How did you meet and how long have you been together?
We met in college through a class and then were reintroduced socially through mutual friends! That was four years ago, now.

New Orleans Fine Art Wedding

What were your highlights of the day? Were there any surprises?
The whole day felt like a highlight! Being from different places and attending college out of state means lots of our friends and family are spread across the country. It was a complete dream to all be together for the weekend, and knowing how supported and loved we are as we embark on this next journey with each other – there are just no words to describe it! Wait. The other highlight is definitely having the best band ever and spending the entire night sharing the dance floor with all of our guests.

What advice would you give to other couples planning their day?
Relax and enjoy the process of planning this celebration together. Don’t take the “wedding” things too seriously. All that matters in the long run is marrying your best friend with your loved ones there to celebrate with you!

New Orleans Photographer | The Chicory

Spring Wedding at The Chicory, New Orleans Louisiana

Ceremony + Reception Location | What made you decide to get married there?
I actually chose are ceremony location after our reception venue. We still looked at having the ceremony somewhere else, but in the end, we knew that sharing the location with the reception would make it so much easier on our guests. We wanted to make sure everyone was comfortable to show our appreciation for them taking the time to travel and be with us that night! I loved the exposed brick and wooden beams. It was exactly what I was looking for! Plus the Chicory made everything so easy. It was a one stop shop, and the food – that is probably what really sold us!

Vendors | New Orleans Photographer The Chicory

Videography – Unique Video Creations
Catering – The Chicory
Florist – Herbivore Floral Design
Wedding Cake – The Royal Cakery
Wedding Dress Designer – Lea-Ann Belter
Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Show Me Your Mumu
Getting Ready Attire – J. Crew
Wedding Shoes Designer – Kate Spade x Keds
Bride’s Hair Dresser – Ali Vasquez
Makeup Artist – Cat Vo
Groom & Groomsmen Apparel – Nic’s Toggery
Reception Music – Got Groove
Event Rentals – Luminous Events
Wedding favors – Naquin Apiary
Invitations / Stationary – VistaPrint

Check out more!

New Orleans Wedding | The Roosevelt Hotel | Kaitlin + Christoper

Rural Life Engagement Session | Randi + Kirk | Baton Rouge

The post New Orleans Wedding Photographer | The Chicory | Summer + Clay appeared first on New Orleans Wedding Photographer - Tasha Rae Photography.

2018 Styled Shoot at Villa Barberino with Inspired Design Workshop!

“Marriage is a bond between a person who never remembers anniversaries and another who never forgets them.”

“Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father.” – Colossians 3:17

“I love being married. It’s so great to find one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life”

INSPIRED DESIGN WORKSHOP | VILLA BARBERINO

VENDORS

Designer: Winner Circle Events
Photography: Tasha Rae Photography
Floral: Erin Steen Flowers
Beauty: Just Face It, LLC
Cake: Gambino’s Bakery
Stationery: Dulce Muse Designs
Bride: Angela Manzione
Groom: Alessandro Picchianti
Bridal Gown Shop + Styling: Seven Luxe Inc
Shoes: Michael Kors
Ring Box: Esselle SF
Linen: BBJ Linen
Venue: Villa Barberino
Event: Inspire Design Workshop
Production: Weddings by LuLu
Designer + Floral Jewelry: All RelEvents, Inc.
Floral Centerpiece: Chiara Sperti Floral Events
Stationery: Tiger Lily Invitations
Bride: Honey Anarkos Iheme
Groom: James Mbaye
Bridal Gown Shop + Styling: Seven LuxeInc
Charger Plates: Plate Occasions – Luxury Tabletop Styling & Rentals
DMC: From Italy with Love Weddings

Check out more!

Magnolia Rouge Feature | Allison + Aaron Wedding | Il Mercato

Ruffled Blog | Styled Social | Il Mercato | Brooke Casey Wedding

The post Villa Barberino | Italy | Florence | Tuscany | Destination Wedding Photographer appeared first on New Orleans Wedding Photographer - Tasha Rae Photography.

