IN A YEAR with a global pandemic and tense social and political climate, as well as economic uncertainty, taking a moment to celebrate love — like that of Angela Wisniewski-Cobbina and Awenate Cobbina — is a welcome break from the world’s chaos.
Angela, owner of Coup D’ tat, a fashion and lifestyle boutique in downtown Detroit, and Awenate, CEO of Bedrock Group LP, met by chance in 2017 through a mutual friend at Ottava Via in Corktown. “I heard his name through friends, but I’d never met him. It was nice to put a face to the name,” Angela says. “We’ve been together ever since.”
During 2020, Awenate was traveling back and forth between Detroit and Washington, D.C. for business, and Angela was focused on managing her shop. So naturally, it was a surprise when Awenate popped the question on the rooftop of her friend’s loft in Lafayette Park.
“When he proposed to me, it was this excited relief,” Angela says. “Something really beautiful coming out of a really weird year.” Once the excitement of the engagement settled, they were faced with the big question: Have a downsized wedding now? Or wait for the pandemic to pass and go big?
“We both agreed to do it sooner than later,” Angela says. “I didn’t want to put effort into planning [a big wedding] that I felt we’d have to keep postponing.” They decided to marry in Washington, D.C. on February 13, 2021 — a ceremony at St. Anselm’s Abbey followed by a reception at the historic Hay-Adams hotel in downtown D.C.
While Awenate was born in Philadelphia, he was raised in Washington, D.C., where he attended St. Anselm’s Abbey School for grades eight through 12. “We decided to get married in D.C. because so much of our life and memories are in Detroit, and we wanted to incorporate my home into our life and memories,” he says.
“We decided to get married in D.C. because so much of our life and memories are in Detroit, and we wanted to incorporate my home into our life and memories.”
— Awenate Cobbina
With such a small group traveling for their big day, Angela and Awenate put a significant focus on perfecting small details. One such detail was the gift boxes for guests, which were packed with some of their favorite snacks, candies from Bon Bon Bon in Hamtramck, and a notecard with a custom-made caricature of the couple created by political cartoonist Kevin “Kal” Kallaugher.
The dinner reception took place at Top of the Hay — a venue at the top of the Hay-Adams with panoramic views of the U.S. Capitol. While there was no DJ or dancing, the small party of 10 had certain benefits that often get lost in larger celebrations. “It was a little different than what I would have expected when I thought about getting married as a kid,” Angela says, “but it was actually perfect because it was so small and intimate.”
“We were able to spend time with each guest, our families and friends were able to spend time with each other, and each guest spoke at the reception,” Awenate adds. “I don’t know that we [otherwise] could have replicated that amount of love in one room at one time.”
Despite the stress of planning an out-of-state wedding, mixed with the uncertainty of the world, their wedding day went exactly as planned.
“Everything was perfect,” Angela says. “I trusted the universe in this situation, and everything was magical.”
And when the time is right, they plan on having a larger celebration to bring their families and friends together. “Do a tiny wedding now and have a big party later if you have concerns, because you can never have too many parties, right?” Angela says. “Hopefully by then we can be a little more free and we can truly merge our worlds together.”
WEDDING: St. Anselm’s Abbey, Washington, D.C.
RECEPTION: Hay-Adams, Washington, D.C.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Andrew Morrell
DRESS: A.L.C.
CUSTOM BRIDAL HAT: Boswell Millinery
BIRDCAGE VEIL: BHLDN
SHOES: Tamara Mellon
MAKEUP: Cristin Michelle MUA, Conceptual Beauty
HAIR: Sarah Richards, PR at Partners
ENGAGEMENT RING AND WEDDING BANDS: Wachler Diamonds
CUSTOM CUFFLINKS: Shinola
BOWTIE: Paul Smith
LOAFERS: Saks Fifth Avenue
FLOWERS: Lindsay McWhorter, Niche Hitch Florals
WEDDING CAKE: Liberty Baking Co.
