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Getting Married in New Orleans: Your Guide to the Crescent City

Getting married in New Orleans can be difficult, even for locals. Check out this comprehensive list of to-dos before planning your New Orleans wedding.

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There’s lots to choose from if you plan on getting married in New Orleans, so it helps to have a guide. From deciding where to get married in New Orleans to considering different choices in accommodations to taking care of paperwork — like, um, the marriage license, we’ve done the legwork to make planning New Orleans weddings that much easier. The most important thing to remember if you're wondering how to get married in New Orleans, or one the surrounding areas in Louisiana, is there isn't a wrong way to do it. As long as your nuptials are infused with your personality, love story, and the people you love most, you're on track for the perfect NOLA celebration.

Whether your Big Easy nuptials are better suited for the French Quarter, Garden District or the Bywater, read on for your ultimate guide to getting married in New Orleans.

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Picking a Venue

While the French Quarter, the oldest and most famous neighborhood in the city, gets lots of attention from couples looking for the perfect location for getting married in New Orleans, the city is full of nooks and crannies you’ll want to learn about before picking where to get married in New Orleans.

French Quarter: So, yes, we just said you should probably look beyond the Quarter, but it really doesn’t get any more quintessential New Orleans than the ornate balconies and exposed brick of French Quarter wedding venues. Full of Old World charm, this neighborhood is one attraction after another as you stroll pass famed restaurants (Cafe du Mondé, anyone?), cathedrals and markets. While your wedding photographer will have lots of suggestions for great shots, you’ll definitely want to score a classic balcony shot.

Garden District: If you’re looking for Southern charm and an abundance of greenery to marry around, look no further than the aptly titled Garden District. Wedding venues in this tree-filled neighborhood are mostly restored mansions with beautiful courtyards.

The Bywater: If this name sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the trendy section of New Orleans that’s home to celebrities like Solange Knowles and Brad Pitt. Beyond a star sighting or two, you’ll find some really unique New Orleans wedding venues in this neighborhood bordering the Mississippi River, including Press Street Gardens, one of our favorite outdoor wedding venues.

Historic Homes: As a city that predates the founding of the United States, there’s centuries of history in New Orleans. If your wedding is straight out of another decade, the historic homes of New Orleans are a perfect fit for your wedding venue.

Press Street Gardens outdoor wedding venue in new orleans

Weather

Located in the southern-most tip of the state, getting married in New Orleans can be humid and rainy due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. While temperatures are never too steamy or too chilly, rain and overcast are constant threats, particularly for outdoor wedding venues. October to March months see highs in the 60s and 70s while April to September are warmer with highs in the 80s and 90s. October is the driest and sunniest month of the year in New Orleans with 72 percent sunshine.

Dates to Avoid

Mardi Gras, late January to early February: The weeks between the twelfth night of the Epiphany and Fat Tuesday are Carnival season for the entire city of New Orleans and its suburbs. While you don’t need to avoid the entire two to three week period, the closer it gets to Mardi Gras (the Tuesday before the beginning of the Christian Lenten season), the more likely you are to run into limited lodging and streets crowded or closed with parades and festivities. Mardi Gras itself is a legal holiday in New Orleans with the city functioning at limited capacity.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, April 27-29 & May 4-6, 2018: This 40-year music festival is one of the biggest events in the city each spring and draws nearly half a million people to the city each year. While traffic is concentrated at the Fair Grounds Race Course, accommodations will be more cutthroat these two weekends.

Essence Music Festival, July 5-8, 2018: Billed as one of the largest events in New Orleans, this annual series of concerts draws about half a million revelers to NOLA during Independence Day weekend. Concerts are at the Superdome, but other music, art and cultural events happen all over the city including in the French Quarter, so congestion will hinder wedding plans.

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Accommodations

Although it’s relatively small, the Crescent City is built for tourism, so accommodations are abundant for those getting married in New Orleans. As long as you avoid some of the city’s large events, finding a hotel block for your guests should be a breeze. Just be sure to choose a hotel in the same neighborhood as your wedding venue, so guests have easy access to the wedding, ceremony and any post activities!

Marriage License

Other wedding planning details aside, a copy of your marriage license is definitely a must! If you're wondering how to get married in New Orleans, you should know that in Louisiana you must wait at least 72 hours between the time the license is issued and the ceremony, so be sure to plan for this time. You don’t have to be a resident of the state, but you will need a photo ID and two witnesses to obtain your marriage license. The license will expire 30 days after it is created as well.

How to Get Married in New Orleans Inspiration

Now that you know about getting married in New Orleans, check out these gorgeous real weddings in the Big Easy.