Congrats Erin and Jett on being featured on Carats + Cake! Mint Julep Productions rocked this event, so if you’re on the hunt for an awesome planning team you need to check them out.

“Faith makes all things possible. Love makes all things easy.” – Dwight Moody

“You don’t marry the person you can live with—you marry the person you can’t live without.”

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu

Nothing like a late night swim at Race and Religious!

“Sweet wonderful you / You make me happy with the things you do. Oh can it be so / This feeling follows me where I go.” —Fleetwood Mac, “You Make Loving Fun”

Vendors

Venue – Race and Religious
Planning – Mint Julep Productions
Second Line – Kinfolk Brass Band Jazz
Band – Souled Out LA
Catering – Black Pearl
Beverage – Brady’s Wine Warehouse
Rentals – Your Event Delivered
Florist – Antigua Floral
Rentals – Luminous Events
Cookies – The Ginger Bites @thegingerbites
Cake – La Louisiane Bakery
Hair + Makeup – Flawless Bride LLC
Custom Sign – Hark Creative
Wedding Dress – Hayley Paige (designer) Towne and Country Bridal Boutique
Bridesmaid Dresses – Wedding Belles

Check out more!

Erin’s Bridals | Longue Vue House and Gardens

Magnolia Rouge Feature | Allison + Aaron | Il Mercato

The post Mint Julep Productions | Race and Religious | New Orleans Wedding Photographer | Erin + Jett appeared first on New Orleans Wedding Photographer - Tasha Rae Photography.

How did you meet?
Kenny and I met at the church we currently attend. As time went on, I randomly started to catch him stare at me. At first, I was weirded out! Until I realized he was crushing on me. So, one Friday evening at a Lifegroup we have he finally introduced himself to me. From there, we talked as friends until he called me after church one day and asked if I wanted to go have dinner with him. It was so funny because he was about to leave for Mexico to go on a missions trip, so he called at like 12 am because he said he couldn’t wait until he got back. So that week we went on a casual date and the rest is history.

“It was the sweetest night! Oh, and he had a hidden photographer. So many little details made the night unforgettable.”

How did he propose?
The second date that Kenny and I took was a picnic at the park. He made homemade chicken noodle soup and brought the whole set up. So for our proposal, he secretly set up this entire date all over again complete with the chicken noodle soup, candles, flowers, music, and so much more. He told me we were going somewhere for my birthday, but I would have to be blind-folded. I was so anxious the entire day! When it was finally time to leave he picked me up and blind-folded me and drove around until we got to the park. I had NO idea where we were. Whenever we got to the park we ate and reminisced about the date we had there and he told me he had something for me. He reached into the picnic basket and pulled out the ring box. (Cue the boy scout club members cheering HAHA). After, he RE blind-folded me and told me there was another surprise. We arrive at my grandparents and my entire friends and family were there waiting for us. It was the sweetest night! Oh, and he had a hidden photographer.

“I loved our entire day. It was the perfect weather, everything. We spent the day starting our forever with some of our favorite people.”

What has been the most stressful part of planning a wedding?
Honestly, nothing has really stressed me out. Everything has gone smoothly. BUT, I am sure there will be something along the way that will stress me out. I try not to stress too much about anything, I know in the end the day will be perfect.

What were your highlights of the day? Were there any surprises?
I loved our entire day. It was the perfect weather, everything. We spent the day starting our forever with some of our favorite people.

What made you decide to get married at Maison Lafitte?
We had our ceremony and reception at Maison Lafitte in Mandeville. We loved this place because we could have both events at the same location. Our venue was so quaint, we absolutely loved the atmosphere!

Videography – Chelsea Chifici
Event Planner – Chloe Henderson
Catering – The lakehouse
Florist – Forget me knot
Wedding Cake – Clark’s cakes
Wedding Dress Designer – Allure Bridal
Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Sorella vita
Wedding Shoes Designer – Badgley Mischka
Bride’s Hair Dresser – Lacey Henderson
Makeup Artist – Alex McCarty
Groom & Groomsmen Apparel – Michael Kors
Reception Music – D2 entertainment
Event Rentals – GLO decor

Check out more!

