Gabrielle Cohen was first introduced to Michael Robbins through her childhood best friend, along with a few other mutual friends who happened to be Michael’s classmates at the University of Miami.
“At first, we were distant friends – if you could even call it that – since we attended schools so far from one another,” Gabrielle explains. “I was at Vanderbilt University and Michael at the University of Miami. Our interactions were solely during school breaks when our mutual friends would get together for dinner or a night out in NYC.
“I REALIZED MICHAEL COULD INSTANTLY PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE AND MAKE ME LAUGH NO MATTER WHAT.”
We did not start texting or creating our own friendship until we graduated in May from college. Our friendship resulted in us hanging out alone and quickly turned into more. We went out on our first date at Hendricks on Long Island at the end of June 2012. It was very early on that I realized Michael could instantly put a smile on my face and make me laugh no matter what, and likewise with him. To me, that was one of the most special parts of our relationship from the beginning!”
The proposal took place in November of 2017, with the help of Gabrielle’s family. She came down with a cold and sinus infection that week, but Michael, his sister, and Gabrielle’s sisters and parents managed to decorate the couple’s apartment for the special occasion while Gabrielle was out. When she came home, she found a trail of rose petals leading to the bedroom, where Michael was waiting with an engagement ring in hand.
Unlike some brides, Gabrielle loved the wedding planning process and credits her experience to the collaboration between herself, her mother, and her wedding planner Bianca. “Every single meeting was like a get-together with my best friends – except we were planning the most important and special day of mine and Michael’s lives,” she describes. “Everything from the photographer, to the flowers, to the band, and even the small details like the tablecloths and chargers, was all we hoped for and more! I couldn’t have asked for a smoother process and am so grateful for the lifelong friendship and bond we have formed with Bianca!”
When the big day arrived, the bride and groom awoke in separate rooms at the iconic Pierre Hotel in NYC. After hours of hair, makeup, and getting ready with her family and 15 bridesmaids, Gabrielle was more than ready to see Michael for their first look, which took place outside the hotel on 5th Avenue. Once they walked down the aisle at 7:30 p.m., the rest of the night flew by.
The wedding décor included copious amounts of lush florals in an ombre color scheme. “It was like a real-life secret garden and our own fairytale that we were stepping into,” says the bride. “The peony was the signature flower of the night. The cocktail hour had an incredible array of stations from sushi, to Mexican, to duck and seafood. We also had passed hours d’overs which, of course, included mini pigs in blankets – a must for the Cohen Cocktail Hour (as per my dad). Then, guests were surprised with a variety of fresh popcorn on their way out, as well as a literal candy store! The candy store had every candy imaginable, Magnolia Bakery cupcakes and banana pudding, cookies, brownies, cake jars, etc.!”
For their honeymoon, the newlyweds spent three weeks in Bali and Hong Kong.
