Laid-back Pat O’Brien’s Wedding Reception

Weddings
Written By Ashley Biltz

Meredith and Eric are each other’s best friends. When you’re around them, you can tell how much they adore each other. They wanted their New Orleans wedding to be laid back and fun! Their Pharmacy Museum ceremony and Pat O’Brien’s wedding reception were full of laughter and carefree moments.

A bride and groom watch a family member give a wedding toast beside a piano in the Briar Suite at Pat O'Brien's.

An Intimate French Quarter Wedding

Meredith and Eric had their wedding ceremony at the Pharmacy Museum. When I photograph at the Pharmacy Museum, I love creating portraits with lots of reflections. We got some really amazing ones of Meredith and Eric! My favorite is the one where they’re cozy together in a nook, and you can see their reflection in the glass shelves.

A bride and her father walk up a curving staircase before a French Quarter wedding.
A bride and groom press their foreheads together at a first look in the front room of the Pharmacy Museum.
A couple in wedding attire smile at each other as their parents look on smiling.
A groom poses in front of a fountain in a French Quarter courtyard.
A groom kisses a bride on the cheek before their Pharmacy Museum wedding.
A groom stands behind a bride who looks in a floor length mirror inside the Pharmacy Museum.

This small wedding had romantic details. Gorgeous pearls covered Meredith’s veil. They photographed beautifully. The ceremony coincided with sunset, too. As the sun went down, the courtyard lit up. The atmosphere was so magical.

A bride and groom pose between antique cases of herbs in jars inside the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum.
A bride and groom pose with their wedding party in black tie wedding attire.
A cellist plays wedding ceremony music.
A wedding officiant holds a microphone for a groom reading his vows during a Pharmacy Museum wedding.
A bridesmaid and a bride wipe away tears during a French Quarter wedding ceremony.
A couple laughs as they walk up the aisle in the courtyard of the Pharmacy Museum at the end of their wedding ceremony.

Reception in the Briar Suite at Pat O’Brien’s

After the ceremony, Meredith and Eric second lined with their guests to Pat O’Brien’s. (More on that cool New Orleans wedding tradition in this post!) They waited until they arrived to hug everyone, and the moments felt even sweeter because of it. The couple grabbed a drink downstairs before joining guests for the reception in the Briar Suite. It’s always nice for couples to get a quiet moment post-ceremony.

A laughing bride and groom lead their guests through the streets of the French Quarter for a New Orleans wedding parade.
Kinfolk Brass Band leads a nighttime wedding parade.
Smiling wedding guests wave white handkerchiefs at a New Orleans wedding photographer.
A crowd dances with New Orleans wedding umbrellas in a French Quarter street at night.
A groom carries a bride's veil and laughs with her in a French Quarter street.

The Briar Suite at Pat O’Brien’s is a beautiful space, and it gives the full French Quarter experience. You can see the history in the walls’ patina and the elaborate details. Many people’s favorite feature is that it has a balcony overlooking Bourbon Street. Meredith and Eric’s guests had a great time interacting with passersby. The space was just the right size for this intimate wedding, and the candids feel really personal. They’re a great reflection of the night’s energy.

A wedding party second lines through the Pat O'Brien's courtyard.
A New Orleans bride laughs and leans forward to hug a wedding guest.
A bride and groom have their first dance in the Briar Suite at Pat O'Brien's.
A bride and groom kiss while wedding guests clap in a private room at Pat O'Brien's.
Wedding guests throw beads onto Bourbon Street from a balcony at Pat O'Brien's.

Are you interested in having me photograph your New Orleans wedding? I’m a wedding photographer specializing in fun, colorful images. Inquire with me here! 







Thanks to the vendors who made this wedding possible:
Day-of Coordinator: Megan Sapp from Down Annie Lane
Venue: Pharmacy Museum
Caterer: Pat O’Brien’s
Florist: The Plant Gallery
Baker: Haydel’s Bakery (Metairie)
Hair and Makeup Artist: Flawless Bride Beauty
Dress Brand and Boutique: Tadashi Shoji from BHLDN
Ceremony Musicians: NOLA String Quartet
Officiant: Judge Kern Reese
Second Line band: Kinfolk Brass Band

Ashley Biltz
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