Fabulously Chic Pontchartrain Hotel Wedding *

Fabulously Chic Pontchartrain Hotel Wedding *

With winter only a couple of months away, we’re excitedly waiting for the days of cold weather and holiday celebrations. That’s why we’re soaking in winter wedding inspiration like this in the meantime. Celeste and Andy’s Pontchartrain Hotel wedding in New Orleans is the perfect example of adding cozy winter additions to your special days without being over-the-top.

Celeste–who did most of the planning herself–made sure their chic “I do’s” were complete with a traditional church ceremony, a Victorian-inspired reception, a wedding cake made for royalty, and a streamer-filled exit. Not to mention she designed their wedding crest, which she had added to her custom wedding gown

We’re so thankful that Junebug members and photographers Erin & Geoffrey were there to capture every elegant detail. So keep scrolling if you’re looking for subtle winter inspiration because this one is the epitome of timeless.

The Couple:

Celeste and Andy

The Wedding:

Pontchartrain Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Erin & Geoffrey

 

Congratulations again to Celeste and Andy on their Pontchartrain Hotel wedding! And thank you to Junebug members Erin & Geoffrey for capturing and sharing their day with us. To see more of their beautiful photography, be sure to check out their profile in our directory of wedding photographers from around the globe!

Lavish Marigny Opera House Wedding *

Lavish Marigny Opera House Wedding *

Having a wedding on New Year’s Eve definitely calls for watching the ball drop and throwing a lavish party. Chelsea and Ross envisioned a Gatsby-style New Years’ Eve extravaganza to celebrate their nuptials and ring in the new year, so they did just that. Wedding planner Nouvelle Fete Celebrations brought the glam of the roaring 20s to their Marigny Opera House wedding. 

With vintage details like the bride’s dress, faux fur shawls, and a champagne tower, it feels like we stepped straight into F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book. To personalize their Gatsby wedding, they had an interfaith marriage ceremony that included a gospel choir singing, a rose-drenched chuppah, and the breaking of the glass. Thankfully, Junebug members Erin & Geoffrey captured every inch of this wedding to share. 

The Couple:

Chelsea and Ross

The Wedding:

Marigny Opera House, New Orleans, Louisiana

An Interfaith Marriage Ceremony

​​We are most proud of the ceremony. Ours was an interfaith marriage honoring the traditions of both the Christian and Jewish faiths. My father was the officiant, which made it very meaningful for us. The ceremony was a wonderful expression of the mutual respect Ross and I have for each others’ faith, too.

A Memorable Marigny Opera House Wedding

Our wedding was filled with so many special moments that will forever be engraved in our hearts. One that is unforgettable was standing under the chuppah, hand in hand with my future husband, while my father pronounced us husband and wife. The Voices of Greatness Gospel Choir performed “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” while friends and family stood in celebration of that special moment.

Entering A Dazzling Celebration

Another memory that’ll always bring a smile to our faces was the “Second Line.” The band, Kinfolk, led the entire wedding party along with over 200 guests through the streets of the Marigny neighborhood. Upon reentering the Opera House, guests were enthralled by the venue transformation and welcomed to a dazzling New Years’ Eve celebration.

 

 

Wedding Planning Advice: Get A Planner

A wedding planner is essential! Finding your perfect wedding planner is a crucial decision as you’ll be working very closely together throughout the entire wedding planning period. Meet with your wedding planner early and often. Ours, Dustin Castrinos from Nouvelle Fete Celebrations, not only helped us realize my dreams of a Gatsby New Years’ Eve extravaganza, but also helped us create an appropriate budget for the event. His advice allowed us to secure our bands, caterers, florist, and a host of other vendors who would have certainly been booked had we delayed those decisions.

