Everyone knows it’s impossible not to fall in love with New Orleans.
Rhiannon + Sam actually moved from the east coast to the Big Easy mid-wedding planning and were excited to incorporate tons of New Orleanian color and character into their New Orleans wedding in their brand new home city!!
Andrea Mock Events helped Rhiannon + Sam fill the super-charming and classically New Orleans venue Race and Religious with their laid back, eclectic, and festive vision. Bride Rhiannon, a talented graphic designer, dreamed up countless colorful and cohesive touches—from textiles to invitations to signage to handkerchief favors to fun color changing drink cups!
Many friends and family members traveled all the way in from the UK and were treated to tons of New Orleans flair. There was a brass band. There was a traditional Second Line. The bride + groom tossed beads from a balcony during cocktail hour.
And Rhiannon’s shimmery, vibrant veil totally stole the show!!
Hannah Pickle’s photos absolutely captured the joyful and distinctive energy of this magical day. Let’s take a look!!
Yep—bride Rhiannon created this invitation suite herself! We are so in love with the eclectic typefaces and whimsical, hand drawn energy of these paper goods. That palm frond cut out! Such a fun touch.
Most of us aren’t as gifted as Rhiannon when it comes to graphic design, so take a peek at our list of the most beautiful wedding invitations you can find online!!
Rhiannon first spied this stunningly simple a-line gown by Jenny Yoo on a trip to the flagship store in NYC with then-fiancé-now-husband Sam! She went back on a second trip with her mom to officially say “yes” to the dress!
Rhiannon knew that a standard all-white bridal look was not for her but didn’t know how she wanted to work in something more unique. Then one of Rhiannon’s bridesmaids suggested a colorful veil! Rhiannon found Philadelphia-based designer Madison Chamberlain, creator of this magical sequin piece, through their florist, Sharime Kayla! Rhiannon saw a bride wearing a sequin dress by Madison in one of Sharime’s Instagram posts. Luckily Rhiannon + Sam were living in Princeton, NJ at the time—super close to Philly—and this colorful veil collaboration was born!
There is nothing cuter than bridesmaids catching a glimpse of their bestie in her dress for the first time.
The First Look
Okay, you have to hear the whole story of this stunning veil…
“I came to Madison with a good idea of what I wanted but she really helped bring the vision to life,” Rhiannon says of working with veil designer Madison Chamberlain. “The veil has a sister piece, a cape made out of the same fabric. I didn’t want to wear a floor length veil all night and also didn’t want to wear only white all night, so there was an accessory change!” Keep an eye out for that cape later!!
“We ended up finishing the custom pieces much earlier than the wedding,” Rhiannon remembers, “so I told Madison she could promote the pieces to help spread her work, and one of her TikTok videos ended up blowing up overnight to a few hundred thousand views, and then a few hours later to 2 million views! She was then able to start selling my sequin veil as a ready-to-wear piece to her audience and has launched an amazing new line of awesome wedding accessories and custom pieces.”
That means you, too, can rock this epically colorful look!! Check out The Dream Veil!
Sharime Kayla Floral Design filled this day with unstoppably vibrant floral pieces including this bright bridal bouquet and a super-textured balcony installation as part of the couple’s ceremony setup.
Rhiannon’s natural glam makeup look was created by Sasha Ahart, and stylist Rachel Barbin was behind that braid-and-bun updo!
How fun is Sam’s peacock feather bowtie?! Love that it has a matching feathery pocket square!
So clever that this bridal party palette draws from all the colors in Rhiannon’s veil!
The Ceremony
Rhiannon collaborated with florist Sharime Kayla to create this colorful textile installation! A blustery wedding day meant this feature was blown around beautifully by the wind.
Monogrammed flag? A Rhiannon textile touch.
Often, during a typical New Orleanian Second Line parade, guests will wave handkerchiefs in the air as they dance behind a live brass band in the street. Rhiannon created these custom handkerchiefs for their guests to wave during the Second Line that took place after their ceremony! Check out some unique wedding favors your guests will love if you’re wanting to leave your friends and fam with a special memento of your day.
