Family reunites for CL reunion

Smack dab in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, a dream wedding for Canyon Lakers Marissa Johnson and Brett Charest was to take place in Maui, with the entire family coming together for the destination event. Instead, a small “mock” wedding party took place in September and then, with just parents present, the couple officially tied the knot on a Maui beach in October.

But, the extended family was left out and itching to celebrate. With COVID-19 restrictions easing, the entire Johnson clan made up for lost time last week and partied and played for over a week in Canyon Lake. It had been over 14 years since the family, which had intended to reunite at the Maui wedding, had been together.

Marissa and Brett Charest pose in September after their Canyon Lake mock wedding. The pandemic forced the postponement of their Maui Beach wedding. Photo provided by Marissa Charest.

“We had so much fun,” Marissa (Johnson) Charest said. “We went boating, swimming and floating in the lake, painted rocks for the rock garden, ate at local restaurants including the Lodge and played card and board games. We took the family photo in our American Airlines shirts that we were supposed to take at our Maui wedding. American Airlines is how my parents met.”

The family came from around the country. Marissa’s sister came from Loveland, CO, her father from West Palm Beach, FL and her mother from Portland, OR.

One of the activities the Johnson family held during its reunion last week was painting rocks to put in the community rock garden. The Sisters Rock was dropped off to commemorate the week-long reunion after plans for getting together for a Maui wedding fell through because of the pandemic. Photo by Marissa Charest.

Marissa and Brett moved to Canyon Lake from Los Angeles after falling in love with the community, Marissa said. After the Johnson reunion, there are a few more sharing that sentiment.