Real Weddings: Rachel & Max

A doctor of obstetrics and gynecology meets the chief executive officer of a clean energy company on the dating app Bumble while living in Boston. Max, who attended Boston University, had the pleasure of wooing Rachel, a graduate of Princeton University, and soon enough the pair were an item. Max’s proposal centered around privacy and was well-executed. Rachel was told to dress up for a fancy dinner with one of Max’s investors, but to her surprise, once she’d emerged from the closet beautifully done up, Max was already down on one knee, asking her to be his forever love. Turns out he had hired a private chef to cook a romantic dinner in their apartment, making it an intimate moment that was just right for their tastes. The couple tied the knot in June of 2021 in a black-tie ceremony that was held under an elaborate Chuppah, or ceremonial altar arch common in Jewish marriages, overlooking the Hudson river valley. Rachel was escorted down the aisle by her mother and father, and romantic flowers lined the aisle as she carried a cascading neutral and blush bouquet as a string quartet played. The ceremony was a beautiful blend of cultures, first conducted by a Reverend and then the second half of the ceremony a Cantor. The Cantor gave the seven Jewish blessings, which was spoken in Hebrew and then translated to English by the Reverend. After exchanging rings, the couple engaged in the Black American tradition of jumping the broom and the Jewish tradition of breaking the glass. The 150 guests of the couple’s elegant, elevated wedding mingled and danced into the late hours of the night at Glenmere Mansion.

Wedding Details

LOCATION: Chester, NY

TIME OF YEAR: Summer

WEDDING STYLE: idyllic, multicultural, upscale

CEREMONY & RECEPTION: Glenmere Mansion

MENU: The menu was diverse and focused on locally sourced fresh foods. A wide range of hors d’oeuvres were served during cocktail hour. The meal started with a summer best salad. Main courses were options of filet mignon or bronzino fish. The end of the night snack featured freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. The signature drinks were a “Love You Bunch” rum punch and a “Mint To Be” mint julep.

DESSERT: Wedding cake was adorned with flowers matching the theme of the wedding that was chocolate with salted caramel. Also passed desserts.

FIRST DANCE SONG: “Beyond” by Leon Bridges

INSPIRATION: an elevated garden party set in Tuscany, Italy

SPECIAL FEATURES: the couple did the tradition of jumping the broom, and the seven prayers of Jewish wedding ceremony, the breaking of the glass; Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies as favors; live string quartet

HONEYMOON: Traveled for three months to Maldives, St. Lucia, Alaska, Tanzania the American Southwest

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