High School. He is Serena’s non-biological son, nephew, and Godson. Serena has helped Leanne raise Julian since birth, loving him and guiding him every step of the way. Julian stays busy and I mean busy. He plays center for his Highschool football team and spends just as much time in the gym as he does on the field. If he’s not working out or talking football, he’s probably gaming. He’s an avid video gamer, and he and Sylas have grown up more like brothers than cousins. When they’re not together in person, they’re FaceTiming and gaming like no time or distance exists between them. When Julian grows up, he hopes to either join the Air Force or become a Deputy for the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, both paths that reflect his strength, discipline, and heart to serve those around him. When Julian met Josh, they instantly bonded over football and all things “gym bro” related. From day one, Josh has been a strong, positive male role model in Julian’s life. Josh has always told Julian, “I’m just a call away,” and he’s truly meant it. Whether it’s advice, encouragement, a ride, hanging ceiling fans because his mom was too short, or just someone to talk to. Josh has always shown up. That simple promise has meant the world to Julian. So when Julian found out that Josh was planning to ask Serena for her hand in marriage, his first response was simply, “It’s about time!” They say aunts and uncles are like moms and dads without the responsibilities but Serena and Josh have never treated Julian like anything less than their own. They’ve shown up for him, supported him, and loved him fully. Julian is incredibly honored to stand next to Josh on this special day, witnessing his “Auntie Mama” say “I do.” There’s no place he’d rather be.

AMBER MACIAS

BRIDESMAID

Sometimes the best friendships begin when you least expect them—and in Serena and Amber’s case, it started with what was supposed to be just a summer law clerk position.

Serena first met Amber when she was offered a clerkship at Amber’s law firm, Walther Bennett Mayo Honeycutt. The plan was for Serena to spend the summer gaining some legal experience and then move on. Instead, Serena and Amber quickly bonded, the summer came and went, and Serena simply never left.

For the past decade, Amber and Serena have worked side by side, growing from colleagues into close friends and, most recently, law partners. Together, they took the exciting leap of opening their own firm, Macias & Valley, P.C. After ten years of practicing law together, they have become a team that can navigate demanding cases, stressful days, big professional decisions—and pretty much anything else life throws their way.

Their friendship extends well beyond the office. Amber is a huge heavy metal fan, and she and Serena have spent many nights together at concerts, proving that nothing says “professional legal colleagues” quite like screaming along to heavy metal after hours.

Now, they are sharing an entirely different kind of adventure: planning their weddings at the same time. Amber recently became engaged as well, giving the two of them yet another experience to navigate together—from dresses and wedding details to all the excitement, chaos, and fun that comes with being brides-to-be. Even more special, Amber has asked Serena to stand beside her as a bridesmaid at her wedding, too.

From a summer clerkship that never really ended, to a decade of friendship, heavy metal concerts, building a law firm together, and now planning their weddings side by side, Amber has become an irreplaceable part of Serena’s life. Serena couldn’t imagine saying “I do” without her friend, colleague, law partner, fellow bride-to-be, and favorite concert companion standing beside her.

MICHAEL NICHOLS

GROOMSMAN

(BIO TO BE UPDATED)

CASSANDRA RIOS

BRIDESMAID

Some friendships are measured in years, but Cassie and Serena’s is measured in decades, cross-country summers, major life moments, and a whole lot of memories.

Cassie and Serena met when they were just seven years old in the second grade at Sombra del Monte Elementary School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They quickly became the kind of friends who would remain part of each other’s lives no matter where life took them. When Cassie moved to Sterling, Oklahoma, at age 12, distance did little to change their friendship. Serena spent summers traveling to Oklahoma to stay with Cassie, and over the years they have shared countless milestones—including Serena being there for the birth of Cassie’s daughter, Jacquelin.

More than 30 years after two little girls first met in an Albuquerque classroom, Cassie remains one of Serena’s dearest and longest-standing friends. Today, Cassie lives in Fountain, Colorado, and is the proud mother of Jacquelin and Ian Rios.

Cassie is also an incredibly talented artist whose beautiful paintings reflect her creativity and unique way of seeing the world. She has a huge heart for animals of every kind—although her particular love of snakes proves that her definition of “adorable” may be a little broader than most people’s!

From childhood adventures and Oklahoma summers to motherhood and all the chapters in between, Cassie has been a constant presence in Serena’s life. Having one of her oldest and most treasured friends standing beside her as a bridesmaid makes this celebration all the more meaningful.

RAYLEE ARCHULETA

FLOWER GIRL

Raylee is 6 years old and already running the world from 1st grade. She’s Serena’s youngest niece (emphasis on youngest, because the diva energy is fully developed) and Serena is hopeful that one day Raylee will literally be running the world from the oval office. Raylee loves dress-up, doing her hair and makeup, and basically preparing for her future red carpet appearances. She’s also incredibly artistic: drawing, painting, and probably designing her future fashion line. She is outgoing, dramatic in the best way, and completely full of life… which is probably why she and Serena get along so well. Serena has always supported Raylee’s inner fabulous diva with makeup, high heels, beautiful dresses and the occasional spritz of fancy perfume, because if you’re going to be extra, be extra extra. Raylee and Serena’s favorite pastime is going through Serena’s closet and trying on her many different high heel shoes. Raylee has the gift of gab and will talk your ear off if you let her. Actually, scratch that… she doesn’t need permission. Once she starts, you’re in it for the long haul because this girl knows how to make a short story long. Not sure how Serena got the nickname “Ty,” but since Raylee could form sentences, it’s been “Ty” this and “Ty” that and she hasn’t stopped talking since. Raylee absolutely adores her Ty and her Joshie. Now historically speaking, Raylee has been very selective about the men in her life, it was strictly Daddy and Papa, and that was the VIP list. But when Josh came along? Immediate approval. She and Joshie became little besties, and honestly, once you pass Raylee’s inspection, you’re basically family for life. There is no greater honor than obtaining Raylee’s approval and while the flowers she will be carrying down the aisle are beautiful, they are nothing compared to Raylee; heart, mind, and soul. 

NATHAN JORDAN

GROOMSMAN

KIMBERLY “KIMBA” SESSIONS

RING BEARER

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