Real Weddings: Alisha & Todd

Black African American bride Alisha groom Todd ceremony reception wedding marriage married tie the knot color palette interracial destination New Orleans Louisiana wine

After meeting while working at Apple in Silicon Valley, Alisha and Todd began dating and exploring wineries together, sharing in a mutual love for wine. We wrote about how Todd wooed his blushing bride Alisha here. In October of 2021 the couple tied the knot in a New Orleans, LA destination wedding. The pair live in Northern California, yet they were drawn to doing something out of the ordinary when choosing the location. The Garden District and all of its glamor, mystery and history was calling to Alisha and Todd and they followed that instinct. The couple was able to plan their entire wedding remotely, thanks to their dedication and creativity. The ceremony took place in Il Mercato’s lush courtyard, with its commanding and iconic fireplace serving as the backdrop. There they recited their vows to each other; it was a sweet and intimate moment, made even more special by the fact that they had planned the wedding all on their own from afar. As many as 130 of their closest friends and family descended on the Big Easy to witness Alisha and Todd exchange vows. Immediately, guests were greeted with a champagne wall that set the tone for the festivities. Additionally, these budding sommeliers had specific wines flown in from Napa, CA to the venue for the occasion. Alisha’s brother-in-law walked her down the aisle at their outdoor ceremony, and she cried her way through heartfelt, handwritten vows to Todd. The Honorable Lisa P. Jackson, former administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the first Black American to hold that office served as the officiant of Alisha and Todd’s ceremony. The couple’s vision of a lively, quintessentially New Orleans-style wedding featuring art deco touches and deep colors came to life that night.

Wedding Details

LOCATION: New Orleans, LA

TIME OF YEAR: Fall

WEDDING STYLE: festive, sultry, art deco

CEREMONY & RECEPTION: Il Mercato

MENU: The couple chose various food stations that featured items such as vegan crab cakes, mushroom truffles, flash fried oysters, chicken and andouille gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish bread, beef short ribs, wild mushroom gnocchi, BBQ shrimp, shaved brussels sprouts salad, grilled asparagus. And of course, being in the South and in New Orleans, there was a “grits and fixins’” station.

DESSERT: wedding cake, a groom’s cake as well as beignets and ice cream

FIRST DANCE SONG: “Nakamarra” by Haitus Kaiyote

SPECIAL FEATURES: guests were greeted with a champagne wall; 360 photo booth, Second Line band played and the congregation of party-goers paraded from the ceremony to the reception; candle lighting ceremony; live musicians playing during the ceremony; pralines and customized handkerchiefs for the parade served as the two favors; bride and groom hand-selected and had their own wines flown in from Napa; The Honorable Lisa P. Jackson, former administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency appointed under President Barack Obama served as the officiant to Alisha and Todd

HONEYMOON: Tanzania and Rwanda

COLORS: