New to NOLA...just getting started with the planning

lauran77

Good day Knotties!

My fiance and I recently moved to NOLA (love this city!) and bought a new home.  We're settling in well and I think its time to start planning for the wedding.  Buying the house drained all of our respective finances and our parents aren't in any position to help.  We're looking to do something small (~50 ppl) and memorable. Ideally we'll have ceremony and reception at the same location.  I've still got to work out what the actual budget will be and when we want this to happen. 

I'm literally just getting started so if there are any brides or brides-to-be with some helpful advice, I'm all ears.  Thanks in advance for your input.

-L

hughe046

Hey there!!  I have been lurking on your post since you posted it, I think everyone is just overwhelmed to respond- because there are SO many options!
I guess first things first- you will need to find a venue to house both your ceremony and reception, cutting costs.  This venue should also allow you to bring in outside catering (since in house usually means it is restaurant, and then it starts getting expensive).  Here are some suggestions to get you started: The Museum of Pharmacy (sounds crazy, I know, but it is cheap and gorgeous courtyard), you could get married in Jackson Square Park and then walk to a restaurant for your group (Broussards?) or perhaps the Board of Trade (may be too big)...just scroll through the past pages of this board (the Search never works right) and find any posts about vendors, final reviews or locations.

As far as beer and wine (or if you do a daytime thing, it will cut the costs all the way around and you can serve something like mimosas!), buy it cheap and find out of the return policy of any unopened bottles of wine.  Sam's is a great resource for cheaper bottles, but I am sure the girls on this board know a better place.

You have the best resource for invitations on the planet with Gem Printing in New Orleans, we are having our "destination" wedding there (we live in Birmingham, AL), but we flew to NOLA simply to use Gem.  I was quoted over $900 everywhere else, and this Board recommended the trip to Gem- so worth it.

Use Etsy and Ebay.  It will be the best resource for all things handmade and cheaper than the stores. 

If I had known what I know now...I know, some people cringe when I say this, but I would have shopped oncewed.com or preownedwedding(?) for my dress- yes they have never been worn dresses, or dresses that were worn for a few hours, saving you thousands.  Or, my more recent find, check out the Attire and Accessories board on here (left hand side, Wedding Boards, first one there!)- there are SO MANY girls that are switching dresses and are selling there new, with tags, dresses for a fraction of the price. 

If your event needs chairs, I am working with youreventdelivered.com, they are so easy and so helpful, our planner recommended them.  There are plenty of budget friendly photogs here in town that do incredible work- you will find 100's of recs on here, it just depends on your style. 

I had some sticker shock when doing this wedding (who knew veils were that much?!  Photographers?!), but as each vendor/issue arises, post and the people on this Board have a TON of ideas for you. 

I guess your first plan of actions should be a date, and a venue!  Then some save the dates!  Then dress, florist, music (how fun would a jazz trio or quartet be for a 50 person gathering?)...please keep us updated- welcome to NOLA and the Board!

caramia1500

We had a wedding for 40 at Brossard's in the French Quarter.  Ceremony and cocktail reception in the gorgeous courtyard and dinner reception in the small banquet room.  It was gorgeous, very memorable with a New Orlean's flair and couldn't have been more perfect for us.  All our guests have been commenting for months that ours was the best wedding they'd been ever been to. First huge money saver: we got married on a Friday night, off season, which saved us a ton of money at hotels, Broussard's and with the band and photographer.  I hired a jazz trio (Dr. Jazz) for 2 hours for the ceremony and cocktail reception who then also did the Second Line parade which saved me money (the Second Line was so worth the splurge!) I shopped around a lot on Etsy, had a friend make my dress, made my own favors, placecards, programs, cut WAY, WAY back on flowers, got a very simple cake,  hired the photographer at an hourly rate and made my own albums and prints with Mpix.com and Snapfish, and believe it or not, hired a "day of" wedding coordinator (Emily from Get Polished) who really ended up saving me more money than she initially charged me.  Look into it, she can really help you with your budget and steering you in the right direction as far as vendors go.  She was the best decision...and she also includes fabulous hair and make-up service for the bride (free for the bride) and her party with her package.  My wedding cost approx $15,000...with EVERYTHING from the food and alcohol down to the stamps for my invitations.  I'm sure you could go cheaper than that, but you can't beat the food, service, ambiance and location of Broussard's..and we had an open bar with premium liquor.  Our out of town guests loved every minute of the wedding.  Go to www.michaelcaswell.com to his Nov. 09 blog for pictures. Feel free to contact me if you have any quetions about any vendors I used.

I do also have another great recommendation for hair and makeup services (Danielle from Kiss and Makeup) if you're interested.  She will come out for small parties, where some on location beauty services require a minimum of 4 people. 

The things you should absolutely NEVER skimp on are:

1) A good wedding photographer for at least 4 hours..and in NOLA there are so many really talented people. Some will work with your budget (espcially if you are not getting married on a Saturday).  Some will give you a discount if you don't buy the package (i.e engagment photos, bridals, albums). Michael Caswell, Zoeica Images, Eau Claire...even Studio Tran.
2) The food and alcohol...come on, it's New Orleans!
3)Yourself..splurge and pay the $150 for the airbrushed makeup and hair.  You will look and feel stunning and your photos will be gorgeous.
4) The Second Line Parade!  Come on...it's NOLA!  Trust me...worth. every. penny. of the extra $700 - $800 (if you have under 50 guests, you only need two cops instead of three at $100 each).  That alone will make your day really memorable for your guests.

Good luck and happy planning!

smileitskarli05

You might be able to avoid any and all fees doing a small ceremony outside in audubon park and a picnic reception!  -Providing your own food and alcohol and decor/chairs- but it'd be a ton cheaper than going the traditional venue route and it could be really nice!  I think you only need permits from groups over 50.

kapkap113

Hi Cara -
First of all, your pictures are amazing!!! Exactly what I am lookinmg for, but, I am having issues having a reception for 50 ppl. Broussard's said we'd have to move inside and have a seated dinner after the ceremony/cocktail hour which means no reception style dancing! How was your seated dinner? Did you all go out afterwards? Were you able to stay in the room for drinks after dinner? I'd be intersted to know how the dinner went. I want to make sure it feels like a party! The ceremony looks amazing!