A Charming New Orleans Weddings Complete With an Iconic 1975 Bronco Getaway Car
Ever since the couple first toured their ceremony venue, Longue Vue House and Gardens, they knew they wanted to be married in the gardens with the beautiful architecture of the house as their backdrop. Madeline and Connor enlisted the help of Gavin Snyder Events to plan and design their wedding and to make the vision come to life. The wedding colors were inspired by the lush gardens and magnificent oak trees seen throughout the property, while contrast was created with crisp white decor and a black tie dress code. Madeline wanted it to feel like an exclusive garden party at a family estate tucked away amid the hustle and bustle of the city of New Orleans.
The couple had plans to celebrate Connor’s birthday with friends at the Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans. Madeline met him at the dock for their sunset cruise. To her surprise, when they boarded the sailboat, they were the only two on board, aside from the captain and first mate. He got on one knee on the bow of the boat and asked her to marry him.
Madeline and her mom found her wedding dress at Carine’s Bridal Atelier in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., while visiting her little brother over Thanksgiving. She knew she wanted her dress to be timeless and romantic but still unexpected. The moment she tried on the Monique Lhullier Floral Jacquard Dres,s she knew it was the one.
Since the wedding was outdoors, Madeline felt the aesthetic needed to be more relaxed. To accommodate that, she had each of the bridesmaids select their dress. Madeline had dreamed for their dresses to be either blue or green to fit seamlessly with the surrounding landscape and clear blue sky. The mix of silk fabrics and sequins glowed in the golden hour of the ceremony. Individually, they each looked beautiful, and as a group, it made for such stylish photos.
Being Mississippi natives that were celebrating in New Orleans, Madeline and Connor infused both Cajun and Southern cuisine when selecting the menu. Mini Passed Beignets were the hit for wedding guests on the dance floor, and for the signature cocktails, Madeline and Connor opted for his Old Fashioned and her Aperol Spritz.
For their ceremony, Madeline and Connor had elegant pedestals topped with all white organic florals for their altar and small arrangements as aisle markers done by local florist Leaf and Petal. We had white chivari chairs for our guests and passed out fans and parasols embellished with silk ribbons. At the reception, the bar was named after their Golden Retriever, Finn, who was a gift from Connor to Madeline for their college graduation. Signage, napkins, and more featured a drawing of Finn as a way to incorporate him into the reception.
The couple has Connor's cousin and a dear friend read bible verses and Madeline's cousin and matron of honor, sang their favorite hymn during the ceremony. All of their music during the ceremony and cocktail hour to follow was performed by a local string quartet. Madeline's cousin’s husband sang their favorite Tyler Childer’s song, "All Your’n" for their first dance.
Madeline's bouquet was tied with a handkerchief belonging to her great-grandmother. A local seamstress stitched the initials of her grandmother, mother, and her new initials in each of the corners to match Madeline's great-grandmother's original monogram.
The getaway car was Connor’s dream vintage car, a 1975 Bronco, which was used for local movie sets. Conveniently, the Bronco was a beautiful shade of green that seamlessly matched the color scheme. Madeline changed into a simple silk dress and scarf before the jazz band led them out to the car for their exit. It added an old Hollywood glam that was the perfect end to the night!
The groom's wedding band belonged to his late grandfather. Their jeweler, a friend’s father (fittingly named Friend and Co.), engraved their initials and wedding date inside the band to match his grandparents' original engraving.
