Iconic Wedding at the Hotel Saint Vincent, NOLA

Weddings

Sep 11

New Orleans is filled with such rich history and culture - it’s a stunning and meaningful place to get married, and Allie and Mac did it right. They made sure each of their guests left the city feeling like they got a true taste of New Orleans, and with their closest friends and family for a cherry on top. They boiled crawfish, had turtle soup, participated in a second line, ran under shelter during a quick rainstorm passing, snacked on late-night beignets, and partied until the sunrise.

When I first had a phone call with Allie, she said “we want it to feel like just an average weekend in New Orleans with our friends… and then we happen to get married in the middle of it”.

The Rehearsal Dinner

They hosted their post-rehearsal dinner at the iconic Commander’s Palace, a historic New Orleans institution with award-winning Haute Creole cuisine, producing renowned chefs, and known for it’s New Orleans originals - like Turtle Soup au Sherry and Bread Pudding souffle. The Commander's Palace has been a culinary landmark since its opening in 1893, and it served as the perfect location for a timeless and iconc couple such as Allie and Mac.

Welcome Drinks

In true New Orleans fashion, they hosted a Crawfish boil as their welcome event for their guests. We love a theme! Hosted at the Parleaux yard, which was introduced to them by Anthony Bourdain’s travels to New Orleans. They are known for their beer, delicious crawfish, and deep-fried creole oysters — and they did not disappoint. An important New Orleans experience, again shared by loved ones, good conversation, and incredible food.

Getting Ready

These getting ready photos were taken in such a documentary style - which is my favorite way to take getting ready photos. She moved from the “perfect light” in the hotel room where she was supposed to put her dress on, into the bathroom so she could have a mirror to help her - and I absolutely loved that look/moment. It started sprinkling lightly on the walk from the hotel to the chapel, so she ran, and I loved capturing her running in her Cult Gaia heels. Everything was purely natural, and I loved every second of it.

Details

The details of this wedding are insane. The Hotel Saint Vincent is a dream playscape for a photographer to take detail photos. The second I walked into the hotel, I started dreaming up how I could utilize the space for their wedding images. I couldn’t have planned how perfectly the shoes would go on the hotel room leather chair, or how incredibly her bouquet would match the Lambert McGuire Design custom wallpaper throughout the Saint Vincent bathrooms. It all came together so stunningly - in a beautiful mix of timeless and colorful perfection.

Ceremony

In the historical and beautiful Felicity chapel, the couple exchanged vows with a crowd of loved ones. As the rain began outside, and gently tapped on the stained glass windows of this venue, the string quartet played beautiful renditions of the couples’ favorite movie scores. As the groom is in the Movie Industry, and is an avid movie fanatic - it was meaningful for both the couple, and surprisingly impactful and emotional for everyone in attendance. I think we don’t comprehend how much movie music has impacted our brains - everyone was touched.

Second Line

The sprinkling came to a slow stop, and the wedding people got ready to Second Line from the Felicity NOLA chapel, to the Hotel Saint Vincent for the cocktail hour. Accompanied by an incredible brass band, and being cheered on by spectators and tourists, the wedding people took over the streets of New Orleans to celebrate the couple in the traditionally most “New Orleans” way possible.

Cocktail Hour

In literally the nick of time, the guests made it under the stunning clear tent as the rain started to pour. It was breathtaking. The beauty of being outside in the summer rain, with the smell of wet pavement, and the buzz of a post-ceremony celebration, and of course delicious appetizers and cocktails… it was like something from a movie.

Decor

Brogan Scott Studio is iconic in every way - and the decor and details from each item in this weekend were designed just for Allie and Mac, and their New Orleans party.

Portraits

We snuck in a few portraits at different points throughout the day, and that’s always my favorite method to taking wedding portraits. It keeps the photos so much more true-to-the-moment and carefree / low-stress. I never want my portraits to feel forced - and that shows in the posing and in the scheduling - I love to keep my couples comfortable and in their element.

Dinner

In keeping with the New Orleans traditions - the classic southern tradition of the charm cake pull was a highlight of the dinner time of day. Emotional speeches, delicious french and creole food, and an excited chatter filled the room during this stunning dinner-scape.

The After Party

As the guests finished with their dinner, the DJ turned up, and the party began. It started with some dancing in their reception space, but then quickly moved to the Hotel Saint Vincent bar, the Chapel Club, for a stunning, intimate, and club-like after-party. Welcome to Club Hedges.

The Hotel Saint Vincent

One of my favorite things: staying in the same hotel that the wedding people stay in. Allie and Mac were so kind to put me in a hotel room in their room block at the Hotel Saint Vincent. As the weekend went on, I felt inspired and pulled to each corner of the Saint Vincent, and of course, brought my film camera with me. I hope these film photos bring Allie and Mac back to their wedding weekend for the rest of their lives. The Hotel Saint Vincent on Film: