It is very rare that I am not in contact with couples multiple times before their wedding. In Mary's case not so much. She and her fiance are pretty busy career people. So I spoke to Mary twice via phone. No texts. No IM. Just twice until they hit town. I met Mary for the first time at her hotel room door at the Dauphine Orleans. Surrounded by her daughter and best friend Amy they had this little quiet space with a courtyard where they planned the wedding ceremony. 

We planned to do some candids as she got ready. I walked around taking detail shots and noticed something interesting. Her cake was my recommendation. Her officiant the same. And it goes on. I asked how that happened and guess what? She read my blog like crazy. Made me feel great. I thought it was a black hole out there! 

The wedding ceremony was cute. She decided to wait for Tony at the altar and have his father give him away to her. Such a fun non-traditional way to change things up! Throughout the vows I noticed her daughter was crying. It's really special when I get to be an invited witness to such private moments. Very cool. 

After some formal (well not so formal but more fun than formal) family photographs, they cut the cake. And I got a piece! Of my very favorite cake in the world. Shhh... it's a secret. Okay I will tell you its the Berry Chantilly Cake from Whole Foods. Who would have thought? I'm including some shots because once you see it you will HAVE to get it! 

We headed out into the French Quarter. Although the toast had already been made...check out the shots of the girls fighting over the champagne bottle...we headed out to get cocktails and do a real New Orleans style toast. Stopping in at a dive bar just off Bourbon Street called Last Call they grabbed some drinks and off we went on an adventure through the streets of the French Quarter. They couldn't resist, well Tony could, a quick first dance on Royal Street with the local musicians to a fanfair of applause. 

But the fun didn't stop there. I finished up their photos a couple of days later and they were still in town so my husband Kevin and I headed over to Bar Tonique to meet up with everyone. Mary, her daughter and her boyfriend, along with Tony, were waiting at the bar with a bit of a head start. I sat down and actually had a couple of drinks. I don't really drink at all. And wow, it was like Mary and I had grown up together. So much in common. Then to find out - they used to live in Kansas City - well that was a small world. But hark, it became smaller because her daughter's boyfriend is from my small hometown of Stilwell, Kansas. And we spent the next 1/2 hour comparing all the places we used to hang out. Small world indeed. And another new group of friends I have no doubt I will be seeing again. It was a good day.

Now for some random photographs.

This one is the start of their American Gothic portrait. I'm excited to play with it further! Lots of work yet to be done. Watch for the final in an upcoming post.

Every year here in New Orleans we are under attack by Buckmoth caterpillars. They are vicious. Their spines are sharp and are tipped with an irritant that stings like hell. Amy found one crawling up Mary's dress so with the swipe of the handy bouquet and a stomp with the end disaster was averted.

Booze wars.

Mary's grandmother's wedding ring and locket. Pretty cool huh!

You just never know who you will meet along the way. 

When you are planning your unique, intimate wedding or elopement please give me a call. We can discuss how to make it special and fun. 504-920-8703