We met one October evening in 2016 at a party in Brooklyn. At the time, Michael was living in New York City while Rachel was in college in Philadelphia. From the moment we met, there was an instant connection, and we quickly discovered a shared love for art, food, and live performances. It didn’t take long for us to realize that we could share our true selves with each other.

Despite the distance, we embarked on a journey of visiting each other whenever we could. Weekends were spent exploring new restaurants, dancing the night away, and having honest and open conversations.

Rachel completed her studies and then moved to San Francisco for work. We flew back and forth every other weekend across the country to try and soak up time together. For nearly three years we dated long distance.

In April of 2019 Rachel was able to move back east and moved to Brooklyn with Michael still in Manhattan. In February 2020, Michael followed her to Brooklyn, eager to be closer together. Little did we know, this move would coincide with the onset of the pandemic, prompting us to make the leap to living together sooner than planned.

With newfound flexibility of remote work, we embraced the uncertainty of 2020 by spending time with Rachel’s family in California. This period became a time of self-discovery and growth, where our shared interests in yoga, cooking, and the great outdoors flourished. Our love for national parks was ignited during a memorable visit to Joshua Tree in October 2020.

In 2021 and early 2022, we made our home in Florida, relishing in lazy mornings at farmers markets, walks along the beach, and cherished moments just enjoying each other’s company.

In March 2022, we settled in Jersey City, where we continue to build our lives together.

Michael proposed to Rachel in September 2023 during a dreamy trip to Portugal. Against the backdrop of a breathtaking cliffside, he surprised her with a heartfelt proposal, complete with a photographer capturing the moment and some of our closest friends joining in the celebration afterward over a delightful meal in Lisbon.

Though we had already committed to be life partners many years ago, we are excited to celebrate our love and commemorate our commitment through this wedding celebration surrounded by our dear friends and family.

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What was your favorite memory of your wedding day?

It was all a blast – having  other folks tear up at our vows was really touching, walking down the aisle was really beautiful, and loved dancing the night away!

What were the main influences behind the style of your wedding, its location and your venue choice for your big day?

We fell in love with the venue and the owner! Liked the idea of being outside in a funky / quirky space. We wanted it to be luxurious but still rooted in nature – and a ton of fun; lots of disco balls. 

What would your top tips be for somebody planning their wedding?

To prioritize and not let others pressure them to do anything or by any particular timeline!

What made you decide to hire a wedding videographer? Any tips for couples on the fence for a film?

I wanted to watch back the speeches and ceremony (: And now that the wedding is over, I want to watch it back and see it all from another perspective!

What did you like about working with me?

Gavin was super sweet and a pro’s pro!