Catherine and Matt
Wedding at St. Mary’s and Latrobe’s

This wonderful couple had to defer their wedding plans from last year due to COVID, but it was well worth the wait!  The bride and groom both got ready at Hotel Monteleone, and after the bride’s emotional first look with her dad in the hotel, the couple had their first look in nearby Exchange Place (a pleasant pedestrian alley located next to the Monteleone), and we headed to St. Mary’s for the ceremony.

The church is located just several blocks away from St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter, and although the Old Ursuline Convent has its own outdoor reception space, this couple’s reception took place at Latrobe’s on Royal, where we headed to with a fun second line parade through the French Quarter.

Hair/Makeup: Flawless Bride
Flowers: Fat Cat
Cake: Royal Cakery
Second Line: Kinfolk
Reception Entertainment: DJ Jack Magic

More about St. Mary’s

St. Mary’s Catholic Church (also sometimes referred to as St. Mary’s Italian Church) in the Old Ursuline Convent. The church, built in 1845 as the Chapel of the Archbishops, has had several names and functions throughout its existence, being given its current designation in 1994. It was built on the site of the Ursuline Convent and Chapel. A nearby plaque reads:

Old Ursuline Convent
1749-1753
Next to the site of first building erected in 1734
Home of Ursuline nuns who came from France “to relieve the poor, sick and provide education for young girls”
First girls’ school in Louisiana
Oldest building in Mississippi Valley
Placed by Louisiana Society
National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century
1995

It’s a beautiful and unique New Orleans church, with a wood ceiling that has an elaborate design painted on it.