The Historic Alfred I. duPont Building has been host to many wonderful weddings and a number of celebrities. But we were especially thrilled when renowned actress, singer, and producer Danielle Brooks recently selected us as her wedding venue.
We were even more delighted to be featured on the upcoming cover of MunaLuchi Bride, as well as in the pages of Vogue and Vanity Fair magazines, both of which did dazzling spreads on Danielle’s wedding.
Danielle, who rose to fame on the super-popular “Orange is the New Black,” followed by the current superhero series “Pacemaker,” took time out from her busy career to wed her “best friend,” Dennis Gelin in January, right here in the Alfred I. duPont Building. Their two-year-old daughter Freeya Carel served as flower girl.
Mythical wedding
Their romance was straight out of a fairytale, with Dennis courting Danielle like a modern-day Prince Charming.
As everyone was leaving her party the night Danielle and Dennis met, he surprised her by offering to take out the trash. The next morning he sent her flowers, and she knew immediately, “I have found my husband,” she told Vogue.
So it’s only fitting that her wedding matched their fabled beginning.
A few moments before sunset, Danielle’s father Dunnel walked her down the aisle to the musical accompaniment of Broadway performers Jeremy Pope and Amber Iman singing “A Thousand Years” and “We Will Never Break.”
They concluded with their own personal handshake and jumped the broom “in honor of our ancestors,” Danielle told Vogue.
Perfect planning
Determined to work with Black wedding professionals throughout, Danielle created a breathtaking wedding and reception.
She wore two couture gowns, one for the ceremony and one for the reception. The first, by her longtime friend Christian Siriano, was a three-in-one that could also convert to a bodycon or a pants look.
The second, as seen on the MunaLuchi cover, was a stunning flesh-toned mesh with custom embroidery and a huge bell skirt and train by London designer Gbemi Alonuko Bridal.
Dennis was distinguished in a custom-made Garcon Couture suit.
The reception, titled “Chocolate Love,” was designed to “make the space feel like guests were dining in a box of Godiva chocolates with decor in a palette of jewel tones and gold,” according to Vogue.
For example, guests found their names and table numbers in chocolate truffles wrapped in gold.
All in all, it was a wedding the couple and their guests will never forget.
If you’re planning a fantasy wedding ceremony like Danielle’s, be sure to consider the Historic Alfred I. duPont Building in downtown Miami. Its extravagant interiors and unique details are the perfect setting for any wedding.