Louisiana-New Orleans — The Knot Community https://forums.theknot.com/ Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:08:04 +0000 en Louisiana-New Orleans — The Knot Community DJ https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/759630/dj Mon, 18 Apr 2011 01:35:40 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans Kate504 759630@/discussions Hotel help https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/761318/hotel-help Thu, 21 Apr 2011 02:22:20 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans Trixie_LaRue 761318@/discussions
Any suggestions will help me out soooooo much!!!
TIA]]> Wedding Anxiety https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/762432/wedding-anxiety Sat, 16 Apr 2011 07:03:51 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans LOLways 762432@/discussions
Does anyone else get these *smack in the face* type realizations/ bouts of wedding anxiety?

I'm probably just up too late.
]]> New Bride-to-be here!! https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/761232/new-bride-to-be-here Tue, 15 Mar 2011 06:02:54 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans WED572011 761232@/discussions
]]> Bridal Shower Locations https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/760244/bridal-shower-locations Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:57:31 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans Jennifer102011 760244@/discussions Second Line Umbrella for Sale https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/761784/second-line-umbrella-for-sale Sun, 07 Nov 2010 19:19:33 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans kwasik 761784@/discussions
]]> Muriel's? Any info or feedback? https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/758777/muriels-any-info-or-feedback Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:15:19 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans NO2012 758777@/discussions Booking a Catholic church in the city https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/761909/booking-a-catholic-church-in-the-city Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:20:11 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans mirandab0324 761909@/discussions St Louis hotel--- courtyard https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/759690/st-louis-hotel-courtyard Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:44:23 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans Rdh2MrsOMFS 759690@/discussions Need a mariachi!! https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/760297/need-a-mariachi Mon, 18 Apr 2011 03:03:08 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans Queen Jane 760297@/discussions Fleur de lis Wedding Monogram https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/762332/fleur-de-lis-wedding-monogram Sun, 06 Feb 2011 00:02:12 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans willia225 762332@/discussions Need art designer for invitations https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/760288/need-art-designer-for-invitations Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:57:47 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans OrangeRoughy 760288@/discussions
Thanks!
]]> Videographer https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/761219/videographer Sat, 16 Apr 2011 01:52:47 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans Rdh2MrsOMFS 761219@/discussions Vendor Reviews - BUDGET WEDDING in the Quarter https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/762017/vendor-reviews-budget-wedding-in-the-quarter Sat, 19 Mar 2011 19:23:05 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans vstotts 762017@/discussions
VENUE (both ceremony and reception): St Louis Hotel
I think the best part of the venue is how little decoration the courtyard needs to look amazing!  We added some grocery store flowers, candles, candle holders, and vases from Walmart, and some mardi gras masks and beads on the tables but they have twinkle lights, linens, candle holders for tables, and tons of greenery included which made the decor look very classy and expensive.  We worked with Rachel and Tracy and, though they were a little slow to respond to emails a few months out, they were very responsive once it got a little closer to the wedding and extremely helpful once we arrived that weekend.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Erika Parker
In a word, AMAZING.  Wonderful customer service and communication from the beginning.  She met with us when we arrived in NOLA and asked my sister tons of questions about what she was envisioning.  Best of all, her prices can not be beat, especially if you look at the quality of her pictures on her website (www.picsbyerika.com).

DJ: DJ Whouwit (aka Merrell Moore)
The budget was so tight we were actually planning on renting a sound system and using an iPod for all the music.  However, when I was looking into it I found that it was going to be a min. of $250 for a simple set-up (not including a mic).  I took a big risk and found DJ Whouwit on craigslist advertising $50 an hour (+$50 deposit).  He was great!!  Played everything we requested ahead of time (incl. lots of country) and cued the ceremony music perfectly.  Such a great deal! (merrell_moore@yahoo.com)

HAIR/MAKEUP JustFaceIt - Angele
Jessica wasn't available so I was a little nervous since everything I had heard was for her.  Angele was good, though I wish we had time for a trial.  She worked fast and when my sister didn't like her eye makeup at first, she kept her cool and fixed it until she LOVED it.  I was a little bummed she didn't have the colors I wanted (smoky navy eye and peach lip) but was able to create it pretty closely using other colors.  She was quick and efficient but I rec'd a trial...
]]> Cake on a budget https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/758930/cake-on-a-budget Sun, 10 Apr 2011 22:33:33 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans hh3073a 758930@/discussions
I'm getting down to the final details here! It's crazy!

My fi and I are set on keeping a traditional tiered wedding cake (though we will probably keep it free of decoration to save moolah).

