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Tag: Louisiana wedding ideas

I adore seeing couples who really have a blast on their wedding days! When your bridesmaids are laughing in matching heart-shaped sunglasses and you’re dancing your way into the first few minutes of married life with a second line, followed by excited guests waving hankies, it’s no wonder that it looks like Katie and Tim grinned from ear to ear all day long. While weddings can be stressful, they are ultimately happy occasions, and Katie and Tim certainly seem to have had an incredible time on their special day!

Thanks to Glass Jar Photography for capturing their fun celebration!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: I loved the way all of the colors came together. My mom made bracelets for the bridesmaids that matched the groomsmen’s ties perfectly. I also had everyone wear heart-shaped sunglasses in the same coral colors as the dresses–it was so much fun!

I knew I wanted Vera Wang dress. Being a fashion designer, I’ve been admiring her style and interesting fabric and detail combinations for years! I went to one bridal salon, Big Rock Bridal in Columbus, and tried on about 15 dresses. The sample they had for the one I ended up getting was really worn and about 10 sizes too big, but I knew I loved it!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? We wanted to have everything outside. We love the charm and character of the French Quarter and wanted all of our guests to experience it as well! We felt that the lush gardens provided a great ambiance, without us having to pay for a lot of extra decor.

We had a second line with an amazing brass band, Kinfolk. Most of our guests were from up north or the East and West Coasts, so they had never experienced anything like it before! We also included Zapp’s potato chips and Mardi Gras beads in our favor bags.

What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Our wedding planner, Sarah Worsley of Mint Julep Productions! Sarah was amazing and totally understood the vibe we were going for. She helped pick out almost all of our vendors, and they all hit it out of the park. She is a native of New Orleans and taught us so much about Southern weddings. We would have been lost without her!

I was really inspired by the idea of an overgrown wild garden. I knew I wanted our flowers to have an eclectic feel with bright pops of color, and I wanted them to emulate the fun vibe of the South. I was thrilled with how the florist took my inspiration and created such beautiful arrangements!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I walked down the aisle to “La Vie en Rose,” played by a brass band. It felt very romantic and New Orleans. The seven-person band, Groovy 7, did all live music at the reception–we knew we could not have a wedding in New Orleans without live music! Out first dance was to “At Last” by Etta James. We wanted something classic, and it’s one of my favorite songs. We did our father-daugher and mother-son dance together to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. My good friend, Liz, shared my MySpace page with Tim while I was preparing for my move to NYC. Tim was intrigued, and we met in New York two months later in fall 2006. We were friends for four years before starting to date, and we have been together for five years.
Tell us all about the proposal! Tim planned a romantic weekend in Cinncinati, Ohio for us in March 2014. When we arrived at the hotel, I read the note on the dresser next to the flowers. It said “Occasion: engaged,” so I knew what was up before actually getting proposed to! We hung out around town, and I waited all day for Tim to propose. Right before dinner in our hotel room, he finally popped the question! I cried with joy, even though I knew it was coming, and we celebrated with a late dinner and drinks.
When did y’all get married? April 17, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 120
Describe your wedding cake and dessert. Since I wanted the colors of the flowers to flow throughout the venue, I knew I wanted real flowers on the cake. To keep it from looking too overwhelming and taking away from the beauty, I chose simple, off-white frosting, and let the flowers be the focus. My husband cannot eat gluten, so the top tier was gluten-free. The inside of the cake had a layer of white almond wedding cake with wild strawberry buttercream. We also had strawberry and vanilla macarons covered in gold glitter, traditional New Orleans croquembouche, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a bananas foster station! We loved the drama of lighting the dessert on fire.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I did! My dress was new, my underwear was blue, and I borrowed Tim’s great-grandmother’s Claddagh rings.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? My biggest challenge was following my instincts and taking everything people said with a grain of salt. Everyone has advice, but in the end, you need to be true to your own style and spirit.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $50,000-$75,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Our food was buffet-style, and we did not have assigned seating, so we did not have to spend money on escort cards. We had the reception at a restaurant, Broussard’s, so we were able to use their tables, plates, tablecloths, and chairs, instead of renting our own. We also picked a venue that was outside and had a beautiful garden, so we did not have to go overboard with flowers.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We love to travel and went on our honeymoon to Thailand. Hopefully, there are more exotic trips in the future. We also just adopted a puppy on our one-month wedding anniversary, and her name is Nola (short for New Orleans!). We are enjoying being puppy parents! We are also starting to look for a home to buy in Columbus!

