Real Weddings: Alexandria & Mello

black african american bride Alexandria and black groom Mello New York Brooklyn wedding portrait ceremony reception boho earthy modern marriage

Alexandria was proposed to by her thoughtful beau, Mello, one night after the pair ate dinner at one of their favorite Brooklyn spots and went on a romantic walk back to their hotel for their staycation. Mello chose the couple’s one year anniversary to ask the most important question of his life by lacing the floor and bed with rose petals. Alexandria, a fourth grade educator and graduate of John Jay College and Pace University, and Mello, a program supervisor for a foster care agency wed in November of 2020. But merely seven months prior, Mello lost his mother to breast cancer. Alexandria, who was able to expertly craft many of the décor and floral touches of her wedding, made a beautiful memorial sign to honor her late mother-in-law. Prior to the ceremony the couple, who met through mutual friends, did a first look and Alexandria believed each had gotten their tears out of the way. “I thought all of my emotions were out of the water,” she said of having cried during the first look, “little did I know that once it was my time to say my vows,[during the ceremony] I would be overwhelmed with all emotions possible.” Mello and Alexandria had a non-traditional wedding in some ways — they incorporated their children into it, having their daughters as flower girls. Yet the couple did do a garter and bouquet toss as well as play the infamous wedding shoe game with their 45 guests. Also, the couple achieved their goal of employing a majority of BIPOC vendors. For their family, the sunflower serves as a meaningful bastion of happiness and light, and this flower is ever present at every one of their family gatherings, and it was no different on this day. From boutonnieres to the scattered petals along the aisle, the brightness of the sunflower was reflected in the souls present that day, most notably, Mello and his glowing bride.

black african american bride Alexandria New York Brooklyn wedding portrait ceremony reception boho earthy modern marriage

Wedding Details

LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY

TIME OF YEAR: Fall

WEDDING STYLE: romantic, earthy, modern

CEREMONY & RECEPTION: 501 Union

MENU: Beginning with hors d’oeuvres, there was jumbo crab salad served on plantain chips, jerk chicken wings served with mango chutney, chicken with waffle cones drizzled with a honey sriracha sauce, and truffle macaroni and cheese. For dinner, farmers market greens with Jersey tomatoes, candied pineapple and a ginger-basil dressing for the salad, and then entrees choices of barbequed chicken, steak au poivre with brandy sauce, lemon-butter sole fish or fried turkey all served alongside rices, garlic mashed potatoes, Caribbean-style paella and vegetable Lo Mein.

DESSERT: Fruit tartlets and homemade cheesecake shooters in flavors of strawberry, graham cracker, and oreo. We also purchased mini pies in flavors of sweet potato, coconut custard, and pecan all from my husband’s favorite bakery

FIRST DANCE SONG: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Haley Reinhart

INSPIRATION: Gardens provided her inspiration, yet the bride wanted everything to be modernized to make it elevated romantic

SPECIAL FEATURES: We gave away s’mores kits; Polaroid photo guest book; the bride DIY’d the signage by hand writing all the signs other than the large acrylic one; the bride also DIY’d the flower girls’ accessories and set up the table decor herself; personalized cocktail napkins; the bridesmaids DIY’d their own bouquets and the bride’s; the bride along with her daughters made the cheesecake shooters

HONEYMOON: Postponed due to Covid

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