Where does a girl begin....Jennifer and Bryan came into my life through an email. We had incredible conversations by phone and FaceTime, but, it wasn't until we met face to face in New Orleans for their engagement session that it all started to become real. These two lovely souls started this journey together in my home state of Maryland. Jennifer was attending Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and Bryan was working in the DC area. Talking to Jennifer about her time in Baltimore, I felt like she was one of my best girlfriends. The food, neighborhoods, the Hopkins campus and all of what the east coast has to offer. Then I met her fiancé Bryan - a handsome redheaded fella who's heart you can see in his smile. He's such a kind soul and is the definition of a gentleman, Our first get together was at Cafe du Monde for our engagement session and I could see the connection these two have with each other. I knew their wedding day was going to be incredibly special, meaningful and full of joy and love. Watching Bryan look at his wife on this lovely January day was enough to make Olaf from Frozen melt.
What I most remember and cherish most from this wedding is the couples choice to incorporate traditions from Jennifers culture to the day as well as embracing New Orleans wedding traditions. A Chinese Tea Ceremony is one of the most significant events at a Chinese wedding. It's called jing cha in Chinese, literally meaning, 'to respectfully offer tea'. It incorporates a very formal introduction of the bride and groom, and expresses respect to their families. Jennifer and Bryan's family and friends offered the couple a piece of gold jewelry and or money to wish the new couple prosperity in their marriage. Most of the pieces the couple received are heirlooms passed down from generation to generation. Me being an absolute fan and lover of heirloom and estate jewelry, this moment in the day spoke to me. Jennifer and Bryan also chose to have a Second Line parade down Bourbon Street and through the French Quarter to celebrate with everyone in the streets. This particular day, there was a playoff Saint's football game happening at the Superdome and after the ceremony ended and the Second Line began, all of the bars and restaurants let out and the street and sidewalks were full of people smiling, waving and taking photos of the happy couple. I'm a New Orleans Saints girl and I had no idea who won the game, all I knew was that this beautiful moment was happening in front of me and I was lucky enough to be the one to document it for this incredible new family.
They chose the Hotel Mazarin for the ceremony and reception an gorgeous hotel in the heart of the French Quarter with a courtyard so lovely it transports you to a different place and time. The reception was held at the Hotel as well and the couple chose to name the tables after their favorite James Bond movies and got lucky enough to score the band that they heard play on Frenchman Street on their first visit to New Orleans at their wedding!! ( How incredible is that !!!)
Jennifer and Bryan's wedding was a magical day full of joy, vibrant color and a couple....madly in love. Check it out!!
Grooms Attire: Calvin Klein
XOXO,
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