Both Moms’ Wedding Wishes Come True

Stephanie Dubrof, a medical writer, who graduated Florida State University and earned a PhD from the University of Georgia (UGA), met Scott Chimberoff, an internal medicine physician who graduated UGA, then Mercer Medical School, through family dynamics.

“Both of our mothers,” recalled Stephanie, “in typical ‘Jewish mom form,’ discussed us meeting (and dating).” Then, Scott’s best college friend, Max, lived “spitting distance” from the Karlins, Stephanie’s family. The bride’s parents are Jodi and Dr. Scott Karlin. The groom’s are Donna Maslia and Michael Chimberoff. Stephanie’s grandparents are Dorothy and Burtrand Haskins.

Over holiday breaks, Stephanie spent time on the Chimberhoff’s back porch. One Thanksgiving, Scott appeared. Stephanie came home and gushed to mom, Jodi, “Donna’s son is so cute.”

A month later, they went on a first date. Not long after, COVID hit, and Stephanie essentially moved into Donna’s house for the next few months before Scott started residency in Rome, Ga. They dated for four years before getting engaged.

Backing up, the proposal started under the guise of Scott’s birthday. Stephanie said, “We went to the Grand Velas in Mexico [allegedly] for Scott’s 30th birthday celebration. We had an incredible room with a porch overlooking the ocean.”

While Scott planned to propose the first night, he later admitted that he got too nervous and ran out of time before the sun set. The next night, he prevailed.  Scott had secretly set up his phone facing the porch. She said, “yes!”

The Karlins chose wedding planner, Lindsay Sims, Toast Events. Stephanie laughed, “Mom was determined to hire her the minute we got engaged. She [Sims] was fun to work with and had wonderful ideas.”

Earlier in May, the bridal shower was at Mission and Market in Buckhead, hosted by Jodi and Donna’s friends. Stephanie noted, “I felt so lucky and very loved. Most local friends were there and many of my out-of-town friends came in for it.”

The shower and dresses were coordinated with cheerful colors.

On Oct. 4, 2025, 225 guests celebrated the main event at Hotel Avalon. Stephanie said, “In recent years, my mom and I had fallen in love with downtown Alpharetta.

We felt like we were out of town every time we visited. It was a ‘no brainer’ to pick that venue. We also were set on a hotel site as we felt it’s the most convenient, especially for my grandparents, who are getting older and might want to head up to the room if tired.”

Rabbi Sam Trief, who married Stephanie’s sister, Morgan, and her husband, Jacob, in 2021, officiated. Stephanie related, “They also did niece, Livy’s, baby naming, so it felt very special for her [the rabbi] to be marrying us. The most meaningful thing to me was her prayer for the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. No less than a week later, the announcement was made that a deal had been reached, and the hostages were coming home.”

The wedding menu began with a cocktail hour replete with an “incredible sushi station and tons of passed hors d’oeuvres.” As soon as the ceremony ended, guests filtered into the cocktail hour with mini tacos and tequila shots. The dinner was a duo of short rib and Chilean sea bass. The “first dance” was “This is How You Fall in Love” by Chelsea Cutler and Jeremy Zucker. The band, Atlanta Showstoppers, learned it; and Stephanie sang it during the entire dance.

The bride’s dress was custom made by BW Designs in Buckhead. The florals were natural tones — shades of green, copper, and cream. The cake, by Kat Lush Cakery, was vanilla and cinnamon with cream cheese icing.

The couple honeymooned at Jade Mountain in St. Lucia. They share bernedoodle Webster, who was supposed to be in the wedding, but got spooked and didn’t make it down the aisle.

Scott cooed, “I like Stephanie’s weird dancing moves, and that she is kind to her friends and family.”

Stephanie admired, “Scott is very handy. There’s a stereotype that Jewish men aren’t the most handy, but Scott defies that. He can watch a few YouTube videos and do pretty much anything around the house.”