From College Sweetheart to Happily Married at The Briarcliff Manor
Danielle and Kevin described their experience in four phrases: “We laughed, we cried, we loved and we celebrated!” Take a look at their love story, how they met in college, how they fell in love, and how they ended up here with us celebrating a night they would never forget here with us at The Briarcliff Manor.
Question: How did you two first meet?
Answer: Danielle: We met in college- Siena College. He was on the men’s lacrosse team and I was on the women’s soccer team. Our mutual friends introduced us one night at a party. He found an excuse to text me the next day by asking a question about a sports network we were both representatives for. He already knew the answer.
Question: What was your first impression of each other?
Answer: Danielle: He’s was confident yet very sweet. He was also a great listener! What I liked most about him was that he wasn’t a follower and treated me with the upmost respect. Kevin: Of course I thought she was absolutely beautiful, but she genuinely took interest in everything I said and to this day has always been a great listener.
Question: What was your first date?
Answer: We went to the Cheesecake Factory near campus. He was under the weather although I didn’t know it at the time. I remember thinking to myself, “Oh no- I eat way more food than he does”. I soon found out how false that was and his lack of appetite was only temporary.
Question: Who said ‘I love you’ first?
Answer: Kevin: Danielle said I love you first!
Question: What is the most memorable date that you two shared?
Answer: Danielle: I “surprised” Kevin with a date to escape the room in Brooklyn. I didn’t tell him exactly what we were doing until we got there. They blindfolded us and handcuffed us and we were put in separate coffins. We had to work together to escape. He was a good sport about it! We grabbed a few beers at a nearby bar afterwards.
Question: What are your nicknames for each other?
Answer: Danielle: There are WAY too many embarrassing nicknames that we call each other but I will choose wisely- I call him, “Babe” most of the time. Kevin: “Nelly” is my go-to nickname for her!
Question: Is there a favorite spot you two share?
Answer: We frequent the Carl Schurz Park in Manhattan and you will often find us at the dog park over there, (even though we don’t have any dogs).
Question: Who met the in-laws first?
Answer: Kevin: Danielle met my parents first. It was a rather nerve-wracking introduction since I also had four brothers to introduce Danielle to.
Question: What are your favorite things about each other?
Answer: Kevin: It’s the best to come home from work and just be able to lay down on the couch with her and watch a movie. She is also hysterical and is always doing something to try to get me to react to her shenanigans. Danielle: My favorite thing about Kevin without a doubt is his humor. He honestly makes me laugh everyday.
Question: Do you have a special tradition on Valentine’s Day?
Answer: Danielle: Not at all! We aren’t very big on the whole Valentine’s Day thing. Kevin brings me home flowers every month since we started dating. This past Valentine’s Day I brought him home 2 large orders of McDonald’s fries.
Question: When did you know that you were going to propose to her?
Answer: Kevin: I knew I was going to propose to Danielle when we were in college, and after experiencing living with her I couldn’t wait to ask her to be my wife.
Question: What was your proposal like? Where was it?
Answer: Danielle: It was a normal Friday work day, or so I thought. I woke up to a letter from Kevin which alluded to the start of an unforgettable weekend. He told me in the letter to meet him at a particular bench in Central Park after work. It’s a spot that we frequent a lot, especially in the summer. I had to go to work and try to concentrate while knowing my life was going to change forever in the next few hours. It’s safe to say that work day was not my most productive. I found my way to Central Park at the end of the day to find Kevin waiting for me on that bench which was accented by a beautiful proposal.
Question: How did you feel when he proposed?
Answer: Danielle: I had immediate tears of happiness of course when Kevin proposed. We had been talking about getting engaged for some time, so it wasn’t a big secret, but my heart was so full when it all came to fruition. I just remember pure happiness and excitement. We ended up walking 4 miles that day because we spent that time calling our close friends and family about the big news.
Question: How long have the both of you known each other?
Answer: Danielle: We met in college! I was a senior, Kevin- a junior at the time. It’s been about 4 years since we started dating.
