by Roddy | Mar 8, 2017 | Weddings
The Ceremony: Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church
When you’re a couple beginning to create history of your own, what better place to start your life together than in a place like New Orleans where history and romance abounds. After an almost two-year engagement, Tara and Steve were recently married at St. Patrick’s Church. The church, which sits in the heart of the business district, dates back to the 1840s. It was declared a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior in 1975. The grandeur of the church is enhanced by its Gothic-styled ceiling, which is similar to that of the famous Exeter Cathedral in England. The three large murals behind the altar, which served as a stunning backdrop for the ceremony, were done by Leon Pomarede in 1841.
And speaking of stunning, Tara was certainly that and more in her beautiful, two-piece bridal gown from the award-winning Pearl’s Place Bridal Salon. For the reception, she donned an exquisite gown from The Bridal Boutique by MaeMe. Both gowns definitely fulfilled their roles of keeping all eyes on the bride. Steve didn’t look too shabby, though, decked out in a superbly fitted tux from Top Hat Tuxedo.
The Reception: Bevolo Wedding Reception
For their reception, the couple chose the famous and historical Bevolo Gas and Electric Lights Company, which has its roots in New Orleans dating back to 1945. Their handmade copper lanterns are evident throughout the French Quarter, which fits both their and the city’s romantic and artistic styles. Six decades of family have owned and operated this rustic, but completely romantic, business, which makes it a great place to celebrate a marriage. The lanterns lining the walls cast a romantic glow onto the couple as they had their first dance.
The couple toasted the occasion next to their four-tiered white and silver wedding cake from Zoe’s Bakery on the Northshore, which is known for its fabulous wedding cakes. Then the party really got underway with music provided by DJ Gene Fabre of Killahouse Productions. Food, drinks, and fun were the day’s specialties, and everyone had a blast.
When it was time to make a grand exit, the couple did it up New Orleans’ style by taking it to the streets with a second-line parade.
The Vendors
Wedding design and planner : DG Events
Day of coordination: Girls in Black
Brides dress: Mae Mae Bridal shop
Grooms tux: Top Hat Tuxedo
Hair/makeup: Glam Nola
Ceremony: Saint Patrick’s Church
Reception: Bevolo
Entertainment: Killahouse Productions
Second Line: Kinfolk brass band
Floral: Beth’s Flowers
Primary Photographer: Jay Theriot
by Roddy | Nov 16, 2016 | Weddings
When most people say they support our military, they mean they donate money or volunteer, but not Khiry. He took his commitment all the way to “till death do us part,” when he married the love of his life and U. S. Army soldier, Aleecia, in a Cedar Grove Plantation wedding.
Khiry, who works at a hospital while pursuing his Master’s degree in Health Administration at LSU, met Aleecia, who attends Northwestern State University online for her Master’s degree in Homeland Security, at a college basketball game. They both are avid basketball fans, college and NBA, and said the thing they love to do together most is eat. Living in Louisiana certainly gives them more than their fair share of great food venues to choose from.
Their Cedar Grove Plantation wedding was planned and brought to fruition under the guidance of owner Jill Mercer, who, together with her husband, Joey, purchased the historical plantation in 2006, then remodeled it after Jill’s childhood church, St. Joseph’s. The plantation was built in 1790 on the outskirts of New Orleans and was one of the largest producers of sugar cane and rice. It also had quite a colorful past before becoming the magnificent event center it is today. Cedar Grove is reknowned for its food (with recipes courtesy of Jill’s grandmother), impeccable service, and commitment to excellence.
The Ceremony: Cedar Grove Plantation Wedding
Aleecia wore a beautiful strapless gown from Minervas Bridal with a heavily beaded bodice and chapel-length train. Her hair and makeup were done by the talented Gaby Jimenez, owner of Fairytales and Brides. The bridesmaids wore matching long pink gowns. All of the ladies’ pink and white bouquets and the gentlemen’s boutonnieres were created by Leaf and Petal of New Orleans. The groom wore a royal blue double-breasted suit while the groomsmen wore light gray suits. The men wore pink bowties to match with the bridesmaids’ dresses. The groom was also pretty-in-pink, because he was wearing some dazzling, bright pink socks in keeping to the pink-themed wedding.
Candlelit lanterns lined the way for the bride to walk and meet her groom to take their vows in a ceremony conducted by Reverend Colley of Pensacola, FL.
The Reception: Cedar Grove Plantation Wedding
When it was time for the cake, there was a beautiful three-tiered traditional wedding cake, designed by local legends Haydel’s Bakery, that sported the gold topper, “Best Day Ever.”
With the sun set and the day’s events winding down, the newlyweds shared a few private moments under the starry night sky at the plantation’s gazebo. What a beautiful and romantic way to celebrate your best day ever.
