Louisiana Weddings

A New Orleans wedding in and of itself is usually a party. But when you throw a few fun Polish traditions into the mix? It becomes a full on celebration, lit with twinkling lights, vodka bottles serving as bloom vessels (crafted by Kim Starr Wise!) and even a late night second line. And it all started with this quiet moment at the altar. Head to the full gallery from Dark Roux Photography for more!

From Dark Roux Photography…A Race and Religious wedding is amazing no matter what, but take a Race and Religious wedding and add a whole lot of Polish traditions and you’ve got the ingredients for something truly memorable. Michal brought so many things to his wedding that we’ve never seen. After Celeste and all of her girls got ready in one of the suites at Race and Religious they went down for some good luck shots while the guys were at their hotel drinking things we’ve never seen and certainly cannot pronounce! Shortly after their celebratory libations, the couple met at St. Theresa de Avila to say their vows.

Once Celeste and Michal both said ‘I do’, it was back to Race and Religious for one of the biggest parties to date. The place looked beautiful with all of the floral arrangements (some in vodka bottles for the Polish touch) done by Kim Starr Wise. There was food everywhere with catering by Palate. When the party first started there was a traditional bread that the couple shared and then they had to take a shot, well kind of. One glass was water and the other was vodka. The newlywed who got the vodka has the upper hand in the marriage, or so the tradition says. What had us cracking up was the games they played! They each took turns wearing a blindfold and felt up different guests and had to guess only by touch, which guest was their new spouse. Celeste and Michal know each other well because they both guessed correctly! The night wasn’t complete without a little New Orleans thrown in there, because no New Orleans wedding is complete without a second line, and man was there ever a second line!!! The entire day ran smoothly with Mint Julep Productions running the show, and we’re so happy that we got to enjoy the party with these two.

Photography: Dark Roux Photography | Event Planning: Mint Julep Productions | Floral Design: Kim Starr Wise Floral Events | Wedding Dress: Kiko House Of Couture | Reception Venue: Race And Religious | Catering: Palate | Hair And Makeup: Kiss And Makeup | Band: Brass A Holics | Wedding Venue: St. Theresa De Avila

This bride wanted the setting for her engagement shoot to mirror her relationship – the perfect blend of romance and excitement. Dressed in Badgley Mischka and a floral crown by Fat Cat Flowers, she and her fiance strolled the French Quarter for what turned out to be the sweetest e-session ever. See more from Marissa Lambert here.

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Photography: Mon Soleil Weddings | Flowers: Fat Cat Flowers, LLC | Dress: Badgley Mischka | Makeup: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Venue: Race And Religious | Fabulous Blowout: BLEU, A Blowdry Bar

From this moment on, when I think of a New Orleans wedding I’m pretty darn sure this stylish soiree captured by Kent Meister will pop in my mind. Beautifully planned by Valerie at Sapphire Events and complete with stunning florals from Kim Starr Wise, this gallery is perfectly NOLA and perfectly personal.

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Yes, this was very much a New Orleans wedding and the best thing about that is it perfectly complimented Matt and Simone. They welcomed their friends and family into their city and made it a large part of the event itself. By doing that, they kept the vibe of their wedding personal and true to who they are. That’s what’s called “doing it right.”

From The Bride…We met in and started our relationship while living in the French Quarter, so wanted to to get married where it all began. Since we were inviting lots of friends and family from out-of-town to a destination wedding, we ordered more casual and fun “map-style” invites from an etsy.com vendor, flagging New Orleans within the state of Louisiana. The venue–the Kingsway House–was an old mansion that served time as a recording studio for acts like Bob Dylan and Pearl Jam before being converted into a home and event space for a local developer. We felt like the space was fresh and modern while maintaining the architecture and eclecticism of the Quarter, and the edge of the house’s former life.

The ceremony was outside in the courtyard on a beautiful fall evening. All flowers and decorations were done by Kim Starr Wise, who brought in festoon lights to keep everything lit as the sun set. We had gotten engaged while in Paris over Kronenbourg beers, so we had a tub full for our guests to start with as they arrived. We made the programs ourselves on paper bags to put the beers in–Quarter Koozies. Great local jazz musician Linnzi Zaorski provide the music.

We tried to keep the whole affair personal and involve friends however we could. Our officiant was a friend that Simone went to law school with, Brian Page, who we asked to get ordained through the same online humanist church Matt previously used to do the same thing. We wrote out our own ceremony and vows and tried to make it about us and what we loved/liked about each other rather than something rote and religious. Our cakes were made by Simone’s high school friend Amanda Malone at Petticoat Pastries out of Lafayette (where Simone grew up). We got the handmade cake topper online on etsy.com because they reminded us of a trip to Australia we took together for another friend’s wedding (Koala Groom, and Kangaroo Bride), and had the Groom’s cake decorated with the logo of the Quarter bar at which we met (One Eyed Jack’s). Kent Meister, a Brooklyn photographer and friend of Matt’s from high school, was nice enough to fly in to take the pictures.

The reception was on-site with great food and plenty of booze from Pigeon caterers. Party music was by Brice Nice, a great local DJ with a Saturday night show on local radio station, WWOZ.

We were seen out to a Quarter pedicab that took us on a ride through the Quarter for the after party at the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone.

Photography: Kent Meister Photography | Wedding Planner: Sapphire Events | Florist: Kim Starr Wise Floral Events | Wedding Gown: Romona Keveza | Cake: Petticoat Pastries | Invitations: Etsy | Shoes: Something Bleu Shoes | Catering: New Orleans Board of Trade | Makeup: Kiss And Makeup | Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux | Ceremony Music: Linnzi Zaorski | After Party: Hotel Monteleone | Bridal Shop: Wedding Belles | Ceremony/Reception Venue: Kingsway House | Reception DJ: Brice Nice

This is what happens when traditional elegance meets a seriously fun duo, a fab team of New Orleans vendors and a little dose of Mardis Gras goodness: a day that is as awe-inspiring as it is pretty.  I’m talking an enchanted garden-like ceremony meets drop-dead gorgeous details and Mardis Gras masks perfect for a dance party.  See it all captured by Koby And Terilyn Brown right here.

From Koby and Terilyn Brown… Meribeth’s wedding card for Lad features two skeletons holding hands and the words, “Till Death Do Us Part Is For Quitters.” This couple’s love runs deep and we had the opportunity to create some fascinating pre-wedding portraits for them in one of New Orleans’ oldest cemeteries. What made this especially challenging was Meribeth and Lad’s request NOT to see each other before the ceremony. We accomplished the images taken in the gorgeous cemetery by keeping the bride and groom on opposite sides of the architecture and occasionally using double exposures to make it appear the couple is standing side by side in the frame. This set of images is one of our favorites from this fall – we really enjoyed all the unique aspects of this wedding.

Meribeth and Lad currently reside in Houston, TX, but they have strong family roots in New Orleans, LA. They really wanted to embrace the flavor of the city and give their guests an authentic adventure. Meribeth chose the beautiful, historic Opera Guild as the venue. Guest were provided with venetian masks, snacks, and maps to the city in the welcome gift bags. A lovely outdoor ceremony followed by a fabulous 2nd line march around the block, lead into an indoor-outdoor reception complete with a tarot card reader and a band that had guests dancing well into the night. Bridesmaids were given the freedom to choose their own dresses for the event, and a sagebowl was available for guests wishing to be smudged before the ceremony.

Photography: Koby Brown Photography | Wedding Dress: Marisa Bridals | Cakes: Bittersweet Confections | Wedding Shoes: Nina | Makeup & Hair: Makeup Texas | Ceremony & Reception Venue: Opera Guild | Floral: The Plant Gallery | Marisa'a Gown: Weddings By Debbie

Three words: French, Garden, Toile and from that comes this gorgeous inspiration awash with a simple outdoor dinner, a champagne toast and a cake that nearly steals the show. This is a modern version of that classic french pattern crafted by Bee’s Wedding And Event Design + Mrs. Vintage + imagery by Marissa Lambert. And the cake? That beauty was designed by Melissa’s Fine Pastries. See it in all its toile glory right here.

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Perfection is simply the only way to describe this styled shoot. This utterly romantic shoot was pulled together so seamlessly by some of the best vendors in New Orleans. The photos tell the story of a dreamy wedding day that includes the perfect mix of blue french toile and lovely pinks, reds, purples, and greens. From the prep to the exit, this shoot is sure to inspire any bride or groom planning their BIG day!

Photography: Mon Soleil Weddings | Floral Design: Bee's Weddings and Events | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Melissa's Fine Pastries | Makeup: Ashley Sievert Beauty | Hair: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Beauregard & Keyes House And Garden Museum: Beauregard Keyes House | Bridal Garments: I Do Bridal Couture | Headpiece And Veil: Sara Gabriel | Paper Goods: Jaynie Lighter | Sash: Untamed Petals | Styling And Rentals: Mrs. Vintage Rentals

We’re all about gifting your girls pre-wedding. But let’s be real – finding that perfect something doesn’t always come easy. *Enter* A Pinch Of Lovely who’s here to share unique gift ideas your ‘maids will L-O-V-E. From the prettiest phone cases to a sparkly Kate Spade clutch, she’s taken the leg-work out of shopping and all you have to do is buy, wrap and go!

From A Pinch Of Lovely…A girl’s bridesmaids are one of the most important (and first!) decisions a bride will make. Bridesmaids can be the operative difference in helping guide their BFFs wedding experience sail right into smooth waters. In addition to all of the emotional support, they also take on the huge monetary responsibility as being a member of the bridal party – the dress, the shoes, the showers – your maids deserve a little love too!

On the morning of the wedding or the night before, shower your maids with pretty gifts they can use both the day of the wedding and to keep forever, and don’t forget the bubbly and sweets! It’s a thoughtful gesture to thank your besties for their lifelong friendship, support of you and your groom’s relationship and all their assistance leading up to your big day.

Beauty products like flattering lip colors, body bronzer (this Kismet brand won’t budge until you wash it off) and girly polish will help your bridesmaids look their best all day long. Include a fragrance sample or two that you’ll think they will love. Also, picking product packaging with a touch of gold will feel oh-so-luxe!

One always-popular option is picking out coordinating jewelry for the bridesmaids to wear on the wedding day. Try to look for transitional pieces that can be re-worn afterwards. You can even choose individual pieces depending on each bridesmaid’s personal style – a bracelet for the friend who loves bracelet stacks and earrings for your more minimalistic maid. Jewelry lines that have many styles utilizing the same stones like Kendra Scott provide endless possibilities.

And, since your bridesmaids are always on the phone with you, treat your bridesmaids to personalized phone cases. These embossed leather cases by Graphic Image come in a rainbow of colors with the option of customization. Gold lettering can signify monograms, acronyms (like BFF) and words (like SIS for sisters or future sister-in-laws).

And finally, they are going to need somewhere to keep all of their new favorite gifts. A hand-painted jewelry box, sparkly clutch or pouch make for a thoughtful gift and a way to stay organized on the day of the wedding. Again, look for versatile styles that can double as a makeup pouch or a small, clutch so they can use your gift over and over again.

It’s easy to get caught up in the planning and countless decisions that need to be made, and that’s why your bridesmaids are there to help support you in the process. Remember to shower your BFFs with thoughtful gifts they can appreciate after the wedding and treasure for years to come!

Photography: A Pinch Of Lovely | Styling: A Pinch Of Lovely | Jewelry: Kendra Scott Jewelry | Bronzer: Kismet Cosmetics | Bronzer: Kismet Cosmetics | Glitter Clutch: Kate Spade | Gold Pouch: Target | IPhone Cases: Graphic Image | Lipsticks: Kismet Cosmetics | Painted Jewelry Boxes: A Pinch Of Lovely | Perfume: Jo Malone | Robes: Silk And More

Falling in love with this southern e-sesh from Robert and Kathleen Photographers was an easy fete for me. For starters, these two lovebirds are A-dorable. Second, how could you not be enamored with the richness and romance of NOLA? It reels me in every time and I don’t fight it one bit. Get lost in the sweet, sweet gallery here.

From Robert and Kathleen Photographers… Maureen and James met when they were both thousands of miles away from home, spending a year studying abroad in Ireland. They each came from Irish families and loved being immersed in the Irish Culture as students of Trinity College in Dublin.

They didn’t tell me for sure, but I would say it’s easy easy guess that James was drawn to Maureen at first by her smile. It’s bright and unrestrained, the kind of smile that makes her eyes sparkle and implores you to smile in return. And when Maureen got to know James, she was no doubt captivated by his crystal-blue eyes and Southern-gentleman charm.

Maureen and James got to know each other over the course of that year in Ireland. When their friendship turned to something more, they were pleasantly surprised. They had been a bit tentative at first, not knowing how in the world they would manage a long-distance relationship when they would return to the US, to home states over 1,500 miles apart. But as Irish novelist James Stephens says, “What the heart knows today, the head will understand tomorrow.” Their hearts knew they wanted to be together, their heads would just have to figure out the logistics. Because when you really love someone, obstacles like distance don’t seem so challenging.

They spent the next few years in school – James at graduate school while Maureen completed her undergrad and then Maureen going to grad school in Boston while James started law school in his home state of Louisiana. This year, after Maureen completed grad school, she moved down to Louisiana to join James. They are finally living in the same city (something they haven’t done since the very first year they met), enjoying all of the same things that they did way back then; hearing about each others day over a drink in their favorite local pub, finding a new place to explore over the weekend.

