The Garden at The Hops

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Summer

Our Wedding

High school can be a difficult time for everyone. You’re busy growing up and discovering who you are and struggling to make friends, all while trying to get an education. This time was no different for us. Upperclassmen at our school liked to “adopt” freshmen so they’d have an easier time making friends and integrating into the school’s atmosphere. On a random day at the beginning of the 2015 school year, one of my friends came up to me and introduced me to a new freshman that she was “adopting”. Although we didn't know it at the time, this would be the very beginning of our story.

The Beginning

As we continued our journey through high school, we found ourselves spending more time together while hanging out with our friends and during after school activities. We did a lot of the same sports after school so we always made it a point to pair up together during practices too. Spending this much time together made us realize how much more we actually had in common with each other.

High School

During my senior year and his junior year of high school we had become super close. During homecoming season, we both weren’t interested in attending the dance, and instead decided to stay in and watch all of the Harry Potter movies. Every night, when it would be time for him to go home, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment and looked forward to the next time we’d have one on one time to hang out.

Homecoming and Harry Potter

After homecoming season, our high school held midterms before the winter break to give students time to relax before starting the spring semester. As you can imagine, November and December became a stressful period for all students alike. One sunny yet chilly afternoon, I sat in my bedroom studying for a math exam I had been worried about while texting Chris for moral support. While I was busy pouring over math problems, Chris was at a Christmas party building the courage to confess his feelings. When I first received his message, I felt so many emotions at once. At this time I was a few months out of a previous relationship and also focusing on my grades to finish out the fall semester, so I wasn’t quite sure how to respond. I can still remember sitting at the kitchen table with my mother and a close family friend weighing my options. I wondered how different my life would be if I decided to stay just friends or pursue a relationship with Chris. Flash forward a few weeks and winter break was in full swing. Midterm exams were behind us and we had endless possibilities to spend more time together. We both had managed to finish watching the Harry Potter movies and started watching the most recent seasons of the television show Supernatural that were out on Netflix. Mid break, Chris had invited me to watch a new movie with him on December 23, 2017. On that day, we spent the whole afternoon catching me up to the newest season of Supernatural before it was time to head to the theater. As we finished up the last episode of the season, while we were sitting on the couch, Chris had turned to me and asked me if I would like to be his girlfriend, and of course I said yes!

Confessions

A lot has happened since our days in high school. We’ve been through a pandemic, earned Bachelor’s degrees, and have supported each other through thick and thin. During the pandemic, when things started to become very serious, we were no longer allowed to see each other in person due to the lockdowns. In order to stay in touch we spent a lot of time with each other on Skype, watching movies over watch parties, and even started sending music back and forth to each other that we thought the other would enjoy. This began our shared enthusiasm and love for a particular band called AJR. In 2021, AJR had put out their fourth studio album, “Ok Orchestra”, and Chris invited me over to have a listening party together. The album really solidified our shared interest in the band, and our interest continued to grow. Later that year, AJR had announced they were going on tour to promote this album, and we both wanted to go so bad. Coincidentally, the show we originally bought tickets for landed on the same day as my college graduation. In a last minute scramble we bought new tickets to a different show, in hopes our song “Christmas in June” would still be played, which unbeknownst to me was supposed to be the song that Chris planned to propose to me to. Two weeks before the show, the band had changed up their setlist and removed our song which caused Chris to panic. In the days leading up to the concert, Chris had to figure which song he would have to propose to me instead. The day of this concert would definitely test the strength of our relationship. We would start our day by driving from CT to NY to get to the venue for the concert, not knowing this would only be the beginning of our struggle that day. On our little road trip we almost got into two car accidents from crazy drivers and once we finally got into the city we got lost trying to find parking. After finally finding our parking place, we had to make the long walk to the venue in the blistering heat and stand in a line for another hour before finally getting into the venue. Despite everything we went through that afternoon we made the best of the day and enjoyed the concert. As the concert played out, Chris had been stressing about when he should propose. That was until "Sober Up" started to play. This was another song from AJR, on a previous album, that made the two of us think of each other. With a perfect opportunity falling into Chris's hands, as we sang to each other, Chris got down on one knee, and proposed to me and of course -- I said yes!

The Big Question

Since then, we have been through so much more from getting new jobs and developing in our careers to moving out into our first apartment together and even adopting a cat together. After all these years and everything we have been able to experience together, we look forward to taking this leap onto our next chapter in life.

Today

Our Story

Photos

Chris and Brynn have been there for me since the "Staples" era that started back in 2020. Over the years, we have grown to become more than friends and I am glad to call them part of my family. In fact, sometimes Brynn and I are too alike and it is scary. 

