Everything You Wanted to Know About Having Your Wedding in New Orleans

bride and groom dance down streets of New Orleans

Oh, my GORGEOUS! This New Orleans wedding shoot is nothing short of remarkable, and we are ready to have the wedding of our dreams here. NOLA is always teeming with life and color, and is the perfect city to let your personalities shine! If you’re looking for a fun-filled location for your wedding, New Orleans is the place to be. Trust us, you’ll be ready to plan your parade down the streets of NOLA after seeing these beautiful photos by Ed & Aileen Photography who also provided some great advice of places to go and things to see while planning your wedding in New Orleans. So whip out your Pinterest boards and let’s get planning!

New Orleans bride and groom wedding portrait

queen of hearts wedding stationary

There are several different districts in New Orleans, but if you’re looking for that quintessential NOLA vibe, then you should start in the French Quarter. Here you’ll find the infamous Cafe du Monde, ornate balconies, and plenty of gorgeous photo locations!

If you’d rather save the French Quarter for your second-line parade, then the Garden District should be at the top of your list. Lavish trees lining the streets, charming houses, and the stunning wedding venue, Il Mercato.

bride and groom wedding rings

bridal portrait with bold floral crown

From the photographers Ed & Aileen Photography: NOLA has something for all ages – from eating beignets at Cafe du Monde, learning more about this city through fun historical tours and ghost tours (some tours even include the infamous Hurricane drink!) to experiencing its infamous nightlife with opportunities to bar hop, fortune readings and karaoke (shout out to Cat’s Meow on Bourbon St.!). NOLA also some of the best food and music in America. For amazing music, be sure to check out Frenchman St. It’s where locals go to get away from the craziness of Bourbon St. And for a late night snack, Verti Marte has the best bodega food ever. There’s usually a line of locals waiting to get their PoBoys!  

colorful and bold bridal bouquet

bridal portrait with gorgeous lace detailed wedding dress

New Orleans fireplace wedding ceremony

Now that you’re familiar with the area, let’s think dates! Unless you absolutely love Mardi Gras, we would recommend avoiding the 2 week period before and after as hotel prices are at their highest due to demand and the streets of NOLA are at their busiest. We also recommend avoiding the first 2 weeks of July because it’s typically quite hot (highs in the 90s), and the popular Essence Music Festival typically takes place during this timeframe. Overall, October and November are typically the sunniest months with mild temperatures.

bride with bold colors in flower crown and bouquet

close up photo of ceremony floral decor

bride and groom celebrating after wedding ceremony

Time to make this thing official! In the State of Louisiana, you must get your marriage license at LEAST 72 hours before the ceremony date. Your marriage license will expire 30 days after it’s created so you can always get it further in advance, but make sure to give yourself enough time before your wedding day.

tender moment with the bride and groom

bold and deep color palette on menu

NOLA wedding reception

New Orleans is a historic town rich in its cuisine, cultural and architectural heritage. Having a destination wedding in New Orleans is not just a no-brainer if you’re considering different destination wedding locations coming from the U.S, but also you will have no shortage of talented vendors and beautiful venues to choose from like Il Mercato.

wedding reception table details

 

NOLA wedding reception table setting

NOLA wedding reception table setting

bride and groom sitting on large white thrones

If you didn’t think about having a throne at your wedding, we bet you are now. I mean if you can feel like royalty on your wedding day, then we say go for it!

New Orleans bride and groom wedding portrait

bride and groom dance down streets of New Orleans

From the photographers Ed & Aileen PhotographyNew Orleans has it all! The city celebrates love with horse-drawn carriages that line Jackson Square, gorgeous European-inspired architecture, and diverse cultural heritage. Couples find the beautiful scenery and secret courtyards completely irresistible for their wedding backdrop. Getting married in NOLA also means the chance to close off a street for a second-line parade, a New Orleans wedding tradition where the couple and their guests dance all the way to your reception venue and are led by a talented brass band! The memories made will be cherished forever! 

band playing behind bride and groom during NOLA parade

A second line is a MUST for anyone having a wedding in New Orleans! A second line is everyone following the band to enjoy the music. The first line is the actual band (the more you know!).  Knockaz Brass Band brought the party with them 🙂

bride and groom dance down streets of New Orleans

bride and groom dance down streets of New Orleans

groom popping champagne with his bride and their friends

Honestly, we can’t get enough of the gorgeous Il Mercato venue so check out the whimsical Styled Social event we held in New Orleans!

Wedding Vendors:
Photography: Ed & Aileen Photography
Planning: A Fresh Event
Venue: Il Mercato
Band: Knockaz Brass Band
Florist: Floral Alchemy
Makeup: Anjelica Bannos Artistry
Rentals: True Value
Desserts: Woops
Invitations + Paper Goods: MDRN HAND
Wedding Dress: Watters
Second Line Dress: Nha Khanh
Tux: The Black Tux
Jewelry: Paloma Wilder Studio

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