And there’s little doubt that the same things that drew them to each other so many years ago, her bright smile and his undeniable charm, are the very same things that make every day together that much sweeter, especially now that they are finally back in the same place once again. This summer, they’ll stand in front of their family and friends and pledge what their hearts knew back on the campus of Trinity: that they are meant to be together and that no matter what the obstacle, their love will always find a way.

Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers | Dress: Tibi New York | Venue: New Orleans, LA

Gorgeous real weddings grace our pages on the daily, but we get super excited to see a chic engagement party like this one. Tucked inside this gorgeous gallery from Greer G Photography are so many steal-worthy ideas for your next soiree beautifully designed by the gorgeous bride-to-be herself (who happens to be the lovely Elyse of Elyse Jennings Weddings) you might need to create an entire new “Engagement Party” pin board for it. And we wouldn’t blame you one little bit. See why here.

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Photography: Greer Gattuso | Event Design: Elyse Jennings Weddings | Floral Design: Kim Starr Wise Floral Events | Dress: Parker | Cake: Debbie Does Doberge | Invitations: Kelly Tesvich | Catering: New Orleans Board of Trade | Venue: Bevolo Gas Lantern Museum | Cake Stand: Nola B Style | Musicians: New Orleans Finest Musicians | Rentals: Mrs. Vintage Rentals | Rentals: Event Rental

I love how New Orleans has this wonderful style of its own. One that beautifully intertwines tradition with a little bit of spunk, so weddings there never fail to wow. This beauty coordinated by Sapphire Events and captured by Maile Lani takes that New Orleans style up about a hundred notches, leaving us with a gallery that will leave your jaw on the floor. See it all here.

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From Sapphire Events…Katie and JT are an adorable couple from Alabama that planned their New Orleans wedding for last December. JT called us to coordinate their wedding at one of our favorite venues, Race and Religious, and help them tie up last-minute details for this destination event. Katie and JT prepared for the big day in the respective houses on the property, and Maile Lani captured their first look on the grounds of this beautiful venue. From the moment I met them, I could see how head-over-heels in love they are for each other!

This venue is one of my all-time favorites as a matrimonial backdrop. The grounds are quintessential New Orleans – exposed brick, rich architectural details, hidden nooks and aged mantles over crumbling stone fireplaces. Katie and JT’s celebration exemplified the classic elegance that Katie is known for. Simple white florals atop a marble slab table marked the altar space, flanked by the venue’s naturally sprawling bougainvillea which seems to eternally bloom. Sweet classical music wafted through the space for the ceremony and reception as the guests danced the night away in the outdoor courtyard under the stars. The bride and groom made their getaway in a horse and carriage after a sparkler send-off, celebrating their first evening united as husband and wife!

Photography: Maile Lani Photography | Coordination: Sapphire Events | Florist: Thibodeaux's Flowers | Ceremony Venue: Race And Religious | Reception Venue: Race And Religious | Catering: Brack May | Ceremony Music: New Orleans Finest Musicians | Transportation: Royal Carriages | Beauty: Makeup By Meggan | Honeymoon Suite: Windsor Court Hotel | Rentals: New Orleans Party Rentals

This might not be your typical Southern wedding, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s lacking on the style front. With European inspiration and Maison Montegut to play backdrop, it’s a day that captures the essence of New Orleans’ French Quarter to a pretty little T. See it through the fabulous lens of Maile Lani right over here!

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From the Bride… David and I were married in the amazing city of New Orleans, where we have been living for the last few years. He is British, and my family is French/Jewish, so needless to say this was not your traditional Southern Wedding!

We wanted to bring in our European roots for a romantic courtyard affair, while realizing that most of our guests had never been to New Orleans. There were too many amazing New Orleans traditions to ignore, so we picked our favorites and voila!

We were married in the stunning courtyard of the Maison Montegut, a historic house in the French Quarter. My now husband built the wedding canopy (chuppah) with New Orleans architecture in mind. We wanted a soft Parisian garden feel with lots of ivy and cream colors that our florist captured incredibly well. We loved the asymmetric flower arrangement on the canopy, and the intimacy of the smaller courtyard space. The entry to the courtyard was an original carriageway and was the aisle I walked down. We designed and printed the wedding programs ourselves, bundling them with pieces of lavender and white handkerchiefs.

Just before the wedding, we signed our wedding contract, which was a really small and special ceremony with only our parents and the officiant. We had our Ketubah (jewish wedding contact) custom-made with a papercut lacey design, backed with gold foil. Following this small gathering, everyone took a shot of Bourbon which was exactly what we needed to start the night!

Following the traditional wedding ceremony, we took to the streets in a New Orleans Second Line. We danced and waved our handkerchiefs in the narrow tourist-filled streets of the French Quarter with the brass band, Dr. Jazz, leading the way. David and I stayed at the front and danced with our umbrellas while our guests had Mardi Gras beads on their necks and camera phones in hand. This was by far the highlight of the wedding!

We arrived at Galvez Restaurant and spent the next hour cooling off with amazing cocktails on the balcony overlooking the Mississippi River and the French Quarter. David and I then had our first dance followed by the Jewish tradition of the hora! Looking at everyone smiling and dancing from a lifted chair was amazing.

For the reception, we really wanted it to feel like a large dinner party. The food was served family style with large serving plates floating above the tablescape. And to give our guests an authentic N’awlins feel, plenty of seafood, wine and cocktails were served. It was important to us to have a real restaurant for our wedding with a full bar, and not the type set-up just for events. Turns out our guests agreed, and the expansive restaurant bar was the most popular spot! The Chef at Galvez Restaurant is incredible and people raved about the Steak au Poivre and New Orleans Blackened Fish.

My favorite aspect of the reception was the tablescape that Nola Flora put together: Revere bowls and julep cups overflowed with baby’s breath, white hydrangea, white ranunculus, and ivory majolika spray roses. The tall candlesticks looked fantastic against the ceiling-height windows overlooking the river. Another fun touch to our reception was the table runners. My grandmother made these from a toile de jouy fabric we picked out together in Paris! This is something I will never forget–being at the foot of Sacre Coeur in Paris shopping for my wedding with my French grandmother.

My husband made two wooden boxes out of reclaimed wood for the escort cards (sitting on a bed of baby’s breath), as well as the wooden table number holders. He also designed and printed personalized dinner menus for each of our guests at their assigned seat.

For dessert, we had three delicious cakes. The first was the bridal cake, the second was a birthday cake for my sister and the last was a traditional southern Groom’s Cake. My husband builds houses, so I requested a cake in the form of his favorite nail gun, and it turned out wonderfully! Our wedding planner even asked someone to move the tool from the cake area before our reception!

Overall, we loved the blend of traditions and our visitors from England, France, and Spain were thrilled to be able to experience New Orleans with us. It will always be a city we hold close to our hearts.