Throughout the years, Chris and I have been able to experience a lot together. From his wonderful singing at The Weeknd show to constant nights where he yells at me for being so "great" at playing games to being a person I can call at any point during the day, I am glad to be able to call him my best friend. 

With Brynn, we also have grown constantly alongside each other. A lot of the time, I find Brynn to be the exact person I am in a different body. One part of my life that Brynn has been a big factor in is my music interests. We went to back to back concerts from Boston to Baltimore in the span of 12 hours and I will always applaud Brynn for doing my crazy concert ways. 

All of that aside, these two have been there for me and I only hope the best for them in the future.

Preston Blanchette

This is Joe. The phrase "a man's best friend" typically refers to a dog but Joe is truly that. Someone who will always be there and support you from afar. One thing about him, he's always down to clown!

Joe Ennis

Chris and Brynn were some of the first friends Bowen made after high school and he has countless fond memories from their time together during what he likes to call the 'Staples Era'. One of Bowen's earliest memories of Chris is when he asked him the age-old question: is a mermaid a fish or a person? They spent that night at Staples debating the mysteries of the world. It didn't take long for them to become friends, thanks to their shared goofy nature and Chris's ability to bond with just about anyone -- even a rock, if given the chance.

Soon after, Bowen me this soon-to-be wife, Brynn, whom he affectionately nicknamed 'Brynngymin Franklin'. If life were a game, Brynn would have maxed out her animal-handling skills because Bowen  had never seen her without a dog, cat, or even a Penguin or Sea Lion by her side. His very first memory of her is when she walked into my aisle at Staples, holding the leash of the biggest dog he'd ever seen--seriously, this dog looked like it paid taxes. Her kindness to animals extends into the friend group as well--except for Preston, who can be a bit of an OP at times.

Bowen Zhao

Alex met Chris in my first few days at a new position at the Norwich staples. It was clear to him early on that the people who worked there together were quite a team on the job as well as off the job. Everyone quickly connected as they shared similar interests in music, games etc. One day everyone had decided to take an afternoon escapade to Sonic. So a few of them packed into a car and made a road trip out of it. This was the day Alex met Brynn. Over the coming years would a friendship form that lasted beyond the bounds of professionalism as they all took their paths in life they still remained close. Watching these two take large steps in starting their lives together from moving in together to now getting married has been a great joy and testament to their bond and love for one another. Alex could not be more honored to be by their sides supporting them as they start the next chapter of their lives together.

Alex Gauthier

Kaycee has known Chris longer than she has known Brynn. To this day she still holds it against Chris for not introducing them sooner. To make up for lost time, you’ll notice Brynn and Kaycee haven’t been further than 10ft apart since. Kaycee is Brynn’s (and Chris’s) roommate and can be considered an expert when it comes to being Brynn’s MOH, best friend, sister from another mister, etc… In her free time Kaycee likes long walks on the beach, running marathons, and lying.

Kaycee Gagnier

This is Thalia. If you were to tell her freshman year of high school that she'd be standing next to Brynn on her wedding day, she would tell you you're crazy. Thalia will light up the dance floor all night long and try to hold back from choreographing a flash mob. One fun fact, she will always be down for a sweet treat!

Thalia Mateo

Zilin is a first year law student (shockingly)! She got married when she was 22 and lives with her husband and two cats. Her favorite things to do is play card games, read books, and go to concerts! Her favorite color is yellow and her go to item is her pink hair clip from Scunci (because it holds all of her luscious Asian hair). She has been friends with Brynn since middle school and is so excited for her to get married!

Zilin Yang

Kendra met Chris through Staples, although they worked at two separate stores. She met Brynn through Alex, one of the groomsmen. The three solidified their friendship through group hangouts. Over the next year, they shared laughs and long lasting memories. Kendra loves to hike and play tennis with her friends. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and working on her art projects. She has a degree in Visual Arts, and is currently going to school for Graphic Design.

Kendra

Wedding Party

What are the Bridal Party Colors?

Q + A

Reservations must be made on or prior to May 20th, 2025. Methods of reservations include calling the hotel or via the designated booking link. (Use group code: CBW ) Instructions: On the website, click the Special Rates link and put CBW in the Group Code section. Then select dates June 20th-21st, this will bring you to the rooms with the special rates for the event. From there you can choose which room you’d like. Special Rates: The Hilton has provided us two different room offers for the event. 2 queen rooms are $119/night and 1 king rooms are $139/night. If you have any questions feel free to call the hotel with any questions you may have at 203-447-1000.

Brynn & Chris

Brynn & Chris

B&C

Wedding Day

4:30 PM

Ceremony

5:30 PM–10:00 PM

Reception