April + Kirk | Northshore Wedding | The Greystone

Groom Prep Tips  | New Orleans Wedding Photographer

The post Maison Lafitte | New Orleans Wedding Photographer | Emily + Kenny appeared first on New Orleans Wedding Photographer - Tasha Rae Photography.

How did you meet and how long have you been together?
Ben and I met four years ago on an online dating app, and I don’t think either of us ever thought that God would lead us to the person we would marry! We couldn’t be more grateful for His plan and bringing us together!

What were your highlights of the day? Were there any surprises?
Brianna’s highlights. Getting ready with all of my girls, getting time with my parents before the ceremony (first look with my dad), and having both of our families and all of our close friends together in the same place!

Ben’s highlights. Having celebratory drinks at the Ace Hotel with the guys before the ceremony, and seeing all of the people we love most having a blast in New Orleans!

“It’s about you and the person you love most becoming husband and wife. In the end, all the little things don’t matter.”

What advice would you give to other couples planning their day?
I would definitely recommend getting a wedding planner! I would also say, just try and remember what the day is all about. It’s about you and the person you love most becoming husband and wife. In the end, all the little things don’t matter.

What made you decide to have your ceremony and reception at the New Orleans Botanical Gardens?
We were married in City Park at the New Orleans Botanical gardens, because we fell in love with it while visiting the gardens during one of our vacations to New Orleans! It is just so beautiful, and we both loved the idea of being surrounded by the lush greenery and blooming florals on our special day.

Our reception was also in the gardens. We loved the idea of having the ceremony and reception at the same venue. It was also nice that we were able to have the ceremony in the rose garden and the reception around the lily pad pond, so that our guests were able to experience different areas around the botanical gardens. It definitely added to the aesthetics of the wedding as well.

Vendors

Event Planner – New Orleans Wedding Planning LLC
Videography – Bride and Zoom Films
Catering – City Park catering
Florist – Beth’s Flowers
Wedding Cake – Joe Gambino’s Bakery
Wedding Dress Designer – Sottero and Midgley
Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Adrianna Papell
Getting Ready Attire – The bride and bridesmaids robes were from LeRose gifts on Etsy
Wedding Shoes Designer – Badgley Mischka
Bride’s Hair Dresser – Nicole Pineiro
Makeup Artist – Nicole Pineiro
Groom & Groomsmen Apparel – Ralph Lauren
Reception Music – Mobile Beat

Other Details
Terrariums – Hobby Lobby Gold geometric tea light holders- Hobby Lobby Mirror and vintage suitcase- Antique mall Picture frames- BHLDN Small signs- Printshop studio on Etsy Gold Geometric sign holders – BHLDN Gold baskets- H&M and Anthropology Gold and glass box- Target Advice cards- Shine Paper and Press on Etsy Mardi Gras beads & masks- Bead outlet in Metairie Guestbook wooden letter L – made by grooms father

Wedding favors – LED batons- Amazon Tinsel wands- Grand Exits on Etsy Monogrammed matchboxes – Gracious Bridal on Etsy
Invitations / Stationary – Vistaprint
Officiant- Steve Trahan with Sensational Ceremonies

Check out more!

Ruffled Blog | Styled Social | Il Mercato 

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How did you meet and how long have you been together?
We met on a high school summer trip to Greece when we were 17 & 18. The of us both went to the same school, but did not know each other until this trip and where we learned we had mutual friends (and last names!). Sporadically we kept in touch during my Senior year of highschool, while Joel was away at LSU, but after a semester our friends thankfully brought us back together and we have been together ever since! We dated for a total of seven years before getting engaged and married at 8 years.