I've heard great things about Haydels and Maurices. Unfortunately, we're OOT and not going to be able to come down to do a tasting pre-wedding :(

Can anyone please advise on what kinds of prices I can expect? We're expecting about 150 people at our wedding.
Any other bakery suggestions?

TIA :)
hh
]]> Beyond Gorgeous Second Line Umbrellas For Sale!!! https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/760041/beyond-gorgeous-second-line-umbrellas-for-sale Wed, 05 May 2010 15:27:52 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans hughe046 760041@/discussions Time to let these bring joy to your wedding!!

You can use them during your second line, at the reception, as you are making your exit...they are awesome and so fun!!

I am selling a white second line umbrella with gold sequin fleur de lis and trim, with thick white feather trim.  The other, for the groom, a matching umbrella but in black with the sequin trim and feathers.  These are actually the perfect second line size and weight- full top, but smaller handle to make it both lighter and easier to carry (actual, real umbrellas are heavier and more awkward with a full handle- these have the comfort handle). 

$50 total for 2 umbrellas ($25/piece), plus shipping.  Only used once and in flawless shape!!  No idea whats going on with my flash and my office is a wreck, but see the bottom pic for idea of how big they are!  Email me for better, bigger pics!  magen.gamble at yahoo.com


  





]]> Vendor Review 3/19/2011 https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/759696/vendor-review-3-19-2011 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:12:50 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans chigirl2010 759696@/discussions
So here's my grading scale - if I thought the price was reasonable, they showed up on time and generally met my expectations, they get an A (easy grader). The grades go up and down from there.

Venue: Musee Conti (The Wax Museum)
www.museeconti.com
Grade: A+++++++++++++++
I really should invent a letter higher than "A" to assign to the Wax and Beth because I can say without a doubt my wedding would not have been the same without them! First off, the Wax. Great location, in the heart of the Quarter, just a couple streets away from Bourbon. This was an out of town wedding and we really wanted people to know they were in NOLA, so a restaurant or hotel was out of the question. This is an extremely unique venue unlike anything else you'll find. We opened the museum downstairs for cocktails - the museum details NOLA's history and was a huge hit. Most of my husband's family is used to extremely traditional Catholic weddings, so wax museum nuptials were a tad bit different. But as one friend told us, "You took and chance and you nailed it." Upstairs is a beautiful ball room - we had both the ceremony and reception there. Even if you don't dig the whole "wax museum" thing, the Legend Room upstairs is traditional and aesthetically pleasing on its own. Being out of town, the fact that the venue included SO much (tables, chairs, candelabras for table decor, candles, linens, etc) made it easier on me - of course you can bring your own stuff in as well. There's ample room, a stage for a band, plenty of bathroom space, and two bars - those practical things that make weddings flow smoothly. Oh and the price was very good - cheaper than most places we looked.

Beth couldn't have been better. I didn't have a coordinator, which made it stressful coming from out of town. But Beth was great before the wedding - working with me on just about everything and making good recommendations for the things I wasn't sure about - and absolutely essential during the wedding. She constantly made sure I was happy and had a full glass of champagne. She made sure I ate. She let me know we were getting behind schedule. And I made an epic mistake - I FORGOT the cashier's checks to pay the vendors which as you can imagine, was STRESSFUL. But Beth fixed it; not sure exactly how because she and my brother handled it but it was taken care of - she just told me to relax and have fun. When it appeared like our officiant wasn't going to make it, Beth was already lining up a replacement (unbeknownst to me - I had no idea there was even any problem until yesterday!). Whatever needs to be done, Beth will take care of it with a smile on her face and a glass of champagne for you in her hand. We owe her a lot!

Caterer: Pigeon's Catering
www.pigeoncaterers.com
Grade: A
Leah's great to work with - I started out with another caterer but I just didn't like their style and they didn't seem to listen to want we wanted. Pigeons has great prices, great food, excellent setup, were on time, and very very willing to work with our budget. We had mostly Cajun cuisine but a few traditional offerings for our out-of-town guests as well. I was extremely suprised what we got for our price and we got lots of compliments about the food all night long. They cater to the New Orleans Saints - they must be doing something right!

Photographer: Sabree Hill
www.photosbysabree.com
Grade: A++
Sabree worked her butt off during the wedding. I haven't seen the shots yet (it's only been two weeks) but I'm sure they'll be great because if you check out her website, her talent is apparent. She was creative and thank god, assertive. I didn't realize what a madhouse it would be taking photos with so many people, in the Quarter especially (with cars whizzing by nonetheless) but she gives direction without being pushy. I really appreciated it because pictures were done and over very quickly so we could get back to the party - it easily could have taken twice as long with someone less focused. She's organized and listened to what I really wanted. I met with her the day before the wedding and walked around the Wax looking for good places to get shots, which I appreciated. And I liked her as a person - we both felt really comfortable with her.

