Close-to-home wedding

Mark Chamberlin and Gavin Reynolds turn a family vacation spot into their happy day

by Gio Battaglia; photos by Scott Diamond

Almost eight and a half years ago, Mark Chamberlin was a wallflower at his boss’s birthday party when he noticed another wallflower, Gavin Reynolds. The two got to talking, and they soon started dating. Reynolds then introduced Chamberlin to his annual summer vacation spot on Keuka Lake. Love blossomed, and they tied the knot on July 9, 2022.

After toying around with the idea of destination weddings in the Bahamas pre-COVID, they later decided to have their wedding where they spend most of their time—right on Keuka Lake. It was perfect, since the spot holds a lot of family memories and cannot be replicated anywhere else.

“It was held where my grandparents used to live, a family property that my mom and her two sisters now own,” says Reynolds.

The couple kicked off the event by arriving to the altar by boat and popping a bottle of champagne as a remix of “Love Generation” by Bob Sinclair played.They used the dock as the aisle and the spot for their ceremony. They were led in by their dogs, who wore flower crowns. Later, they had dinner and cocktail hour in a tent on the side of the recreation hall, which they then turned into their dance floor.

“We didn’t want anything super traditional,” says Reynolds. “To have the second half of the party in the rec hall was really memorable for us because of the past events we have had there.”

This August, the two will continue their celebration with a twelve-day trip split between Sicily and the south of France.

 

 

 

Wedding bliss

Chelsea Wagner and Sean Curley share their precious wedding memories

by Lenora Kasper; photos by Jessy Herman Photo

Chelsea Wagner and Sean Curley met five years ago during their MBA  orientation at the University of Rochester. Students in the MBA program had to take a lengthy personality test, and their compatible scores meant that they were put in the same student group and took most of their classes together. Sean would get to classes early to save Chelsea—who was usually running late—a seat. They were married on March 22, 2022.

“We loved the ceremony and actually getting to be married. Rabbi Rochelle made the ceremony so special and meaningful for us and our families,” says Wagner.

The reception at the Arbor Loft was complete with nonstop dancing and a staff that made sure every guest was having the time of their lives.“Sean surprised me after dinner with a speech about how much he loves me and how excited he was to be celebrating with everyone,” says Wagner. “That was so special.”

In early June, Wagner and Curley traveled to their favorite destination, Greece, for their honeymoon. “We went to Santorini in 2019 and absolutely fell in love (how could you not?) and we headed to Crete for our honeymoon,” Wagner shares. “Marinate me in olive oil and feta cheese!”

Together they own a home in Rochester. The beautiful couple have fallen in love with discovering new restaurants and breweries as well as taking their adopted dog for walks around Cobbs Hill.