small wedding in new orleans pls help! any locals! (Jackson: where to stay, weddings)

[emmasmommy10]

can someone please help? My fiance and i want to get married in new orleans the day before our cruise to mexico. can anyone pls help me get started by helping me find a justice of peace and place. we are leaving on August 15, 2011! yes i know right around the corner! i dont want anything big just him, me, my parents, and our little girl. ive never been to new orleans so any help will be very appreciated! im a nervous wreck trying to get this done in time and i dont even know where to start!

[WestbankNOLA]

Records and Statistics (Vital Records) - Center for Records and Statistics - Office of Public Health - Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

[emmasmommy10]

Do you have any suggestions on where to have a wedding at? it will be my fiance, me, our daughter and our parents! very small. we want to do it the day before we leave on our cruise! its such short notice and i cant find anyone to help

[WestbankNOLA]

Maybe this can help? New Orleans Weddings and Marriage Ceremony Information

[Drouzin]

There is a little place, Pirate's Alley Cafe, (http://www.piratesalleycafe.com/), in Pirate's Alley (next to the St. Louis Cathedral), that will host tiny-small weddings in the alley. TELEPHONE- 504-524-9332 piratesalleycafe@hotmail.com I think you would have a pretty good chance of them being available for last minute weddings, but I can't promise they won't already have some event booked on that day.

With a wedding as small as yours, you could probably pick out a nice restaurant, and see if they would be willing to provide you with a nice spot to get married. There are plenty of old line and iconic restaurants in the Quarter with courtyards or private dining rooms who could make the occasion special for you. Best wishes.

[Sooz_T]

Pirate's Alley is great for weddings!

There are all kinds of options out there. Last October, my husband and I brought a small handful of friends out (since we're moving down next year, wanted to show them where we're going) and two of those friends were engaged, and wanted hugely to be married in New Orleans. They found an officiant that was willing to meet them wherever they wished to have the ceremony..we met up with him in beautiful City Park, they were married with 6 of their closest friends in attendance, and it was lovely.

For a stress-free reception, we made reservations at Antoine's (in the FQ) for their $20/person, 3-course lunch, and that was lovely too.

City Park in August is definitely different in temperature than it would be in October, but I just wanted to share the option.

I so wish I knew who married them so I could put you in touch. Let me see if I can find out what her resource was.
EDIT: here is the link to the person who performed their ceremony, just for an option:

http://www.romanceinneworleans.com/

Luck, and congratulations!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Sooz, what a great link! I repped you for it.

[Beth5595]

Congrats!!!
My fiance and I are also having a small wedding in NOLA in October. Although I am not a local, I've done a lot of research, because we are having a similar ceremony as what you have described.
We are going to get married in Audubon Park, a historic streetcar ride up St.Charles. We visited NOLA this weekend and saw another couple exchanging vows at the fountain by the entrance. Its a big park, (it includes a zoo) with lots of pictuesque trees (that will offer a little privacy and shade.) Parties of less than 50 don't require any kind of permit and there is no fee. Theres a great little B&B next to the park called the Parkview Inn. It looked great online, so if you don't have somewhere to stay, look into it. You could walk across the street to the park and have your ceremony before you melt.
Jackson Square is another beautiful location that is a great place to tie the knot. Its in the Quarter and one of those totally unique to New Orleans sites. I'm not sure-they may require you to get a permit, if they do its probably about $200. Its in an awesome location, so close to ton's of great places to eat after. That will minimize your time outside, as it will be super hot and humid. We were lucky enough to witness another wedding there too! This one was a little bigger, they had brought in chairs. After the ceremony the guests all second-lined around the park to Murial's for the reception. Murial's is one of the most touted restuarants in the city.
Finally, I also recommend City Park. We didn't go there in person. But I've seen lots of wedding pictures on line that made it quite impressive. They have some gazebo platforms that make for nice sites. I've been warned that if you have your heart set on one, send someone early to hold one for you. If another group beats you there, you're out of luck.
We really wanted to be outside, so I narrowed it down to these 3 sites. Google them and check them out. Be warned though, they are all public, so be prepared for onlookers. Everyone loves a wedding!! People will stand back and be respectful-and happy for you, but you will draw attention. Don't forget to be sure at least one of your guests has a camera if you don't hire a photograher. These locations will make for great pics.
Good luck and best wishes!!

[Sooz_T]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

Sooz, what a great link! I repped you for it.

Wow, thank you!