What were your highlights of the day? Were there any surprises?
Highlights of the day for me were a few things:
1. The ceremony: My brother officiated our wedding which was so special and important to me. Joel and I chose to write our own vows, which I was hesitant on because it is was so personal, but I am very glad we ended up doing them. Our different personalities came through our vows and Joel had a majority of our guests tearing up with his Shakespeare like words. We also had a harpist who did an amazing job and played our favorite songs on the harp!
2. Having one day where all your friends, family, and co-workers – really everyone that is important or has had an impact on your life – travels and gets together in one venue to celebrate you and your fiancé was spectacular.
3. Including loved ones in some aspect of our wedding festivities that could not be there – We used my grandfather’s Military sword to cut our cake and used my dad’s 1920s Ford Model A that he restored as the backdrop for our engagement photos that were scattered throughout our wedding ceremony and reception the day of our wedding.
4. The Reception: From having our friend dress up in a blow-up T-Rex outfit, to passing out various fun hats (firemen, astronaut helmets, pirate hats, unicorn headbands, etc.) and beads for the guests to wear, to the amazing New Orleans second-line band to conclude the night – our reception was lively and everything we wanted and more! We love New Orleans so much and we wanted out guests to truly feel the New Orleans culture.
5. And last but not least – getting to marry my fiancé!

What advice would you give to other couples planning their day?
[Can I say take bada*% pictures, get eloped and save all the money for a sweet vacay? JK] 1. Enjoy the process and do not get caught up in the small details! The planning process goes by so quickly and everything will work out! I had a tendency to get overwhelmed in the small details or the amount of outstanding items, so I set aside certain wedding to do’s for myself to accomplish each day or week. 2. Talk with some of your vendors on other vendor referrals, it helps a lot and is great to have a team of people that work well together 3. Get your Fiancé (and even family) involved in the planning process – even if it is in the small details or tasks. Dividing and conquering was the best and something we could work on together 4. Get yourself a wedding planner or even a day of coordinator if you can fit it into your budget. I knew that planning a wedding from a different state with a job that required me to travel a lot was going to make the wedding planning process a bit trickier for me. It was so nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of, help me prioritize important to do’s, and to be my P.I.C. during such a huge day. Christie, my wedding coordinator, worked miracles the day of my wedding and I was so fortunate to have her – she really gave me peace of mind!

Ceremony Location | What made you decide to get married there?
Originally we had The Tree of Life in Audubon Park picked out as our main Ceremony space because I always dreamed of getting married outside with a beautiful backdrop, and nothing is more beautiful in Louisiana to me than ancient Oak trees. In the event that Mother Nature had other plans, we picked The Chicory to have our ceremony since the interior space fit our style (exposed brick, gas lamps, etc.) and it would be in the same building as our reception. Ultimately, mother nature did have different plans the day of our wedding so we ended up moving our Ceremony to The Chicory. Our Wedding Coordinator (Mise En Place Events), The Chicory staff, Florist (Duia & Jean), Lighting Team (Firefly Ambiance) and Love Good rentals did such an amazing job quickly turning around our ‘Plan B Option’, and I absolutely fell in love with it! It fully exceed my vision!

Reception Location | What made you decide to get married there?
The Chicory – We both fell in love with this space due to the exposed brick, gas lamps, balcony, and multi rooms for our quests. We loved the amount of character this venue had and it felt very New Orleans to us which we love (can’t beat a balcony on Fulton). We did not have to do much sprucing up to make it fit our style. Also, we enjoyed how so many various aspects of a great reception were already packaged together for couples planning a wedding (so MANY food choices, late night food surprises, onsite coordinator, linens, tables, plenty of space for different guest types) which was convenient! The Chicory team was very fun and informative from the beginning so it made our decision very easy. We would have our reception here 10 times again!

Check out more!

