Competitive dance bloomed into a romance
DATE: May 29, 2016 HER STORY: Michelle Rose D’Ippolito, 26, was born and raised in Boulder, Colo. She is a graduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park in the department of criminology and criminal justice. Her mother, Nancy D’Ippolito, lives in Erie, Colo.
HIS STORY: Nicholas Alexander Fabiani, 27, was born and raised in Cheshire, Conn. He works in digital communications at Grantmakers for Effective Organizations in Washington. His mother, Kathryn Fabiani, and her husband, Daniel Hallen, live in Cheshire, Conn. His father, Michael, and his wife, Lauren Fabiani, live in Wallingford, Conn.
THEIR STORY: The two met in March of 2009 as competitive ballroom dancers (competing against each other).
“I thought he was a good dancer, well-dressed, was very interesting and had great hair,” Michelle said.
Nick thought Michelle made famous dancer Cyd Charisse look bad.
Nick’s friends first spotted Michelle and pointed her out to Nick.
The two wound up talking to each other at subsequent competitions. They talked so much that his then-partner made a bet with him that if they placed in the top five, he would have to ask out Michelle. They won that competition.
Nick got his friends to cheer for Michelle the next time he saw her on the dance floor so she would notice him. He followed that up with a Facebook message introducing himself and suggested they meet for a date.
The couple live in Washington with their brown-and-black tabby cat named Woodrow.
THE PROPOSAL: Nick proposed July 4, 2014, at the top of Sugarloaf Mountain in Maryland. They hiked up the mountain and, before enjoying a picnic lunch, he popped the question.
“When he first started proposing, I was thinking about why he was keeping the food from me when we were supposed to be having a picnic,” she recalled, adding that the ring and food were both in his backpack. “So it took a minute for me to figure out what was going on. Then I was excited and just waiting for him to finish so I could say yes.”
VENUE: Seventy-five people attended the ceremony and reception, which were both held at the Gramercy Mansion in Baltimore County.
FLOWERS AND DECOR: Anna Hock of Flowers & Fancies provided the flowers. The inspiration was an afternoon garden party with brunch.
HER DRESS: Michelle wore a lace, floor-length ball gown with a sweetheart neckline and silk pleated waistband with a flower accent and long train by Justin Alexander. She purchased the dress at Little White Dress Bridal Shop in Denver. “I wanted a dress that would be good for ballroom dancing and would suit an afternoon garden party,” Michelle said.
BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES: Bridesmaids wore short crochet lace dresses with illusion necklines and backs by BB Dakota from Nordstrom. “I wanted something that would be comfortable, suitable for an afternoon wedding, and that they could wear again outside of a wedding,” Michelle said.
GROOM’S ATTIRE: Nick wore a doublebreasted blue-gray linen suit with a red floral tie from Suitsupply. Groomsmen wore gray suits with dusty rose knit ties from various designers.
MUSIC: The couple’s first dance was to the song “Love Is Here to Stay” by Gene Kelly from “An American in Paris.”
FOOD AND DESSERT: Food and cake were provided by Chef’s Expressions. Passed hors d’oeuvres included bacon buckets, mini-crab cornets, mini waffleand-chicken sliders, and watermelon and mint soup shooters. The meal was a three-course seated brunch of strawberry and walnut spinach salad, French toast with blueberry compote, Western-style frittata, breakfast potatoes and sausage patties. The cake was chocolate, chocolate mousse and almond cake with raspberry filling.
FAVORS: Although there were no favors, guests were encouraged to help themselves to any leftover alcohol from the reception.
SPECIAL TOUCHES: The couple plan to honeymoon in Maine in 2017.