Photography: Maile Lani Photography | Wedding Coordinator: Belle Soiree | Floral Design: Nola Flora | Invitations: Celebrations in Paper | Ceremony Venue: Maison Montegut | Reception Venue: Galvez Restaurant | Hair and Makeup: Flawless Bride | Bridal Shoes: Vera Wang | Bridesmaid Robes: Love Ophelia | Ceremony Music and Second Line Band: Dr. Jazz | Handkerchiefs and Umbrellas: Gem Printing Company | Hotel for Getting Ready: Omni Royal Orleans | Invitation Calligraphy and Custom Stamps: Rachel Carl Co. | Wedding Cakes: Just Cake by Wendy | Wedding Cinematography: Studio Vieux Carré | Wedding Dress and Veil: Wedding Belles | Wedding Ketubah Art: Jerise Fogel | Wedding Photobooth: Big Easy Photobooth

I live right down the street from New Orleans and let me just say, if ever there were a wedding to embody the energy of the city, this is it. With Sapphire Events New Orleans behind the helm, it’s no surprise it’s amazing, and if Dark Roux‘s images have anything to say on the matter, it’s a wedding with heart that you won’t forget anytime soon.

From the stunning bride… Jeff proposed on St. Patricks Day 2012. I knew right away that this was a festive start to what would be a whirlwind year for us. While we both currently live in Atlanta, I am originally from Louisiana and Jeff from Florida. Anyone who has met me almost immediately learns of my love for Louisiana, and subsequently, being in love with me means being in love with Louisiana as well. Throughout our courtship, I would take Jeff with me to Louisiana for food, family, football and fun! A defining moment in our relationship was when Jeff converted and became a Saints fan. As we both root for rival college football teams, having the Saints in common was a must!

When we began talking about plans, the only decision we already knew the answer to was where to get married – New Orleans. We wanted our family and guests to be in the middle of all the French Quarter action, so we chose our venues with proximity in mind. Luckily, one of the most beautiful churches in New Orleans, Immaculate Conception, is only a few blocks away from the heart of the quarter. That was easy! For our reception, we really wanted people, especially our out-of-town guests, to feel like they were experiencing New Orleans. I searched venues throughout the area, and luckily found The Chicory. With its exposed brick and gas lanterns, it was perfect; we fell in love. As a bonus, the food was amazing and the staff was incredibly attentive! In addition to location, Jeff and I really wanted our guests to have a good time. We wanted our wedding to be a great, New Orleans party! When I discovered our band, ELS, I knew we would easily accomplish this. They are a fabulous party band from Louisiana that plays anything from Motown to current hits. Its all fun music complete with choreographed dancing and costume changes!

Now, with all the logistics booked, we started researching photographers and florists. Jamie, from Dark Roux, was the first photographer I met with. I knew within two minutes of meeting Jamie that I needed him and his wife, Heather, to photograph our wedding. I feel very fortunate that they were available on our wedding day. The beautiful pictures they took will allow me to remember every detail, person and dance-move that was a part of our day. Jeff and I couldn’t be happier with the photos. After hiring a photographer, I started thinking about how I actually wanted our wedding to look. From the beginning, I knew I wanted it to be very colorful, but thats about it! I met with Juli Vaughn in Atlanta one day. I actually didn’t think much would come of it since she was based in Atlanta and our wedding was in New Orleans. When I told her all the colors I wanted her eyes lit up and she began sketching floral arrangements I couldn’t have dreamed of. Her excitement was contagious and I could tell that she and I were on the same page. Juli has flawless taste, and I trusted her completely to make our wedding look the way I would have imagined it had I been creative enough to come up with it!

On the day of our wedding, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. Everything went so smoothly thanks to our planner, Valerie Gernhauser. My bridesmaids and I had a girly afternoon getting ready complete with matching robes and the requisite champagne. Since our ceremony was a full mass at 6pm, I wanted to take pictures beforehand so it would be sunny. Jeff and I had a private first look, in an intimate courtyard pool area at the hotel. It was really sweet. Then we went into the French Quarter to take wedding party photos. Jamie and Heather were able to perfectly capture the essence of New Orleans in the photos. The ceremony was very special to me. Jeff and I were married by my cousin, Father Beau Charbonnet. It meant so much to know, and further be related to, the person who would be joining our two lives. After the ceremony it was on to the reception. The band couldn’t have been better and we danced up a storm! I had a permanent smile on my face all day long. From the custom Mardi Gras beads to the beignets, New Orleans was the overriding theme of our wedding. We second-lined out of the reception into a waiting pedicab. People always ask me if I would want to do it all over again. It was the most fun day of my life, but I have to say no because there is no way everything could go as perfectly as it twice.

Photography: Dark Roux Photography | Videographer: 1080 Productions | Planner: Sapphire Events | Florist: Juli Vaughn Designs | Ceremony Location: Immaculate Conception Jesuit Church | Reception Location: The Chicory | Hair And Makeup: Just Face It | Transportation: Hotard | Transportation: Need A Ride Pedicab | Bride's Cake: Flour Power | Candle Decor: Luminous Events | Groom's Doughnuts: Blue Dot Donuts | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Photo Booth: Big Easy Photobooth | Reception Band: Gig Masters - PartyPosh

Bold statement alert: This holiday shoot is going to be your favorite thing today. I know that’s a big exclamation, being Christmas Eve and all, but Sapphire Events, Mrs. Vintage Rentals, Kim Starr Wise, and SO many more talented pros pulled together the sweetest pink holiday shoot, which Pure 7 Studios captured beautifully, and… you’re welcome. Merry Christmas loves!

And of course, it wouldn’t be the perfect present without the film!

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From the photographer… Inspired by the upcoming holiday season, we designed a modern inspiration shoot with a twist on traditional holiday décor! We developed a design that diverted from the expected red and green so often used in Christmas decor. The inspiration for this shoot came from a favorite fabric we found in pink and gray tartan plaid – a traditional pattern with an unexpected pop of fun and flirty pink! This fabric was the central focus for the overall design and informed our decision making in selecting the venue, invitation design, tabletop décor, and even the delicious naked cake!

With mixed metals, white sequins, metallic curly willow, a touch of glitz and glamour, plus the lovely floral centerpieces from Kim Starr Wise, we juxtaposed natural elements with glamorous touches. The venue’s exposed brick, wooden beams, rustic chandeliers, and plentiful natural light pouring in from the skylight above set the ideal backdrop for our holiday scheme. Think about Santa coming down the chimney into this winter wonderland – and having a party to kick off the festivities! The naked cake we designed exposes the structure of the confection’s delicious layers, topped off with a sparkle glaze drizzled down the sides and a touch of the floral scheme to carry over the table top design.

