Alyssa & Danny

This originally ran in the 2024 Local Love supplement in the July issue of Baltimore magazine. 

Wedding Date October 1, 2023

When Danny Villalta and Alyssa Knight met at work there was a connection and some flirtation, but both were too jittery to make a move. “We kept catching each other’s eye,” says Alyssa, but neither said anything until Danny’s friend pushed him to ask Alyssa on a date. “There was instant chemistry and we’ve been inseparable ever since,” she says.

That same nervous energy took over when Danny proposed to Alyssa in 2022. It was Christmas Eve, and the couple was preparing to go visit family. Danny originally planned to get engaged in front of family but decided he couldn’t wait. As they were getting ready, he got down on one knee and was so anxious, he initially forgot to ask the important question and instead just held the ring. Luckily, he realized his mistake, found the right words, and Alyssa quickly said yes. She thought it was perfect. “I’m pretty shy and preferred a private moment.”

They knew they wanted a wedding that matched their style. “We wanted a garden, slightly boho vibe,” says Alyssa, owner of Birch & Rae, a home decor company. The two were immediately smitten with Rawlings Conservatory, which felt romantic and warm. “It gave us a beautiful backdrop so that we didn’t have to dive in to all the decorating details that most venues require.”

They also cut down the guest list significantly—to about 40 people. They wanted the day to be intimate as it “allowed us to focus on celebrating and enjoying time with those closest to us—and each other—rather than being overwhelmed by all the details and number of guests,” says Alyssa. “Deciding to go small was the best decision we made.”

The first Sunday in October had clear skies and abundant sunshine, perfect for their ceremony in the outdoor gardens of Rawlings, under an arbor that Danny, a superintendent for a fire-stopping company, made himself. They had one matron of honor, a ring bearer, and two groomsmen who carried a photograph of Danny’s best man and brother, Lawrence Villalta, who passed away shortly before the wedding.

Everyone stood for the 15-minute ceremony, dabbing at eyes while Alyssa and Danny shared their moving handwritten vows, surrounded by the natural beauty of the venue. Then guests took the seven-minute drive for an intimate dinner at La Cuchara, a restaurant inspired by the Basque regions of France and Spain, with everyone at one long family-style table. 

For the newlyweds, seeing their friends and family mingling and breaking bread was exactly what they wanted for their day. What they didn’t anticipate were countless toasts. “We weren’t expecting any toasts at dinner because our entire wedding was laid-back and a bit nontraditional,” says Alyssa. But once one person stood up to toast the couple, others began jumping in with their own well-wishes. It was surprising and beautiful. Says Alyssa, “It was like a train of toasts, and they were so sentimental, everyone at the wedding got emotional.”

BARTENDER Behind the Bar (ceremony)  BEAUTY Swept BRIDESMAIDS Baltic Born CATERER La Cuchara FLORAL DESIGN Wildly Native Flower Farm GROOM AND GROOMSMEN Studio Suits (groom) and Lawrence Clothiers (groomsmen) HONEYMOON Milos, Santorini, and Crete, Greece INVITATIONS Made by the bride LOCATION Rawlings Conservatory (ceremony) and La Cuchara (dinner) OFFICIANT Memorable Moments WEDDING DRESS Rebecca Ingram by Maggie Sottero Designs