Heather + Taylor | Marche | New Orleans Wedding

Event Planner –  Mise En Place Events – Christie Chopin
Videography – Wildfire Cinema
Florist – Duia & Jean
Wedding Cake – Frosted Fantasies by Nikki
Wedding Dress Designer – Watters
Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Watters
Getting Ready Attire – The girls got PJ’s from Target and my Romper
Bride’s Hair Dresser – Chelsea Navarre
Makeup Artist – Melissa Vaccaro
Groom & Groomsmen Apparel – Tuxedos To Geaux
Reception Music – Aaron Lane (DJ), Ceremony Harpist (Ashley Toman), Second Line (Kinfolk Brass Band)
Event Rentals – Lovegood Rentals
Other decor elements if you had them – Firefly Ambiance (Lighting)
Wedding favors – Roman Candy, His & Her Spice Blends (Red Stick Spice), Zapps Chips
Invitations / Stationary – Minted
Signage – Simply Handlettered (Sara Rogers)
Programs / Bridesmaid Favors – Designed by Dandelion

The post New Orleans Wedding Photographer | The Chicory | Emily + Joel appeared first on New Orleans Wedding Photographer - Tasha Rae Photography.

New Orleans Wedding Photographer

How did you meet and how long have you been together?
We met in high school at St. Thomas Aquinas. Christopher was a freshman, and I was a Sophomore. We immediately became such good friends which blossomed into us being best friends within our inseparable friend group. Within that group ended up being my maid of honor and his best man! We began dating my senior year/his junior year of high school. Christopher and I were together for almost 5 years by the time we got married! What’s crazy, however, is that we had mutual best friends growing up prior to meeting. We grew up living in adjacent neighborhoods only 5 minutes away from each other! Its likely that our paths crossed earlier in life, but I guess we’ll never know for sure!

“I actually surprised him with a sentimental gift modeled after one of our favorite shows (The Office)”

What were your highlights of the day? Were there any surprises?

There were many highlights and surprises throughout the day! One surprise was waking up and realizing my mom and her best friend had completely decorated the bridal suite with balloons. It included flowers, breakfast, and a champagne bar! It was absolutely stunning! The beautiful bouquet of flowers from my soon-to-be husband was one! One of our favorite shows is The Office. Which means I had to send him the green teapot filled with some things I had kept throughout our relationship. Including a ring pop when he fake proposed to me when we were still just friends my junior year of high school!

“All of a sudden, the music changed and they start doing this completely choreographed dance that we knew absolutely NOTHING about!”

Our parents actually surprised the both of us too with a dance they’d been practicing for weeks prior to the wedding! Our wedding party dance was to “September.” It originally had our parents as part of that dance too (because we thought it’d be fun/funny) so when they didn’t show up for their part, we were confused. All of a sudden, the music changed and they start doing this completely choreographed dance that we knew absolutely NOTHING about! The parents absolutely killed it!! Some highlights included the first look, which I’ll touch on a bit more in the advice question and the reception decorations, which we don’t think could have been any more perfect! Another highlight was having our grandmothers as our flower girls! They were paving the way for our marriage.  Both grandmothers had lasting, loving marriages, and it made them feel so special. The confetti cannon ending ended the reception on such a high! I remember Christopher looking at me and just telling me “tonight was absolutely perfect.” After the reception, we all went to the Sazerak Bar and had a silent disco. Not to mention, one of our favors were slippers (mostly for the ladies to dance without their heels), but both women AND men were wearing them throughout the reception, after party, and apparently in the French Quarter, as we got a picture of one (just one) slipper in the middle of Bourbon Street from a friend that night. We still get questions from guests asking if we have any extra slippers cause they want another pair! It was the little things like that which made the whole day a highlight; I can go all day talking about our favorite moments, but I’ll stop there!

“The absolute BIGGEST piece of advice I can give other couples is to do the first look!”

