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Weddings

About

Il Mercato is a wedding venue in New Orleans, Louisiana that embodies sophistication and elegance. This unique and historic building features original architectural details and a romantic setting for your wedding celebration.

Facilities and Capacity
Il Mercato offers 8,500 square feet of event space, with five indoor and outdoor venue options to choose from for a breathtaking ceremony and reception. Outside is their expansive, open-air courtyard with a gorgeous fireplace, as well as a covered arcade with original flagstone floors and painted wood ceiling. Inside, their dazzling ballroom is complete with herringbone wood floors, original plaster walls, and Italianate chandeliers. The annex features French wall panels in a rich gray tone with gold leaf accents, and the library has original wood beams, cabinetry filled with books, and a custom bar. The venue can accommodate 225 seated guests and 450 guests cocktail-style.

Services Offered
Il Mercato offers many services for a stress-free and memorable experience, as well as many event rentals to enhance the atmosphere of your celebration, such as tables and chairs, tents and tent accessories, chair covers, dance floor, decor, furniture, lighting, photo booth, altars and arches, audio equipment, aisle markers and runners, and drapery. The venue has ample parking and is wheelchair accessible. They are available to hosts ceremonies, receptions, bridal showers, engagement parties, elopements, and rehearsal dinners. Services include:

  • All-inclusive packages
  • Cake
  • Catering and bar services
  • Event planner
  • Event rentals
  • Liability insurance
  • Lighting and sound
  • Outside vendors
  • Setup and cleanup
  • Shuttle
  • Valet service
  • WiFi

Cuisine
Il Mercato offers the convenience of in-house catering with award-winning cuisine by the Joel Catering team. They also supply all needed barware, china, chocolate fountain, flatware, glassware, and linens for your event. The wedding catering services they provide include:

  • Buffet
  • Cocktail reception
  • Dessert
  • Family style
  • French service
  • Hors d'oeuvres
  • Outside cake
  • Plated
  • Server(s)
  • Stations
  • Tastings

Other Services
Il Mercato also provides many bar services for your special day. The wedding bar services they offer include:

  • Bartender(s)
  • Cash bar
  • Champagne toast
  • House beer, liquor, and wine
  • Limited bar
  • Liquor license
  • Open bar
  • Outside alcohol
  • Premium liquor
  • Signature drink
  • Specialty beer and wine

Location
Il Mercato is located in the Lower Garden District on Magazine Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. It sits adjacent to Sophie Wright Park and is surrounded by local boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$4,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$1,500

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$4,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$1,500

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
Clean Up
Linens
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Server(s)

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

3

Describe your venue:

Historic Building

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Liability Insurance
Outside Vendors
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Family Style
French Service
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Outside Alcohol
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Aisle Markers
Aisle Runners
Altar/Arch
Audio Equipment
Centerpieces
Chairs
Chair Covers
Dance Floor
Decor
Drapery
Furniture
Lighting
Photo booth
Tables
Tents
Tent Accessories

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Chocolate Fountain
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Shuttle
Valet
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

March
April
May
October
November
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
June
July
August
September

Reviews of Il Mercato

Nicole
Nicole Sent on 11/11/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Simply the Best

I don't know where to begin with my absolutely FANTASTIC experience working with Joel Catering. Trying to plan a wedding during COVID, our coordinator Katie was the best! Not only did she work with me throughout the planning process to fine-tune the menu, coordinate a tasting during a pandemic, and constantly change the guest count, but on the day of our food was INCREDIBLE. It's almost a month later and we still have people commenting on how good the food was and how they wish they had some duck gumbo right now. Can't recommend Joel Catering enough, if you want a truly special and memorable evening this team is for you!
Danielle
Danielle Sent on 06/04/2016
5 out of 5 rating
il Mercato is a hidden gem right in the center of the garden district. There is a beautiful courtyard with a rustic feel (including a fireplace) that is landscaped to match the style of the venue. And the inside is stunning. The simplicity and clean look of the indoor area adds to the beauty and the open layout is perfect for weddings. Our ceremony was held in the courtyard and reception inside and the transition was flawless. In regards to hosting an event, I would highly recommend it. Our guest raved about the quality of the food and the service was top notch. I don't think there is any other venue like il Mercato in the New Orleans area.
J
John Sent on 12/02/2015
5 out of 5 rating
What can I say about Joel’s Catering, expect five star food and service. We booked Joel’s for our wedding and the food was amazeballs. The late night round of mini corndogs was a perfect way to end an evening of dancing at a wedding.

