Married: March 19, 2022
Bridal Prep: Family Home
Ceremony: Popps Fountain
Reception: The Arbor Room, City Park
Band / DJ: Kurt Valvis
Florist: Fat Cat
Hair: Tori D’Aquin
Brides Gown Designer: Justin Alexander
Bridesmaid Gown designer: Jenny Yoo
Bridal Boutique: Bliss Bridal
Tuxedo Store: Times Tuxedo Rome’s Tuxedo
Stationary: Lulu Roniger
Candles/Lighting: Firefly Ambiance

How did you meet?
We don’t really remember! We had a mutual best friend – his best friend from high school was my best friend in college. After we graduated from our respective schools we all moved home to New Orleans in 2014 and started hanging out regularly until sparks started to fly between Nick and I. We had a good friendship before we started dating.

Include a little bit about yourselves. What do you do?
I (bride) am in advertising, working for an agency in NYC but remotely so I can live in New Orleans. Nick is in construction and sales. We have a sweet pup named Coca and a wild cat named Winnie. We bought our house in late 2020 and have been really focused on fixing it up to make it ours. We love a lot of color and patterns so it’s been fun! We also love to travel and are hoping to do more of it as the pandemic slows down.

what is your favorite thing about each other? Share a personal story.
Nick – I like that Sam is family-oriented and goal-driven. I love that I get to see a sweet side of her that no one else does. She makes me laugh with her very animated mannerisms and storytelling! We make really great partners together on the same team.

Sam – I love his contagious laugh. It can change the energy in an entire room. He’s the ying to my yang. We may be opposites (I have all the energy haha) but we get along so well.

How did the proposal go? Who proposed to who, were you surprised?
Nick proposed to me! He did it on the front steps of our house on the day we signed the papers and officially became homeowners. I was expecting the proposal soon, but was surprised in the moment that it was happening then! Although he bent down to put Cocoa’s leash on her before our friends took our obligatory homeowners picture so I saw the box in his back pocket and freaked out!! When he started to say something sweet to begin his proposal I blurted out “I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING” which immediately cut any nerves he had out because he just started laughing and then dropped to one knee and asked me right then! He loves that story lol.

Where was your ceremony held and why did you pick this site?
It was at Popp Fountain and the Arbor Room which is actually the first location we looked at. I knew I wanted an outdoor ceremony and Nick wanted the reception at the same location but when I saw it in person it felt really magical and beautiful. We knew immediately that was the spot!

Where was your ceremony held?
It was at Popp Fountain and the Arbor Room which is actually the first location we looked at. I knew I wanted an outdoor ceremony and Nick wanted the reception at the same location but when I saw it in person it felt really magical and beautiful. We knew immediately that was the spot!

What unique or special things did you do at the reception?
We both knew early on that everyone on the dance floor was the most important thing to us. So we actually cut most of the extra activities like the grooms cake or bouquet toss. But we did pour champagne over the tower of coup glasses which I love! Went perfect with our modern deco theme ha! Also during the reception somehow a strip tease of sorts got started during Pony that we will never forget hahaha

Pick one moment in the day that was your favorite thing?
Doing the first look. We both felt a ton of emotions and energy the whole day and it was such a relief to just see him and have 5 minutes alone before the big show. Plus it allowed us to get all of our pictures done before hand which I loved.

Did it really go by as quickly as everyone says?
Yes, but we’d heard this from everyone so we both made a point to be intentionally present in every moment. I do feel like I soaked up everything! I do wish I had more time to talk to everyone who came.

What was the inspiration behind picking the color palette and decor that you picked?
This was a hard pick for me. I LOVE jewel tones and always thought I’d have gold dresses with jewel toned flowers, but around the time we got engaged I saw emerald green dresses and completely changed my mind. Because I went with jewel toned dresses I felt like I needed to keep the flowers light and bright so I choose white flowers. Black, white and gold are my favorite colors so it worked out perfectly. It all kind of made sense when you realize I have an emerald cut ring, Nick and I are both May birthdays with emerald birthstones and our wedding was St Patrick’s Day week!

From the Bride – When you first saw the groom, what were you thinking/feeling?
Relief! He’s home to me and even just locking eyes with him can settle my overactive nerves. From that moment on I was able to really enjoy the evening.

From the groom – When you first saw the bride, what were you thinking/feeling?
I was feeling ecstatic! And I felt really lucky that I had a good partner to spend my life with. She looked beautiful.

Who was your baker, what was the flavor of your cake? Was it delicious?!
Swiss, wedding cake and yes although we really didn’t get much haha!

Did you have a coordinator or did you plan everything yourself? If you didn’t have a coordinator any advice for brides planning their own wedding?
Everything myself! My advice is to stay super organized, spreadsheet for everything so you forget nothing. And don’t be afraid to double check the details!

What was your first dance song? Why this song?
Wild by John Legend. No real reason, it was just a fun song we hop to hear on the radio or at events randomly that can remind of us of our wedding.

Band or DJ? Did they rock it?
DJ and he totally killed it! Will forever recommend him!

We want to hear YOUR advice for future brides.
Enjoy it. A lot of bride’s get so stressed and overwhelmed with the planning but you truly only do it once! Also don’t feel guilty for splurging. I wish I’d splurged more in hindsight but at the end of the day everyone had a blast.

We work really hard to help come up with a timeline and plan for the portrait list to make sure you are getting the most out of your day. How useful was this for you?
EXTREMELY it was the base for my entire day of schedule.

Anything else you want to say?
Only that I wish I had met Corine before the wedding day. I feel like I got to know you under stressful conditions even if just a phone call to introduce myself and go over the schedule together.