Photographer: Glass Jar Photography / Planner: Sarah Worsley of Mint Julep Productions / Ceremony Venue: Hermann-Grima House / Reception Venue and Caterer: Broussard’s / Florist: Arbor House / Baker: Melissa’s Fine Pastries / Band: Groovy 7 and Kinfolk Brass Band / Paper Products: Hartland Brooklyn / Bride’s Gown: Vera Wang / Bride’s Jewelry: BHLDN / Hair and Makeup: Flawless Bride / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses and Menswear: J. Crew / Groom’s Shoes: Allen Edmond’s Shoes / Ties: Stag Handmade / Gift Bags: Map Tote / Signage: Small Chalk / Wedding Map and Guest Book: Cedar Workshop / Bride’s Heart-Shaped Glasses: Shadey Rose / Custom Koozies: Christine Meahan

marissa Written with love by Marissa
5 Comments
  1. avatar Yours Truly Wedding Albums reply

    Breathtaking images! What a gorgeous wedding!

  2. avatar Lindsay Colvin reply

    Her dress is so unique, love the back!

  3. avatar Connie Cutting-Champine reply

    Katie and Tims wedding was beautiful. It was a fun, elegant, sophisticated wedding. It was a wonderful and exciting time. People in town lined the streets as we danced down them waving.

  4. avatar Wedding Photographer Cebu reply

    That is just gorgeous. Love the theme.

  5. avatar Wedding DJ reply

    One of my favorite weddings to DJ was in the Big Easy. This total brought me back! Cafe du Monde would have topped it off. :) Thanks for sharing

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Psst… have you voted in the championship round of Mason-Dixon Madness yet? We’re revealing the winner later today!

Based on your survey feedback, we know that most of you prefer real weddings over styled shoots. And I have to say, I’m with you for the most part – especially because I see piles of submissions every week that are just so clearly not a fit for what we’re about. But I’m not ready to give up on inspirational editorials completely, because I still think, when done right, they can be both useful and, yep, inspiring. We don’t want or expect you to replicate every element from every shoot – but I do believe that every shoot has at least one takeaway for almost every couple.

Maybe one will introduce you to a vendor that perfectly clicks with your style. Maybe one will show you a new way to tie your bouquet or a clever idea for numbering your tables. Maybe you’ll spot your dream dress in one, or the perfect bow tie for your groom. Or, like me, maybe you love editorials because they introduce you to a part of the South you’re not familiar with – like this one, which takes us into the orange groves of Louisiana. I didn’t even know there were such things, but I’m so glad Blue Ribbon Vendor Sarah Becker Photo has shown me!

From the event planner and stylist, Brooke: Belle Chasse, Louisiana is the epitome of a small town! Everyone knows one another, stores are family-owned and you won’t find any tall buildings blocking your view of the sunset. Born and raised here, I’ve always admired the beauty of this small town, particularly the orange groves that blossom along the main road. As I began designing weddings, I knew I would jump at the chance to showcase this area! Then enters Sarah Becker Lillard. Sarah’s bubbly personality and enthusiasm at the idea of the orange grove shoot gave me the little push I needed to say “Let’s make this thing happen.” After meeting with Sarah to brainstorm on ideas for the shoot, the rest of the vendor team seemed like such an obvious choice.

I have admired Poppy & Mint since the first day I saw Destiny’s work. Julia, owner and event designer at Mrs. Vintage, fit the mold perfectly when I was looking for the props for the shoot. Her farm table, whiskey barrel and wooden crates were a clear part of my vision since Day 1. Her vintage sugar mold was the perfect piece to complete the main floral design!

Amanda, Hattiesburg-native and owner of Fine Print Calligraphy, adds a Southern touch to many of her designs. I knew she would design something that captivated the essence of the orange groves in Southern Louisiana. Amanda created custom ink colors for the calligraphy on the envelopes as well as the watercolor for the menu and invitation that gave the shoot that personal touch.

