We're getting married!

Join us on May 28th, 2022 for our long overdue wedding ceremony and reception. Rachel's parents are opening up the family farm to host the celebration. We look forward to seeing you all in the Spring!

In 2006, Djavan was a round faced high school kid, playing Cello in the school orchestra as they toured through Austria and the Czech Republic. He made it to Salzburg, where in an ill-fitting black button down, his music was drowned out by construction noise and the sound of world cup soccer fans. Somewhere nearby, Rachel, 18 and recently graduated from high school, walked the hills with her grandparents, visited the nunnery where the Sound of Music filmed. Djavan and his friends walked up the hill too late, and an impatient nun shooed them away with a slam of the door. They did not meet. In 2013, it was a warm October. Rachel strolled the hills of San Francisco, on her way to have her college portfolio reviewed by graduate schools from around the country. At sunset, she walked up to the roof of the San Francisco Art Institute, and took a photo of the skyline, Coit Tower in the distance. Djavan had taken that picture that morning, and slipped away before Rachel arrived. They did not meet. For Djavan and Rachel, grad students at Pratt Institute––and paths crossed twice––the third time would really be the charm. In 2015, Djavan would lay tired on the couch in Rachel’s studio while she worked, they would take trips down the street for late night coffees, debriefing the latest class critique, and eventually a happy friendship would grow into something more. It was a cold New York October when Djavan asked Rachel to be his girlfriend, and the rest is history.

In November of 2019 Djavan was set to turn 30. He had just planned a fabulous trip to Barcelona for my 30th and I wanted to return the favor. "Where do you want to go?" I asked, "Anywhere in the world you want babe". He thought about it and said "I want to go to San Francisco and see all of our best friends." I started on the plans. Surprise dinners, surprise out-of-town guests—everyday was planned. Djavan requested that he get to plan one thing. He wanted to go on a hike, just him and me. I didn't think much of it until I realized that us leaving our large group of friends, many of whom were visiting from out of town just for us, would be awkward. I asked if Djavan really wanted to do that and he replied with a firm "yes." I was suspicious. We arrived in S.F. and started our events for the weekend celebration. On the day of the hike we borrowed Saebra and Hamilton's car (these two were SO involved in helping Djavan take over my carefully laid plans for his own sneaky plans) and headed for the Redwoods, my most favorite place in the world. We arrived at the trailhead and took the path slowly—New Yorkers enjoying some much needed nature. As always, we made banana slug friends. I named one Cornelius. We took a left at a fork up to the vista point—it didn't happen there. We decided to head back to the car. Halfway back, I realized we didn't take the right fork, so we doubled back. It led to a sandstone boulder that stood tall over a wooden deck in the forest. I noticed the information board, and being the nerd I am, started reading it to Djavan, him saying "yeah?" and "uh-huh," as I went along. When I turned around to Djavan and said, "I guess we should head back," he was already down on one knee, ring in hand. And here we are. I said yes, he said yes, it was great. Oh, and we made sure to show Cornelius the ring on the way back. Don't worry.