“Honestly I wasn’t planning on finding my dress that day at all, I just stumbled upon it at the thrift store 30 minutes before they closed. I didn’t even get to try it on because the fitting rooms were closed for Covid. But since it was only $10 I took a chance on it! Then my co-worker suggested Ann to work on the vintage piece and she did an amazing job in making it my own.”
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
GG- I have been working in the tea industry for over 10 years. First in tea supply and now for a UK brand called Teapigs. I love cycling, it really has changed my perspective on things, especially while living in NYC the last 9 years.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
RO-We first met under Coffee Shop’s neon sign in Union Square, on a dreary, drizzly, grey October day and went to what was supposed to be a quiet bar that turned out to be hosting the worst open-mic stand up comedy night we’d ever heard. That we made it out of that bar, that the night turned around and we laughed and talked all across the East Village was a sign.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
GG- for me, being with Raphael has always felt like home. We got in 1 great “normal” year of dating before Covid hit, it was mad fun! Then dating during Covid, we obviously started hanging out all of the time. We had a trial living together period when we stayed in my mom’s house in Central NY for two months while she was in Florida. It definitely helped us bond in new ways, and depend on one another to pick the other up when we were feeling down on life, it truly was a roller coaster of emotions…and still is!
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
RO-In the dead of winter we flew to my home state of California, visiting friends who had left New York for LA, and then driving up to my hometown in the Central Valley. We saw the house I grew up in, the old friends I grew up with, and we drove out into the Sacramento River Delta like I used to do on the last day of every summer before heading back East. We went to see the migration of the Sandhill Cranes, and I’d planned out a full day tour, timed so we’d end at a marsh to see them all fly home for the night. As the sun set, thousands of these giant birds soaring overhead, whooping like dinosaurs, I turned to Gab and told her I needed to just ask her one question…
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding…
GG-We really wanted a fun, go-with-the flow casual day for our civil ceremony, something for just us in Brooklyn. We will be planning a Jewish ceremony next year for family and friends.
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
GG-The flowers for sure! I was originally planning on making my own bouquet but really loved the way Stems incorporated the fun flower colors into the bunch.
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
GG- Buying those shoes off Poshmark that I found was both a blessing and a curse. They looked amazing, but immediately when I started walking on the pavement they started to come apart and by the end of the afternoon the whole sole ripped off haha. I am just thankful I had my Vans to change into!
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
GG-Honestly I wasn’t planning on finding my dress that day at all, I just stumbled upon it at the thrift store 30 minutes before they closed. I didn’t even get to try it on because the fitting rooms were closed for Covid. But since it was only $10 I took a chance on it! Then my co-worker suggested Ann to work on the vintage piece and she did an amazing job in making it my own.
Ceremony location: Brooklyn Marriage Bureau / Photographer: Sylvie Rosokoff, @sylviethecamera / Flora: Stems Brooklyn, @stemsbrooklynweddings