Old Hollywood Wedding Day Fashion

The wedding day fashion of the wedding party was a reflection of our theme. The men in our wedding partywore Calvin Klein Tuxedos with classic bowties while the bridesmaids were fashionably attired in gold lamé dresses with Old Hollywood hairstyles. The groom wore a custom tuxedo by Bill Walker Clothier. My bridal gown was designed by Lazaro. I continued to mirror the Gatsby era style of the evening in both hair and makeup thanks to the wonderful ladies at Faces of Virtue.

 

Having a Gatsby Style Wedding

Our wedding theme arose from my personality. I had an early vision of a Gatsby-style New Years’ Eve celebration. Each and every vendor played a crucial role in making this dream come true. The vision was evident in every aspect of our wedding—a true Gatsby vibe!

The Wedding Team:

Photography + Videography – Erin & Geoffrey
Event Planning – Nouvelle Fete Celebrations
Ceremony Venue – Marigny Opera House
Getting Ready Venue – Hotel Peter and Paul
Floral Design – Paradise Florist
Catering – Messinas Catering
Cake – Bywater Bakery
Live Music – Phunky Monkeys, The Voices of Greatness Gospel Choir, and Kinfolk
Invitation Design – Shop Aurea
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Faces of Virtue
Wedding Dress – Lazaro
Groom’s Apparel – Bill Walker Clothier
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Betsy & Adam
Groomsmen’s Apparel – Calvin Klein
Rings – David Yurman and Simon G
Transportation – Trinity Trolley

 

Congratulations to Chelsea and Ross on their lavish Marigny Opera House Wedding. Big thank you to Junebug members Erin & Geoffrey for capturing and sharing this day with us. To see more of their work, check out their profile in our directory of photographers from around the world

 

Stunning New Orleans Micro Wedding *

Stunning New Orleans Micro Wedding *

Stunning New Orleans Micro Wedding

Micro weddings were a major trend in 2020 for more reasons than just the global pandemic. It’s intimate, budget-friendly, and allows for couples to get married wherever they want. And for Amber and Ramana, that meant choosing to have a New Orleans micro wedding surrounded by their closest friends and family. They gathered their wedding guests and ran around the streets of the French Quarter. Eventually ending the celebration with fresh beignets. 

What made their micro wedding truly special was infusing their cultures in their ceremony and read their own personalized vows. Thankfully, Junebug member Emily Delamater Photography captured all the smiles and love from this ceremony. If you’re ready to see the streets of New Orleans’ French Square and champagne toasts, keep scrolling to see this New Orleans micro wedding.  

The Couple:

Amber and Ramana

The Wedding:

ACE Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana

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Great Laughs And Memories

We read our own vows and I loved that we fused our two cultures: his Indian heritage through the garland exchange and my Irish heritage through a poem. During the ceremony, we also had some fun bloopers like forgetting that the garlands were still in the hotel’s refrigerator and we forgot to get them out. We had to take an intermission to have someone find them, which allowed for some great laughs and time to soak in all of the people who were sitting there with us. Things don’t have to be perfect on your wedding day. Some of my favorite memories from that day were just hilarious mishaps.  

Best Friends And Beignets

Another favorite memory was feeding each other beignets when we ran around New Orleans with our photographers, after the brunch, and getting covered in sugar. That was amazing. Also, my best friend since childhood was our officiant and that was really special. I just loved what she added to our ceremony and it was so lovely having her there as we said our “I do’s.”

Wedding Advice From the Bride

Always hire a coordinator! I’m a wedding photographer and I really thought I could do it all on my own because I’ve witnessed so many weddings. But, it just takes so much stress off your shoulders to have that extra help. Even if it’s an intimate day, it’s so worth it. Also, your photographer is so much more than your photographer! I was so lucky to have my dear friend Emily Delamater and her husband Matt shoot our wedding. They were so helpful and delivered the most lovely heirlooms for us.  

