Abby and Ben:
Wedding at St. Patrick’s and Galatoires

This resilient couple had to postpone their wedding due to COVID-19, and then when their rescheduled date neared, restrictions on gatherings in New Orleans still would not allow them to have the kind of wedding reception they envisioned, so they decided to reschedule the big reception to the following year, but proceeded with the ceremony at St. Patrick’s Church with limited guests, along with an intimate dinner reception at Galatoires.

But we were still able to pop into their reception venue, The Capital on Baronne in downtown New Orleans, for some portraits before heading to the French Quarter for the dinner. The Capital has a very spacious ballroom, one of just a few wedding venues in New Orleans that can accommodate very large weddings, with a maximum capacity of 400-600 guests. The former lobby of FirstNBC bank, it features a very ornately detailed interior.

About St. Patrick’s

Old St. Patrick’s is 185 foot high Gothic style structure that was built around 1840, making it one of the oldest Catholic churches in New Orleans. Though St. Louis Cathedral predates it by about 50 years, the Cathedral was expanded and rebuilt about 10 years after St. Patrick’s was built, with very little of the original structure being retained, while St. Patrick’s, though being extensively restored in the latter part of the 20th century, still looks essentially the same as it did when it was first constructed. The interior is awe inspiring, featuring beautiful murals behind the altar painted by artist Leon Pomarede, gorgeous stained glass, and countless other details.

The plaque on the outside of the church reads:

St. Patrick’s Parish was the second established in New Orleans. The first church on this site was dedicated April 21, 1833. The cornerstone of the present edifice was laid July 1, 1838 by Bishop Antoine Blanc during the pastorate of Father James I. Mullon. The first service in the completed church was held February 23, 1840. The building was designed by Dakin and Dakin, Architect, and completed under the direction of the architect James Gallier who designed most of the interior, including the high altar. The sanctuary paintings were executed by Leon Pomarede in 1841. The first St. Vincent De Paul Conference in New Orleans was founded here in 1852.

An additional plaque outside reads:

Saint Patrick’s Church. Established 1833 by Bishop Leo Denekere, C.M. This church, completed in 1840 during the pastorate of Father James I. Mullon, is the oldest parish church outside the French Quarter. In 1850, St. Patrick’s served as pro-cathedral while the St. Louis Cathedral was undergoing reconstruction. Here Bishop Antoine Blanc received the pallium as first Archbishop of New Orleans on February 16, 1851. St. Patrick’s is regarded as the mother church of uptown New Orleans.

Inside the church, a marble plaque reads as follows:

In commemoration of the pastoral visit of Archbishop Francis B. Shulte, D.D., to celebrate the completion of the restoration of St. Patrick’s Church, December 2, 1990. In perpetual remembrance of the thousands of people whose dedication and sacrifice helped restore this national historic landmark. As an act of faith we rededicate this church as a living symbol of the loving presence of God among us. “Si momentum requiris circumspect”

A pleasure to photograph weddings at, it’s a wonderful choice for brides and grooms, with numerous outstanding reception venues in the immediate vicinity of the church.