Keneil + LeKeisha
October 10, 2021
Keisha and Keneil met via mutual friends on homecoming weekend. Their friends lied to them both by stating they wanted each other’s numbers. (They found this out months later!) Sidewalk Cafe’ was where the two had the first date, which is still one of their favorite dinner spots, and where Keisha introduced Keneil to their hot fries!
The proposal came at the beginning of the pandemic on Easter Sunday. Keisha surprised Keneil with a basket filled with Easter eggs and Jameson, one of Keneil’s favorite whiskeys. Keneil says, “There were three Easter eggs; the first one had the date we met, the second was filled with money, and the third and final egg had a sticky note that read, “Keneil D. Rainey will you marry me? 4/12/2020.” Through my happy tears I told her YES! I kept wondering why my friends wanted me to paint my nails before dinner.”
Keneil, already in the wedding industry, had been to numerous venues around the city and beyond so she gave Keisha a list of her favorites. After going back and forth a few times and taking into consideration the fickle RVA weather, the two decided on a venue that had a mix of both indoor and outdoor options.
As Keneil states, “There is nothing really traditional about Keisha and I and that was reflected throughout our wedding.” They wrote their own vows and had a few close friends be the flower guys. Since it was an unplugged wedding, they requested that everyone take a selfie, text it to them right before start of the ceremony, and then put their phones away to be present.
Both Keisha and Keneil were very involved in the whole process as a united couple (much to Keneil’s surprise!). Both agreed that they wanted the vendors to be woman, minority, local or LGBTQ owned. “This was important to us because these are marginalized groups that represent us and the community we care about.”
The couple offers this advice for anyone planning their wedding, “Remember this day is for you and bae. Don’t let anyone deter you from your love and why you are here. This is just the beginning of a new chapter in your life. You don’t stop here, you START here.”
