47744939-NOLA-Fashion - Tara Bradley Connell

MAD LOVE AT MARDI GRAS
WORLD On Jeanette: Gown,
$3,600, Priscilla of Boston.
Earrings, price on request,
Marcia Moran. Ring, $3,290,
Ritani. Shoes, $445, Mary
Norton. On Jimmy: Shirt,
$69.50, vest, $89, pants, $98,
and belt, $34.50, Perry Ellis.
Tie, $19.99, Merona for Target.
Shoes, $560, Fratelli Rossetti.
every day is
photography by Adriano Fagundes
MARDI G RAS!
STYLING by RODNEY Hall
A destination do in New Orleans
blends serious romance with a
dash of irreverent fun. In this freespirited city, go ahead — paint the
town whatever color you want!
THE COURTYARD AT CAFE AMALIE
On Jeanette: Gown, $3,800, Melissa Sweet. Earrings, $100, Kenneth Jay Lane. Necklace, $7,700,
Yael Sonia. Ring, $3,225, Ritani.
Shoes, $1,000, Rene Caovilla.
Bouquet, $325, Urban Earth
Studios. On Jimmy: Jacket, $125,
and pants, $98, Perry Ellis. Shirt,
$180, tie, $100, and handkerchief,
$60, Thomas Pink. Shoes, $1,650,
John Lobb.
TOASTING TO TWO AT ARNAUD'S
(opposite) On Jeanette: Gown,
$6,930, Angel Sanchez. Earrings,
$155, Isaac Manevitz for BenAmun. Ring, $9,000, Todd Reed.
Ring, $49,004, Zorab Atelier de
Creation. Shoes, $1,280, Rene
Caovilla. On Jimmy: Shirt, $180,
bow tie, $40, and cuff links, $130,
Thomas Pink. Suit (jacket not
shown), $898, Brooks Brothers.
Suspenders, $135, Benjamin Bixby.
Shoes, $198, Cole Haan. Ring,
$995, Versani.
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SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING
NEW AT ROYAL STREET ANTIQUES
On Jeanette: Gown, $28,000, J.
Mendel. Necklace, $675, Kenneth
Jay Lane. Ring, $8,250, Todd Reed.
On Jimmy: Tuxedo jacket, $200, and
pants, $170, Perry Ellis. Shirt, $180,
and bow tie, $40, Thomas Pink.
Shoes, $1,600, John Lobb.
GOLDEN GIRL IN A PRIVATE
ROOM AT ARNAUD’S (opposite)
Gown, $2,475, Claire Pettibone.
Veil, $405, Cheryl King Couture.
Necklace, $13,221, and ring,
$10,140, Katrina Kelly Jewelry.
Ring, $8,750, Todd Reed.
70 destination weddings & honeymoons
summer 2009 71
STEPPING OUT IN THE QUARTER
On Jeannette: Gown, $2,800, J.
Crew. Earrings, $4,460, Jude
Frances Jewelry. Necklace, $14,123,
Katrina Kelly Jewelry. Ring, $1,495
(setting only), Whiteflash. Shoes,
$82.95, Nina. Bouquet, $300, Urban
Earth Studios. On Jimmy: Jacket,
$125, vest, $79.50, and pants, $98,
Perry Ellis. Shirt, $225, Benjamin
Bixby. Ring, $995, Versani. Shoes,
$80, Sperry Top-Sider. Boutonniere,
$27.25, Urban Earth Studios.
SWEET STOP AT TEE-EVA’S
(opposite) On Jeanette: Gown,
$2,420, Amsale. Earrings, $995,
and ring, $1,900-$2,800, Versani.
Bracelet, $250, Kenneth Jay Lane.
Bag, $995, Mary Norton. Shoes,
$1,380, Rene Caovilla. On Jimmy:
Jacket, $395, and shoes, $198,
Cole Haan. Pants, $98, Perry Ellis.
Shirt, $180, and tie, $100, Thomas
Pink. Tie pin, price on request,
Dolan Bullock. Ring, $995, Versani.
72 destination weddings & honeymoons
summer 2009 73
SKY-HIGH AT HOTEL MONTELEONE On Jeanette: Gown, $1,100,
Nicole Miller Bridal. Headpiece, $260,
Tia Mazza. Necklace, $49.99, Erickson
Beamon for Target. On Jimmy: Jacket,
$27.99, and pants, $19.99, Merona for
Target. Shirt, $69.50, Perry Ellis. Tie,
$40, and handkerchief, $60, Thomas
Pink. Shoes, $560, Fratelli Rossetti.
A VISION IN MURIEL’S SÉANCE
ROOM (opposite) Gown, price on
request, Vera Wang. Earrings, stylist’s
own. Necklace, $495, Issac Manevitz
for Ben-Amun. Bracelet, $1,880, Yael
Sonia. Ring, $995 (setting only),
Whiteflash. Shoes, stylist’s own.
