Destined to find their way back to each other, Ali Pappas ’11 and Eric Brown ’09 were connected by love, fate, music, and a little Denison magic.
Both attended Denison and knew of each other during their time on The Hill — moving through the same social circles, going to the same parties, and sharing a love of music.
“We were in similar groups of friends, so we saw each other throughout Denison,” Pappas said. Still, they never dated as students.
After graduation, Pappas and Brown went their separate ways, each beginning new careers in New York. “It was 2017,” said Pappas. “I was walking in the East Village and ran into Eric on the street.”
He suggested they grab a drink, and the two spent the evening catching up. Once again, though, the timing wasn’t quite right. Brown eventually relocated to Colorado, and Pappas moved back home to Baltimore.
But their fate changed in the summer of 2021.
“In July 2021, we went to a Denison friend’s wedding, Jenny Strathern ʼ11,” she said. “We texted on Sunday, and then never stopped — just texted all the time, FaceTimed, and then nine months later, he moved to Baltimore.”
Three years later, they were engaged, then married on April 26, 2025.
When it came time to plan their wedding reception, the couple faced a common question: DJ or live band? Pappas had a bold idea.
“I wanted to do something a little unconventional,” she said. “I had a vision of playing music with our friends, and so we thought, ‘What if? Let’s just see what people say.’ So we called every person, including Steve Gaudio ’09 and Byron Hughey ’09 from Denison to play bass and drums, and they immediately said, ‘Yes, whatever you want, that sounds incredible!’” The Brown Family Band was born.
Soon, a community of family, friends, and fellow Denisonians rallied around Pappas and Brown’s love, ready to reignite their own musical passions in the process.
“I think something you don’t realize, when you’re in school, you have all of these opportunities to explore your passions and your hobbies,” Pappas said. “I definitely took them for granted, being at Denison, singing in a cappella, and having that community. The Brown Family Band gave us a reason to pick up our instruments again, gave us something to work towards, and it really made the wedding feel like everyone was so much a part of it.”
The band practiced over Zoom, gathered for an eight-hour rehearsal, and ultimately performed an unforgettable hour-long set at the reception.
“I grew up singing. I was in choruses, I did a cappella in high school, and then I was in Ladies’ Night Out,” Pappas said. “I have just always loved music. We definitely joked, especially in the beginning, that the only thing we had in common was music.”
Even with limited rehearsal time, Pappas and Brown never doubted their friends’ commitment. Gaudio flew in from Utah to Maryland to attend the rehearsal, helping to ensure the performance would be a success.
“Denison attracts people from around the country for a variety of reasons. Whatever those may be — sports, academics, the beautiful campus — every alum has an unexplainable connection and pull to the school,” said Pappas. “When you meet anyone with a connection to Denison, you have an instant bond with them — the unsaid ‘I get you’ on a level others can’t understand. We are so eager to help, with a job, a favor, or to join a band that will perform for one night only.”
With the help of their Denison friends, the performance became a true celebration.
“Of the six-hour program, the band was an hour — people came to a concert with a side of wedding,” Pappas said. “It was extremely special, and we are beyond grateful.”
For Pappas, music has always been more than a hobby — it’s a way of connecting with others and expressing who she is. The wedding performance wasn’t just entertainment; it was a celebration of love, friendship, and the Denison connection that continues long after graduation.