What advice would you give to other couples planning their day?
The absolute BIGGEST piece of advice I can give other couples is to do the first look! I went back and forth for a bit at first. I can’t harp enough on the fact that everyone should do it, and for many reasons. Here’s why: (1) The day is about the bride and groom. I felt very anxious and honestly didn’t feel well the morning of our wedding. As soon as I saw Christopher, it all went away! All day I just wanted to be with him. I couldn’t imagine having to wait until the ceremony to see him. We both so enjoyed having just some time to ourselves before all the craziness happened! It helped make the day not feel so short because we got to spend even more of it together! (2) It gives you an opportunity to have the pretty natural light shots if you want to have an evening wedding. (3) It
allows you to get EVERYTHING out of the way before the ceremony/reception! The way we did it, we took pictures together, with our families, and with our wedding party, but we even took it a step further and got the pictures with our wedding party that you’d typically take during the reception, like the “toasting” picture. With a group of 20 (including our ushers), we knew it’d be a nightmare and a time-waster trying to get everyone together in the middle of the reception to get those shots, and they were able to let their guards down and have fun as soon as the ceremony was over. Basically, once the ceremony was over, their duties were over, so they could do what they wanted and their dates/significant others also weren’t waiting around for an hour or 2 after the
ceremony to be with them. It was honestly a win all around.

“So we made a pact that we would stay on the dance floor and if people wanted to see us, they’d come to us on the dance floor.”

Another tip is to make sure you tell the venue to keep the air LOW if you’re expecting people to drink and dance. We definitely expected this and actually made this request beforehand, but unfortunately we think the Roosevelt underestimated the importance of this for us, so the beginning of the reception was pretty hot, but luckily the venue fixed
the issue fairly quickly. As a result, we ended up pretty sweaty, but again another plug for the first look, we luckily got the most important pictures out of the way so this wasn’t
such a big deal as it would have been if we hadn’t had those already! Christopher is a wedding DJ and I had been to many gigs with him over the years. We knew this last tip as a result of seeing so many weddings, so I thought I’d share. When it comes to the “feel” of your reception, as in if you want it to be a big party or if you want it to be relaxed and low-key, while a big part is the
entertainment (music) and alcohol you provide, I’d venture to say the biggest part is up to the bride and groom. A beautiful and classy wedding was something they wanted, but at the same time we wanted it to be a huge party! So we made a pact that we would stay on the dance floor and if people wanted to see us, they’d come to us on the dance floor. While it’s a bit taboo (since we know the proper thing is to make your rounds to everyone), that was just one thing we didn’t want to compromise on. It also worked out too because we wanted to make sure we stayed together all night instead of both being separated by different conversations and such. We just wanted to spend all our wedding day together and have a blast while doing so! And it really worked out for us. I don’t think there were many guests that we didn’t say hello to or thank! Almost everyone was on the dance floor at least once!

“We sat in a pew, prayed together, and admired how gorgeous the church was.”

What made you decide to have your ceremony at Immaculate Conception?
Picking Immaculate Conception stemmed from a date we had about a year prior to getting engaged! Christopher and I  were across the street at Domenica Pizza in the Roosevelt and I saw the building and told Christopher how beautiful it was and that I wanted to go inside! We sat in a pew, prayed together, and admired how gorgeous the church was. I looked at Christopher and told him I wanted to get married there and he exclaimed how amazing it’d be. Fast forward to a year later, when it came time to choose a church for our wedding, we immediately knew that’s where we wanted to get married, so we booked it!

What made you decide to have your reception at the Roosevelt?
A lot of people thought we chose the Roosevelt first and The Immaculate Conception second. Probably because of the Christmas decorations in the Roosevelt! It was actually the other way around! Since we chose the Immaculate Conception and it kind of dictated our choice of a date of December 30th , it was a natural decision to look into the Roosevelt. We had explored other options, but it just made too much sense to have our reception at the Roosevelt. It’s across the street and the famous Christmas decorations would still be up, so it really was the perfect choice for us! Also, both of our families have a big music background, with my mom owning a record label and being an artist manager and his whole family growing up playing 1000 different instruments, the Blue Room and its vast musical history was the perfect location for us!