I can honestly say Joel’s Catering was the best wedding food I ever had. The staff was very professional and did an excellent job with serving our guests. One of the many compliments of the evening from our guest was the quality of the food. I would recommend Joel’s Catering to anyone that was looking for catering.
C
Cheramie Sent on 09/24/2015
5 out of 5 rating
The food was great! Seasoned, hot, and just right! The bars and bartenders keeping the guest cups and hands filled! Megan was very helpful and easy to get in touch with! She made sure everything was just as we planned. Their corn& shrimp soup is amazing, the bacon wrapped shrimp, and the shrimp on a cheddar biscuit were my favorites. Everyone talked about how plentiful and how great the food was at our wedding . My dad loved the oysters, beef, and andouille sausage !!
M
Monica Sent on 08/30/2015
5 out of 5 rating
I just have to say Megan is the best! Working with her is more like working with a friend as opposed to a catering manager. She takes care of everything and takes so much of the stress off of you. Especially towards the end I would email numerous changes and she handled it like a pro. She made the whole experience memorable and ran smoothly. Oh yeah the food was amazing! Don't pass up on the oysters with the cheese and the bbq shrimp on a cheddar biscuit! Those were the hits of our night!
A
Amy Sent on 05/18/2015
5 out of 5 rating
Food was phenomenal. Guests raved about the food weeks after. There was a great mix of what we were looking for, and he provided great ideas. The food was not traditional wedding food, and represented us as a couple and the city of New Orleans.
M
Mary Sent on 11/21/2014
5 out of 5 rating
My husband is a chef and so we wanted awesome food at our wedding at the Beauregard-Keyes House. When people heard that great food was our priority, every single one of our New Orleans friends and vendors said one word: "Joel!" And they were right. Joel organized a Friday night passed hors d'oeuvres cocktail party and our Saturday night wedding with passed hors d'oeuvres, an oyster bar, and a buffet reception. They were accommodating with creating a Frankenstein bar (they supplied the booze, we selected and brought in our own wines) and doing a really amazing groom's surprise caviar service. All in all, they were consummate professionals (Tey especially is a ROCK STAR), delightful to work with, and, last but certainly not least, the food was amazing and everybody loved it. A wedding truly fit for a chef!
A
Anne Sent on 11/18/2011
5 out of 5 rating
The best food and the best team of people.
U
User6775619 Sent on 02/23/2013
4.8 out of 5 rating
Amazing food! Everyone raved about the food. Easy to work with, very professional.
I
Inger Sent on 07/30/2018
2.8 out of 5 rating
Although the venue was beautiful and the food was delicious. I had a horrible experience planning my October 2017 wedding. My event coordinator, Annie, was uninformative about many critical details, and as a result we lost thousands of dollars because of it. She never disclosed house rules until the eleventh hour at which point my husband and I had to take a loss. I wrote her a letter the month before the wedding expressing my displeasure with the way our event was being handled and she promised me full disclosure and a better working experience. However the day of the wedding before I was about to walk down the aisle she told my flower girls that they could NOT drop flower peddles on their courtyard! Once again the eleventh hour and hundreds of dollars lost. All these months later I still live with these unpleasant memories on such a special day.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

10

Map

Il Mercato frequently asked questions

Il Mercato includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • Clean Up
  • Linens
  • Set Up
  • Tables
Il Mercato includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Server(s)
The space offered by Il Mercato for wedding events is known for:
  • Historic Building
Il Mercato offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Il Mercato offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Il Mercato offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Liability Insurance
  • Outside Vendors
  • Wifi
Il Mercato offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Aisle Markers
  • Aisle Runners
  • Altar/Arch
  • Audio Equipment
  • Centerpieces
  • Chairs
  • Chair Covers
  • Dance Floor
  • Decor
  • Drapery
  • Furniture
  • Lighting
  • Photo booth
  • Tables
  • Tents
  • Tent Accessories
Il Mercato is recommended by 95% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in average response time, 4.8 in quality of service, 4.8 in value, 4.7 in flexibility and 4.7 in professionalism.
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