Spring is festival season in the Big Easy, and for Alyssa and Michael, French Quarter Festival made for the perfect backdrop to their New Orleans wedding.
To start, we met up at the new Virgin Hotel in the CBD. Because Alyssa and Michael got ready alone, we had ample time to capture some cool shots and get to know each other. When I walked into Michael’s room, he was listening to David Byrne. I knew we’d get along great based on our shared taste in music alone.
Once the lovebirds were ready, we captured their first look at the hotel. Then, we hit the streets on foot toward their wedding venue in the French Quarter. These two planned their nuptials during French Quarter Festival, a favorite festival of locals and tourists alike celebrating the food, music and culture of the Quarter.
Because the festival was ongoing, the Quarter was blocked off. We had to be dropped off on the outskirts and walk to the venue on foot, resulting in some of my favorite shots of the day.
I loved seeing the surprise on Alyssa and Michael’s faces, especially as all the festival goers congratulated them. New Orleans is just good like that.
The couple chose the Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights Museum as their venue, a nod to New Orleans history they hoped their out of town guests would appreciate. Alyssa walked down the aisle to a Khrungbin song. A woman after my own heart. I always love when couples shirk tradition and choose a song that reflects them. Their friend Jonathan officiated the ceremony.
Following the ceremony, Alyssa and Michael couldn’t pass up one New Orleans tradition — the second line. With black and white umbrellas, they marched through the streets of the French Quarter followed closely by the Knockaz Brass Band. This was a first for most of their guests!
The newlyweds and their guests boogied the night away to the musical stylings of DJ Mikey Offline. They shot bubble guns into the air that made for some really fun reception shots.
Alyssa and Michael could teach a masterclass on how to plan a New Orleans wedding during French Quarter Festival. Altogether, it was a night to remember. Head here to inquire about booking me for your wedding.
Venue: Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights Museum
Getting Ready: Virgin Hotel
Planner: Becca Kelly Co.
DJ: Mikey Offline
Caterer: Shaya
Brass Band: Knockaz Brass Band
