Real Wedding - Jessie & Nelson

Jessie & Nelson were married at the beautiful Old US Mint Courtyard which is surrounded by the amazing architecture of the French Quarter. Using a clear topped tent to highlight the surroundings, we transformed a blank green space into their epic reception!

What was the most memorable part of the wedding planning process? Getting to learn New Orleans better. In planning we made a lot of weekend trips to NOLA and learned our favorite neighborhoods and local spots that we now like to visit each time.

What did you learn during the process that you wish you knew up front? If in the beginning you think your venue or any vendor is going to be an issue and not deliver then professionally cut ties early. We learned that the hard way with our first venue.

Why did you choose New Orleans and specifically the Old US Mint for your big day? We live in Houston so originally we played with the idea of a Houston wedding. But since neither of us are from Houston we had no real connection to any place in Houston to get married. So quickly we knew it would be a destination wedding and NOLA was a perfect fit. We love the NOLA vibe, it is easy to get to and so much fun! It made it even more perfect that Nelson is from Louisiana and so we got to celebrate our love for the State.

Once we decided on NOLA we basically visited every wedding venue. After issues with our original venue The Mint saved the day. Everything aligned and they had the date we needed and Madison at The Mint made everything so easy from minute one. Working with Madison is what really sold me on the venue. That along with its ability to accommodate a cocktail hour and reception in two separate spots in a single property.

Why was decor & lighting important for your wedding aesthetic? Lighting was key since we knew we wanted our reception to be in the evening. An evening reception gave us the ability to incorporate the beautiful chandeliers and candelabras. They just have such an impact at night. The lighting with the candelabras and candles looked absolutely amazing under the stars with our clear tent.

Did you enjoy the design process with the Luminous team? The Luminous team was so helpful. In our first venue walk through with them they not only weighed in on our rental items from them but went above and beyond to offer feedback on other elements of the event walkthrough where they had ideas to improve. I was so surprised and pleased by this since it showed they took a real interest in making our event go well. In addition to that, their taste is impeccable and their inventory can so easily allow you to add personalization. We did that through a custom Luminous bar.

What is your favorite memory from wedding day? For both of us it was the Second Line parade that closed out the wedding reception and led guests back to the hotel. It was our perfect ending.

Do you remember what you were thinking when you saw the completed reception space for the first time? I was shocked that it was all so perfect. I am a perfectionist and since I planned the wedding I had high expectations. But all the vendors partnered so well with our month of planners, Mint Julep. It was all executed perfectly!

What advice would you give to other couples trying to plan their big day? 1. Give yourself a chance to have a few minutes in your reception space before others enter. 2. In general, just because something isn't typical doesn't mean you can't do it :) It is your day and you can do anything you want. What's next for the new Mr. and Mrs?!

We spent time in Bora Bora after the wedding and enjoyed the start of our marriage. Now we are ready to sit back, relax and enjoy our new norm of Mr and Mrs. Moses.