My favorite part of the shoot has to be the modeling debut of my two pups, Jake and Levi. It is amazing what a few pieces of ham as bribery can do.

Event Planner: Southern Charm Weddings | Photographer: Sarah Becker Photo | Floral Designer: Poppy & Mint | Stationery: Fine Print Calligraphy | Bridal Salon: Wedding Belles | Hair & Makeup: Chelsea Adam with Breck & Co. | Vintage Rentals: Mrs. Vintage | Cake Designer: The Sweet Life Bakery | Groom’s Suit: John’s Tuxedos | Chairs, Plates, and Flatware: Event Rental | Orange Groves: Saxon-Becnel & Sons |

Sarah Becker Photo and Mrs. Vintage are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

emily Written with love by Emily
21 Comments
  1. avatar Lisa reply

    The oranges in the bouquet are such a great detail!

  2. avatar Nicole reply

    That cake! Talk about gorgeous — this shoot is like my heaven.

  3. avatar Julia Hohne reply

    Hooray!! So excited to be featured, this shoot was so beautiful! Congrats to all the vendors involved!

  4. avatar Sarah Becker Lillard reply

    YIPPEEE! SO proud of all the amazing vendors involved in this shoot – definitely my favorite to date! Thank y’all so much for sharing it with the world! Who woulda thunk there are acres and acres of orange groves just 20 minutes south of New Orleans?!

  5. avatar Mary reply

    I love this shoot so much! The ribbon on the bouquet! The dress! The cake! The NAPKINS! The menu!

  6. avatar Carolyn reply

    SO lovely! I am literally drooling over that cake! and bouquet! and the pups! Beautiful work Sarah!

  7. avatar Brooke Casey reply

    Oh my goodness! So honored to be featured on Southern Weddings!! The pictures are lovely and all of the vendors did a wonderful job! Yay us!!

  8. avatar Inna Olimpiyuk reply

    The Bride’s Bouquet is simply Stunning and Wedding Cake is very Beautiful! Love this shoot!

  9. avatar Wedding Rentals Supplies reply

    Truly inspiring! Loved this beautiful wedding theme.

  10. avatar Sarah Becker Photography | Orange Grove Shoot | New Orleans Wedding Photography reply

    […] I am still on top of the world from this Orange Grove styled shoot being featured on Southern Weddings yesterday! This has been my absolute favorite wedding blog for years, and as my brides know I give […]

  11. avatar lisa freeman reply

    I’m drooling over this shoot right now. All the special touches add up to a big wow! Love the invitations by Fine Print Calligraphy.

  12. avatar Ashley Minck reply

    This wedding is everything I dream of and more!

  13. avatar Stephanie reply

    This is a beautiful shoot and is close to my heart because I am born and raised in Plaquemines Parish. The stand that they are pictured in front of is actually my grandparents house not Saxons but Saxon’s brother Hewitt. It makes me happy to see my family and our farms displayed so beautifully. Thanks for the shout out to the citrus farmers and the inspiration for my possible future wedding.

  14. avatar Abi Losli reply

    I just can’t stop smiling about this shoot! So bright, happy, and whimsical. And those pups! Just adorable. Thanks for once again providing the perfect little pop of inspiration to get me going with my day.

  15. avatar EJ reply

    How lovely – adore this colour scheme. x

  16. avatar Friday Faves | 2 Bees in a Pod reply

    […] Outdoor Dining […]

  17. avatar Current Crush: Kumquats – Elizabeth Anne Designs: The Wedding Blog reply

    […] Pretty | 8 -hand-drawn wedding menu from Fine Print Calligraphy, image by Sarah Becker Photo via Southern Weddings | 9 – fresh citrus centerpiece by The Floral Lab, image by Jessica Claire Photography via […]

  18. avatar Alisha reply

    Where are the beautiful blue and white napkins from??