Tupelo Honey executed the perfect stationery suite for our event, incorporating shades of pink, silver and gold with calligraphy that sparkled. How could anyone say no to such an invite? Holiday wreaths and pink flocked trees were festive additions to the backdrop. The contemporary yet cozy lounge area with textured and striped wallpaper, silver couch, and mirrored table is perfect for snuggling up with the one you love! While it may be cold outside, our couple has their love to keep them warm (and hot cocoa, too)! Steaming mugs of cocoa with marshmallows are a staple that this holiday celebration wouldn’t be complete without!

Cheers to a merry and bright holiday season!

Photography: Pure 7 Studios | Cinematography: Pure 7 Films | Coordination: Sapphire Events | Floral Design: Kim Starr Wise Floral Events | Stationery: Tupelo Honey | Makeup: Ashley Sievert Beauty | Hair: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Calligraphy: Lindsay Letters | Tuxedo: John's Tuxedos | Venue: Tomas Bistro | Venue: Tomas Bistro | Cake Baker: Melissa's Fine Pastries | Cake Table: Mrs. Vintage Rentals | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Gowns: Wedding Belles | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Perrier Party Rentals | Tartan Fabric: Mood | Veil: Wedding Belles | Wall Paper: Graham Brown

My love for this engagement shoot from Marissa Lambert is off the charts. It’s stylish in every sense of the word, and filled with special moments these lovebirds will cherish forever. It’s image after image of some of the prettiest engagement pictures you’ll ever see, and they are all sitting pretty right here.

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From Marissa Lambert…This session was photographed with film in a gorgeous park in New Orleans. In the past, this couple has spent plenty of time at the tree in the photographs. Living in Louisiana, I see many majestic trees with Spanish moss, but I have yet to see one as magical as this one. The story is that this tree first started as two separate trees and over time became one. How romantic!

The soon-to-be bride is Gabriela, and her man’s name is David. They are a full of love and giggles. Gabriela invested much of her time pondering how to make this shoot unique and special to them. I believe that she nailed it! The dress, the flowers, the bow-tie, and the rose filled ice for the Dom Perignon that was poured into those fabulous champagne glasses – sheer perfection!

Photography: Mon Soleil Weddings

This, my friends, is one wedding that is all about the glamour.  A vintage-inspired glamour that is pretty much the most awesome thing I have ever seen.  Think Jenny Packham meets sparkle-clad bridesmaids meets the always amazing city of New Orleans.  And beyond all of the sophisticated details (thank you NOLA BASH and Kim Starr Wise) and jaw-droppingly gorgeous settings, there’s a burst of pure love radiating from every moment captured by Greer G. Photography.  See it all in the full gallery.

From NOLA BASH… From the Big Apple to the Big Easy, Elina and Jason threw a true destination bash leaving their friends and family wanting more! Let’s begin with the bridesmaids spectacular dresses! Elina entrusted each of her best gals to get a beaded, tan, vintage dress. These girls knocked this one out of the park! Their bouquets jumped off of the dresses and truly became their best accessory of the night. The gentlemen complemented the ladies in crisp, black tuxedos which really brought this vintage feel together for pictures under the mossy oaks of New Orleans City Park.

The two committed their lives to each other in an intimate courtyard at the Masion Montegut House followed by a 2nd line parade which had guests dancing in the streets. The parade, led by the Young PinStripes Brass Band, ended at the New Orleans Board of Trade where guests were greeted with cocktails and raw oysters. Vintage, mirrored window panes hung from trees displaying table assignments. Inside the tables were adorned with sequin linens (that were to die for!) accented by vintage books, bottles and camera. Not to mention the silver tea pots which boasted with gorgeous, bright flowers. Taboo rocked the stage keeping the dance floor full at all times – with the exception of the flower girls who felt it was past their bedtime and were found in deep dreams on the vintage lounge furniture. The reception ends but not the party; everyone moved to an after party down the street which kept them dancing until the early hours of the morning.

Photography: Greer Gattuso | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Cupcakes: The Kupcake Factory | Catering: New Orleans Board of Trade | Band: Taboo | Ceremony Music: Fine Arts Ensemble | Venue: Montegut House | Venue: New Orleans Board of Trade | Bride & Groom Preparations: Roosevelt Hotel | Coordination and Design: NOLA BASH | Floral Design & Custom Chuppah: Kim Starr Wise Floral Events | Minibus: Alert Transportation | NYC & Shoes Cake: A Cake Thing and More | Other Rentals: Event Rental | Photobooth: Big Easy Photobooth | Rolls Royce: Unique Transportations | Vintage Rentals: Mrs. Vintage Rentals

What do you get when you combine a stunning bride + lover of all things New Orleans and a handsome groom with a passion for his home state of Florida?  Well, lovelies, you get one downright gorgeous Fort Meyers shindig infused with New Orleans style from start to finish.  A shindig, mind you, that boasts lush florals from Fort Myers Floral Express, fab DIY stylings and an entire gallery of lovely captured by Riversedge Lifestyle Photography.  Join me there for all of the pretty.  It’s a must-see.

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From the Bride… I fell in love with New Orleans after attending law school there pre and post Katrina. There’s something about NOLA that just gets under your skin and into your blood- the food, the music and vibrancy of the city are things I miss now that I have moved back to my home state of Florida. In fact, New Orleans is where Ryan asked me to marry him. Right in front of Saint Louis Cathedral, in the middle of a crowded Mardi Gras street. By the time we were on the plane headed home, I had the whole wedding planned- a destination wedding in my favorite city! But when I asked my soon-to-be groom if he was on board he responded, “Honey, I want you to have the wedding of your dreams but I just have one request- I want to get married in Florida. It’s where we both grew up and where we’ve both come back to start our lives. It’s important to me.” Well who can argue with that? Not a problem- I would just bring my New Orleans vision to Florida.

My mom and I discovered the White Orchid at Oasis very late in our venue hunt. Someone mentioned to me in passing “an old house on the river” that they heard was now being used for parties. My fiancé Ryan grew up in Fort Myers, so being near the river was something I knew he would love and I was hoping to find. When I finally located this beautiful, old house and stood on its wrap around back porch looking across the long lawn and into the water, I knew this was it. The house is like a blank canvas and I was armed with a list of DIY’s to fill the rooms with. I got so much inspiration from sites like Style Me Pretty. I devoured the photos of real weddings that had been in New Orleans or had that old world, antique feel that I so badly wanted my guests to experience. My DIY projects turned out to be a family affair, with loved ones from both sides pitching in. My mom found the black, wrought iron centerpieces in a clearance sale and my mother-in-law’s best friend helped design and decorate our “New Orleans dessert room”- even crafting the “Café du Monde” cart that served chicory coffee and hot, powered beignets as our specialty dessert. And what a pleasant surprise to find my groom get inspired as well when he saw how dedicated I was to detail. He researched and then made a delicious homemade blood orange vodka that we used in our signature cocktails.

