People + Places

Wedded Bliss: Denitra Townsend and Orlando Gregory

June 7, 2019

Denitra is an image consultant, and Orlando is a disaster and public safety consultant. The couple lives in Detroit and honeymooned in New Orleans. Here, they share details from their charming and simple wedding day.

Date: December 12, 2018

Ceremony: Perfecting Church in Detroit

Reception: The Inn at 97 Winder in Detroit

Photographer: William Bailey of Allen B. Williams Photography

The proposal

“Orlando planned to propose during a horse and carriage ride through Campus Martius on Christmas Eve in 2017 – which happens to also be my birthday – but there was a complete white-out! So, instead, we had brunch and headed back to his house for coffee. There, he gave me a huge, beautifully wrapped gift box. I thought it was a coat I’d had my eye on, but after wading through layers of tissue paper and seemingly silly little gifts, I discovered the ring box! He asked me to be his wife. My sister was on video chat the whole time and captured the wonderful moment.”

The dress

“In keeping with our vintage chic theme, I chose a satin Vince Camuto champagne-colored gown that I ordered online from Nordstrom. It was an off-the-shoulder number with a ruched waist and a fishtail train, the perfect combination of glam and simplicity.”

The ceremony

“We initially planned to get married at the courthouse as neither of us ever wanted a wedding, but after some push from our premarital counselor and friends, we agreed to a ceremony. However, we kept things very simple and chose Perfecting Church, where we’re both members. We intentionally held it on a Wednesday afternoon thinking that many people wouldn’t make it. Not so! We had a chapel full of loved ones who couldn’t wait to witness our union.”

The reception

“When considering reception venues, we wanted someplace we didn’t have to decorate and that was full of vintage charm, and The Inn was just that. Plus, we wanted someplace that would accommodate a strolling reception of hors d’oeuvres. We loved how accommodating the staff was and how the intimate setting allowed us to mingle with all of our guests.”