Scene Together: Couples on Their Wedding Day

By Jacqueline Miller

Erica Lauren Haspel & Daniel Curtis Hooks

April 6, 2019

Who ever knew studying tort law could be so uniting?

For mega-smart and beautiful Erica and the charming and brilliant Dan, their decision to study together for their tort law final would result not in a conflict (as tort law does), but in the start of a perfect, uncontested union.

After Erica attended the University of Colorado Boulder for her undergraduate studies, she then went to Northwestern University School of Law. Dan attended Mississippi State University, also followed by Northwestern University School of Law. They met during their first year in law school and agreed to study together for that life-altering tort final.

They would find out that night just how much they had in common. The conversation flowed to everything and anything except the suject they were supposed to be studying—so they gave up and went out for drinks.

Erica and Dan’s courtship took place in between their law school studies, with Dan eventually proposing on August 26, 2017 in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Erica now works at the Legal Aid Society in Brooklyn and Dan is a litigation associate with Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy in Manhattan.

The couple married at Selby Gardens surrounded by 130 family and friends at a ceremony officiated by Rabbi Michael Stemfield and Cantor Deborah Bard of Temple Beth El Bradenton. Selby’s Rainforest made the perfect backdrop after the ceremony for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner and dancing under a tent on the Garden’s South Lawn.

The special Gauguin exhibit at the Gardens also added to the natural beauty of the setting, while hundreds of hanging lights dangled from the trees and over the dance floor creating a truly magical atmosphere. Guests dined on a duet of roasted garlic and herb-rubbed chateau of beef, and miso-glazed Chilean sea bass paired with forbidden rice and roasted vegetables.

Erica is the daughter of Debbie and Larry Haspel, who are widely known in Sarasota for their philanthropy to and involvement with many arts and culture and human services organizations. Dan is the son of Priscilla Hooks and the late David Hooks of Jackson, Missouri.

For their honeymoon, before going back to their everyday life of fighting for truth and justice, Erica and Dan went hiking in the seaside villages of Cinque Terra, Italy followed by several days in Rome.

Vendors:

Planner: Maria Brady: Choreographed Events | Hair and Make-up: Ana Molinari | Venue: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens | Catering:  Michael’s on East | Photography: Binary Flips | Rentals: So Staged | Cake: Julie Deffense | Lighting: Affairs in the Air | Flowers: Victoria Blooms

Sabrina Marie Jacobs & Cameron Malloch

November 21, 2018

He’s tall, dark and handsome. She’s blonde, beautiful and strong. When they met a few years ago, it was through an unusual introduction.

Sabrina, an incredibly gifted massage therapist, works magic on her clients’ health needs, many of whom see her on a regular basis. One of these clients decided Sabrina just may be a good match for his son.

She never dreamed that introduction by a father of his son would change their lives forever.

No, this isn’t the start of a Nora Roberts romance novel, although it could be. It’s the real-life romance of Cameron and Sabrina and their happily ever after. But let’s start at the beginning.

Cameron is the son of long-time Sarasota residents Dina and Graeme Malloch. He attended Out-of-Door Academy and graduated Auburn University. Now, he works in business development for Stabil Concrete Pavers in Sarasota.

Sabrina is the daughter of Sarasotans Chris Jacobs and Bonnie Brown. Sabrina went to Bayshore High and graduated Keiser University. She is self-employed as one of the top massage therapists in town (Massage Therapy by Sabrina).

When they started dating, the pair became inseparable from the start. The connection was instant—their chemistry and compatibility apparent to all who know them. Never ones to want anyone to fuss over them, Cameron and Sabrina chose to elope. When they learned of the three-day waiting period for a marriage license in Florida, they decided to plan a very intimate ceremony 20 days later at the beautiful home of Cameron’s parents on the water in St. Armands Key.

The weather was absolutely perfect. A magnificent sunset and a full moon created the perfect backdrop on their special night for their family and closest friends to enjoy. A violinist played their chosen song—Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight. Given Cameron’s Scottish heritage, there was a surprise bagpipe serenade by the talented Cassandra Calo. The evening was deliciously catered by Café L’Europe on St. Armands. It was a beautiful night that Cameron and Sabrina will never forget.

In fact, they had such a good time that they decided to do it all over again. This time, family and friends who were not available to attend the quickly gathered November ceremony, got to celebrate with the couple at an exquisite brunch at the Sarasota Yacht Club on April 20, 2019. There was lots of dancing, laughter and good times for the oldest down to the tiniest in attendance.

The very next day, the dashing Cameron and the stunning Sabrina left for an exciting three-week honeymoon. They traveled through Italy, Switzerland and France—taking a romantic Vespa tour through Rome, paragliding over Interlaken and savoring some of the finest cuisine in Paris.

In this tale of love, as in every Nora Roberts novel, they lived happily ever after.

Vendors:

Wedding Dress: Sottero and Midgely from The Perfect Dress | Hair & Makeup: Elena Evaniss | Ceremony and Reception Venues and Caterers: Home of Graeme and Dina Malloch—catered by Café L’Europe on St. Armands; Sarasota Yacht Club for second ceremony brunch | Flowers: Victoria Bloom | Violinist: Laurie Vodnoy-Wright | Wedding Cake: Morton’s Market | DJ: Kurt Disney, Goodley Entertainment | Photographer: Robert Hedges of creativestudiofx | Planners: Jeremy Wright of Green Expectations; Karen Roman from Sarasota Yacht Club and Dina Malloch, mother of the groom