Once upon time in last October, there was a wedding of grand proportions between a man and woman, a Prince and a Governess. They met on a school outing when the woman was escorting a class to participate in a musical project founded by the talented prince, who is an award-winning producer. Over the next year, a partnership grew between the teacher’s school and the producer’s program. The woman’s extraordinary beauty and intellect struck the Prince, until a year and half later he asked her to come to lunch with him at the French restaurant Paris 66. From there a romance blossomed and in 2013, at the foundation of the Eiffel Tower in Paris the talented producer prince bent his knee for the teacher’s hand in marriage. Fireworks flew at that moment as if in applause. When the wedding day of Patrice Alexander and Emmai Alaquiva finally arrived, they recreated their romance in Paris for their 300 guests and held a three part celebration fit for a prince who found his princess, and made her queen.
Patrice Alexander and Emmai Alaquiva fell in love and took a pledge for
eternity in cinematic style. Their engagement photos are reminiscent of the retro fashion of the 40s. They continued the theme with a wedding bedecked with vintage Parisian glamour coupled with a street cred entourage. In the ranks of the twenty chosen as wedding court were DJ Selecta, DJ Hank D, and Justin Strong of Shadow Lounge legend. The groom wore Armani and the bride wore a breathtaking embroidered tulle gown from Rosa Clara of Spain.
The wedding, like the life of Emmai, began in East Liberty at Mt Ararat Baptist Church, then cocktails at the Kingsley Center, only to end up in the polished halls of the Fairmont Hotel adorned in regal hues of coral, gold and ivory. World-renowned Kid Capri kicked up the heels of the black tie guests before they cut their Parisian inspired cake.
The Emmy-award winning producer Emmai, founded Ya Momz House in 2001 as a recording studio. From his meager beginnings he now holds several significant positions in the field of media including: Music Composer & Arranger, Filmmaker and Radio Producer/Voiceover Artist. Today, Ya Momz House is a full-service multimedia company, and Emmai is the director for CBS Sports Network. However, he is a prince because of his accomplishments that come from the heart. He founded Hip Hop on the L.O.C.K. (HHOL), an award-winning arts education program for youth K-12, bringing kids into the studio and showing them how a passion can lead to a career in TV and radio.
Patrice, an alumna of Winchester Thurston, is an English teacher and the Associate Director of College Counseling in WT’s Upper School as well as a piano teacher with a musical background and political science degree from The University of Chicago. More than the princess of this story, she is a pioneer who transcends poetry and music to her students by challenging traditional ideas of literature and music with au courant mediums. So cool is Patrice that she can analyze Emily Dickinson and Tupac side by side. Patrice is also the chair of the Alumni Schools Committee Volunteers for The University of Chicago. She is a faithful member of Baptist Temple Church where she is president of the Youth Usher Board. In her spare time she writes and produces music.
Some say it with style,
Some say it with song,
Some say happily ever after;
However, you say it this couple is lifelong
Photography by Derrell Carter