Question: What was your favorite part of your wedding day?
Answer: Danielle: My favorite part of the wedding day happened during the last song of the night. After a lot of dancing and drinks, the DJ closed out the night with Frank Sinatra’s- New York, New York. All of our friends and family gathered in a circle around Kevin and I as we danced. This was followed by a big group hug. I have never felt so much love and happiness at one time. It was an unforgettable moment.
Question: How would you describe the style or theme of your wedding?
Answer: Our wedding day theme was very classic. We tried to incorporate a bit of a Tuscan feeling to it with our choice in flowers and decor. We stayed simple though. After all, simplicity is beauty.
Question: What did you look most forward to? The wedding day, the ceremony, the honeymoon?
Answer: Danielle: Although the wedding day itself was really exciting to prepare for, we definitely looked the most forward to the honeymoon. We were traveling to Tuscany, Italy the next day so it was a pretty awesome feeling to get to the airport and reminisce on the night before, but also anxiously await what was coming next!
Question: What was the most fun detail of your wedding to plan?
Answer: Danielle: Hands down, the food tasting was the best part of planning the wedding. We already knew we were going to be getting exceptional food at The Briarcliff Manor, but being able to sample everything and hand pick the menu was so much fun (and delicious).
Question: What was the most unique detail at your wedding?
Answer: Kevin: The string quartet during our cocktail hour may very well be the most unique detail of the wedding. The musicians were phenomenal and played everting from Ave Maria to the theme song of Game of Thrones.
Question: What was your something borrowed, something new and something blue?
Answer: My something old was my great grandmother’s handkerchief. My something new was my wedding dress. Last but not least, my something blue was a pearl choker with a sapphire stone in the center. My inspiration was the beautiful Princess Diana that used to wear a piece very similar.
Question: To the Groom: What were you thinking when you saw her walking down the aisle?
Answer: That I get to spend the rest of my life with the most beautiful girl I have ever met inside and out.
Question: What is the first thing the groom noticed about the bride when she walked down the aisle?
Answer: The first thing I noticed was her dress. It was so classic looking and truly brought out her beauty.
Question: Is there anything from your wedding day that you will keep as memorabilia?
Answer: Danielle: We are keeping quite a few items of memorabilia from the wedding. To name a few- our cake cutting knife, champagne glasses, and of course my dress and veil.
Question: What is “your song” and why?
Answer: Our song which is also our wedding song is called Here and Now by Luther Vandros. Our generation may not be as familiar with this song but I defiantly suggest to give it a listen. This song has always been close to my heart because I grew up listening to the artist in my home.
Question: Who was your maid of honor and why?
Answer: I actually had co maid of honors for my wedding, Brianna & Savina. I am lucky enough to have two amazing best friends who happen to be twins. They were and still are the sisters I never had. We met when we were three when my parents moved on the same street as their parents. We shared an infinite amount of memories since then- too many to mention. Our friendship and love for each other is over 22 years old. They are the most genuine and caring friends you can ask for and there was no doubt who I wanted to be by my side on my wedding day.
Question: Who was your best man and why?
Answer: My twin brother, Chris was my best man. He’s been by my side since birth so it was no question who I wanted by my side on my wedding day.
Question: Did you have your honeymoon yet? How was it? Where was it?
Answer: Danielle: Yes! We went to Tuscany, Italy. We started out at a magnificent Air-bnb overlooking breathtaking views. The family that hosted us has a big piece of property in which they open up to visitors. We had our own private villa. We enjoyed their man-made swimming pool, spa, and ate the most delicious farm to table food. My heart skips a beat whenever I think back to the trip. Of course, this was accented with visits to Florence & Rome which are nothing short of a dream.
Question: How would you describe your wedding day in one sentence?
Answer: We laughed, we cried, we loved and we celebrated!
Photographer – Melissa Batista
Cake – Homestyle Bakery
Videographer – Noah Friedman
Florist & Décor – Décor by Vincenza (In-House Décor Specialist at The Briarcliff Manor)
