Ready For Takeoff: Destination Themed E-Session at the TWA Hotel in New York City

Valerie and Kingsley’s sophisticated and fun destination-themed engagement session at the TWA Hotel is featured in Issue No. 30!

Valerie and Kingsley met at an unexpected time in an unexpected place. They had lived in the same apartment complex for four years but never ran into each other. They met for the first time during the pandemic when they got into the same elevator.

Kinglsey set up a private dinner with a personal chef to propose to Valerie. He told Valerie they were going to a dining experience, which did not arouse any suspicions, as Kingsley had shown interest in them before. On the way to the dinner, Valerie noticed Kingsley was fidgety and nervous, but didn’t know why. As soon as they walked into the penthouse, she knew immediately that he was going to propose.

As I walked into the penthouse, I knew. There were candles everywhere, roses, and heart-shaped balloons… The chef handed me a personalized acrylic heart menu, and it said “Will you marry me?”.
– Valerie

To celebrate their engagement, Valerie and Kingsley had a destination-themed engagement session at the TWA Hotel in Jamaica Queens, New York. They love to travel and have been to so many different places together, that it only made sense for them to have a destination-themed e-session for their upcoming destination wedding. With planes, old-school cars, and luggage carts, the TWA Hotel provided the perfect location. It perfectly tied their destination wedding theme together, showing everyone they were ready for take-off.

We decided to do a destination-themed engagement shoot at the TWA hotel because it provided the classy and sophisticated atmosphere we were looking for while also providing the perfect backdrop. We wanted to exude glamour and fun while also representing us.
– Valerie

Valerie and Kingsley can hardly wait for their destination wedding in Santorini, Greece, and look forward to starting a new adventure together as husband and wife!

Learn more about their love story and see the details of their e-session below!

Couple: Valerie & Kingsley 
Occupations: Valerie is a Speech Language Pathologist | Kingsley is the Director of Client Management for American Express 
Wedding date: August 18, 2024
Wedding location: Santorini, Greece 
Location of Engagement shoot: TWA Hotel, New York City
Photographer: Sam J Photos

How did you meet?

Kingsley and I lived in the same apartment complex for 4 years before we met during the pandemic. We lived 2 doors down from each other but didn’t meet until we were in the elevator together one day. It’s ironic because we had never even seen each other before that day at the elevator! 

Tell us your proposal story.

Kingsley set up a private dinner with Chef T. Honcho of the Honcho Club. He told me that we were going to a dining experience (which I believed because he’s into those things). Weirdly, he canceled our date earlier that week. He told me the chef of the restaurant had COVID-19 (and I’m thinking, is that really still a thing to cancel dinner?).

In retrospect, the real truth was that the ring was delayed! So, he ended up getting the ring the morning he had originally planned to propose, he called me and said the restaurant got a new chef and could accommodate us (now that I think back his excuses weren’t good).

On the way to dinner, he was so fidgety, turning off the feature in his car that read text messages aloud (because the chef was texting him). We were greeted in the parking garage of this private building by an escort and as soon as I walked into the penthouse, I knew.

There were candles everywhere, roses, and heart-shaped balloons. There’s a song I love “African Queen” by Sadiki and it was playing in the background. The chef handed me a menu that was a personalized acrylic heart, and it said “Will you marry me?”.

When did you know they were “the one”?

Valerie: I knew he was the one when I saw how much he loved my kids. He does everything to make sure we’re happy and thriving. Most importantly he’s really my best friend.

Kingsley: When I realized that Val accepts the person I am and the intentions behind it. When she became more than my best friend and became a huge staple in my life. When I discovered and validated that we share similar hobbies, life goals, and dreams. Most importantly, I felt comfortable letting her take the lead in the areas I wasn’t as strong in and vice versa. That gave me the strength and courage to know that I can make a long-term commitment to growing with someone I love.

Describe your engagement session.

Our engagement session was at the TWA Hotel in Jamaica, NY. Our theme was destination. I loved that they had the plane there and the old-school cars. We also wanted some glamour and we loved the red carpet they had throughout the venue. So, we decided to do a destination-themed engagement shoot at the TWA hotel because it provided the classy and sophisticated atmosphere we were looking for while also providing the perfect backdrop. We wanted to exude glamour and fun while also representing us.

What did you do on your first date?

Our first date was very impromptu. When he finally asked me for my name and number at the elevator he texted me right away. And throughout our conversation, I mentioned being hungry and he said “Let’s go”. So we went to a local place for tacos. 

What’s your favorite thing to do as a couple?

We love traveling. We have been to so many places together. South America, Central America, Europe, Africa! Hence our wedding had to be a destination wedding. 