Why A New Orleans Micro Wedding

We loved the ambiance of the ACE Hotel New Orleans and Seaworthy Restaurant next door because of the old world feel we were going for. Seaworthy especially struck a chord with me. It was the perfect atmosphere for our tiny wedding. We fell in love the second we saw the images online and knew that was it.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Emily Delamater Photography
Ceremony Venue – Ace Hotel New Orleans
Reception Venue + Catering – Seaworthy Restaurant
Floral Design – Antigua Floral
Cake – Salt and Light Pastry Co
Invitation Design – Papersource
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Embodyment Salon
Wedding Dress – BHLDN
Groom’s Apparel – Suitsupply
Rings – Ila

 

Congratulations to Amber and Ramana on their New Orleans micro wedding. Huge thanks to Junebug member Emily Delamater PhoVtography for capturing and sharing this day with us. Check out more of her work in her profile on our website. Micro weddings aren’t going anywhere in 2021. If you’re looking to plan a micro wedding of your own, check out our ultimate guide to planning a micro wedding

 

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Intimate and Artistic Race and Religious New Orleans Wedding *

Intimate and Artistic Race and Religious New Orleans Wedding *

When two art lovers come together to plan their wedding day, you know that it’s going to be full of creative details and special touches. Heather and Brett’s intimate and artistic Race & Religious wedding was just that—and more. Though Heather did most of the planning herself, with the help of Mint Julep Productions, the couple turned their 1830’s Creole cottage venue into a romantic backdrop for their special day.

Using bright colors–including the mismatched bridesmaid’s dresses, cafe lights, and a copious amount of floral arrangements put together by Fete Urbane—the newlyweds brightened up the venue’s historic facade. And what would a celebration be in the vibrant city of New Orleans without beignets, smoked cocktails, and cigars? Don’t tell us. We don’t want to know.

Thankfully Junebug member Sophie Berard was there to capture every detail, so get that smooth jazz music playing and get to scrolling!

The Couple:

Heather and Brett

The Wedding:

Race & Religious, New Orleans, Louisiana

Including Loved Ones Who Have Passed

An important detail for me was having photos of my grandparents worked into my bouquet–I’ve lost all four of my grandparents. My mom did an incredible job of finding beautiful photos of them from her wedding and mounting them in charms. It was really special.

Why A Race & Religious Wedding

We’ve spent a lot of time at art museums and are both creative professionals, so art has played a big part in our relationship. We already had a trip planned to New Orleans for Brett’s birthday before we got engaged, so we took it as an opportunity to also look at venues. Race & Religious felt like the perfect fit. It was romantic and already had a lot of character. There is even a room upstairs where an artist drew small paintings on the wall as a homage to his time there. Because Race & Religious is so unique and beautiful, it took some pressure off of decor.

Shop similar bridesmaids dresses: ASOS Design Satin Midi Dress ($72); Lulu’s Garden District Wrap Dress ($68); Show Me Your Mumu Caitlin Ruffle Maxi Dress ($178)

The Importance of A Wedding Planner

I took a “less is more” approach. I chose to not spend time or money on anything that didn’t add to the experience. Our wedding was intimate, with only 45 guests in attendance. I planned the wedding myself until a few weeks before when I hired Mint Julep to help bring it all together. Mint Julep already had a great relationship with almost all of my wedding vendors. I work full time, so this made the last few weeks a lot less stressful, as there’s a lot of moving pieces and loose ends to tie up. They were also incredible the day of and always had a glass of whiskey or champagne handy.

Incorporating New Orleans Culture Into Their Menu and Drinks

Since we had our wedding in New Orleans, it was important to us to have good food and music. For dinner, we chose to work with Black Pearl Catering. Their food was thoughtful and creative but heavily rooted in New Orleans cuisine. They took care of appetizers, a sit-down dinner, and beignets for dessert. They even made a beignet tray so guests could take a few with them for the road! A late addition was bringing on Cocktail Creative for a few curated cocktails. We chose a warm eggnog cocktail and their smoked cocktail. They made the smoked cocktails in the cigar room, and this drink also came with a bit of a show as they would infuse the smoke and then release it into the room. 