The Vendors
Ceremony/Reception: Cedar Grove Plantation Wedding
Florist: Leaf + Petal I NOLA
Wedding dress: Minervas Bridal
Hair/Makeup: Fairytales and Brides
Minister: Reverend Colley
Photographer: Jay Theriot
by Roddy | Nov 2, 2016 | Weddings
The Ceremony: Saint Louis Cathedral
Fans of the Crescent City, this Georgia couple got engaged in New Orleans during a trip. Daniel had it all planned out and popped the question during dinner at the Rib Room in the Omni Hotel.
The couple was married at the grand St. Louis Cathedral with five bridesmaids and five groomsmen in attendance. Their children also participated in the ceremony, so this wedding was definitely a family affair.
Heavenly looked every bit the princess in her embroidered lace and beaded wedding dress with her hair and makeup done by Danielle Moore of Doll Faces by Danni. Her long cathedral veil certainly made for a grand entrance. The bridesmaids were decked out in silver beaded gowns, while the groom and groomsmen opted for casual chic in blue suits and suspenders.
After the ceremony, the couple and their families and friends took the party down to the Oceana Grill where authentic New Orleans cuisine is the specialty. The Oceana is known by locals as a celebration destination.
The Reception: Oceana Grill Wedding
The wedding cake was created by Haydel’s bakery, which has a grand history of its own. Three generations have given Haydel’s its stellar reputation, along with having an internationally certified craftsman and master baker at the helm.
When it got time to get their groove on, Big Fun Brass Band took the reins and got the people on their feet. The band, comprised of classically-trained musicians, specializes in Dixieland and pop brass. When it came time to second-line, they took their parade out into the streets.
Now that the couple has officially tied the knot, they can get back to pursuing all of the things they love to do, which is spending time with their children, traveling, watching movies and sports, and trying new restaurants. Since New Orleans has so many of those, it’s certain they will be coming back.
The Vendors
Wedding Prep: The Marriot Hotel in New Orleans
Makeup: DollFaces By Danni
Bridal Gown: David’s Bridal
Grooms tux: K&G Warehouse
Ceremony: Saint Louis Cathedral in New Orleans
Brass Band: Big Fun Brass Band
Reception: Oceana Grill Wedding
by Roddy | Sep 20, 2016 | Weddings
Every bride dreams of that moment when she’ll make her grand entrance at her wedding venue and all eyes will be on her. If you want to create that moment for yourself, then plan a Balcony Ballroom wedding. You can make a spectacular entrance descending their beautiful staircase into the ballroom with its high ceilings and gorgeous chandeliers, and, of course, its balcony.
Back in 2010, the luck of the Irish was with Jamie and Landon when they met on St. Patrick’s Day at Uncle Earl’s, a bar named for the legendary 45th Governor of Louisiana, Earl Long. Jump ahead about five years to when Landon proposed to Jamie atop the Creole Queen where they were attending a rehearsal dinner for friends. The Creole Queen is an authentic paddle wheeler that made her maiden voyage in 1983. She is called a “floating palace.” What better place to propose to the queen of your heart than on a floating palace?
The Ceremony: The Balcony Ballroom
And speaking of palaces, The Balcony Ballroom might be the next best thing. It has been family-owned for over 40 years, and their website carries the statement that they are “madly in love with the business of love.” To that end, an owner is always on site for every event to ensure no detail is missed. They are a full-service venue offering wedding packages such as “Just for Hue,” where you can choose from the 4.2 billion colors they’ve created so that they can give the bride and groom the wedding of their dreams including the use of their favorite colors.
For this dream wedding, the couple included their young son in the ceremony, and as he reached his dad, they exchanged a big hug before turning to see the bride make her magnificent decent down the staircase. Jamie was met at the bottom by her father, who escorted her up the aisle. She looked like a page from a bridal magazine come to life in her strapless, mermaid-style wedding gown. Her bridesmaids wore long dresses of a soft peach hue.
The Reception: The Balcony Ballroom
After the ceremony, the couple entered the reception where emblazoned on the wall were the words, “The New Mr. and Mrs. Poland.” The bride and her father shared a traditional father-daughter dance, and while the bride and her mother boogied on the dance floor, the groom and the bride’s father shared their own version of a “father-daughter” dance.
The stunning bridal cake was decorated in hundreds of edible hydrangea petals and had one peach-colored tier. For the wedding favors, the couple chose to thank their guests with bags of pink cotton candy bearing the label, “A Sweet Thank You.”
As the evening wound down, the couple exited the ballroom amid an arch of sparklers held by their families and friends, and then spent a few moments in each other’s arms beneath the moonlight.
by Roddy | Aug 24, 2016 | Weddings
Checkout this Indian wedding at the Roosevelt hotel! If your little girl dreams included having your prince ride up on a white horse, then you’ll probably want to plan an enchanting event like Dinushi and Deepak’s Indian wedding. This elaborate, colorful, and carnival-like affair was held at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans, where people take their carnival very seriously.
