Derbes Mansion is a charming New Orleans wedding venue. It gives you the best of New Orleans with plenty of space to party in style. Jordan and Connor’s destination wedding incorporated some New Orleans traditions and lots of fun-filled moments with their friends and family.

The Derbes Mansion: A Historic New Orleans Wedding Venue

The Derbes Mansion is a private home that has been converted into a New Orleans wedding venue. The decor preserves the historic charm with gilded mirror and gorgeous wood furniture. The main rooms, including the Dining Room, Library, Parlor, and Rose Room have a modern sense of color weaved into the charming aesthetic.

With a Derbes Mansion wedding, you get to do everything in one location. You can get ready, hold your wedding, stay overnight, and even swim here. The stately porch makes the perfect setting for your ceremony. Meanwhile the gardens are ideal for an outdoor cocktail hour and reception.

If you’re looking for New Orleans charm without feeling cramped in the French Quarter, Derbes Mansion is a great option. It’s just under a mile outside the French Quarter on Esplanade Avenue. Plenty of bed and breakfasts and restaurants dot the streets around it. It’s ideal for a destination wedding or hosting a lot of guests who have never seen the city before.

A New Orleans-Style Celebration

By the time Jordan and Connor held their Derbes Mansion wedding, they’d been together for nine years. They’d been best friends long before they started dating. You can feel that depth to their relationship when you’re around them. I had so much fun photographing them! 

When I asked them about their aesthetic vision for their wedding, they said they wanted lots of “black, white, and neutral tones of champagne and dark green. We’re going for elegant and timeless.” Jordan and Connor knocked it out of the park with their classic attire and decor.

Even though Jordan and Connor went for a timeless wedding aesthetic, their celebration felt anything but cookie cutter! Most of their guests traveled with them from the Metro Detroit area, and it was their first time in New Orleans. Jordan and Connor included some fun traditions so that everyone could enjoy the best of New Orleans. 

After their ceremony at Derbes Mansion, Jordan and Connor led everyone in the second line with Kinfolk Brass Band. Their guests really got into it! This second line was sentimental for me personally as we went right through my neighborhood. You could see neighbors on their porches joining in and celebrating with them.

If you’re considering holding a second line at your New Orleans wedding, I highly recommend it! I’ve rounded up some of my favorite tips for a wedding parade in this blog post.

At their reception, Jordan and Connor did a dollar dance to raise money for a local nonprofit called NOLA Mission. They explained to their guests that they didn’t just want to have a party in New Orleans; they wanted to make sure they were giving back to the community. They raised $1,000 in total!

Jordan and Connor’s Joyful Wedding

Jordan and Connor’s friends played a huge role in their wedding day. Their mutual best friend officiated their wedding. During their first look, Jordan’s wedding party and their bestie officiant snuck onto the balcony of Derbes Mansion. After the couple saw each other, everyone started cheering. I loved photographing the moment Jordan and Connor realized their friends were there.

Throughout Jordan and Connor’s relationship, their parents have all become great friends. They secretly choreographed a dance as a surprise for the couple at the reception! It was pretty epic, and it even included Connor’s signature bunny hop move.

As soon as the parents’ choreographed dance was over, everyone joined them on the dance floor! Jordan, Connor, and their guests got down. They even got the staff to dance with them. It felt like a showdown of Detroit vs New Orleans on the dance floor. I had the best time photographing it all!

Are you interested in having me photograph your New Orleans wedding? I’d love to document your day with photos as vibrant and joyful as your wedding! Inquire with me here. 

Thank you to the vendors who made this wedding so amazing!

Photographer: Ashley Biltz Photography

Wedding Planner: Lisa Carbonari with Hallowed Ground Productions 

Venue: The Derbes Mansion

Caterer: Fleur de Lis Catering 

Florist: Beth’s Florals 

Make Up and Hair Artist: Virgo Beauty Studio

Dress Boutique: White Arbor Bridal 

DJ: Omega Sound

Band: Kinfolk Brass Band 

Bar: TAP Truck NOLA 

Rentals: YUR Event Rentals 

After-Wedding Transportation: Alert Transportation