  19. avatar Agrumi per un matrimonio invernale reply

    […] Bouquet: Kate Osborne via Snippet & Ink // Jane in the Woods // Addie Eshelman Photography via Storyboard Wedding Centrotavola: Ben Sasso via Style Me Pretty // Belathée via Snippet & Ink // Mandi Nelson Segnaposto: Lavender & Twine Photography via 100 Layer Cake // Melissa Jill Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs // Collin Hughes via Snippet & Ink Favors: Ben Sasso via Style Me Pretty // Brett Heidebrecht via Elizabeth Anne Designs // Rebecca Arthurs via Style Me Pretty Torte: Stephanie Williams via 100 Layer Cake // Our Labor of Love by Heidi via Ruffled // Sarah Becker Photo via Southern Weddings […]

  20. avatar Beautiful and Bright Citrus Wedding Ideas -Beau-coup Blog reply

    […] (image credit: Confettidaydreams, Southernweddings) […]

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Suzanne + Keith’s reception at the Wolff Ballroom took place in one of the oldest communities in the South, Washington, Louisiana! The soft lighting against the brick walls and wooden beams created an atmosphere of Southern hospitality, which was only helped by the sight of S + K’s four-tiered wedding cake, decorated with magnolias and the blue hydrangea centerpieces. Guests partied the night away to the band, Louisiana Red, which the newlyweds credit as their favorite detail. True to tradition, the couple also had a money dance at the reception before making their getaway and continuing their journey to their honeymoon. Now, they’re looking forward to their bright future with their new furry companion, Coteau, a shelter dog they adopted and named after the town they were married in! Thanks again to Ali Harper for sharing this wedding!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our band, Louisiana Red. The reception was so much fun!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Magnolias were in my bouquet and accented the wedding cake. An old time trolley transported the wedding party from St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church to the reception site at Wolff Ballroom. Both beautiful buildings were built in the 1800’s. Wolff Ballroom is in Washington, Louisiana, which is ranked one of the oldest communities in the South. We had the traditional Southern “money dance” where the bride and groom dance with guests and have money pinned on their wedding dress and tuxedo. Our rehearsal dinner was in the courtyard area of my aunt’s beautiful antebellum home in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, which was also built in the 1800’s and is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Describe your wedding cake: It was a four-tiered traditional wedding cake with accents of magnolias on three tiers. It had buttermilk frosting and different fillings on each tier of pecan, chocolate and cream cheese.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? It was very stressful trying to plan the wedding in Louisiana from Atlanta. Thankfully, I have a wonderful family and some great friends who helped me to pull it all together.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000 to $25000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The band! It was well worth it!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Gosh there were so many, but probably the most memorable was the minute they opened the doors at the church and I saw my sweet husband standing at the altar.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are so very excited to start our lives together. We had an amazing engagement, wedding and honeymoon and are so thankful to have found each other. We were given some surprising news exactly one month to the date of our wedding. I’m 31 years old and was diagnosed with breast cancer. We feel so very blessed that this was found fairly early and believe with all of our hearts that everything happens for a reason, and that this is just part of our journey. The first year of our marriage will have some challenges, maybe more than some. More importantly, it will bring many blessings in unexpected places and bind us even stronger! The future is bright for us, and we just adopted a precious dog from a shelter, and we named him Coteau (taken from the name of the town we were married in, Grand Coteau). We look forward to all that is ahead!

Photographer: Ali Harper Photography // Ceremony venue: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church // Reception venue: Wolff Ballroom // Florist: Kaddie Tidwell of Breaux’s Florist // Wedding Cake Baker: Brent’s Catering // Caterer: Lafayette Receptions // Bride’s Dress: Mikaella // Bride’s Shoes: Alfani

Before you go…

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
5 Comments
  1. avatar Cami reply

    Congratulations on your marriage and gorgeous wedding.
    Wishing you good health and happiness.

  2. avatar erin {a lowcountry wedding} reply

    this is just stunning. i love that venue

  3. avatar Southern Weddings Weekly Round-Up « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] We love when a love story is as beautiful as the wedding itself! Suzanne + Keith’s was pure serendipity. See their Louisiana wedding here and here. […]

  4. avatar Kathryn reply

    Gorgeous!! I love the wedding bands photo with the two old-fashioned cans. So cute!!

  5. avatar published: suzanne + keith » ali harper photography reply

    […] Weddings a few weeks ago. I mention it now because as Suzanne writes on the SWMag posts here and here, just a month to the day after she married her beau she found out that she had Stage 2 breast […]

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

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