A celebration of love

It was a busy evening at Linwoods, Lexi was serving and Corey was the head chef on a wedding party. He fed her extras all night and she thought... I like this guy. Then one day before her shift started, he called from work to request that she pick up some food item he needed. She thought he was flirting, so later that night she facebook messaged him "Here is my number, in case you ever 'need anything' in the future". She wasn't usually this forward, but she couldn't ignore the strong emotional pull she felt around him. Although they went to Hebrew school and high school together, they strangely had never crossed paths before now. They hung out sporadically throughout that year, but Lexi kept her distance emotionally since she was moving to California in Feb 2016 for grad school. Corey would occasionally message her here and there, checking in to see how she was adjusting. And every trip home to visit family or friends, Lexi always made it a point to find a way to see him. He came to visit LA in Feb 2017 with friends, but the trip was mistimed for various reasons and they didn't get to spend it as they'd hoped. Months went by, then something changed when she came home to visit for a few weeks in summer 2017. His dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she was thrown by this need to be close to him and to support him through it. She returned to LA for her final year of school and shortly before graduation, he came out to visit again, but this time, the universe aligned, they finally went on their first proper date, and spent 8 beautifully surreal days together; getting a glimpse of what life could be like as a couple. They both knew from this point forward, they had to give this thing a real try, or they'd wonder "what if" for the rest of their lives. So Lexi decided to move back home after graduation, and though it wasn't the easiest transition for either of them, with various trials and tribulations along the way, it was the best decision they have ever made.

The incredible wedding planner that Lexi and Corey were lucky enough to snag is Mrs. Sheri Gelvar of Sheri G Events, who is married to Eric, Lexi's dad Arnold's business partner from Winn Electric. So Sheri has had the opportunity to watch Lexi grow up over the years, and now has so graciously agreed to help Lexi and Corey plan the wedding of their dreams. In addition, the DJ, Jess Rabbit, now working for Klock Entertainment, is Lexi and Corey's long time friend who they had the pleasure of working with back in 2015 at Linwoods where they all met. Jess was kind enough during Lexi's first week at Linwoods to invite her to an EDM show (which Lexi quickly learned she LOVES), as Jess was DJing on the side (and is exceptionally talented), while Jess was completing her music production degree at Full Sail University. When Lexi and Corey got engaged in May 2021, Lexi reached out to Jess to see if she would be willing to DJ their wedding, only to learn that Jess has begun doing this full time. For all those who know Lexi, you know she loves ambiance, music, and a good party- and so as you can imagine, she is ecstatic about Jess DJing this wedding. The catering company, Zeffert and Gold, has been Corey's employer for 7 years and Corey and Lexi could not be more excited that they are catering their wedding. Corey has been able to design the menu from start to finish, and his dear friend and esteemed chef (and boss) Matt Campion, will be the head chef for the wedding night.

During the time that Lexi and Corey were still long distance in early 2018, Corey took on the role of big brother/friend with Lexi's brother, Zach. With a 9 year age gap, and being half-siblings, Zach and Lexi's relationship was rather distant at times. However, as Zach entered his teenage years, he and Lexi grew much closer as they started to have more in common; particularly when Zach became more able to express himself and vocalize his worries and wonders about the world and how to navigate it. He isolated quite a bit, so Lexi was his primary support system outside of their dad Arnold. When Lexi moved to LA, it was very difficult for Zach and he felt very alone. Once Corey and Lexi started dating, Corey really enjoyed taking on the big brother role, picking Zach up to go to the gym together, to go get a meal, or to play video games. Once Lexi moved back home summer 2018, the three of them spent a lot of time together over those next 10 months. The night Zach and Shadow died tragically in a car accident on May 24, 2019, they had just been leaving Lexi and Corey's apartment, after a really perfect night of delicious dinner and playing a game of Monopoly. It was the worst night of Lexi's life and the weeks thereafter are a total blur, but Corey was with Lexi every step of the way; from when she collapsed at the scene of the accident, to holding her tightly as she cried while sitting Shiva, to supporting and being patient with her through months of numbness and grief. Corey has always been Lexi's rock through it all. Lexi would also like to note that she is holding her sweet Nanny who died comfortably in hospice on April 15, 2022, along with her great grandparents, her late step mom Lisa, and her sweet Uncle Bill in memory, and knows that their love lives on in Lexi's heart and soul.

When Corey and Lexi started officially dating in February 2018, Corey's dad, Michael Plotkin, was nearing the end of a very hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer. During the months leading up to his death on April 19, 2018, Corey was able to take leave from work to spend most of every day with his dad, watching sports, reminiscing about old times, and enjoying each other's company for the little time they knew Michael had left. Corey is forever grateful for that time that he got to spend with his dad. During Michaels final week of life, with the help of Corey's step mom Lauren and his mom Cindi, they picked Lexi up from the airport (she was still living in LA at the time, completing graduate school) and she was able to come surprise Corey and got the chance to say goodbye to his dad. Not long before Michael's death, Corey lost his beloved grandmother, Mommom Jean, and shortly after he lost his other precious grandmother, Mommom Jackie. He and Lexi hold them in memory today, along with his other grandparents who have passed on and are here with them for this joyous occasion in spirit. A few more special remembrances to Corey's brother Brad, who fought a long and hard battle with addiction and who Lexi wishes she had gotten to meet; and remembering their family friend Howard Lipsicas, known as "H", who always led the Jewish holiday services and was the most loving mensch, taken too soon by ALS. They, along with Corey's dad and grandparents are all so very missed.