Local Love

KELSEY & DANNY

This originally ran as a Local Love in the 2018 issue.

Wedding Date August 19, 2017

When Danny Lucas asked the bartender at Stalking Horse to give him her phone number, he entered it under “Dreamgirl” in his cell. Not to spoil the rest of this piece, reader, but he married her. Fast forward to their very first date: Danny was late, and Kelsey Haywood, AKA Dreamgirl, suffering from a stomach bug but not wanting to cancel, threw up in the bathroom of Metropolitan. Not an auspicious start but still promising enough for a second date. It was a joyful and romantic Fourth of July get-together with friends and fireworks that truly cemented their relationship. Five years later, on another July evening, Kelsey and Danny had packed a picnic dinner and watched Best In Show at the American Visionary Art Museum’s Flicks From the Hill. Unbeknownst to Kelsey, Danny had been carrying around an engagement ring for six months, waiting for the perfect moment. As they walked toward home, Danny put down all their stuff, got down on one knee, and nervously held up the ring box—upside down. There was hugging and sobbing and kissing and calls to their families. “It was perfect,” says Kelsey. “Most spontaneous night ever. I was in sweats. No makeup on. It was the best night ever.”

When Danny Lucas asked the bartender at Stalking Horse to give him her phone number, he entered it under “Dreamgirl” in his cell. Not to spoil the rest of this piece, reader, but he married her. Fast forward to their very first date: Danny was late, and Kelsey Haywood, AKA Dreamgirl, suffering from a stomach bug but not wanting to cancel, threw up in the bathroom of Metropolitan. Not an auspicious start but still promising enough for a second date. It was a joyful and romantic Fourth of July get-together with friends and fireworks that truly cemented their relationship. Five years later, on another July evening, Kelsey and Danny had packed a picnic dinner and watched Best In Show at the American Visionary Art Museum’s Flicks From the Hill. Unbeknownst to Kelsey, Danny had been carrying around an engagement ring for six months, waiting for the perfect moment. As they walked toward home, Danny put down all their stuff, got down on one knee, and nervously held up the ring box—upside down. There was hugging and sobbing and kissing and calls to their families. “It was perfect,” says Kelsey. “Most spontaneous night ever. I was in sweats. No makeup on. It was the best night ever.”

Beauty Andrea Mitchell (hair); Kaytee Spanoghe (makeup) Caterer Chesapeake Bay Beach Club Dessert Flavor Cupcakery Event Signage Designed by Jennica Atkinson Floral Design Steelcut Flower Co. Groom Ted Baker suit at Nordstrom; Gucci shoes Invitations Paperless Post Music District Strings (ceremony and cocktail hour); Millenium(reception) Officiant Dr. Ross Bregel, a family friend Paper Goods Minted (menus, programs, table cards) Photo Booth Pixilated (with a Steelcut Flower Co. floral backdrop and Make Tribe botanical props.) Photographer Anna Reynal Rings Radcliffe Jewelers Venue Chesapeake Bay Beach Club Wedding Dress Hayley Paige gown and Sophia Webster shoes Wedding Stylist Jessica D’Argenio Waller of Make Tribe

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