Paige + Connor met and fell in love in New Orleans. So it was only fitting that they travel back there and bring all their loved ones together to celebrate their marriage! Their number one goal of the weekend was to have fun with all their people, from the welcome crawfish boil to the afterparty at a dive bar! The whole weekend was a nonstop celebration!
One really special element to P + C’s wedding was that it was planned by Paige’s sister, Leigh, (The Gallery) who is a producer in NYC! Kim Starr Wise set the tone with dainty florals while Blue Gardenia Events helped planned each and every detail. And Ruby Olivia Photography was the savior to the couple’s day! Paige was late to the photographer game because it was the thing she was least excited about because she isn’t the biggest fan of having her photo taken. Ruby committed so much time and energy getting to know the couple before their big weekend, and Paige shared she had never felt more beautiful and comfortable than she felt with Ruby and her team around. We LOVE to hear that! Now, let’s dive on into New Orleans and this magical weekend!
The Itinerary
The bride’s New Orleans-based friend Sam Crosby, who, along with his partner Chas, were some of the first people to welcome Paige to New Orleans, painted these stunning maps for the couple’s welcome bags.
We love a fun welcome bag!
Paige admits that the hunt for her perfect dress was anything but easy, but in the end, her tedious search was well worth it! I mean, just WOW!! Her dress is GORGEOUS!
“As my sister can attest, I made the dress process uniquely difficult. I flew up to New York so we could dress hunt in earnest, but although I tried on countless gorgeous dresses by designers I’d been considering forever, nothing felt quite right. I had seen a dress on a wedding account on Instagram months before, and it was the only dress I had looked at that gave me that tingly feeling, but we couldn’t find it anywhere in the states. My sister, goddess that she is, tracked down the designer, who is based in Australia, and we did a consult via zoom. They showed me the dress and that was it. Here’s the kicker: All of the fittings had to be done virtually. That means I never saw my dress in person or tried it on until it arrived at my house 30 days before the wedding!
Everyone thought I was insane. But Pallas Couture are absolute masters of their craft and by some miracle (i.e., incredible seamstresses and artists at Pallas) the dress fit perfectly. I have never been more emotionally attached to a piece of clothing than I am to that dress. It is truly a work of art, and it really captured the whimsical, decadent feel of New Orleans. It is even called the “Toulouse” dress—a French nod and a total coincidence (serendipity?). I don’t know if I’ll ever get to wear it again, but I sure plan to try!”
This custom viewfinder that Paige created for Conner is just the sweetest! It would make the perfect sentimental gift if you are looking for a gift idea right now – ;)
Want to know the reasons we’re obsessed with first looks? We have eight of them ready for you to read!
The Colorful Wedding Party
Mismatched bridesmaid dresses for the win!!! These colors just WORK.
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“I think one thing that makes Connor and I so good as a couple is that we both love hosting and spending time with family and friends, planning trips, parties, etc. We thought the best way to make the day about us was to prioritize fun over function (so to speak!).”
This groom looks absolutely dashing!
Right before our wedding weekend, we found out that there was going to be a large music festival right across the street from our (outdoor!!) venue. I think the natural bride reaction to that is panic—which is how I initially felt—but I ultimately had to laugh. After all, an unexpected, raucous music festival right next door is the most New Orleans thing that could possibly happen to you on your wedding day.
The concert kicked into high gear (expletives included) right as we were exchanging our vows. In true New Orleans fashion, we decided to roll with it, cracking jokes and making the guests (and each other) laugh. Basically what began as what could be a bridal nightmare is now a hilarious, special story that makes our vow exchange unique and personal. And it really captured what we love about New Orleans—there is a lot you can’t plan for, and things rarely go exactly as planned, but the city manages to make everything perfectly imperfect in precisely the way you didn’t even know you needed! Once our music started, it drowned everything else out, but I’ll never forget telling my husband how much I love him to the music of the very talented Flo Milli.
