New Orleans Pharmacy Museum Wedding
When Jenessa and Jake got engaged at Yayoi Kusama’s exhibit Fireflies on the Water at the Toledo Museum of Art, they immediately knew they will opt for a New Orleans destination wedding. NOLA was an absolute frontrunner from the very beginning, because they love the food, the history, the music. They planned the entire wedding from Michigan during the pandemic and ultimately landed on an intimate, elegant wedding with loads of character and bohemian touches.
Envision your Destination Wedding
There are so many different options when it comes to destination weddings. I usually advise couples to first think about the vibe of their wedding and the mood they would like to create. Is it a casual beach wedding on a tropical island with a taco truck and lots of pina coladas, or is it an elegant event in a Tuscan villa with a five star caterer and a jazz band? Couples can create lists of important elements and that will ultimately determine the location, the size of the wedding and the atmosphere. It is a great idea to hire a wedding planner who is the location expert and will be able to help arrange all the important details. Jenessa and Jake did just that. They hired an amazing local New Orleans planner Uncommon Camellia.
First look at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel with a View of the St. Louis Cathedral
The day of their New Orleans destination wedding, Jenessa and Jake wanted to do a first look, so they wrote letters to each other. They read them on a balcony of the quintessential Bourbon Orleans Hotel, with the view of the St. Louis Cathedral. The ceremony venue The Pharmacy Museum is in the heart of NOLA’s French Quarter. It is an old historic building with lots of character, tropical greenery and a beautiful lemon tree. The space is charming and so intimate. The ceremony courtyard was set up with exotic bamboo chairs and bohemian blush floral arch. One of their friends served as an officiant, which made the ceremony so much more meaningful.
New Orleans Brass Band and Second Line
Once the couple was married, the wedding guests were greeted by a New Orleans brass band that took the second line through the streets of New Orleans to the reception space at the St. Ann Cottage (a part of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel). The couple danced in the historical courtyard, ate Bananas Foster for desert (a typical NOLA dessert with bananas, vanilla, caramel and liquor) and celebrated their love in a true New Orleans fashion, with tones of amazing musicians guiding them throughout their day and night.
Destination Wedding Ideas
Resorts and hotels in tropical locations often offer wedding packages for wedding clients, but there is little flexibility couples get when it comes to deviating from what the package typically includes. This option is great for couples that like to have very little involvement in their planning and decision making. While couples that want to have a destination wedding will have to pay for their flight and accommodation, and the guest list might be smaller than at a local wedding, some couples enjoy a smaller intimate wedding with their closest circle of family and friends, which makes the experience so much more meaningful. It is also a great opportunity to extend the stay and have a honeymoon right after the wedding day.
How much does a destination weddings cost?
While destination weddings might seem like an expensive option, there are so many ways to make it budget friendly. Couples can simply rent an Airbnb accommodation in a gorgeous location that can serve as a ceremony and reception venue with a catered al fresco dinner, or simply choose an adventurous destination in the middle of the mountains and elope on the top of their favorite peak. Learn more about intimate weddings and adventure elopements.
Hi lovely, I am Yana, and I am a destination wedding and elopement photographer. I spend hours scouting new locations, researching activities and vetting vendors to be able to provide my expertise for a unique experience. I will also become your sounding board to consult ideas about your dream elopement adventure. Through all of this, we will most likely become friends and I will silently shed a tear hiding behind my camera when I witness you exchange your vows with your one and only. To book your complimentary consultation and chat about your plans, fill out the form below.