74 destination weddings & honeymoons
spring 2009 75
on location
M
new orleans, louisiana
ardi Gras beads, Cajun cuisine and an incredible jazz scene aren’t all that make up New
Orleans. NOLA-bound brides will discover streets lined with intricate wrought-iron
balconies, homes painted in pale greens and bold magentas, arched doorways leading to
private gardens, and welcoming residents who love to show off their city. This American treasure
is ideal for fun-loving couples who want to throw a party to remember.
k What to do Find out what
goes into the making of the city’s
premier party at Blaine Kern’s
Mardi Gras World, a multi-venue
attraction filled with the supersized floats and giant animated
characters that make up this
iconic NOLA event. (You can host
events here too, complete with a
second line parade through the
warehouse.) Learn the eerie history of the French Quarter on a chill-inducing ghost walk with
Haunted History Tours. (Try not to get goose bumps outside the
LaLaurie house; reportedly the most haunted home in the city,
it’s so spooky even its current owner, Nicolas Cage, won’t stay
there.) Spend a day at City Park and make a stop into the Sydney
and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, next to the New Orleans
Museum of Art; admission is free, and the five-acre garden features 60 sculptures by the likes of Louise Bourgeois and Robert
Indiana. Get your strike on at Rock ‘N’ Bowl — Mid City Bowling
76 destination weddings & honeymoons
Lanes, where live bands rock as you roll. It’s a great place for private parties too; the Super Strike package features bowling, alcohol
and catering for up to 175 guests. (For more than that, you can rent
out the entire venue.)
No visit to New Orleans is complete without nightlife. The
bars of the French Quarter (and
drunken-people watching on
Bourbon Street) are a given,
but there’s plenty outside Vieux
Carre. Tuesday nights mean Rebirth Brass Band at The Maple Leaf
Bar in Uptown. Or mingle with
the locals at the happening music
clubs along Frenchman’s Street in
the Marigny, downriver from the
Quarter. Check local listings to
find out if the Hot 8 Brass Band
are playing, and if they are, don’t
miss them! This energetic octet
epitomizes the joy and strength
of New Orleans, and it’s impossible not to get caught up in their
infectious energy. (If the name
rings a bell, you may have seen
them in Spike Lee’s documentary
When the Levees Broke.) They can
even be hired for an unforgettable
celebratory second line parade
from your ceremony to reception.
(Ours, at left, took place outside
Commander’s Palace in the Garden District.)
k Where to eat Dining is a time-honored tradition in the Big
Easy, with oysters Rockefeller, gumbo, shrimp étouffée and crawfish as just a few of Louisiana’s must-have items. Start your day
with a beignet, a warm, square donut covered in powdered sugar;
almost every cafe has them. Outdoor dining doesn’t get more
charming than Cafe Amelie, whose spacious walled courtyard is
a favorite for weddings. The highly revered Galatoire’s Restaurant
(family-owned since 1905) doesn’t accept reservations for its coveted first-floor dining room, and many of the city’s power players
this page: Adriano fagundes; opposite clockwise: Jose Fuste Raga/CORBIS; New Orleans Tourism; cochon; John Foxx/getty images
k Where to stay Our home base was the circa-1886 Hotel Monteleone, located in the heart of the French Quarter. With 600 guest
rooms, a rooftop pool and the revolving Carousel Bar and Lounge
(favored watering hole for Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner
and Truman Capote), it can easily accommodate a wedding of any
size in 24 individually decorated
ballrooms with capacities ranging
from 15 to 400 guests. The onsite
wedding planner helps facilitate
everything from receptions in the
rooftop Riverview Room to parties at area restaurants. They have
relationships with the city’s top
vendors, including the highly reputable florist Urban Earth Studios,
known for vibrant arrangements
accented with unique twists like St.
John’s Wart and bear grass. Bonus:
The legendary Carousel Bar in the
lobby stays open till 2 a.m., ideal
for informal after-parties.
Clockwise from top left: The nightly party on Bourbon Street; classic brass at Preservation Hall; traditional boudin sausage at Cochon; the iconic
St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square. Opposite: A second line parade with the Hot 8 Brass Band. On Jeanette: Gown, $4,400, Kenneth Pool. Bracelets, $4,900 each,
Roberto Coin. On Jimmy: Tuxedo jacket, $1,395, and tuxedo pants, $395, Benjamin Bixby. Shirt, $180, and bow tie, $60, Thomas Pink. Shoes, $198, Cole Haan.
line up outside with “regular folk” to get a seat. Your best bet: Ignore
the multi-page creole menu and let the waiters handle the ordering
for you. Thanks to an in-house boucherie (butcher shop) and rustic
Cajun creations from buzz-worthy chef Donald Link, getting a table
at Cochon Restaurant can be a challenge. Skip the crowds and treat
your group to a custom-created tasting menu inside its new private
event space, Calcasieu. The balconied Muriel’s overlooks bustling
Jackson Square and serves up refined dishes like crawfish and goatcheese crepes, seafood au gratin and an unbeatable pain perdu bread
pudding. Private-party ambience doesn’t get any cooler than the
ornately draped Séance Lounge upstairs, said to be haunted by a
past resident. Popular among the elite, Arnaud’s is famous for its
high-end clientele (celebrities come in through a secret-stairway
entrance), antique vibe and stellar creole menu. (Don’t miss the
Oysters Arnaud, featuring five styles of baked oysters.) Multiple
party rooms are available, with differing color schemes and decor
from simple to ornate. — Tara Bradley ■
for more info, see the 411 on page 123.
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