Even though Gabriela de Araújo and Conor Murphy both attended the University of Michigan at the same time, it wasn’t until they were post-grads in a hotel bar on the Lower East Side when they finally met. Each was with friends from university, coincidentally enough, who introduced them. The first date at Nitecap followed just a few days afterward . . .
Four years later, Conor surprised Gabriela with a proposal in Central Park—and her family waiting to celebrate with a picnic basket in Sheep’s Meadow.
Because Gabriela’s extended family all lives in Brazil, she always knew she would get married there. The only question that remained: Where in Brazil would she and Conor wed? Rio de Janeiro was the instant decision, as it would be ideal for all of their friends and family to visit. “When it came down to choosing the venue, Parque Lage was an easy choice,” Gabriela admits. “The Parque Lage mansion was built in 1811, but its famous remodeling was not done until 1920: A remodel that was done for love.”
She explains the history further, saying, “In 1920, Henrique Lage began to remodel Parque Lage, inviting Italian architect Mario Vodret as the designer of the mansion that had belonged to his father. His style was quite different, combining different trends of the time, framing his work within the period of art known as eclectic, which pleased Henrique Lage’s Italian opera singer wife, Gabriela Besanzoni.” Naturally, the wedding aesthetic was “tropical chic” with a “Rio twist,” as planned by TCD Eventos and photographed by Rodrigo Saks and Pati Secchin. Flor’Art created their floral arrangements, and Carla Vidal brought everything together as the wedding decorator.
While the where of her wedding was a straightforward decision, Gabriela didn’t know what she would wear. While at the Pnina Tornai atelier, she met the designer herself, and together, they made her dream dress with a built-in corset and extended train and veil. Her jewelry and makeup by Gab Nascimento were left clean and simple.
The groom wore a handmade suit by Franco Ercole Bespoke, based in Dyker Heights. “Frank and his father, Ercole, took great care of Conor and educated him on how to dress for the occasion,” Gabriela notes. “After many fittings and espressos, Frank delivered a beautiful mid-gray suit that fit like a glove.”
In Brazil, it’s typical for the wedding party to decide their own outfits without a say from the bride or groom. “For our wedding, we blended the American and Brazilian traditions,” Gabriela explains. “I told my bridesmaids to wear summer dresses that are formal in green and or blue tones.” They all dressed for the occasion.
On May 27, 2023, Gabriela and Conor’s guests gathered at the beautiful Igreja de São Francisco de Paula. “The church was completed in 1801 and its exterior is a classic example of colonial Portuguese architecture,” Gabriela gushes. The wedding procession was accompanied by a five-piece orchestra, and the bride and her father entered to the tune of Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma.”
Once she joined her groom at the altar, they both wiped away the tears that formed during her walk. “Conor did not let go of my hands for the next 50 minutes,” Gabriela remembers. The traditional Catholic ceremony was done in a mix of different languages—Gabriela shared her vows in Portuguese; Conor, English. When finished, white petals descended from the ceilings and the bells tolled.
The reception that followed was ten hours but admittedly flew by “in the blink of an eye,” Gabriela shares. After photos, the bride and groom ate their first meal together as a married couple in private before joining their guests for toasts. “Because our wedding guests didn’t all speak the same languages, the wedding toasts had to be translated to and from Portuguese and English.” Speakers consequently kept their speeches short and sweet and easily translatable. Besides, everyone was ready to try the delectable food by Pimenta Rosa, cake by Betah Nahuz, and desserts from Uai Paris, Brigadeiros Fabiana D’Angelo, Denise do Rego Macedo, and Gisele Bem Casados.
For the newlyweds’ first dance, they swayed to Frank Sinatra’s “Strangers in the Night.” Early in their relationship, they discovered that it was both their favorite song, and the lyrics suddenly took on a new purpose. Suddenly, it described their entire love story, from first meeting as “strangers in the night” on the Lower East Side.
At midnight, late-night food was served and fueled the dancing that went on till four in the morning. “This meant we were all very sore the next day,” Gabriela laughs. “Dancing for ten hours straight is a real workout.” The vivacity wouldn’t have been possible without DJ Eloy and saxophonist Breno who “brought the house down.”
