Liz + Devin’s French Quarter wedding was nonstop New Orleans magic.
“I take Devin to NOLA for his birthday every year,” Liz says, “so it’s become sort of ‘our’ place.” A few years ago, the pair were sitting at moody craft cocktail French Quarter hot spot Cane & Table, and they started thinking about what they might want their own wedding to look like.
“I turned to him and said, ‘You know a wedding doesn’t have to be a huge thing in a hotel or a giant stuffy event. We could just throw The Best party for our friends and loved ones. Rent out Cane & Table and show them the best of New Orleans, even!’ And Devin went ‘Really?? Ok!’ Annnnd that was basically the proposal. Perfectly us.”
The unique destination celebration they planned with the help of Alchemy Events was a twinkling gold and burgundy candlelit dream. With a hauntingly beautiful after-dark ceremony at New Orleans Pharmacy Museum and a full-circle reception at Cane & Table (of course!), Liz + Devin created an unforgettable evening that was so them and introduced their friends and fam to the city that’s come to mean so much to them. We can’t get enough of their dark, deco aesthetic.
“Really what we wanted was to show our most beloved humans what we loved about New Orleans and how much we love each other,” the couple says.
So glad Swanson Photography snapped so many gorgeous photos so Liz + Devin’s day can inspire tons more couples to make their wedding exactly their own!!
Liz + Devin started off the day by getting ready together at Hotel Monteleone and helping each other into these jaw-dropping deep red wearable florals from Berry Blossom Flowers.
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, built in 1822, was once the apothecary of the first licensed pharmacist in the US. It’s full of well preserved pharmaceutical ephemera and has a distinctly old-world vibe and quiet courtyard perfect for intimate weddings.
“I found my dress on TikTok!” Liz remembers. “I knew I didn’t want to wear white, and I have worn so many black dresses, so I was looking for something different. I bought a few other dresses and was ‘eh’ on them. And then I saw a random video from Sew Romantic Designs and fell in love.” We ADORE this shimmery, flowy silhouette!
Explore our fave gold wedding dresses if you’re loving the idea of a sparkly look like Liz’s.
Liz’s metallic wedding crown takes this gold look into full golden goddess mode.
Verde Beauty perfected Liz’s glam red curls and created this glittery gold makeup look.
We are obsessed with Devin’s intricate Bird of Paradise-filled lapel flowers. Wearable groom florals like these are speaking to us big time and are one of our fave 2024 wedding trends.
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding There are a few! Walking in and seeing The Pharmacy Museum courtyard all set up with the candles and chandeliers for the first time was breathtaking.
The second line - everything about it! Especially getting to have a true “New Orleans Experience” for not just our guests but visitors in the French Quarter that we’ll never even meet.
Also, the last hour when we were down to the last guests standing and we switched to our dumb playlist and the Cane & Table staff came out to dance with us. It was important to us that our vendors also had a good time with our wedding, and that was magical!
Before the ceremony, Liz + Devin lit votive candles together and placed them on the fountain behind the ceremony spot. When guests arrived they did the same, all adding to the glow together!
The Candlelit Ceremony
Luminous Events made lighting magic in New Orleans Pharmacy Museum’s courtyard. Those massive chandeliers 😍
We’re SO charmed by the intimate ceremony setup that True Value Rental created.
Opting for a later ceremony to take advantage of romantic nighttime vibes is such a clever way to set your big day apart. The couples from this Vermont full moon wedding and this seaside destination wedding both saved their “I do’s” till after dark as well!
Devin’s burgundy velvet and black three-piece tuxedo is a custom creation by Al’s Attire.
Liz blew kisses from the balcony right before heading down the aisle.
Our Musical Choices Processional: Devin danced in to “Do What You Wanna” by Rebirth Brass Band and Liz walked into a custom mashup of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man“ and Gorillaz’s “Feel Good Inc.”
Recessional: Young Fellaz Brass Band played us down the aisle and out to the streets for the second line!
First Dance: We didn’t do one :)
If you want to keep things personal and pen your own vows like Liz + Devin did but maybe need a little help getting started, check out our advice on how to write your own vows.
Love the vintage-inspired black and white pagoda umbrellas Liz + Devin chose to use for their second line!
Second Line to the Reception!
A second line is a New Orleans celebratory tradition that consists of a mini-parade through the streets complete with festive umbrellas, waving handkerchiefs, and a live brass band. Liz + Devin’s second line was fueled by the music of Young Fellaz Brass Band!
And Gem Printing created custom handkerchiefs for guests to wave on Liz + Devin’s big day!
A Glowy Celebration
Even more glowy candlelit energy was waiting for everyone at Cane & Table after second lining through the French Quarter to the reception.
“We had a pastry table that included a 3.5 foot long pain suisse snake filled with raspberry pastry cream instead of a cake,” Liz + Devin say. “We named him Latrobe, and we beheaded him instead of having a cake cutting. He (and all the pastries from Ayu Bakehouse) were delicious. It was very us.”
Digging the idea of ditching the traditional wedding cake like Liz + Devin did? Check out our list of 14 wedding desserts to serve besides cake.
In New Orleans, a “krewe” is the name for the group of people participating (or “riding”) in a particular Mardi Gras parade. The only parade that snakes through the French Quarter during Carnival season is called “Krewe du Vieux,” so Liz + Devin’s “Krewe du Vow” signage is total punny perfection.
Our Advice To Those Planning Now Don’t be afraid to make changes, especially if you start early. We didn’t begin with deco, we got there because it all made beautiful sense.
Think about what will make you happy and feel like the day is special.
Start your own traditions instead of feeling obligated to enact old ones.
Honor your boundaries.
Get. A. Planner. It will save your sanity!!
Nola Dukes Band kept everybody dancing all night long!
“We booked photography until half an hour after the wedding ended so that we could capture the walk home through the French Quarter,” say Liz + Devin about how glad they were to capture their wedding night walk home to the Hotel Monteleone. “Being able to ‘film’ the full event through a to ending was so so valuable. It’s a glimpse at the imperfect-makeup-exhausted-stumble-home and we loved it.”
Congratulations, Liz + Devin!! This candlelit destination celebration was a New Orleans deco dream. GWS wishes you all the very best!
photography: The Swansons // venue name: New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, New Orleans, LA, USA // planning: Alchemy Events // florals: Berry Blossom Flowers // wedding dress: Sew Romantic Designs // bride's ring: G Krown Jewelers // hair stylist: Verde Beauty Studio // makeup artist: Verde Beauty Studio // groom attire: Al's Attire // desserts: Ayu Bakehouse // furniture rentals: True Value Rental // music: NOLA Dukes // lighting: Luminous Events // photo booth: Calfee Productions // reception venue: Cane & Table // second line brass band: Young Fellaz Brass Band // second line handkerchiefs: Gem Printing // hotel: Hotel Monteleone // pedicab: Need A Ride Pedicab
Omg I love it! Such a great article. I’m so honored to have made her dress 🥰