On the morning of the wedding, I walked into the house to find the loveliest gift. Ryan’s two Uncles, who lived in New Orleans for 10 years before Katrina forced them to move, had stayed up all night making us each an authentic, elaborate 2nd line umbrella. I was truly touched and these are two incredible pieces of art I will forever cherish. I must say that Jamie & Jacob Catering were wonderful also at embracing my vision and making it a reality. Their chef even made a crawfish tasso cheesecake recipe from my favorite New Orleans restaurant as an appetizer! Of course we had to finish the night with my favorite memory and a New Orleans essential made a reality by Mark Zauss and the Z Street Band- the 2nd line parade around the property including all the guests.

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Wedding Photography: Troy Wells, Riversedge Lifestyle Photography | Ceremony Venue: Blessed Pope John XXIII Catholic Church | Reception Venue: The White Orchid at Oasis  | Event Design + Planning: Bride | Floral Design: Fort Myers Floral Express | Catering: Jamie and Jacob Catering, |Wedding Coordinator: Leslie DiPlacido | Makeup: Shannon Van Horn with Lasting Luxe  | Wedding Dress: Sottero and Midgley “Clarice” | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid’s Dresses: J.Crew | Cake: Publix Bakery | Hair: Ben Thigpen | Band: Mark Zauss and the Z Street Band

I love this wedding. Not because it was super gorgeous (even though it was) or perfectly planned (again, it was) but for the heart. The love that went into it. The brides wanted their favorite blooms, succulents, but because they were going to be hard to get in New Orleans… they grew them in their garden in California, packed them up in a suit case, and flew them to their wedding. And that is just one of the many amazingly heartfelt details this whole wedding, captured beautifully by Dark Roux Photography, possessed.

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From one of the beautiful brides… Even though we can not legally marry we decided that it was important to us to have a ceremony signifying our love for one another. We believe our love is no different and just as important as anyone else who loves someone. Plus, I couldn’t think of anything better than being able to call Tyra my wife. It just so happened to fall on the same week that the Supreme Court was in discussion about whether to uphold Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act.

We really were about anti-formalities. Our idea of the perfect wedding was close friends and family, good food, and lots of dancing. We are both very family oriented so we incorporated different details throughout to honor them. For Tyra since her dad passed away at a young age I wanted to honor him and have him present. I put an antique locket in her bouquet with pictures of him because I couldn’t bear the thought of him not walking her down the isle. She had no idea until right before our first look when she noticed it. For my grandmother who was a painter, we used her easel to display the “pick a seat not a side” sign. For my Uncle Sandy who loved to read, we used his vintage books as the cupcake display.

We have so many close friends therefore we chose not to have any bridesmaids or wedding party and instead chose to have all of our nieces and nephews as ring bearers and flower girls. I really wanted a vintage feel so in order to achieve this I collected antique bottles for months to put flowers in. We also used a lot of my families silver heirlooms as the vases for our flowers and displays. Succulents are my favorite and I really wanted them in my floral arrangements. So I grew them in California in my garden and brought them on the plane to New Orleans with me because they can not be found there. I was honored to have my cousins, whom spent years making floral arrangements, prepare our flowers. Every arrangement was so unique and perfect in every way. I have always loved romantic quotes and wanted to incorporate them into the decor, so we placed different quotes throughout in flowers. I was even lucky enough to have an artist friend of mine make me an amazing sign with a quote from Dr. Seuss. It fit in so perfect with our decor.

Every single detail you see was uniquely crafted for our wedding. It truly was a labor of love. We wanted to have a magical day that was filled with contributions from so many loved ones and it truly was! Our friend Jodi was our officiant and she put so much thoughtful detail into our ceremony. She really tied everything that we thought about each other together and made it so beautiful. She said, “Each of you expressed the balance, the harmony that you find in the others presence. That yin & yang quality. Where in the puzzle of life’s challenges, you have found in each other that those pieces create a perfect fit- where in the absence of each other, the picture would otherwise be incomplete.”

One of my absolute favorite memories of the night was the dance off during the reception. I must say my friends can really get down! I still laugh thinking about it. We wanted so much for everyone to have a blast and enjoy themselves and that was confirmed by each and every guest who are still telling us that it was “THE BEST WEDDING EVER!!!!!” Our only wish was that we could go back and do it all over again.

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Photography: Dark Roux Photography | Flowers: Rachal and Margaret Mascarenas, and Debbie Digilormo | Event Design: Ashley Smith, Buzzworthy Events SF | Event Planning: Ashley Smith, Buzzworthy Events SF | Ceremony Location: Race and Religious | Reception Location: Race and Religious | Caterer: Fly by Knight Catering, 504-885-8415 | Music: Kinfolk Brass Band | DJ: Quickie Mart | Hair: Jenny Lundy with Stardust Hair Salon New Orleans, LA | Makeup: Ashley Vignes, Avignes23@yahoo.com | Cupcakes: Sucre | Officiant: Jodi Capaci | Invitations: Artwork by Randy Muller

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.

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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

I can’t begin to tell you how many weddings I’ve fallen in love with on the pages of SMP. From the eclectic and cool to the refined and traditional, it’s a love-fest around here day in and day out. But this New Orleans affair, my dears, is different. Special, really. Why? Because when a destination wedding is designed by the likes of P.S. Creative and Kim Starr Wise, it transforms any “I do” into something unforgettable. From the first look to the last dance, Amy Carroll was there to capture it all. And the full gallery? It’s the best place to be.

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From Amy Carroll Photography…Putting into words just how amazing Carrie and Ben’s day was is nearly impossible. From the location, the food, the details and the couple themselves, it was a day filled with love and surprises and a whole lot of fun. I’m going to try to give a short synopsis of some of my favorite details and let the pictures themselves fill in the rest.  First of all, if you can’t tell from Part 1, Carrie and Ben are a force. Smart, determined, fiercely loyal to their friends and family…they planned a day that couldn’t have been a more perfect reflection of themselves. They love good food, both have impeccable style and even though they reside in NYC, are proud and celebrate their Mid-Western roots (Carrie hailing from Michigan and Ben from Ohio) It was a destination wedding for all and filled with traditions from both of their backgrounds and New Orleans itself.

My personal favorite of the day was right after the ceremony, the brass band Kinfolk came marching in, ready to take the newly married couple and the wedding guests on a march throughout the streets of New Orleans for the second line. I can’t even look at the pictures from this part of the day without humming ‘When the Saints Come Marching In’ out loud. Other fun details to note…the girl’s hairpieces, guys boutineers and two of Carrie’s headpieces (love me a girl who changes it up throughout the day!) were done by none other than the amazingly fabulous Pixel+Hank. The day was coordinated by the super sweet Patricia from P.S. Creative who I whole-heartedly hope to work with again someday. After the ceremony Carrie changed into her mom’s super long and super gorgeous wedding veil from the ’70s. It was fun to see the flower detailing matching Carrie’s own wedding dress!  The food was ridiculously good and set up all throughout the venue’s various buildings and outdoor areas.

