New Orleans Lovers, This Classic Wedding is a Must-See

Melissa Baran
September 15, 2019
Categories: Real Weddings, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

“…this is the happiest moment of my life. I just married my best friend and all of my favorite people in the entire world witnessed it. It was powerful.” This my friends, is what weddings are all about. Pretty details aside, it’s the culmination of a love that has grown for some months, some years, some decades—all coming to a peak, with a new beginning on the other side. But thankfully, pretty details weren’t kicked to the curb, and this day of love was heightened with Blue Gardenia Events and Kim Starr Wise Floral Events behind the scenes. Lance Nicoll collected all the moments in every beautiful image below.

Ashley Hamby, Miss Mississippi 2017, and her fiancé Doug Horaist planned their destination wedding in New Orleans, LA with the help of their planner Blue Gardenia Events. The wedding day was filled with beautiful and emotional moments captured on film by Lance Nicoll Wedding photography. Classic Southern styling with an large lush florals permeated the design for the day. The large cascading floral piece served and the central focal point of the reception design, created by the talented Kim Star Wise. After a rehearsal dinner at Broussards in the French Quarter, the bride and her bridal party began the wedding day by getting ready at the Roosevelt Hotel in the Teddy Sweet. After their ceremony at Immaculate Conception guests were treated to a beautiful reception at the NOPSI hotel where the highlight of the evening came by way of a guest appearance by Lee Greenwood who had Doug and his fellow West Point grads join him on stage to sing his famed “God Bless the USA”. The evening concluded with a classic New Orleans 2nd Line send off.

From the Bride… Doug proposed to at the beach, where we met. We were on vacation with my family. It was early in the morning and it was just the two of us when he got down on his knee and asked me to be his wife. I was in complete shock, and I even responded “Is this real life?” He assured me that yes this was real life. I obviously said a million times yes! It was so special, romantic, and intimate! Then we celebrated with my family at the beach!

I have a few favorite wedding moments! There was a moment during the ceremony after Doug and I had just exchanged vows. I was overcome with excitement, love, happiness, and joy. I had just promised to spend forever with my person and my best friend. I think I did a little excitement jump/dance. I couldn’t control it, and it was in that moment that I thought this is the happiest moment of my life. I just married my best friend and all of my favorite people in the entire world witnessed it. It was powerful.

There was a moment in the second line that Doug and I were leading the way all of our favorite people in the world behind us. The wind is blowing hard, the band is pumping music, and the atmosphere is electric. I looked behind us to see everyone dancing and singing and having the best time, when all of the sudden all of my best friends, bridesmaids, come running towards us to help us lead the line. It was incredible and something I will never forget. Also, Lee Greenwood sang God Bless the USA for Doug and all of his West Point Alumni that were there.

My advice to other couples: Take time to slow down and enjoy every little second. I made a very conscious decision to not worry about anything because every little thing would work itself out and to soak in every moment! And I did that I took in every moment. I enjoyed my morning and day with my best friends and mom. I never wished the minutes away and enjoyed the moment I was in throughout the day. It made the biggest difference.