...ABOUT THE COUPLE...

About a year after meeting late one night in an FIT lab, Connor and Rachel went on a “not a date” in Brooklyn. That night started at the annual BRIC concert in Prospect Park and ended at Jupiter Disco. Nearly nine years later, the dancing hasn’t stopped. Connor and Rachel swapped late-night sewing for late-night apartment hangs, where Connor would try out a new recipe and Rachel would drink the wine. Score! Rachel introduced Connor to Kansas BBQ, and Connor introduced Rachel to New Jersey’s finest delicacy: Taylor ham. They met each other’s families and fell in love with the traditions they hold dear. Above all, Connor and Rachel grew a passion for bringing their friends together.

The peak of that passion became their annual Lake George camping trip. The tradition began in the summer of 2020 at Hearthstone Point, a campsite on the southwest coast of the lake. The trip was initially founded by a group of Connor’s buddies as an effort to get out of the city and breathe some fresh air. That first year, they rented a pontoon and discovered that the little islands speckling the lake had campsites too! Connor and Rachel knew they had to try remote island camping one day, and after two years, they made the leap. Each year, the trip grew into a gathering of around fifteen friends and family from all parts of the couple’s lives - each person seeking a remote weekend of good eats and belly laughs, taking turns reading scary stories by the campfire.

Affectionately nicknamed “Camp Yum Yum,” the camp has quite a spread. Connor cooks juicy steaks, Rachel helms the Saturday morning breakfast hash, and each friend gets to experiment alongside them with new recipes over the open fire. After five years of coordinating the trip, Connor bent down on one knee - praying Rachel wouldn’t jump too much for joy on the dock and knock the ring into the water. She said yes! And the ring didn’t fall! Phew!!

Rachel and Connor are thrilled to bring everyone to camp this year to celebrate their wedding at “Camp Ooh-La-La.” The lake holds such special memories for them, and being able to bring everyone together, even those who prefer the city over a campsite, is truly a dream come true.