The Ceremony: The Roosevelt Hotel Ceremony
The traditional Indian wedding ceremony is celebrated over days, with the bride and groom each sharing in special rituals to prepare them for their wedding day. On the day of the wedding, Deepak, dressed in an ornate jacket and trousers with matching turban in antique white, gold, and burgundy, which are traditional Indian wedding colors, rode to the wedding venue on a bejeweled white horse. This baraat or groom’s procession, with friends and family singing and dancing, and with music played by a professional dhol (large bass drum) player, brought the groom to greet his future bride’s family. Family is very important in the Indian marriage tradition and is as much about bringing two families together as it is about the joining of two people.
The ceremony was presided over by Dr. AAW Amarasinghe. The bride wore an antique white, embroidered and heavily beaded, two-piece wedding ensemble with matching floor-length veil imported from New Delhi designers Tarun Tahiliani Couture who specialize in Indian attire. She was escorted down the aisle, strewn with burgundy rose petals, by her father. Dinushi wore the traditional maangtika forehead ornament and a stunning gold necklace and bracelet set. The bride’s hair and makeup were done by the talented Gaby Jimenez, owner of Fairytales and Brides.
The marriage took place under a mandap, which is a canopied altar. This mandap was designed and decorated by wedding planner Anila Keswani of Nirvana Weddings whose 30 years of experience was evident in this stunning setting. The altar was draped in jewels and cascades of white flowers. The breathtaking floral arrangements of mostly white flowers with hints of burgundy were created by Diem Vu of Bella Blooms Floral. The traditional wedding colors of gold and burgundy were subtly displayed with each of the arrangements, except for the bride’s bouquet, which was a mix of shades of burgundy with just a few white flowers as accents.
During the ceremony, Deepak placed a mangalsutra (a necklace symbolizing luck, love, and friendship) around Dinushi’s neck. The bride and groom also exchanged floral garlands as a symbol of their acceptance of one another. The couple then performed the lighting of the sacred fire, the circling of the sacred fire, and the seven sacred steps, making a vow to each other with each step. It is a beautiful and meaningful part of this amazing ceremony.
The Reception: The Roosevelt Hotel Wedding
The bride and groom and their guests entered the reception where dinner was served in what could only be described as a magical setting created by The Roosevelt’s creative staff. Steeped in its own famous history, The Roosevelt was the perfect place for this colorful and over-the-top affair. The Roosevelt’s chefs created a stunning wedding cake with three globe-shaped tiers with cascading edible flowers. There was also a more traditional chocolate groom’s cake.
After dinner, the party got into full swing with music provided by one of New Orleans’ premier DJs, Shawn Mirpuri of Ooh La La Music Company. Entertainment was provided by artistic directors, choreographers, and renowned belly dancers the Belly Twins, who have danced their way into the hearts of Prime Ministers and celebrities at sold-out performances around the world. Then it was time for the bride and groom to get their party on by performing a number of their own. Later the bride changed into a stunning burgundy gown with billowing skirt and jeweled top to share the floor with her husband. They danced the night away with family and friends until they were able to step away for a few private moments beneath The Roosevelt’s grand canopy to cap off this grand event.
This Indian wedding at the Roosevelt hotel was so amazing! We would like to thank all of the vendors that made this possible
Wedding Prep/Ceremony/Reception: The Roosevelt Hotel Wedding
Hair/Makeup: Fairytales and Brides – Gaby Jimenez
DJ: Ooh La La Music Company
Bridal Gown: Tarun Tahiliani Couture New Delhi, India
Grooms Sherwani: Sahil
Entertainment: BellyTwins International
Floral/Decor: Bella Blooms
Videographer: Studio Vieux Carre
Wedding Planner: Nirvana Weddings – Anila Keswani
by Roddy | Jun 14, 2016 | Weddings
Ceremony: Nativity of the Blessed Mary Church
After the solemnity of a ceremony within the architectural beauty of the Nativity of the Blessed Mary Church, Merrin and Wade were ready to party like only Southerners know how to do – go all in, which is what they did at their Beau Rivage wedding reception. The incredible floral arrangements with hanging crystals, stunning five-tiered wedding cake, formal place settings, and subdued multi-colored lighting lent an air of glamour and sophistication, which was perfect for the bride and groom’s entry, first dance, and dances with mom and dad.
Reception: Beau Rivage wedding
But when it came time to getdown and party, out came The Bag of Donuts with their bag of tricks. Merrin and Wade knew how to get a Southerner’s attention, which they did by taking their party all the way to the food with an it-looks-to-good-to-eat Captain Morgan’s and Sprite cake complete with edible cooler, drinks, fishing lures, and cake pops for all.
After some selfies of the wedding party, the group threw off coats and shoes to dance the night away to the Bag of Donuts band. And if your feet needed a rest, there was a caricature artist on hand to permanently capture the guests and the moment. When it was time for the bride and groom to leave the party, there was a second line to accompanying them and high-fives all around.
Ceremony: Nativity of the Blessed Mary Church
Reception: Beau Rivage Casino
Band: The Bag of Donuts Band
Florist/lighting: Beau Rivage Casino
Wedding Dress: Dress the bride (London)
Hair: Brandi Bosarge hair stylist
Makeup: Jackie Merlau
Videographer: Like a Letter videography
Wedding Planner: After The Proposal