Carrie and Ben’s first dance was under the stars surrounded by sparklers. Carrie sang karaoke (Carrie-oke?) and I was thoroughly impressed that she sang every.single.word. to ‘Baby Got Back’ without a prompter. At the end of the night, traditional muffulleta was served to the guests. I left with a lot of full memory cards and a happy heart.

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Photography: Amy Carroll Photography | Event Stylist: P.S. Creative, Patricia Stokes | Floral Design: Kim Starr Wise Floral Events | Event Ceremony + Reception: Race and Religious | Catering: Palate | Custom Hair Pieces + Boutineers: Pixel+Hank | Lighting: Luminous Events | Cake: The Royal Cakery | Small Cakes + Sweets: Melissa’s Fine Pastries | Second Line: Kinfolk Brass Band | Band: Mojeaux Band | Hair: Salon Sanity | Makeup: The Makeup Lab Artistry | Props: Mrs. Vintage | Wedding Dress: Christos | Short Veil: Pixel + Hank | Long Veil: Vintage, Bride’s Mother’s Veil

If there is one thing I love about this wedding, it’s that it is on my computer screen right now. Seriously, I can’t pick just one detail. Mark Eric Weddings captured a soiree so grand, everything about it is my favorite. And rightly so. It’s filled with so much of the couples’ personality, and so much of Elyse Jennings Weddings‘s touch, that every single image screams fabulous!

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From the lovely bride … Nate and I were born the same year, one day apart. Me, May 10th. Nate, May 11th. We took a trip to the Bahamas for our 30th birthdays and on my birthday while sitting in front of an old rusted sunken ship with a beautiful sunset as the backdrop, he asked me to marry him. We had only been there one day and he said that we didn’t have to discuss the wedding plans during our whole trip, but wanted me to know that he thought having southern food at the wedding was a must. I agreed, which meant there was only one place to make that possible!

I have been to many New Orleans weddings and sometimes you get the feeling as though if you’ve been to one, you’ve been to them all. We knew that we didn’t want a traditional wedding. We wanted to do something that would embrace the local flavor of New Orleans while avoiding the popular tourist areas of the city and use as many family and friend vendors as possible. We also knew that a lot of our friends had never been to New Orleans, but had always wanted to go and needed a reason. Well, we were their reason and were going give them a true local experience, so they would understand why we love this city so much. An exciting weekend of airboat tours on the bayou, late nights in the French Quarter and on Frenchman Street and more than enough opportunities to get an appropriate fill of po-boys, gumbo, jambalaya, etouffee and beignets.

I had the idea of using a space that had a history. Perhaps once upon a time it was glamorous or had an important purpose, and overtime had worn with age and was currently in the process of rehabilitation. Probably not the most common thought that enters a bride’s mind, but knowing that there are many buildings currently being rehabbed in New Orleans, I really wanted to embrace the architecture of the past. When I came across the Marigny Opera House, my jaw dropped to the floor. The decommissioned Catholic Church had recently been bought by a couple from San Francisco and was being used for community events including the performing arts. The inside was absolutely stunning and exactly what we were looking for.

We wanted to embrace the weathered, grittiness of the building while transforming the space into elegance – a “Great Expectations” Mrs. Havisham’s mansion kind of vibe. We tried to keep the colors to what you would actually see in the building if it were still functioning as a church. The idea of dusty rose, antique peach and slate gray with splashes of metallic hues really seemed to work. The natural wood color of the chairs came into play as if they were church pews and the rod iron candelabras on the altar gave a sense of Romeo and Juliet romance. We also used old doors and furniture made from repurposed wood originally from New Orleans homes crafted by local carpenter, Jim Horvath. The two white columns and small wooden table used on the altar now has a permanent home in our living room.

The first thing many people noticed when walking into the building after the flip were all of the flowers. I worked for months with my talented and artistic sister, Brenna DiGerolamo, to select unique, beautiful flowers and foliage. She with the help of the staff at Distinctive Floral Designs assembled all of the arrangements. The building was also filled with beautiful ficus tress and ferns courtesy of Convention Plant Designs.

For six months, my mother and Aunt Janet hand crocheted more than half of the doilies scattered under the votives on each table. We were able to give stacks of these away to family members after the wedding.

Our cake design was very special. We wanted to bring a piece of our neighborhood in Pasadena, California to the wedding. Bungalow Heaven is the name of the historical area where we live and it’s made up beautiful craftsman style homes with Frank Lloyd Wright inspired architecture. We met with the team at Melissa’s Fine Pastries and showed them photos of these houses. We wanted our cake to encompass elements of the homes, but not necessarily look like a house. Not only were they spot on with the design, but Nate actually built the lantern topper made out of balsa wood in lieu of one made of sugar glass, so now we have it forever as a keepsake.

One southern wedding tradition is having little charms attached to ribbons that stick out from the bottom of the cake called “cake pulls.” All of the single ladies and close friends gather around the cake, grab a ribbon and pull out a charm. Traditionally, a charm might be a ring, which means you’re the next to be married, or an anchor, which means an adventure, is coming soon. But since there was nothing traditional about this wedding, we had all New Orleans inspired charms, which included a crawfish, red bean, king cake, fleur de lis, umbrella, among others.

Music played a major role at our wedding. Our leading lady on the mic during the reception, Jenn Howard, was responsible for bringing in all the musicians for the day. Since the buildings’ acoustics are very sensitive, non-amplified instruments are a must. We took advantage of the baby Grand Piano already in the space and had a pianist play all the songs for the ceremony. During the cocktail hour, we had a 3-piece jazz band play some New Orleans classics. Nate and I spent a lot of time selecting our favorite songs for the reception that would showcase the soulful and rocking voice of Jenn. The showstopper of the night was when she played “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes and every lady came to the floor and sang along at the top of their lungs.

The last song of the night was “When the Saints Go Marchin’ In.” That was everyone’s cue to take out their hankie they’d been hanging on to all night and wave it around for the second line. My dad was at the front of the line, which sort of resembled a conga line because it was a parade that wrapped around the whole room. The line started going outside the building and we were pulled to the side because we were to be the last to exit. Nate and I had a little moment before we said good-bye to our beautiful reception and when we took the first step outside, we were drenched in iridescent confetti and Mylar pink hearts and silver dots. An unbelievable ending to the first day of our lives as a married couple.