Videographer: Josh at Prodigy Media
www.prodigy-mg.com
Grade: A+
Josh was great! Like Sabree, he's a bit newer to the wedding scene in NOLA but absolutely not lacking in talent or experience. I loved his samples online and can't wait to see how ours comes out. He was on time, very professional, and made me feel very comfortable. And he's just a nice guy! I actually barely noticed he was there, which is a compliment to him because I thought it'd feel awkward having someone following you with a videocamera but it was great. Check out his website -  you'll be impressed with his work.

Officiant: John Zimmer
Grade: A
John is a great speaker, very charismatic, and his ceremony was the best I've ever heard. It's not long, about 15 minutes, but it's meaningful and even funny at times (he got a few good laughs out of our guests!). He took the time over a phone call to get a feel for what we wanted our ceremony to be like and made it feel customized to us. You'd have thought he knew us for years. I found out he showed up just in the nick of time but I  never noticed and he performed perfectly. He was also very nice about me forgetting the cashier's check - he just said to mail it to him after the honeymoon. Just a note - there's no contract or deposit and he doesn't do the rehearsal. I'd still highly recommend him; we got a ton of compliments both on the efficient ceremony and his actual words of advice. He doesn't have a website, but email me at tifani.jones@gmail.com for his phone number.

String Trio: Musiconsultant
www.musiconsultant.com
Grade: A
I didn't get to hear them much since they played before the ceremony, but from what I could hear (Pachelbel's Canon for the bridesmaids) they sounded absolutely beautiful - better than expected really. Their prices are very reasonable and they worked with our unorthodox schedule (our cocktail hour was before the ceremony, so they played the whole cocktail hour instead of having pre- and post-ceremony music for the same price).

Flowers: Sam's Club (delivery)
www.samsclub.com
Grade: A
I was nervous about ordering flowers online but they were perfect and beautiful! They were delivered on Thursday (they need 24 hours to fully spruce up and open) on time, mostly dethorned although you'll have to pull the leaves off. I ordered 125 whites roses for less than $100 to make bouquets and followed instructions from youtube.  They came out wonderfully! They also have premade bouquets.

Rose Petals for table decor: Fresh Petals (delivery)
www.freshrosepetals.com
Grade: A
Delivered on time in a cooled package and fresh. The petals really added to the table, which already had candelabras provided by the Wax, without having to spend the money on individual arrangements.

Cake: Kupcake Factory
www.thekupcakefactory.com
Grade: B
I wasn't planning on having a cupcake cake until I randomly wandered into their French Quarter location while visiting the cathedral, and after trying just one Red Velvet made the decision right then and there. These are the best cupcakes I've ever had. We chose six different flavors of mini cupcakes (plus two large cupcakes decorated with our initials) as our "cake." They have about 30 flavors to choose from - the frostings are SO good (and I usually hate frosting!). They delilvered along with a stand and set them up the day of. No issues, although they scared me a couple times when I called to make payments and it seemed as though they couldn't find my order!  They always found it and we had no issues come wedding day. Also, I did add a small cake for a top cake to keep and decided to cancel it - when I called back, they hadn't put in a note regarding the cake at all - good thing I cancelled!  So a little disorganized on their part, but it worked out okay. I'd recommend them, but just triple confirm everything - the cupcakes are worth it!Just a note, their building changed ownership, so as of late March, they didn't have a FQ location but they said they were searchign for a new shop. They still have three other sites, but not in the FQ.

Reception Band: Starz Band
www.starzband.com
Grade: D
I was pretty disappointed in the band. This was the part I was most excited about but it wound up just being ok. They're musically talented, no doubt, but they seemed to play too many slow songs. The floor was never really hopping as I'd hoped. Plus, in my opinion, they were a little unprofessional about the cashier's check situaiton. We didn't realize I didn't have the checks until after the ceremony so right before the reception started. They absolutely refused to play until they were paid - they would not introduce us so we could eat while a CD played or even play for a half-hour or so while my brother ran out and got a cashier's check. We were trying to figure out what to do when all of a sudden they started playing our intro music without telling us. My husband and I quickly RAN up the stairs - he fell and twisted his knee  which is still painful to this day - to get in while the music was still playing. It was completely my fault - I can't believe I forgot the danged checks! - but they could have handled it better as all the other vendors did.

