Dear, sweet New Orleans wedding, you have my heart. The lovely images from Greer G. Photography captivated me from the very beginning… the shot of the bride with her lace and sleeve staring out the window. It says so much, that one image. But don’t get caught up on just that one. The rest of the wedding, planned and perfected by Sapphire Events, is just as absolutely beautiful.
From the photographer… Jen and Scott, both New Jersey natives, met through a mutual friend. After two first dates, they took a trip to New Orleans, where Scott had lived while attending Tulane. It was Jen’s first visit to the city, and as their love for each other grew stronger so did the affection for New Orleans. Jen says, “We love the atmosphere, history, and tradition of New Orleans and couldn’t imagine our wedding anywhere else!” Scott works for VH1, and both he and Jen are avid music lovers, but with differing tastes. Scott enjoys Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen, while Jen prefers Mumford and Sons and the Black Keys. Both agree to love Louis Armstrong, and when they got engaged last year in the French Quarter, Armstrong’s “When You’re Smiling” was playing in the background. Because good food, great music, and fantastic atmosphere were their top three wedding day priorities, they planned a destination wedding in New Orleans for their friends and families to celebrate together.
Jen and Scott wed in a simple courtyard ceremony at Kingsway House located on Esplanade in the French Quarter. Jen carried a bouquet of blush and ivory flowers, and the groom and groomsmen wore carnation boutonnieres inspired by Nuchy Thompson’s character on the couple’s favorite drama, Boardwalk Empire. They led guests on a second line parade with the Paulin Brothers Brass Band throughout the quarter to kick off the celebration in the traditional New Orleans fashion. They transitioned to the WWII Museum for cocktails and dinner. Jen and Scott’s first dance was to “Thank You” by Led Zeppelin. One of the most touching moments of the night was when Scott sang the following lyrics to Jen: “If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you. If mountains crumbled to the sea, there would still be you and me.”
Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes had the dance floor packed all night. When the band went on break, the Victory Belles performed a set, singing and dancing on stage to songs from the 40s. This was a wonderful surprise for the guests and another interesting element special to Jen and Scott that they wanted to incorporate into their celebration. Jen and Scott also invited live artist Frenchy to paint their reception on site, and guests enjoyed watching the artwork come to life before their eyes.
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Photographer: Greer G. Photography |Event Planning, Design, and Coordination: Sapphire Events New Orleans | Ceremony Venue: Kingsway House | Reception Venue: National WWII Museum US Freedom Pavilion | Florist: Bee’s Wedding and Event Design | Candle Decor: Luminous Events | Bakery: Pure Cake | Rentals: Perrier Party Rentals | Hair and Makeup: Kiss and Makeup Beauty Services | Ceremony Musicians: New Orleans Finest Musicians | Second Line Band: Paulin Brothers Brass Band | Reception Band: Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes | Photo Booth: Big Easy Photo Booth | Transportation: American Luxury and Hotard