New Orleans Venue for ceremony and reception

bnstarr

Hello!

I'm newly engaged and my fiance and I are planning a New Orleans wedding (he's from there but we both live in DC).  We're planning on having 100 guests at our wedding but would like to have the venue serve as both a place for a ceremony and the reception and preferably outside.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I'm not familiar with the area.

Thanks! 

Brittany

meganb1977

Are you interested in the French Quarter or more of a park-type location?

If you're interested in a park, you'll probably want Audubon Nature Institute or City Park, which have several options for your ceremony and reception.

There are many nice hotels in and near the French Quarter with banquet facilities and courtyards.  The Royal Sonesta and Maison Dupuy come right to mind if you want to be right in the Quarter with a courtyard.  Both of the steamboats also host weddings with ceremonies on the deck, although the private banquet room on the Natchez is a bit small for 100 people so you might be more interested in the Creole Queen.

nola2006

The Audubon Golf Club is perfect size for 100, and it has a wrap-around porch, and you can get married under the oaks outside. In the Quarter, look at the Omni Royal Orleans Garden Terrace - it's a good indoor/outdoor space for 100-125.

LOLways

The Omni Royal has a pretty garden terrace that can probably fit 100 comfortably. Its reception options are also very nice. I'm having my reception there and the food is yummy.

NO2012

Depending on your budget....Latrobe's for on the higher end and Wax Museum for more budget friendly. Those were my two final choices and they are both lovely, have a very NO feel (in French Quarter), and can accommodate ceremony & reception for that size. Just re-read your post...these are indoor venues, not outdoors, (sorry) but worth considering if you go in that direction. Good luck and congrats on your engagement!! This is a great board when planning from afar btw.

max&lucy

I would try the Elms Mansion - it has a lovely setting with gazebo for an outdoor wedding ceremony and the house is stunning. I almost booked it but we opted for a plantation a bit outside of the city instead.

http://www.elmsmansion.com/

bnstarr

Our budget is about $20,000.  Thanks for everyones help, I have a few leads to go off of now! 

a80Lady

We decided on Southern Oaks, it is gorgeous. They have the option for an outside ceremony and then an inside reception.

http://www.southernoaksplantation.com/

Queen Jane

We used the Benachi House, and I loved it. Our budget was around the same.

cmwinbush

My budget is about the same and we're going with The Balcony, it's in Metairie, LA, maybe 10 minutes outside the city, still very close to everything. They are inclusive of just about everything; ceremony, catering, DJ and cake. Lots of nice things that are not upgrades like other venues it already comes with the package, like carving station, chocolate fountain, pasta station. They're food and service are wonderful. I've attended events there and was pleased every time. The management is also very welcoming. I feel very confident that things will go seamlessly. Check them out.

Amanda4885R

I was looking for the same thing and got married at the Elms Mansion on October 23, 2011. The Elms has a 100 person minimum for Friday and Sunday and 150 for Saturdays. As we were from out of town, we opted for the Sunday evening wedding and got married outside in the garden and had the reception outside there as well. Judy is amazing at the Elms, I had people designated to arrive early and set up some decorations and her and her staff had everything already done before the arrived. I chose vendors who had previously done weddings there before (Michael Caswell-photographer, After 8 - band, Christina O'Malley-florist, Flour Power - cake) and everything went unbelievably smooth and our guests can't stop talking about what a great evening it all was.

NOLAbridealmost

We used Audubon Golf Club. I have pics in my planning bio.  We had a similar budget and guest list.

I can't recommend it more highly. Everything was perfect.

Jaymemier

Hey I suggest you to check out www.fleurdeliseventcenter.com It is right across the lake from New Orleans so there's no parking issues or many issues that come with the city. But you still get the feel of New Orleans. It has the courtyard that you can have the ceremony in or you can have it inside. Inside for the reception your under the "Starlit" celing and it truly feels like bringing  the outside new orleans in!