Wedding Vendors

Event Planner: Wink Designs and Events
Videography: Lipari Films
Catering: The Roosevelt
Florist: Bella Blooms Floral
Wedding Cake: The Roosevelt
Grooms Cake: Bittersweet Confections
Wedding Dress Designer: Essence of Australia
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BHLDN
Getting Ready Attire (ex: robes, pajamas): We got some large men’s button downs from
Dillard’s and had a family friend monogram them!
Wedding Shoes Designer: Blue by Betsy Johnson
Bride’s Hair Dresser: Glam Nola
Makeup Artist: Glam Nola
Groom + Groomsmen Apparel: A Formal Affair by Trish
Reception Music: The Phunky Monkeys
Event Rentals: Wink Designs and Events
Calligraphy/Signs: Cheri Calligraphy
Wedding favors: Cookies (the bride’s mother) Slippers (Alibaba)
Printed Items: Cupcake Graphics
Invitations / Stationary: Alibaba
Bouquet Preservation: Keepsake Floral
Second Line: Frenchmen Street Productions
Koozies: Mailbox Happiness
Second Line Umbrellas and Handkerchiefs: Roxygs

The post New Orleans Wedding Photographer | Roosevelt Hotel | Kaitlin + Christopher appeared first on New Orleans Wedding Photographer - Tasha Rae Photography.

New Orleans Wedding Photographer

How did you meet and how long have you been together?
I was born and raised in New Orleans. Stephen was born and raised in South Florida. A LSU Tiger and a Florida Gator ended up meeting in New York City! We were engaged a little over 2 years later in New York’s infamous Bryant Park.

What were your highlights of the day? Were there any surprises?
The highlight of the day was having all of our friends from all over the country together in one place to celebrate with us. The Knockaz Brass Band came marching through our reception! It was a treat to show all our out of town guests how we party in New Orleans!

“Remember why you are doing this. At the end of the day the only thing that matters is how happy you are to have found the love of your life “

What advice would you give to other couples planning their day?
Remember why you are doing this. At the end of the day the only thing that matters is how happy you are to have found the love of your life and how lucky you are to share your joy with your family and friends. A few bottles of wine throughout the months of planning does not hurt either.

What made you decide to have your ceremony at National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor?
Stephen and I loved how beautiful yet imitate the chapel was. Immediately upon entering we knew it was the only place we would want to be united as husband and wife in the presence of God.

What made you decide to have your reception at The Mule Barn at Destrehan Plantation?
Surrounded big, beautiful oak trees of the planation grounds stands the most charming barn perfect for our what we envisioned. This rustic yet elegant space allowed us to have both the indoor and outdoor reception we dreamed of. Dancing the night away and then step right outside to grab some Cafe Du Monde beignets and coffee was everything we dreamed of!

Vendor Details

Venue – The Mule Barn at Destrehan Plantation
Church – National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Event Planner – Cammy Livingston of Camellia Productions
Videography – Dyle Films
Catering – Capdeboscq Catering Services
Florist – Giverny Designs
Wedding Cake – Kat’s Cakes
Wedding Dress Designer – Jenny Yoo
Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Bill Levkoff
Bride’s Hair Dresser – Rachel Schneller Polit
Makeup Artist – Kellie Bode
Groom & Groomsmen Apparel – Tuxedos To Geaux
Reception Music – Dat Band
Event Rentals – Cafe Du Monde
Wedding favors – Statue of Liberty hats
Invitations / Stationary – Name It

CHECK OUT OUR LAST BLOG POST | SAVANNA + SEAN MAISON LAFITTE

OTHER POPULAR BLOG POST | RANDI + KIRK ENGAGEMENTS

The post New Orleans Wedding Photographer | The Mule Barn at Destrehan Plantation | Kaitlin + Stephen appeared first on New Orleans Wedding Photographer - Tasha Rae Photography.

How did you meet and how long have you been together?
Sean and I met almost 5 years ago through my college roommate (Thanks Sarah!)

“The only surprise on our wedding day was how hot it actually was.”

