Start Slideshow View Grid Start Slideshow 16

Highsnobiety VP of Client Services Haein Dorin’s Tribeca Elopement

By Shayna Seid | Photography by 

Spencer Lloyd Blake

Now that it’s crystal clear that hosting a big wedding at this time is just not possible due to the spread of COVID-19, we’re sharing the experiences of real couples navigating the re-scheduling, cancellation, and civil and commemorative wedding processes in an attempt to help others make informed decisions and to spread our support to all during this time.

Haein Dorin postponed her August 7th wedding in Napa because of the spread of COVID-19. Here, she’s sharing how she and her husband, Giovanni Dorin, made the final call and decided to elope around Manhattan on their original date.

Haein, the VP of client services at Highsnobiety, and Giovanni, a sales lead of global business solutions at TikTok, postponed their wedding in March, when they realized the impact of the pandemic. “With most of our families and close friends located in California, Hawaii, Italy, London, South Africa, and South Korea, we realized it was too dangerous to be hosting a large gathering,” Haein says.

“While we were thankful we had antibodies and are healthy, we were saddened by the idea of postponing our union,” she says. “We originally planned on having a smaller ceremony in California in September,  but with the COVID cases rising there, we decided the week-of to plan on legally tying the knot in our neighborhood, where we have resided and grown as a couple over the past four years.”

The planning process was surprisingly fun. The couple thought up their most beloved Tribeca spots and incorporated each into the day. To say, “I do,” Haein chose a white linen Brock Collection dress, with help from bridal stylist Gabrielle Hurwitz, and Baroque pearl earrings from Bôneur that she’d picked up in Paris earlier this year. She also wore a bag and shoes from By Far and designed her headpiece and bouquet with City Blossoms.

The groom put on a green linen Paul Smith suit, an Hermès tie, and shoes from Barcelona boutique Ramon Cuberta. “His wedding band is a family heirloom from his great-grandfather, passed on to his grandfather, then his father, and now on to Giovanni,” Haein explains. “It is an Italian Dorin family tradition to have the first born son’s name to start with G because the engraving in the signet ring reads ‘GD.'”

In front of their favorite building on Greenwich St., right next to the restaurant The Greek, their close friend officiated the ceremony, while their immediate families dialed in via FaceTime. It was “surprisingly, the most loved we have ever felt,” Haein shares. “Being in our neighborhood, surrounded by the scenery we have known as a couple for the last four years—after moving to New York City together from California—felt very right, and it felt like us. The most important element was that our family, who could not make it, were safe in their homes.”

Once they were announced as a married couple, they met eight of their friends at a favorite date night spot—Grand Banks, a restaurant-boat docked on the Hudson River in Tribeca. They celebrated the afternoon with oysters, champagne, and a delicious lemon cake from Magnolia Bakery.

Looking back on everything now, the newlyweds are so happy to be married and are excited to build their family. “We are getting a puppy the first week of September and couldn’t be more excited to start this new chapter as parents,” the bride says. On another note, she adds, “I hope this year doesn’t stop the fiancés out there from celebrating their love and moving forward with tying the knot.”