Second-Line Band: Treme
www.whiteoakproductions.com
Grade: A
What can you say about Treme - they're famous and they're great. They're more expensive than other bands but after my first group cancelled, I just wanted dependability! They showed up way ahead of schedule and just hung out downstairs, shooting the breeze with guests who'd headed down for a smoke. Apparently they're very entertaining according to my friends - they had people cracking up! They did a fantastic job during the second line down Bourbon and got my 80 year old great aunt to break a sweat in front of Pat O's which was awesome!

Post-Reception Party: Pat O'Briens
www.patobriens.com
Grade: A
Pat O's is always a good time and the weather cooperated so well - what a beautiful night to be in their beautiful courtyard. We second lined to Pat Os and everyone got in without issue. There was luckily plenty of room and we secured a little section of the courtyard in no time. It was the perfect spot for the afterparty - some people hung out there all night, and for others in NOLA for the first time, it was a great jumping off point to hang out on Bourbon after saying their goodbyes.

Hotel Block: Holiday Inn Chateau LeMoyne
Grade: B-
It's hard to give them a bad grade because they very sweetly upgraded us to the honeymoon suite for our four day trip there! But there were issues with the hotel block and it closed before they said it would, leaving some people without a room. Then one of my bridesmaid's reservation was lost. But aside from that they were great, lol! It was a very very busy weekend in NOLA (St. Patty's Day) so all the hotels were sold out so this may have just been a bad weekend. The location was PERFECT for the Wax Museum, only a block away.

Spa Day: La Riveria
www.larivierasalonandspa.com
Grade: A
I loved this place! If you have a group of girls with services totalling $300 or more, they will pick you up and drive you to the salon in a stretch limo, with champagne and mimosas at the salon. The driver/butler, JR, was so sweet! He took great care of us, even going to pick up a sandwich platter for us. The salon is beautiful and about 15-20 minutes from the Quarter. It wasn't the BEST mani/pedi I've received but it was a great time for all my girls and the mothers and they really do have great customer service.

Favors: Leah's Pralines
Grade: A
www.leahspralines.com
We had mini-pralines (or "pralettes") as our wedding favors. They're cheap, only sixty cents a piece and ordering was a breeze, although you have to do it over the phone - not online. Her store is in the Quarter so I just swung by on Friday and picked them up. They were smaller than I anticipated but tasted good.!

Rehearsal Dinner: Crescent City Brewhouse
www.crescentcitybrewhouse.com
Grade: B
They were a little rigid when it came time to make a reservation (they wouldn't let us come in after 6) and when we got there, they had the 25 of us split up into 4 tables in the back area. I really didn't like that - I wanted to sit with everyone! - so we changed the tables into an "H" formation that worked. They didn't seem to approve but went with the flow of everything. Service was okay, and the food was pretty good. Our tables were ready on time so other than the little snafus, I'd recommend them. There was a jazz band playing during dinner, so that added some nice ambience. They have traditional Cajun fare but also "normal" dishes too - since most guests weren't used to Cajun food and since we were having Cajun cuisine at the wedding the next night, I wanted both offerings. Just note, because they are a brewhouse, they don't offer any beers but their own.

Makeup: Wink Makeup Salon
www.facebook.com/winkeyelashbar
Grade: B
I wasn't planning on getting my makeup done but a Groupon for Wink! came through so I picked it up. I'm really glad I did - although I felt like I was wearing a lot of makeup (I usually wear none) the candid pics I've seen came out well and everyone said it looked really good (I just always feel awkward in makeup). There was a snafu with timing - we had appointments at 11, 12 and 1 but she was running late. We left to go get some Cokes and when we came back at 11:15, she was there but had another appointment in her chair. I think there was an issue because my mom, whose appointment was at 11, had lost her phone and hte salon hadn't been able to confirm her appointment the day before as they had ours. But she got to us around 11:45 and had us out the door at 2, so we did get back on schedule but I was stressing a little about time. I think she did a great job and knows what will look good in wedding photography.

Good luck with your planning!]]> need inexpensive yet good caterer https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/761152/need-inexpensive-yet-good-caterer Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:12:45 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans Laurahayesau 761152@/discussions We are looking at Third World Nola, aka Woodie the taco fish guy.  Anyone used him?

Thanks.]]> Merideth reed or other wedding coordinators? https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/762442/merideth-reed-or-other-wedding-coordinators Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:25:22 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans alonzojess 762442@/discussions Wedding Venues: What does "availability on 2nd option" mean? https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/759837/wedding-venues-what-does-availability-on-2nd-option-mean Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:49:03 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans CharlieChanel 759837@/discussions Hi!

