As I was formatting the photographs and the post for this incredible wedding, I tried desperately to edit down the bride’s text a bit, as it was longer than we normally have on SMP. But I seriously couldn’t! Every detail was so incredible and her words made me feel like I was there, experiencing it all for myself.
You already saw the stunning film that Chris Jones of Mason Jar Films put together, but now the bride is stopping by to share a little bit more…
photography by Zoeica Images
Planning a wedding from 4800 miles and 6 time zones away requires loads of patience and a generous supply of optimism. This NOLA bride was surrounded by a Parisian fiancé and loving parents with generous supply of patience and diligence when hers ran short. Born and raised in NOLA, as we affectionately call New Orleans, Louisiana, the wedding location was never a question. Paris exudes elegance, beauty and culture. New Orleans possesses some of that plus a healthy dose of southern decadence for its own special savoir-vivre.
The week-end started with Thursday’s Dads’ Jazz Jam night and Cajun cuisine, Cocktails on Friday in Muriel’s, a historic building off Jackson Square, and ended with Brunch at the Columns Hotel in the Garden District. Guests hailed from as far away as Angola, Africa to London and Paris and as close by as Thibodeaux, louisiana. Saturday, the Day, took off with a classic French Quarter carriage ride from the historic Faubourg Marigny district to the oldest cathedral in North America, the St. Louis Cathedral. The St. Louis Cathedral was named for Louis the IX, sainted King of France. French guests were quite pleased with that cultural reference! New Orleans is steeped in ready references to its French roots.
photography by Zoeica Images
The mass at the cathedral was accompanied by musicians from one of New Orleans’ most famous music families–the Jordans with Stephanie Jordan on the violin and big brother, Kent Jordan, flute. After the ceremony the bride and guests were accompanied to the reception site by the New Wave Brass Band and a ‘second line’ of wedding guests dancing in the street, striding, and stepping away from the Cathedral. The Restaurant Galvez, our reception site was a testament to our patience plus faith — our wedding served as the restaurant’s first post-Hurricane Katrina opening.
A touch of Paris kicked off the reception with a champagne toast and French gypsy jazz band by French native/ New Orleans transplant Pierre Pichon. The music never stopped. Pierre was followed by the Treme Brass Band, the Storyville Stompers Brass Brand. Jazz trumpeter extraordinaire Leroy Jones and Creole crooner John Boutte added a sensitive NOLA jazz touch to the dinner.
photography by Zoeica Images
Dinner included a five course meal completely Louisiana inspired [began with a Creole Crawfish Bisque, a zucchini and goat cheese Napoleon, Gulf Redfish with lump crabmeat and a Chocolate Pecan Tart finished with a French Cheese platter and] topped off by a “pièce montée” the traditional French wedding cake composed of a pastried tower of croquembouche.
With the live New Orleans jazz music and flavorful Creole cuisine, the wedding attire took a subtler route. A Monique Lhuillier lace dress (the Calista) with silk ivory sling backs by Christian Louboutin for the bride. The bridesmaids wore pale gray Vera Wang floor length dresses that complimented the men’s traditional charcoal grey morning suits. New Orleans had the food, the architecture, the music, the romance, the historic icons, the setting for a deeply French and deeply American wedding.
Our wedding expressed who we are. It was the perfect marriage of New Orleans and Paris. We wouldn’t have it any other way.