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Photographer: Mark Eric Weddings |Wedding Coordination: Elyse Jennings Weddings | Venue: The Marigny Opera House | Flowers: Brenna DiGerolamo + Distinctive Floral Designs | Plant Rentals: Convention Plant Design | Bakery: Melissa’s Fine Pastries | Caterer: Vega Tapas Cafe | Rentals: Mandeville Party Company | Band: Jenn Howard | Dress: Badgley Mischka | Shoes: Badgley Mischka

If you’ve ever been to New Orleans, whether for Mardi Gras, the weekend, or a fabulous wedding, you’ll agree with the bride who says “a good party is expected” after tying the knot in the Big Easy. I can only imagine NOLA weddings are the most fun. So when Stacy Reeves sent over the N’awlins nuptials of two fellow wedding photographers, planned by Sapphire Events New Orleans, it was pretty much a party in the SMP offices. Complete with a Second Line band, parade down Bourbon Street, and a bit of dancing in the French Quarter – and the gallery!

Here’s a little extra love from Studio Vieux Carre…

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From the beautiful bride … Doug and I met in college while pursuing our photojournalism degrees at Western Kentucky University. He spotted me from across the room at our first department meeting of the year and knew that he had to get to know me. He’s from New Orleans, so his boyish charm and his Nawlin’s accent quickly won over my heart.

Fast forward eight years, (yes he made me wait eight long years!) it was the evening of December 28, 2010; we were hosting a welcome home party for my brother-in-law whom had just gotten back from a tour in Iraq. Doug, in true Doug fashion, had arranged an amazing welcome home party at our friends local brewery, Nola Brewing. He had invited family and friends, had the lead singer of Cowboy Mouth – a local favorite, a redfish cake, and a second line band to come in and blow things out at the end of the party. Unbeknownst to me, he had asked Kevin’s permission to propose that night because he knew of all night’s I would never be expecting it that night. He was right! He interrupted Fred LeBlanc during one of his songs – that was planned to – it was “Take Me Back to New Orleans.” He got on the microphone and started telling everyone why that song was important to us – and I was just trying to figure out – “what is he doing?!” It didn’t take me long to realize as he pulled out a piece of paper he had notes on, and he became misty-eyed. It’s still one of the best nights of my life to this day.

We keep joking that our wedding week was 99.9 percent perfect, and our honeymoon 70% good. (Delayed flights getting there, Doug got sick, I got thrown off a horse….that’s a whole other story though!) We surrounded ourselves with some of the best wedding vendors possible, and we couldn’t have done a better job. We are actually in the wedding industry too — which made some decisions very easy, and others very difficult because we didn’t want to offend anyone.

Our wedding weekend began Thursday evening with our Rehearsal dinner. We had dinner at the Maison Dupuy in their beautiful courtyard with the fountain as our backdrop. We were surrounded by our closest family and friends. This was what we had been waiting for. We were overcome with emotion as we realized everyone we cared about so deeply was there with us all at the same time.

The next day we had a crawfish boil planned at Audubon Park in order to spend more quality time with our family and friends. We were so grateful for the extra time this allowed us to spend with everyone. It was a beautiful April afternoon in New Orleans. Most of us took the street car from the French Quarter through the historic Garden District to get there.

The morning of the wedding was just as beautiful as the day before, and everything I had been praying for for the past 15 months. When you’re having an outdoor ceremony, you tend to get a little antsy about Mother Nature. I began my morning by having a hearty breakfast on my hotel balcony overlooking the French Quarter. The perfect start to a perfect day.

Once my hair and makeup was finished and I was reveling in all my glory of being a bride, I rode in a pedi-cab to meet Doug for our First Look – that was an exciting and fun experience as we passed people and they yelled good wishes. It was an impromptu part of the day suggested by my amazing coordinator that is still one of my favorite parts of the day. My heart was fluttering as I walked up behind Doug. I couldn’t wait to see him. He turned around after I hugged him from behind, and I’m pretty sure he was already crying before he even laid eyes on me. I’m a crier too, but I was simply overjoyed to finally be marrying my best friend.

We love New Orleans, and we wanted to show our family and friends the reasons why we love New Orleans so much. We were married in front of the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. It doesn’t really get more New Orleans than that! The whole time we were planning we wanted to make sure our wedding reflected who we are as a couple and add personal touches throughout. We were married by Doug’s best friend from elementary school who had gotten ordained online in order to marry us. His words during our ceremony were beyond perfect, and it was a perfect representation of who we are. We also had a sand ceremony after reciting our own vows to one another, but instead of just us pouring the sand, we also had both mom’s pour to represent our family, two of our best friends pour to represent our friends, and then he and I topped it off as we merged our sand in the heart shaped vase.

Once we arrived at the reception we had Mint Juleps as an ode to my Kentucky upbringing. Doug and I also had an amazing wine registry created by our friends at Kiefe and Co. This was a part that was also so “us” because we had gone on a trip two years prior to Burgundy, France. Some of the bottles purchased by our guests were from that very region, which will remind us of those fabulous memories we made when we open those bottles.

My cake was a topsy turvy, whimsical cake, while Doug’s groom’s cake was a replica of the Mardi Gras float we ride on. The twenty some riders that were guests at our wedding couldn’t get enough of this cake! It was so accurate, everyone was flipping out over it. Our main surprise of the night though came when Doug and I got on stage and performed to AC/DC’s Shook Me All Night Long with Groovy 7!! Doug was on the guitar, and I was on the drums! Months of preparation paid off and our family and friends went nuts! It was amazing, definitely one of my favorite parts of our day. There were so many favorite parts to the day really – we lived it up, and I can say I truly enjoyed every single minute of the day.

The night ended with our second line brass band coming into the ball room and playing Party Rock Anthem with our band, and then leading us out into the streets of the French Quarter for an epic second-line. Doug and I danced like no bride and groom have danced on a second line. We had sooo much energy and excitement for at least a full 45 minutes (they usually only last 20-25 minutes!) We felt bad for our photographer and videographer because we knew we worked them hard during that part of the day. It was incredible though! We went straight up the middle of Bourbon St. Strangers were dancing in the street with us and taking pictures of us. It was the best way to wrap up a perfect day!!

One of our friends told us after our wedding that they felt like we threw them a party. We took that as a wonderful compliment, and was really what we set out to do – well of course, other than the part where we committed our lives to one another. In New Orleans a good party is expected after you say I do. I think we succeeded in giving our guests and experience they’ll never forget. And we were just so thrilled to be married at the end of the day. It’s hard to believe that we are already approaching our first anniversary. The wedding was so incredible that two or three days into our honeymoon we were ready to do it all over again. And I’m sure we will, but maybe we’ll wait another ten or so years.

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Photographer: Stacy Reeves | Planner: Sapphire Events New Orleans | Ceremony location: Jackson Square | Reception Location: Bourbon Orleans Hotel | Videographer: Studio Vieux Carre | Florist: Nola Flora | Bakery: Melissa’s Fine Pastries | Hair and Makeup: Flawless Bride | Reception Band: Groovy 7 | Second Line Band: Young Pinstripe | Lighting: Abstract Productions | Transportation: Need A Ride Pedicabs