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Will my Second Line seem weird?

phunluvin82phunluvin82 member
First Comment
in Louisiana-New Orleans
My fiance and I have wanted to do a second line at our wedding from day one...but our idea of a French Quarter courtyard ceremony and then a separate reception has morphed into a St. Charles Mansion for both the ceremony and reception.  Can we still do a second line?

My fiance really wants to, but I feel like it will be weird if there is no change of venue...what do we just walk around the block and come back again?  Also, I know second lines don't take place only in the Quarter, but I feel like it is just not the same experince for the out-of-town guests (which are basically all the guests) to walk around in circles if we're not in the FQ.  There is a lot more pedestrian traffic in the Quarter all the time, whereas parading around a mostly empty uptown street (even St. Charles, I feel is more car traffic than pedestrian traffic) will seem strange/pointless, especially to out-of-town guests that are not familiar with the tradition.

Is it still worth doing?  Has anyone else had this issue and found a good solution, or had it work out/not work out?  Thanks for any opinions/advice!
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Re: Will my Second Line seem weird?

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    scotialeescotialee
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I think a second line down St. Charles would be fun... the streetcars would pass by and everyone on the streetcars would see you... I wouldn't recommend going around the block, because once you get off St. Charles the neighborhoods can get a little rough, but going up and down St. Charles on the neutral ground would be cute.
    If you really wouldn't feel comfortable doing it though, maybe you could do a second line at the rehearsal dinner if that's in the quarter? It might not feel the same if you're not all decked out in your wedding clothes, but maybe you could get a veil and he could wear a top hat or something...

    I'm actually going to do a second line through my fiance's parents neighborhood in California for a second reception we're having. I don't think it's the location that matters as much as the music and experience of holding up the umbrellas, etc.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
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    edited December 2011
    I don't think it will be weird.  We are having a plantation reception, but I still wanted to incorporate a second line, so we are going to either do it after cocktails outdoors, around the grounds and then into the ballroom for dinner.   Or we will do it as our exit to our getaway car.  Or maybe both! It's a great tradition and works in lots of different settings.  A friend of mine married her New Orleans groom in Colorado and they did a second line around the ballroom and everyone loved it. 


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    HeyGualdoniHeyGualdoni
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Where are you and your guests staying? If your hotel is in the French Quarter, you could always have the band waiting for you when you get back to the hotel, and then parade around the Quarter. I do agree with the other posters that the second line is fun no matter where you have it, so I'm sure your plan will work out just fine:)
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    BubblyBride10BubblyBride10 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    If you get the guests boozed up enough, they'll love it!

    Are you going to be at the Elms?  Even if you aren't, check out their website or pictures from their weddings online.  A lot of people do second lines from there, and you might get some ideas.

    Maybe you could have them parade you down the neutral ground to a streetcar stop and then get away on the streetcar?  I know that you can rent them out if you want to take your whole party. To do that, you'd need to contact Alma at RTA, 504-827-8328 about 2-3 weeks before your wedding.

    Also, don't forget to ask your planner or contact at the hotel about securing a parade permit from the city.

    Good luck!


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    phunluvin82phunluvin82 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Yes, we are at the Elms!  I really like the idea to parade down St. Charles to the streetcar, thanks so much.  We have been considering renting a streetcar, but have no idea how much it costs and whether it's in our budget.  Love the idea though, I think that is the way to do it if we can organize it that way.  Thanks for the contact info also, I'll definitely be looking into it.
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    BRIANNAT711BRIANNAT711
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    IT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT IDEA! DON'T FORGET THAT YOU NEED CITY PERMITS AND POLICE ESCORTS FOR ANY SECOND LINE TO TAKE PLACE IN THE STREET. OFTENTIMES PEOPLE FORGET THIS AND THEIR SECOND-LINE GETS SHUT DOWN QUICKLY WHICH IS A BIG EMBARRASSMENT FOR YOUR GUESTS.
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