Can someone please confirm to me what "availability on 2nd option" means?

A number of reception venues we are looking at have told us our preferred date is "available on 2nd option" - what does this mean?

Does this mean that we can only have it if someone else cancels?
Does this mean that we will have to share the venue?
Or something else?

Thanking you kindly! :0)]]> The Love Judge KK Norman https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/761149/the-love-judge-kk-norman Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:49:35 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans NOLAbridealmost 761149@/discussions
Has anyone used Judge KK Norman for their ceremony?  How was your experience with her?  In particular, has anyone hired her to do a ceremony outside of the courthouse?

Thanks! 
]]> do I need a wedding planner? https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/759694/do-i-need-a-wedding-planner Tue, 02 Nov 2010 01:49:54 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans aniadenver 759694@/discussions I am not sure where to start.... I was thinking about getting help from a local wedding planner.
What do you guys think? Anyone planed their wedding being out of town by herself? Any ideas? How much wedding planner even cost?

Thanks for all the help!!!!
]]> wedding planner/coordinator - do you know any of these ladies? https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/759949/wedding-planner-coordinator-do-you-know-any-of-these-ladies Thu, 03 Feb 2011 01:20:46 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans chzhead24 759949@/discussions
(1) Nikki from 318 Designs By Nicole
(2) Aimee Barousse with Plan B Productions
(3) Susan Johnson from Classic Wedding By Susan

If anyone has any insight, I would greatly appreciate it!  Thanks!
]]> Wedding planner https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/759748/wedding-planner Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:30:16 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans RNinNola 759748@/discussions Whose Attending? https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/760249/whose-attending Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:18:46 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans jessnwill4ever 760249@/discussions Wedding in the City Workshop]]> Questions for Prospective Coordinators https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/759935/questions-for-prospective-coordinators Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:59:51 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans NO2012 759935@/discussions NOLA summer heat wedding attire??? https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/761411/nola-summer-heat-wedding-attire Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:15:36 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans lgordy 761411@/discussions caterer https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/761686/caterer Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:50:03 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans Kate504 761686@/discussions
Thanks!
]]> Pro Pics from my wedding vow renewal https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/761792/pro-pics-from-my-wedding-vow-renewal Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:05:08 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans ChocolateDelight 761792@/discussions
Sorry for this long overdue recap post but better late than never.  I used to live in New Orleans, but I now reside in the Dallas- Fort Worth metro area.   Our wedding vow renewal was little over a month ago on November 27, 2010.   Although my event was not in New Orleans, I incorporated alot of New Orleans traditions and things into it.   Simply put, it was truly everything I could have EVER hoped for.  As a matter of fact,  I got the idea for the "Who Dat' cake from this board.

Posted below are some pro pictures from our wonderful wedding photographer's blog:

Getting Ready Pictures
www.lynninlovephotoblog.com/2010/12/shiri-emmanuel-dallas-wedding-photographer-part-i/">http://www.lynninlovephotoblog.com/2010/12/shiri-emmanuel-dallas-wedding-photographer-part-i/

Ceremony Pictures
www.lynninlovephotoblog.com/2010/12/shiri-emmanuel-dallas-wedding-photographer-%e2%80%93-part-ii/">http://www.lynninlovephotoblog.com/2010/12/shiri-emmanuel-dallas-wedding-photographer-%e2%80%93-part-ii/

Reception Pictures
http://www.lynninlovephotoblog.com/2010/12/shiri-emmanuel-dallas-wedding-photographer-part-iii/

Thanks to this board for serving as inspiration for many of my ideas.

For those of you who want to see all of the pictures, knock yourself out and shift through the loads of pictures below:

You can find them all here:

http://lynninlove.smugmug.com/ShiriEmmanuelWedding

Password:  Ndang 

Broken up into:

Details:  http://lynninlove.smugmug.com/ShiriEmmanuelWedding/Details


Getting Ready:  http://lynninlove.smugmug.com/ShiriEmmanuelWedding/GettingReady


Ceremony:  http://lynninlove.smugmug.com/ShiriEmmanuelWedding/Ceremony


Formals:  http://lynninlove.smugmug.com/ShiriEmmanuelWedding/Formals


Reception:  http://lynninlove.smugmug.com/ShiriEmmanuelWedding/Reception 


Good luck and happy planning to all those of you in with upcoming events in 2011 and beyond!!!
 ]]> Favors https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/760077/favors Sun, 20 Feb 2011 22:52:20 +0000 Louisiana-New Orleans MaggieB83 760077@/discussions