Kandice & Harris were married at the beautiful Il Mercato located on Magazine Street in New Orleans. Their custom boxwood chuppah and lush aisle are two of our long list of favorite things from this wedding!
What was the most memorable part of the wedding planning process?
I think designing the chuppah was the most memorable part. I'm not Jewish, but my husband is, and that was something that we agreed would be part of our ceremony. Planning an interfaith ceremony is challenging for multiple reasons, but the chuppah would be the stand out piece of our ceremony and I felt a lot of pressure. We probably designed three or four different designs before Lisa suggested the boxwood posts and I couldn't have been happier. And just as I thought, it was the standout piece for not only our ceremony, but for the entire night. We kept it up during the reception and served as a back drop in so many pictures from the night. The green boxwood's mixed with the white flowers designed in conjunction with Herb, from Herbivore Floral Designs, was absolutely perfect and I wouldn't change a thing!
Why did you choose New Orleans and specifically Il Mercato for your big day?
I am originally from Baton Rouge so having the wedding in Louisiana was a natural fit for me. Louisiana in the Spring is my favorite time of year; just before the blistering heat comes crashing in. So we thought it would be nice to have our guests travel to a warmer destination while we were still in the dead of winter in New York, even in March. In fact several guests ended up not being able to make the flight due to a massive snow storm that hit the area! New Orleans seemed to be a better fit for our guests traveling from New York culturally and for ease of travel.
Il Mercato was an easy choice for me; I didn't really even look at other venues. I had gone to one other wedding there and just fell in love with it. Harris was really concerned that I didn't do enough research and he had never even seen the space. But hey, when you know, you know! One of the bigger reasons it worked for us was that we were specifically looking for a place that could hold the ceremony and reception in the same space (which was trickier than I imagined it would be). In addition, budget and finances are always a top concern for families planning a wedding and I felt like because the bones of the venue were so pretty, I knew I wouldn't have to spend extra money covering up bad chandeliers or carpets so that was a huge plus!
Why was decor & lighting important for your wedding aesthetic?
The decor was important because I had a very clear vision for the aesthetic of my wedding day; modern sophistication. I wanted the decor to be very clean, with bold lines, with subtle touches of sparkle and shine. While a lot of wedding design had been trending towards rustic chic I knew that wasn't my personality.
Did you enjoy the design process with the Luminous team?
Yes, absolutely! I already had seen their work and trusted that they would help make my wedding day special but I knew it was a perfect match after the very first meeting. Well I was in New York actually, and missed the first meeting, but my mom went who helped with all the planning with me from day one. She and Lisa worked really well together and I knew that it would be the same for me. They knew exactly what I wanted, listened to all my ideas and visions for each aspect, and really helped me curate something memorable without breaking the bank! Lisa and her team had worked with several of our other vendors as well so that helped the install come together with ease. Lisa was actually the one who introduced us to Herb, who did our flowers, which turned out to be a total lifesaver after we found ourselves without a florist two months out! Thank goodness for her!
What is your favorite memory from wedding day?
My favorite memory is probably dancing the Horah and being lifted in the chairs alongside Harris. I was actually pretty nervous about it leading up to the day. I have been to many weddings where the new couples and families danced and it looked so fun; but I didn't know anyone Jewish growing up, so I wasn't sure what my friends and family would think. It was really fun to experience something so new and to see all my friends faces! We were dancing and jumping around and didn't know what was going on! Some of my favorite pictures from the day are those!
Do you remember what you were thinking when you saw the completed ceremony & reception space for the first time?
I remember feeling relieved! Everything was so beautiful and complemented the space so well, and I got really good vibes from the moment I stepped through the gates! I looked around and looked at Harris and knew he felt exactly the same. It was perfect! What more could you ask for on your wedding day besides that? Perfect weather? We had that too!
What advice would you give to other couples trying to plan their big day?
My first piece of advice would be to pick vendors that you trust and pick people who mesh with your personality. Once you give them the vision and a few guidelines here and there, let them stress about the small stuff! They are professionals at what they do, and if you pick the right people who understand your needs, they won't steer you in the wrong direction. My second piece of advice is to not be afraid to ask questions. No wedding is exactly the same and their is a learning curve for everyone.
What's next for the new Mr. and Mrs?!
We are currently living in NYC with our new cavapoo pup, Tony, and enjoying married life :)
Kandice's review of Luminous Events from The Knot: "Can't say enough amazing things about Luminous Events! Lisa and her team understood my vision from the beginning and helped orchestrate everything I wanted to fit my budget without sacrificing style. The meetings were fun and creative and I would recommend then to anyone I know. Can't wait to work with them again!"
The rental items from Luminous Events included:
Custom Boxwood Chuppah
Clear cylinder/hurricane vases for the aisle
Festoon string lights over the courtyard
Our ivory & gold bars
Decorative Lanterns for the outside tables
Our grey velvet lounge set
Centerpieces and window sill candles
Our boxwood hedge stage backs and ivory stage fronts
Vendor Love: Photo: Jeannie Frey Rhodes Photography @jfrphotography
Lighting, Decor, Lounge: Luminous Events @luminousevents
Catering: Joel Catering @joelcatering
Band: Az-Izz @azizzband
Venue: Il Mercato @ilmercatonola