When You Meet Your Soulmate on the Subway...
This is a true New York love story if I ever heard one. It's what happens when fate brings a fashion designer and a chef to the same subway stop not once but twice within a single day, and the rest is history. No surprise, she designed a custom gown and he planned a menu that'd make foodies drool. But the best detail of their day? The ceremony took place right above the train station where they first met. Read on for the full story with beautiful images by Kayla Barker.
Their Love Story
It was a chilly January day in New York City when Jean-Paul and Candace first laid eyes on each other. Candace walked onto the train and immediately captured Jean-Paul’s full attention. Not wanting to come off as “creepy,” he sheepishly attempted to get her attention. Ultimately in his mind he failed as she, like many women taking the subway in NYC, had her attention focused on her book with music playing in her ear buds. Little did he know, she noticed him too, but of course would never be the girl to meet a guy on the subway. Candace got off the train and Jean-Paul remembers thinking to himself, “well… there she goes…” He even thought about getting off the train with her to say hello, but decided to keep his seat and not be late for work.
"Jean-Paul was convinced
that he would never see the
beautiful blonde girl again."
Jean-Paul was a line cook at Maialino restaurant at the time. He worked his typical 10-12 hour day. On that day, the subway line he usually took home was having rail work performed on it. He had to take an alternate route which forced him to enter the 23rd street 6 train station. Candace, at that time, was beginning her interview process after recently graduating from Parsons The New School for Design.
After seeing some friends for dinner that night Candace ended up having to catch the train at the same spot as Jean-Paul. As Jean-Paul approached the turnstile, he once again saw this beautiful blonde hair flowing from the same girl he saw 12 hours earlier on a different subway line! It was her, it was a miracle, and he could not believe it! Jean-Paul knew this was his chance and he had to say hello! He did, and he and Candace Koehl “officially” met for the first time on January 13, 2011.
After seeing some friends for dinner that night Candace ended up having to catch the train at the same spot as Jean-Paul. As Jean-Paul approached the turnstile, he once again saw this beautiful blonde hair flowing from the same girl he saw 12 hours earlier on a different subway line! It was her, it was a miracle, and he could not believe it! Jean-Paul knew this was his chance and he had to say hello! He did, and he and Candace Koehl “officially” met for the first time on January 13, 2011.
"He once again saw this beautiful blonde hair
flowing from the same girl he saw 12 hours earlier
on a different subway line! It was her...
and he could not believe it!"
Candace and Jean-Paul dated on and off for a few months after meeting, but it wasn’t the fairytale that he thought it would be. Candace was a tough one to crack. Both went their separate ways for most of 2011, 2012, 2013. During that time they each climbed the ladder in their respective fields, Candace was freelance designing for various womenswear brands and Jean-Paul was Chef de Cuisine at Gramercy Terrace.
Although his career was going just as he planned and worked so hard for, Jean-Paul was still hung up on Candace. He was convinced this girl was his wife and there was no way they weren’t meant to be together forever. As those years passed, he remembers spending many nights lying awake praying for another chance with Candace or grace to accept that they weren’t meant for each other.
Although his career was going just as he planned and worked so hard for, Jean-Paul was still hung up on Candace. He was convinced this girl was his wife and there was no way they weren’t meant to be together forever. As those years passed, he remembers spending many nights lying awake praying for another chance with Candace or grace to accept that they weren’t meant for each other.
Spring of 2013, Candace and Jean-Paul reconnected. Things were different this time, they were both more mature and ready for a serious relationship. Jean-Paul proposed December 22, 2014 and they were married December 12, 2015.
From the Bride... We chose Gramercy because it is one of our favorite areas in Manhattan. We spent much of our early relationship in this neighborhood since Jean-Paul worked at Maialino and The Terrace during our courtship. We also met at the train station right underground the church we were married in!
Having my dad walk me down the aisle and marry us was a dream that I've had since a little girl. The years leading up to our wedding were very tolling on his health and well-being. It was a true miracle that he was able to be there on December 12 and marry us in front of so many close friends and family. It is a moment we will always cherish.
The food was in Jean-Paul's hands! Since many of his past and present industry peers were attending the wedding, he wanted the food to not only be spectacular but also represent us and where we come from. We had everything from a shrimp boil to a taco stand! Other food items included imported salumi and cheese, passed hors d'oeuvres curated by the terrace, and a whole suckling pig with all the accompaniments. Louisiana and Texas at their finest!
Designing my own wedding dress had also been a dream of mine since I was a young girl. I remember sketching different dresses growing up...the styles always altering here and there but the classic timeless romanticism was always there. Once Jean-Paul proposed, I knew the dress was my number one priority! I researched, sketched, sourced fabric, and then found the perfect seamstress. We worked together for several months from the initial muslin to the final creation. Alterations were happening up until the day of the rehearsal dinner! The final outcome was perfect and exactly what I had envisioned.
Having my dad walk me down the aisle and marry us was a dream that I've had since a little girl. The years leading up to our wedding were very tolling on his health and well-being. It was a true miracle that he was able to be there on December 12 and marry us in front of so many close friends and family. It is a moment we will always cherish.
The food was in Jean-Paul's hands! Since many of his past and present industry peers were attending the wedding, he wanted the food to not only be spectacular but also represent us and where we come from. We had everything from a shrimp boil to a taco stand! Other food items included imported salumi and cheese, passed hors d'oeuvres curated by the terrace, and a whole suckling pig with all the accompaniments. Louisiana and Texas at their finest!
Designing my own wedding dress had also been a dream of mine since I was a young girl. I remember sketching different dresses growing up...the styles always altering here and there but the classic timeless romanticism was always there. Once Jean-Paul proposed, I knew the dress was my number one priority! I researched, sketched, sourced fabric, and then found the perfect seamstress. We worked together for several months from the initial muslin to the final creation. Alterations were happening up until the day of the rehearsal dinner! The final outcome was perfect and exactly what I had envisioned.