If you have been following these weekly posts you are probably asking yourself so where is the special? The special is hidden a bit. It is the resulting relaxation and lack of stress that comes from not being sucked into the wedding world of insanity. And it also is because it is your voice, both of your voices. It should always reflect who you are or want to be. Heck, throw a costume party! I've certainly photographed my share of Mardi Gras weddings.
As I promised we are going to talk more in detail about planning a destination wedding with some specifics for my hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana.
You have the dress, the location and venue along with the goodies that make your wedding unique if you are planning a larger affair. Now its time to take advantage of a destination wedding and how it can be your best friend or worst enemy.
So one of the pros for a destination wedding or elopement being able to restrict your guest list. Yes, I know, so many people may be left out. But if you do this right they won't be. Schedule a party for when you return. As a side note have you thought of live streaming your wedding? I've done it for clients in the past. Solves that problem. Once you know approximately how many people might come it is time to book hotels. And I forgot to mention always check your dates with special events that occur here regularly. If can very much affect availability and rates.
How to go about choosing a hotel in a town like New Orleans? How many guests and attendants are you planning? Intimate weddings have the luxury of booking bed and breakfasts or boutique hotels. Larger weddings have two main options. Book a hotel with a bank of rooms reserved for everyone or book a smaller boutique hotel for you and your wedding party separate from everyone. What happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans kind of thing. Wink, wink! Next, where in the city should you book your rooms? For the most part I recommend the French Quarter or Central Business District (directly across the street from the Quarter). There are some additional expenses that you might not catch when booking lodging. One is parking, which is at a premium in those areas. Daily fees run $30-40 per day through the hotels. There are options outside the French Quarter that are far less costly but you will have to walk or take a pedicab back and forth. So think about that if you or your guests are driving or renting a car. Internet access is an added charge too. Some places it is pretty good and others kind of slow so keep that in mind.
Now what makes it special is where you are staying, what is going on around you and the people who came to celebrate with you. New Orleans offers so many options to make your wedding special. Brass band Second-lines from ceremony to reception are becoming popular. Tarot Card readers can be hired for guests' entertainment. And the music. Oh my, your options are so wide open here. You've saved money by doing some of the things I've recommended so now splurge on the band! How much more special can your wedding be than with a well known New Orleans Jazz band leading your second line into your reception for a night of partying and dancing like nowhere else in the world? And the places you can go while you are here. Set up a swamp tour, carriage ride or haunted museum visit. Schedule a tour for your wedding party and family or even group tours for the entire guest list.
Understand that on the average, feeding one person at a moderate venue will cost an easy $50 plus the bar charges. So it can go to $100 per person for seating, space, decor, booze, food and service very quickly. Cut back your wedding from 150 to 50 and that is a savings of $10,000. See? For that savings you get to go somewhere else, keep it simple and show your guests the party of a lifetime while saving money. Stress free my dears!
Next week my final post about How to Make Your Wedding Special will be the most informative with final ideas on how to remain stress-free. Join me and while you are waiting enjoy some of these snippets of the French Quarter and past weddings. The photos below are from a voodoo wedding performed by Mary, a renowned local priestess.
Call me for more information about my wedding, elopement and engagement photography. 504-920-8703