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Louisiana-New Orleans

New here and need some help getting started

We were originally going to get married on a beach in DR but we've gotten a lot of feedback from family and friends that even though they don't mind travelling apparently they're all really put off by international travel.  My finace and I have our heart set on A- a destination wedding and B- a party type atmosphere so after a lot of discussion, we've decided on New Orleans.

I spent all weekend going over old posts, so now I have a few quetiosn that will help me narrow down our date and time (we want May 11th but I'm flexible if a great venue or church isn't available on that day).

Besides the obvious hotels with courtyards, does anyone have suggestions for a non-hotel courtyard, where we could have both ceremony and reception?

If not a courtyard, are there any non-catholic churches in the French Quarter because what I've read is that you have to be Catholic to get married in the Cathedral, right?

Do you think a 2nd line is better in the dark? after the ceremony or after the reception?  We wont be having an after party or anything.

Thanks girls!

Re: New here and need some help getting started

  • Yeah hotels definitely come to mind, I think of the Maison Dupuy and Royal Sonesta off the top of my head.  I think the House of Blues might have a courtyard.  Rosy's Jazz Hall has a courtyard but it is not in the French Quarter.

    If you don't absolutely have your heart set on a courtyard, the Natchez steamboat does a great job and can take care of everything for you so you won't be trying to deal with a lot of vendors from long distance, and might be worth considering.  They're very flexible and budget friendly.
    Whoever said it was supposed to be happily ever after is a big fat liar.
  • Broussard's has a nice courtyard.
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  • Brennans has a nice courtyard and so does the Court of Two Sisters. If you want something outside, there is Louisiana Castle but its about an hour away from the city (i think). 

    Yes, you have to be Catholic to get married in the Cathedral or any of the Catholic churches here. There are other pretty churches here though that arent Catholic. I am not sure of the ones near the FQ. 

    A 2nd line is fun anytime of the day in my opinion. I would do it after the ceremony. If you wait til after the reception, some guests might have already left or had too much to drink. 
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  • louisianabluelouisianablue member
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Comments 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited May 2012
    Cafe Amelie, Hermann Grima House, Degas House, Petite Bourbon, The Pharmacy Museum, Race & Religious, Board of Trade all have courtyards.

    I had my second line after my reception, because I had my ceremony and reception in the same place.  We went to an after party at Petite Bourbon.
  • If you aren't tied to the French Quarter  - you might want to consider The Elms in the Garden District (we're getting married there in November).  They have a great outdoor courtyard with lots of room for a band, dancing, etc.  We're going to 2nd line around the venue (which doesn't need a permit or police escort because you won't be on the street).

    Cafe Amelie also has a lovely courtyard or you could look into Audubon Tea Room or Club for an outdoor/indoor wedding...


    dml
  • RYLZRYLZ member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments
    For a non-Catholic church in the FQ, we got married at St. Mark's United Methodist on North Rampart.  Rev. Dinwiddie is wonderful!  The church is very pretty, though nowhere near as ornate as the Cathedral but a beautiful setting that can hold up to 120 people.
  • We are doing the Audubon Clubhouse, it is in the Garden District and you can even rent a trolley to bring your guest up town.
  • We used the Benachi House, it's a few minutes outside of the quarter, very lovely courtyard. Second lined around the neighborhood after the ceremony.
  • I second the Audubon - the Tea Room's outdoor space is AMAZING!
  • This is such agreat help.  I'm going to contact a few of these places.  And so good to know there is a church as an option for us. Thanks!
  • Southern Oaks Plantation is awesome, Brenda Sison Photography is amazing, Bella Blooms florist!
  • We are having our wedding and reception at the Board of Trade. Leah their director has been great. and its only 3 blocks outside the quarter.  good luck!
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  • Bezlu I think you saved the wedding with the church info lol. Who knew my parents cared so much about a church wedding! I looked up the location on a map and the church seems so far from everything for the 2nd line. I like the look of the Board of trade but I think it may be too far. The Beauregard Keyes house seems a decent distance. How many blocks is too much for a 2nd line?
  • I did my second line from the Board of Trade to Petite Bourbon, but I can see how it might be too long for some of your guests.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_louisiana-new-orleans_new-here-and-need-some-help-getting-started?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:84Discussion:99b5f6d0-72e5-49fc-8114-662dc2af6ea6Post:d96f965d-6d08-4270-ab12-fc0fc790423a">Re: New here and need some help getting started</a>:
    [QUOTE]I did my second line from the Board of Trade to Petite Bourbon, but I can see how it might be too long for some of your guests.
    Posted by louisianablue[/QUOTE]



    Im really interested in the Board of Trade. How far a walk was it to Petite Bourbon? Not sure where they are in relation to each other.
  • I just counted and it was 10 blocks. Petite Bourbon is at Bourbon and Toulouse.  Some of my guests opted out because of the distance, but everyone else had a blast.  In hindsight, I should have mentioned it on my wedding website, but I wanted it to be a surprise.
  • Just a thought too, you can also do your Second Line at the END of your reception too! Your guests are a bit more likely to participate and enjoy it after they have a few cocktails in them.
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