Lauren and Justin:
Wedding at Immaculate Conception and Southern Oaks

Coverage for Lauren and Justin’s wedding began at the stylish Pere Marquette Hotel in downtown New Orleans, with Up’sa Daisy and Eye Do Makeup taking care of the hair and makeup respectively, and the bride sharing an emotional first look with her father.

The arrangement of the two rooms where the bride and groom were getting ready (one directly above the other), along with the layout of the hotel giving a view of the outside of these rooms from a window around the corner, facilitated that really cool exterior shot of the two of them gazing in each other’s direction (without actually seeing each other). This was a rare instance when I was able to capture an image of both the bride and groom together without them having done a first look, not counting the occasional examples where the couple is back-to-back, perhaps separated by a door, holding hands or exchanging gifts and letters.

As cool as this picture is, in all fairness I can’t take full credit for it, as the idea was brought up by one of the bridesmaids. When she had been walking to the bride’s room from the elevator, she noticed that a window in the hallway provided a view of the exterior of the rooms where the bride and groom were getting ready.

After the wedding, the couple ordered a large canvas print of this photograph, which now hangs in their New Orleans home.

The ceremony took place at the historic Jesuit Church, Immaculate Conception, which is just right around the corner from the hotel. Then we all headed to Southern Oaks Plantation for the reception, where the couple had a grand entrance upon their arrival. This was accompanied by a spectacular fireworks show. Lauren is one of the dedicated hostesses at Southern Oaks, always striving to ensure her couples have an enjoyable and memorable event, and it was wonderful to see her having her own perfect wedding day as a bride at this fantastic venue!

Beth’s did the flowers, La Lousiane Bakery created the cakes (including the amazing ice hockey rink groom’s cake!).