A Spring Wedding At The Mayflower Grace in Washington, Connecticut

It was a typical night out in New York City when Daniela Gill and Joseph Lapke happened to be at the same bar in Soho. As two complete strangers, they were sitting shoulder to shoulder when Joseph worked up the courage to start a conversation. This led to hours of talking and laughing, even after their friends had left and it was time for the bar to close.

“We were so connected, and right then and there we decided to go for some pizza,” Joseph describes. “We finally ended our long night by taking the subway together. We said goodbye at her stop, and I continued my journey – but not without asking her for a second date.”

With the couple’s anniversary being April 12^th, 2015, they decided to celebrate by recreating their first date. After dinner and drinks, Daniela and Joseph stopped by Madison Square Park on the way home. Having shared many moments there, the park was especially beautiful that night, illuminated by gorgeous light sculptures. While walking around and taking in the sights, Joseph dropped to one knee and proceeded to give a heartfelt speech before popping the question.

“I didn’t know how to react – he completely caught me off guard,” Daniela says. “As I was crying, I kept screaming ‘YES!’ over and over again. I’m sure the people passing by must have thought I was crazy (I was rather crazily in love).”

During the wedding planning process, the couple pieced together their wedding by drawing inspiration from the impressionist art movement, along with the style of the French countryside. Impressionism and French country accents could be found in everything from the wedding décor, to the invitations, to the flowers.

“We wanted for everything to be romantic, chic, and spring-like by using a fresh color palette,” Daniela explains. “We just wanted trees and flowers surrounding us.”

The Mayflower Grace in Washington, Connecticut provided the perfect venue for the bride and groom’s wedding vision. With both being lovers of nature, they found themselves saying “I do” with an outdoor ceremony and reception in an ethereal garden setting. It couldn’t have been a more perfect celebration.

Wanting a honeymoon that would indulge their passion for food, adventure, art, culture, design and architecture, the newlyweds traveled to Munich, Paris, and South Africa to begin their life together as husband and wife.

“Love can be waiting just around the corner,” says Daniela, “so take a chance like Joe did, and perhaps you may find the love of your life as well.”