The Perfect Outdoor Ceremony
Processional: Simply the Best, Noah Reid (instrumental)
Recessional: Sparks Fly, Taylor Swift
First Dance: Easy Silence, The Chicks
Race and Religion was the perfect venue for this couple, and we can’t help but gawk over how beautiful this ceremony is!!!
It was incredibly important to both the bride and her sister that they use primarily local vendors. All of their New Orleans vendors shared the love of the city and understood the vision so well.
These two are husband and wife!
The primary inspiration for their wedding day was the location: New Orleans! 🎷
“New Orleans is where Connor was born and it’s where we met and fell in love. It’s where we both began a life-long love affair with the city itself. New Orleans has this incredible, contagious energy. It’s a place that inspires magnificent art and music and also just pure joy.
We wanted our wedding vibe to reflect what makes New Orleans special: great food, good music, the ability to bring people together, and a flare for celebration. And New Orleans prioritizes a good time; it doesn’t sweat the small stuff. New Orleans also has deep roots in French culture, which is reflected in the city’s incredible architecture, so we wanted those themes to come through in the dĂ©cor as well. The French garden influence can really be seen in the tablescapes and greenery.”
The pops of green within this tablescape really bring this reception space together seamlessly!
A Dinner Party Reception
Pick a planner you trust, someone who understands your vision and is committed to executing it but that is also not afraid to be honest with you and (at times) be a task master! I am insanely lucky that my sister is a brilliant, talented event producer in New York City who has worked on incredible projects like the Met Gala. So in addition to being my maid of honor, she planned the wedding and took care of absolutely everything—even though she already has a full time, grueling job! What she created was nothing short of magic, and it felt like Connor and I through-and-through.
Also, let the little things go. A wedding is a massive undertaking, and the odds that every single small thing goes flawlessly are very low, even with a virtual army of talented people on your side. If a mic doesn’t work or the food is slow to come out of the kitchen, who cares? No one will remember that stuff. What people will remember is the overall experience, and they look to the bride and groom to set the energy. Keep it positive, keep the cocktails coming, and all everyone will remember
FOUND. It’s our dream wedding day guest (or bride!) clutch!
“It brings us so much joy to bring people together in a way that encourages them to relax and let loose, so the decision-making process was always geared towards the guest experience rather than wedding “perfection.” Going wild on the dance floor with friends and family is our happy place, so as long as we accomplished that (and we did!) the wedding was perfect to us.”
Loving this bride’s blinged-out reception dress!!! This sequined stunner was the perfect way to end the night!
The bride shares, “I am uniquely blessed to have unbelievably brilliant friends who started and now run very special small businesses. I wanted to incorporate all of their talents on our big day. The bride’s friend Mel Brice (Maps by Mel)—is an incredible artist—did the couple’s save-the-dates and invitations. My friend Nikki Stone, who owns an incredible linen company in LA (Atelier Saucier) did custom crawfish cocktail napkins for our welcome crawfish boil. And my friend Morgan (Morgan Lane) did all of the gorgeous custom pajamas for me and my bridesmaids. The day felt extra special having these personal touches from the people I love so much!”
A HUGE congrats to this happy couple! We wish you countless years of love and happiness!
photography: Ruby Olivia Photography // venue name: Race & Religious, New Orleans, Louisiana, US // event design: Leigh Burroughs // planning: Blue Gardenia Events // florals: Kim Starr Wise // wedding dress: Pallas Couture // getting ready robes: Morgan Lane // hair stylist: Verde Beauty // makeup artist: Verde Beauty // videography: Bella Films // catering: Joel Catering // furniture rentals: Distressed Rentals // linen rentals: Nuage Designs // music: Groovy7 - Band // lighting: Raven PMG // DJ: Beau Gautreaux // Second Line Band: Kinfolk Band & Music Group // Transportation: Burton Transit New Orleans // New Orleans Map: Sam Crosby
