What does a wedding day look like when you host each individual part of the celebration at a different venue? Sophie + Jared’s New Orleans nuptials progressed through the iconic Bywater neighborhood with the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception held at separate locations, each one picked to introduce a unique vibe.
“Sophie and Jared approached their wedding as an experience rather than a traditional event,” photographer Olivia Yuen says. “Instead of centering everything in one venue, they created a progressive flow across three distinct and iconic spaces in New Orleans, each chosen for how it feels.”
“We share a love of traveling and enjoying unique experiences,” share Sophie + Jared, “and we really wanted to share that part of us with our guests who were traveling to New Orleans from all over the country, some for the very first time! We also love to entertain and really wanted our day to feel like a big party.”
First stop was the ceremony at Marigny Opera House, a former-church-turned-venue with soaring cathedral ceilings and lots of historic charm. Afterwards guests made the short journey to iconic NOLA indie dive Saturn Bar for cocktail hour. Then, for the final stop of the night, everyone walked two blocks west to N7 for a mind-blowing meal and a magical, twinkly sunset reception in the restaurant’s overgrown outdoor garden.
“Some of the most memorable moments happened in the in-between spaces. Guests spilling out onto the street with drinks in hand at Saturn Bar, the shift in light just before dinner at N7, and the way the evening naturally settled into itself,” photographer Olivia says. “It felt grounded and easy, like people were fully present rather than moving from one scheduled moment to the next.”
As far as the day’s colorful, multi-texture, alt design vibe goes, the couple couldn’t help but go bold. “Incorporating a lot of color, patterns and textures is something we enjoy doing in our personal wardrobes and our home,” say Sophie + Jared of how they dreamed up the day with planners + event designers from Uncommon Camellia,“so it felt natural to have that be a part of our day as well.”
Planning a wedding in New Orleans can be tough – if you know + love The Crescent City enough to have your “I do’s” there then you definitely have a mile-long list of favorite spots to recommend. Sophie + Jared’s multi-venue day was a brilliant way to show their loved ones so many different sides of NOLA ⚜️
“For couples planning now, this day is a reminder that weddings do not have to follow a fixed structure to be meaningful and beautiful,” Olivia says. “Choosing spaces that feel personal, allowing the timeline to breathe, and focusing on how the day feels can create something that is both visually compelling and deeply memorable.”
Absolutely obsessed with these hand drawn contemporary-retro wedding invites. That cute cake illustration! 😍
Stop 1: The Ceremony
Fun fact about Marigny Opera House: All the proceeds from their work as wedding + event venue go to supporting their work as a non-profit arts organization and home for the performing arts in New Orleans. We love a venue that gives back to its community!
How deliciously 60’s is Sophie’s high neck bishop sleeve short wedding dress!! AND it has a train?! Best of both worlds!
Bold blooms from Cry Baby Floral gave the celebration so much rich texture + color!
“Jared’s suit was custom from SuitSupply in Dallas,” Sophie remembers. “He wanted a funky, non-traditional look for our big day so he went with a burnt orange/rust colored suit with a vintage bolo tie.”
For The Guys: Bolo Ties
Western inspired accessories for the aspiring-cowboy groom 🤠
You might just recognize this incredible venue from Solange Knowles’ 2014 wedding to music video director Alan Ferguson … or from our feature of this dreamy NOLA wedding!
Our Musical Choices
Processional"Let Me Know"- Yeah Yeah YeahsRecessional"Ceremony" - New Order
“My dress was by Emma Domb and it is from the 1960s,” Sophie says of this romantic, retro look. “I always envisioned myself in something vintage and when I saw it on the Dear Saint Vintage website, I knew it was the one. Luckily it was a perfect fit- I didn’t try on any other dresses!”
“It was originally floor length but I liked the idea of making it a mini and leaving the train long. I love how it turned out.”
“I added pops of color with a pair of heels from Charlotte Stone.”
Sophie’s delightfully mismatched mules have you in the mood for some weddings shoe shopping? Check out our new shoppable collection of wedding shoes for every kind of “I do”.
Stop 2: Cocktail Hour
In the mood to hear some live music or sip a mixed drink out on the sidewalk? Saturn Bar is the spot 😎
“From a photo perspective, this wedding reflects a balance between restraint and risk,” photographer Olivia says. “Film and digital imagery were used together throughout the day, not as a trend, but as a way to capture different textures of the experience. Film brought in playfulness and imperfection, while digital images provided clarity and structure. Allowing both to exist side by side helped the story feel more complete and honest to how the day actually felt.”
How we love to see a bride rocking bangs!! Karen’s Hair nailed the modern-retro vibes of this wedding updo. And this subtle, romantic bridal makeup by Voodoo Rouge was perfection.
Stop 3: The Reception
Our Favorite Memory
Walking into the courtyard dinner we had curated-by ourselves – before our guests arrived – really did it for us. Seeing our vision come to life exactly like we wanted it and having a moment to enjoy it just the two of us was very special.
The garden oasis outdoor dining room at N7 is like a secret garden escape tucked away from all the rowdy, NOLA action.
“There was a strong sense of intention behind even the smallest details,” photographer Olivia recalls of the little things that made Sophie + Jared’s wedding so special for their guests. “Custom matchboxes, micro bottles of Louisiana bitters at each place setting, and classic New Orleans to-go cups tied the day back to its setting in a way that felt thoughtful without being over-designed.”
“These were DIY elements incorporated by the bride, making everything feel cohesive and visually gorgeous, but not overdone.”
“The food was also a star on this wedding day,” photographer Olivia says. “The dinner at N7 was a multi-course family style tasting menu and each course allowed for guests to have a unique and special dining experience, rather than just a meal.”
Custom matches are a tried-and-true classic guest favor for a reason — cute, personalized, small enough to stick in your purse, and something you’ll definitely use!
Our Advice
Have fun with it! Don't sacrifice your vision or be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to your day. Letting your personality show through the music, color palette etc is what makes your day unique and memorable. And don't forget to eat a snack :)
This three tier vintage wedding cake by Deuxbelle? Totally vegan!
Congratulations, Sophie + Jared, on your iconically New Orleanian “I do’s”!! You revamped the wedding venue game with this amazing multi-location timeline! We can’t wait to see the other progressive celebrations it inspires!
Featured in This Wedding
Suit Supply
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Other Vendors in This Wedding
Photography: Olivia Yuen Photo // Wedding Planner: Lisa Long with Uncommon Camellia // Florals: Cry Baby Floral // Wedding Dress: vintage // Dress Boutique: Dear Saint // Bride's Shoes: Charlotte Stone // Hair Stylist: Karens Hair // Makeup Artist: Voodoo Rouge // Catering: N7 // Desserts: Deuxbelle Vegan Bakery // Furniture Rentals: Yur Rentals // Ceremony Venue: Marigny Opera House // Cocktail Hour Venue: Saturn Bar // Reception Venue: N7
