Real Columbus Wedding: Michael and Connor Corbett Tie the Knot in Style
A dinner date at the Guild House prompted now-newlyweds Michael and Connor Corbett to to say “I do.” Combining new friends, family and unconditional love proved the two were meant to be.
Who: Michael and Connor Corbett
When: Feb. 18, 2023
The story: Connor and Michael both swiped right on a cold, January evening in 2019, followed by hours of texting for days on end. They finally met for their first date at the Guild House in the Short North neighborhood on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. Michael was dressed in a sharp, black cashmere sweater while Connor was adorned with “many pieces of jewelry,” a signature of his that Michael would soon come to appreciate. Several delicious meals and beguiling conversations quickly tuned into several years of unconditional love, triumphs, new friends, new family, a new home and their shared four-legged babies, Teddy and Chunk. As they say, the rest is history.
The proposal: The couple was engaged shortly before Thanksgiving (a methodical move to have “fun news for the family”) in an intimate cabin setting in the Hocking Hills in 2021. “It’s a special place for us because a cabin trip was our first big weekend trip together when we started dating,” Michael says.
Connor surprised Michael with a casual proposal over a shared bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne while they were unpacking from their trip, to which Michael said “yes” as soon as he saw the ring. “Michael had spent every week—sensing an upcoming proposal—at Queen Nail on Sawmill Parkway for a month and a half leading up to the ‘big ask,’ for a gentleman’s manicure,” Connor says. “As [bad] luck would have it, the last time he went before the proposal, they nicked his cuticle on his ring finger. It eventually had to be Photoshopped out of our social media pictures.”
The couple had their engagement photos taken afterward at Bridge Park in Dublin, Michael’s hometown. “Connor picked the location because he knew it would be touching for me,” Michael says. “And it was. As a kid growing up in the late ‘90s in the Midwest, it was hard to think that someday, marriage equality would be a reality.”
Special touches from the wedding: The two wed at the Athletic Club of Columbus last winter. They taste-tested (and perfected) several signature cocktails at home before coming up with a Blood Orange French 75, the “French 80-Something" they called it, as they are both ‘80s babies, as well as the “Lover Boy Lemon Drop,” a favorite of Michael’s mom.
As highly stylish individuals (and a stylish couple), Connor and Michael both wore velvet shoes on their wedding day—Connor’s by Jimmy Choo, Michael’s by Saks Fifth Avenue. Connor wore his grandmother’s turquoise ring on his right hand. As a loving nod to her, the couple incorporated lamb’s ear in their design and toss florals, as Connor has memories of those growing in her garden.
“Our cocktail pianist, Adina Taylor, played contemporary pop songs of our choosing at cocktail hour—as piano only versions—such as ‘Just Dance’ by Lady Gaga, ‘Love Story’ by Taylor Swift,’ ‘Today’ by the Smashing Pumpkins and ‘Chasing Cars’ by Snow Patrol,” the couple says.
After the fun came to an end and it was time to retreat to their designated hotels, the couple's guests were welcomed into Hotel LeVeque with a presentation of “Love is Love” tote bags with an image of a rainbow in Ohio, filled with a hangover kit, Anthony Thomas Buckeye chocolates, Cheryl’s cookies and other “little touches of the Midwest.”
The two honeymooned afterward in Cabo San Lucas.
VENDORS
Photographer:Stephanie West
Wedding planner: Kelsey Basar of the Athletic Club of Columbus
Ceremony and reception venue:Athletic Club of Columbus
Caterer:Athletic Club of Columbus
Florist:Madison House Designs
Invitations:Zola
Cake & desserts:Alice’s Piece of Cake (Powell)
Ceremony & reception musician:Mark Dantzer Productions (DJ)
Cocktail hour: Adina Taylor (pianist)
Entertainment vendor:Lovely Arrows Designs (calligraphy)
Additional vendor: ByMuya from Etsy (hotel welcome “Love is Love” tote bags)
Rehearsal dinner venue:BRAVO! Cucina Italiana
Hotel for newlyweds:Athletic Club of Columbus
Hotel for guests:Hotel LeVeque
Groom’s attire shop:J. Crew (tuxes); Nordstrom (shirts and pocket squares); Saks Fifth Avenue (ties)
Engagement ring shop:Tiffany & Co.
Wedding band shop:Tiffany & Co.
Bridal party dress shop:Azazie
Flower girl’s dress shop: Little Stitches by T from Etsy