What were your highlights of the day? Were there any surprises?
To me, the mass was the highlight of our wedding day. It was the first time I was able to really relax and let it all sink in. I felt at peace standing next to Sean, surrounded by everyone we loved. We also decided to incorporate the Croatian tradition of the blessing of the marriage crucifix. During our marriage prep our mentor couple told us the history of the marriage crucifix, which started in Siroki-Brijeg. Not one single divorce or broken family has been recorded in living memory in this little town of Bosnia and it is said to be because of this tradition during their vows. When the bride and groom go to the church to be married they carry a Crucifix with them. The priest blesses the Crucifix and instead of saying that they have found the ideal partner with whom to share their lives, he says, “You have found your Cross! It is a Cross to love, to carry with you, a Cross that is not to be thrown off, but rather cherished.” When they exchange their marital vows, the bride puts her right hand on this Crucifix and the groom puts his right hand over hers. Both are bound together and united to the Cross. In times of difficulty and misunderstandings, they turn to the Cross. It was such a special moment to have during our ceremony, and serves as a great reminder of our marriage that we now have hanging in our home.

The only surprise on our wedding day was how hot it actually was. I rented these gigantic cooling fans for our reception but I don’t think they did a thing lol. We didn’t care though, everyone still had a BLAST dancing to the band all night long.

“What matters is how you respond to the problem.”

What advice would you give to other couples planning their day?
I would tell couples planning a wedding right now to not be afraid to ask for help! It was something I wish I was better at during the wedding planning process. The week of your wedding can be chaotic and you can’t accomplish everything on your own no matter how organized you are. Which leads me to…. I would also recommend hiring a wedding planner. I found myself still trying to finish last minute things the morning of my wedding and it really cut into enjoying time with my bridesmaids.

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If you have a large family and a large bridal party, then I would recommend making a list of names that you would like photos with and giving it to your photographer or your MOH. It was something I wish I had done because it would have made group photos go a lot smoother and quicker.

Lastly, I would tell them that something will inevitably go wrong on your wedding day no matter how perfectly you plan your day. What matters is how you respond to the problem. You can let it ruin your whole day, or you can let it roll off your back and still have best day of your life!

Ceremony Location + Reception Location | What made you decide to get married there?
I was on the hunt for a reception venue that wasn’t your typical ballroom. I fell in love with Maison Lafitte’s classic southern charm. The venue was beautiful on its own and did not need much decorating.

Vendor Details

Videography – Brooke Boydd
Catering – The Lakehouse
Florist – Merry Floral
Wedding Cake – Zoe’s Bakery
Wedding Dress Designer – Stella York
Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Show Me Your MuMu
Getting Ready Attire – Bronte & Clyde
Wedding Shoes Designer – ASOS
Bride’s Hair Dresser – L&Co. Salon– Hailey Garner
Makeup Artist – Glam On Location, LLC
Groom & Groomsmen Apparel – Tuxedos To Geaux
Reception Music – Louisiana Spice Band
Event Rentals – Glo Event Decor
Wedding favors – SipSip Hooray
Invitations / Stationary – Shine Wedding Invitations
Transportation – American Luxury Limo

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What were your highlights of the day? Were there any surprises?
Our highlight was the reception! Once the stresses and emotions of the day had come to an end, we could relax and have fun with family and friends.

What advice would you give to other couples planning their day?
On the day of your wedding, just relax and soak it all in. Try to stay in the moment! This day is all bout you and your significant other. It goes by so quickly!

Ceremony + Reception Location | What made you decide to get married there?
We have always loved the Old State Capitol and it’s castle like features. We grew up visiting there and it was at the top of our list of locations to get married. It was also a huge deal for us that the ceremony and reception were all in one location. We were thrilled when we found out it was free for our wedding date!

Vendors

Event Planner – Southern Standard Events
Videography – Heartbeat Films
Catering – Heirloom Cuisine
Florist – Root Floral Design
Wedding Dress Designer – Madison James
Wedding Shoes Designer – Badgley Mischka
Makeup Artist – Paige Danielle
Reception Music – John Gray / Continuum Music
Invitations / Stationary – Paper N Things

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