Today is Fat Tuesday, aka Mardi Gras, aka… a crazy good time! Mardi Gras is an extremely popular and nationally celebrated event. People love to play up this theme for birthdays, dinner parties, and yes… even weddings.
(image credit clockwise from top left: Martha Stewart, Burnetts Boards, Glamour & Grace, Pinterest, Food Epix, The Knot, Southern Weddings, Savvy Deets Bridal)
We love the idea of hosting a Mardi Gras/NOLA themed wedding, so we searched for our very own New Orleans wedding expert to inspire and guide you towards your own Mardi Gras themed wedding goals. Introducing our guest blogger today, Danielle from NOLA Bash!
Danielle is a New Orleans local, born and raised. The city’s culture is in her blood so as a New Orleans wedding planner, it’s innate for the N’awlins flavor to shine through in her otherwise classic and timeless designs. Read on now for Danielle’s take on hosting a Mardi Gras themed wedding, wherever you are!
Guest Post by Danielle:
It’s Carnival time here in the Big Easy! This is such a fun and lively time of year that makes New Orleans so special.
The beginning of Mardi Gras can be dated all the way back to the 1700’s but it wasn’t until the 1800’s that it began developing into the street parade with floats and throws (the goodies being thrown from the floats) that we know and love today. It is the last big hoorah before the Lent Season begins.
The essence of Mardi Gras is food, family, live music and good times! Things that can easily be brought to life at any event anywhere in the world. Today, I’d like to share how to bring some N’awlins flavor to your wedding or special event!
1) Guestbook – The guestbook is one of the first things your guests will see at your wedding. Forego the traditional guestbook and instead opt for a cookbook by one of our famous chefs or one that showcases some popular landmarks in the city and have your guests sign the pages. You can relive your wedding night each time you cook one of the recipes or flip through the pages!
(image credit: Zoeica)
2) Food – Let your menu showcase New Orleans cuisine. We love all things seafood, gumbo and jambalaya. Don’t forget about a bananas foster station at the end of the night for a true New Orleans experience!
(image credit: Matthew Foster Photography)
(image credit: Eau Claire Photographics)
(image credit: Dark Roux)
3) Music – Brass bands can really jazz up an event, particularly a Mardi Gras themed event. To keep on-theme, see if your band is willing to do a second line parade. Second line parades in New Orleans are full blown street parades where the police shut down the street so the bride and groom lead the parade with a jazz band. Their guests follow behind dancing and waving handkerchiefs. Since this tradition isn’t common in other cities – you can simply create your own second line parade around your venue. Have the band hop off the stage and lead you around the reception venue. You can even hand out beads for all of your guests!
(image credit: Zoeica)
(image credit: Dark Roux)
(image credit: Dark Roux)
This couple let the beads double as seating cards for each guests!
4) Second line handkerchiefs – If you decide to host a second line parade, have handkerchiefs made for all of your guests. They can use them to dance during the parade and then take them home as a favor!
(image credit: Eau Claire Photographics)
5) Favors – Some other great New Orleans themed favors are king cake slices, pralines, Roman candy or mini bottles of Tony Chachere’s. If you really want to go big, make your wedding a masquerade and give each guest their own mask!
(image credit: NOLA BASH)
(image credit: Eau Claire Photographics)
(image credit: Zoeica)
(image credit: Matthew Foster Photography)
6) Specialty drinks – Showcase a popular New Orleans cocktail as your signature drink for the evening! You have plenty of options to choose from that are quintessentially New Orleans: Hurricane’s, Pimm’s Cups, and Sazerac. In the Big Easy, we have an open container law which means we can have an alcoholic beverage on the street as long as it is in a plastic cup. Because of this, to go cups are a very popular favor for our brides. You can also have special cups custom made for your event – instead of saving them for the end of the night; have the bar serve drinks in them at the start of the reception.
(image credit: Swoozies)
I hope you’ve enjoyed these quick tidbits on how to bring the Big Easy to your city! Just remember to have fun with it and laissez les bons temps rouler!! (Let the good times roll!)