Rhiannon dreamed up this color-filled welcome sign…
And 150 feet of colorful bunting flags?? Yeah, Rhiannon made those, too! A special detail? The bunting included pieces collected by Rhiannon’s mother and grandmother who are also talented textile artists. “It was so fun to be my own client during this part of the process,” Rhiannon says. “I had endless ideas.”
Our Musical Choices Processional: "St. Anne’s Parade" by Shovels & Rope + "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac (Vitamin String Quartet cover)
Recessional: Big Fun Brass Band started playing as we recessed down the aisle before heading out onto the streets for our parade!
First Dance: "In The Morning Light" by Billy Strings
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding Having Ranna of Let’s Elope New Orleans write a custom ceremony script that was tailored to us and exchanging personal vows made for a meaningful and tear-jerking ceremony.
Our Second Line parade! Rhiannon grew up in marching band, and we are huge appreciators of New Orleans culture. It felt special to participate in a tradition that was born of another community but is a big wedding tradition here and something we could do to celebrate our new home.
Throwing beads off the balcony at Race & Religious as our reception entrance: We celebrated our first Mardi Gras season in New Orleans earlier this year and got to share the magic with our guests by throwing the beads we collected from all the parades. Now Rhiannon has joined a dance krewe and is looking forward to marching in some Mardi Gras parades next year!
Our Scottish family members absolutely tearing up the dance floor to Proud Mary performed by our awesome band, the NOLA Dukes.
Love how this unique veil ended up summing up the spirit of the entire day.
The Second Line!
Bella Umbrella supplied the bride + groom’s umbrellas for the celebration—another key part of a Second Line!!
The Second Line led by Big Fun Brass Band filled the streets of the Lower Garden District with the festive sounds of New Orleans.
Our Advice To Those Planning Now There’s no doubt it’s a stressful time of life, but remember that a wedding is a celebration of the beginning of your marriage and it’s about the two of you as a couple, not about trying to please everyone else. If a tradition doesn’t feel right to you, don’t feel the pressure to follow it.
GET. A. PLANNER. Andrea was our biggest supporter and cheerleader throughout, passed along so much insider knowledge, juggled all of the vendor communication, and helped our vision come to life. We absolutely could not have done it without her and we’re so grateful we hired her. To watch it all come together on the day of, without us having to worry about a thing from morning to night was the biggest gift. We were able to be so present.
How cute + comfy are Rhiannon’s baby blue Birkenstocks?!
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Element Event Rental flipped the outdoor ceremony space and filled it with white linen reception tables.
Snag a multicolor taper candle set to recreate this bold and springy tablescape!
Martin Wine & Spirits outfitted the celebration’s bar—how fun would it be to get a drink served with one of these custom cocktail napkins!!
“Throw me something, mister!!” Rhiannon + Sam’s wedding took place about a month after Mardi Gras, but it’s never too late to toss some beads!!
THE MATCHING CAPE!! Try to name something cooler than a sequin bridal cape. And check out our list of the most stunning bridal capes for your wedding day if Rhiannon’s reception look is giving you ideas.
Congratulations, Rhiannon + Sam!! Your eclectic and colorful Crescent City wedding was absolutely iconic. Best wishes from GWS!!
photography: Hannah Pickle // venue name: Race and Religious, New Orleans, LA, USA // planning: Andrea Mock Events // florals: Sharime Kayla Floral // wedding dress: Jenny Yoo and Rosa Bloom // hairpiece: Madison Chamberlain // bride's ring: Bario Neal Jewelry // hair stylist: Rachel Barbin // makeup artist: Sasha Ahart // groom's ring: Bario Neal Jewelry // catering: 12 Seasons Catering // furniture rentals: Element // music: Nola Dukes // officiant: Let's Elope NOLA // cocktails: Martin Wine // second line: Big Fun Brass Band // umbrellas: Bella Umbrella