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Sophie Berard
Event Planning – Mint Julep Productions
Venue – Race & Religious
Floral Design – Fete Urbane
Catering – Black Pearl Catering Co.
Live Music – Nola Duke’s Band
Invitation Design – Minted
Makeup Artist & Hair Styling – Glam Nola
Wedding Dress – Claire Pettibone
Groom’s Apparel – Henry A Davidsen
Rentals – Lovegood Rentals 

Congratulations again to Heather and Brett on their intimate and artistic Race & Religious wedding in NOLA. We’re so happy that Junebug member Sophie Berard shared it with us. To see more of Sophie’s work, check out her profile in our directory of wedding photographers from around the world!

 

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Creative and Uniquely Extravagant New Orleans Wedding *

Creative and Uniquely Extravagant New Orleans Wedding *

A purple wedding dress, matching Adidas sneakers with rainbow shoelaces, and a parade in the streets? Talk about a party! Dierdre and Bureen’s New Orleans wedding was unique, creative, and spoke to who they are as a couple.

When in the planning process, the couple knew that they wanted a destination wedding in New Orleans due to its bewitching energy that reminded them of their Caribbean culture–something that was extremely important to them. So important, in fact, that the couple passed out Loretta’s Pralines, Haitian Barbancourt rum, and White Oak Rum–two staples from their heritages.

With a dark moody color palette, fairy lights, an abundance of candles, and the venue’s wood accents, Dierdre and Bureen’s nuptials certainly bewitched us. Keep scrolling to see the magical day that Sharon Pye captured beautifully.

The Couple:

Dierdre and Bureen

The Wedding:

Mallalieu Harmony Church, New Orleans

Why A New Orleans Wedding

We wanted a celebration in which New Orleans was the main character. We’re not from New Orleans, but we love the culture, architecture, history, food, people–all of it! There is something bewitching about the city, and we wanted the design to reflect that energy. In many ways, we are drawn to this energy because it reminds us of our Caribbean heritage. 

Why The Mallalieu Harmony Church

We’d like to think that the venue chose us. We saw pictures of the space after striking out on a few other potential venues. We immediately knew it was perfect. The colors, the vibe, and the aesthetic was exactly what we were looking for. When we went to sign the contract, we realized that it had been purchased and remodeled by interior designer Sara Ruffin Costello, who incidentally shares a last name with Bureen. It was kismet! Bureen had been a fan of Sara’s work for over a decade.

Wedding Favors That Celebrated The Couples’ Heritages

We wanted our guests to have a favor that they could actually use! And, of course, one that represented us. Each guest left with a sachet containing one Loretta’s praline and 50ml mini bottles of liquor–Haitian Barbancourt rum to celebrate Bureen’s heritage and White Oak Rum from Dierdre’s native Trinidad and Tobago.

A Memorable Wedding Parade

The band arrived and “interrupted” our dinner to get us up and out dancing in the streets. It felt pretty special to have our very own parade. Our wedding guests were joined by neighbors who joined in the celebration from their front porches.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Sharon Pye
Event Planning – Elle R. Jae Events
Venue – Mallalieu Harmony Church
Floral Design – Antigua Florals
Catering – Toulouse Gourmet Catering
Cake – Beth Biundo Sweets
DJ – DJ Maximum
Live Music – Harry Hardin
Brass Band – Free Agents Brass Band
Invitation Design – Scriptura
Makeup Artist – Wendy Karcher
Hair Styling – Red Fascio
Rings – VPK Diamonds
Rentals – Lovegood Wedding & Event Rentals, Yur Event Rental, Your Event Delivered
Rehearsal Dinner – Pisco Bar
Favors – Loretta’s Authentic Pralines

Congratulations again to Dierdre and Bureen on their creative and uniquely extravagant New Orleans wedding! We love every single image that Sharon Pye captured and we’re so excited we can share it with you Junebabes. To see how to plan a unique wedding of your own, check out our guide here!

 

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