The Davenport Mansion Love Story of Damaras and Abel

How did you meet?

 We have such a millennial love story. We met as teenagers on a classroom web chat. We spoke once or twice until the site turned into a "dating" website. We didn't know each other well so we decided to have a phone call. After one call we both wrote each other off but we couldn't shake the feeling that we were meant to be together. Years passed and we kept running into one another, and finally we both felt like fate was trying to tell us something. We had our first date in Central park and the rest is history! 6 years later here we stand. Suffice to say, we both believe that timing IS everything. 

How did you get engaged?

We got engaged during Covid. I was supposed to have a girls day out with my maid of honor. We got pampered that day, nails, hair, and lunch. But little did I know it was all a distraction and all of our friends were in on it, to get me out of the house while Abel drove all around NYC to get ready to propose. Abel showed up at our girls lunch demanding we leave immediately and I thought he had lost his mind! He was supposed to be at work! We hopped into an "uber" which turned out to be one of his groomsmen who disguised himself as a driver, and he told me we were having an anniversary photo shoot. It was our 5 year anniversary the next day so I thought it was an early surprise. Our "Uber" driver took us straight to our favorite hotel where some of our friends were gathered and we all made our way down to the boardwalk by the river. There, as I believed we were about to begin a photoshoot, Abel got down on one knee and proposed during sunset. Happy Anniversary!

Details of your day (theme, colors, favors)

We really love nature. Water, trees, grass, so we wanted the elements to be seen and felt throughout the day. We spend a lot of time together exploring. Red is Abel's favorite color and Gold is mine, they complement one another so we decided to weave touches of them throughout the day.

Why did you choose your venue? 
We didn't choose the venue. The venue chose US. As cliche as that sounds. We walked in and knew it was the place we were meant to be married. It reminded us of home. It had this rustic charm that was infectious. It was classy without being pompous, spacious, well kept, beautiful, and comforting. 

What was your menu, what was your cake flavor?
Our menu included four options for dinner. Two meat, one fish and one vegetarian option. We had a watermelon beach salad as an appetizer. A French breast of chicken with mashed potatoes and string beans, a filet mignon with mash and string beans, a Mediterranean  branzino with herbs and greens, and a baked vegetable wellington. Our cake was a red velvet filling with a gold fondant and red ribbon and roses to finish.

Description of your gown? Why was this “the one”?
Another case of the dress chose ME. I wanted something with long sleeves and lace but I slipped on the gown and it fit like a glove. I also felt like a princess. The off the shoulder design and the volume of the dress felt timeless and elegant. It wasn't what I envisioned but being open to the process yields great rewards. I was in love!

What was your favorite moment?
Our favorite moment was the aisle walk. We had done our first look, the nerves were "out" and then as I walked down the aisle Abel completely lost it. Seeing him get so emotional made me cry. When we held hands and kissed I knew it would be okay. I was finally standing in front of my best friend. 

One detail you couldn’t live without?
Roman. We had just adopted our puppy a few months prior and he's our baby. Having him there made us both feel like the day was complete. Roman was so serene that day. He brought the entire Wedding party together. He was calm, looked at the camera, and he really enjoyed himself. We couldn't have gotten through the day without him. He's our family.

Did anything go wrong?
Both soles of Abel's shoes completely fell apart during our first look. Ripped clean off. Gorilla glue was involved, but his brother lent him his shoes and walked down the aisle shoeless! The best part was, no one noticed because his socks were black. It was great!

First dance song?
The classic. L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole

Advice for other brides?
Hire a Wedding planner. Seriously. I was advised to but I very type A, and decided against it. It was a horrible process and I have a husband who was involved throughout the entire thing. Spend your time bonding and let someone take care of everything. Weddings are for everyone else, not the couple. We figured that out a bit late in the process.  Also, don't change. This is literally the only day of your life you're going to be wearing that dress you spent so much money on. I went back and forth on this because every Bride seems to be doing an outfit change these days. But I'm very glad I was true to tradition and myself and stuck with my gown. It was hot, it was heavy, but I felt beautiful and I'm so happy I have all of my memories in that dress and not another outfit.

Jewelry: @nycsterling

Accessories: Urnica

Hair: @polermeena

Bridesmaids dresses: @birdygrey

Groomsmen attire: @menswearhouse

Invitations:Greenvelope

Music: @garywang00

Rentals and Linens: @thedavenportmansion