Welch Photography & Video – Page 5 – New Orleans Wedding Photography & Video

Jennifer & Joshua | Jackson Square, French Quarter | New Orleans, LA | Wedding Photography

Jennifer & Joshua – March 8, 2014
Wedding – Jackson Square, French Quarter, New Orleans, LA

As one of the top destination wedding cities in the US, New Orleans is an obvious choice for many people who are looking for a place to get married other than where they live. Jennifer and Joshua had been to New Orleans before. When they decided to have their ceremony, and wanted something a little more adventurous than the farm land near their home in Kentucky, they knew that New Orleans was the place for them. Like it is for so many others, the Crescent City offers the great combination of a historical and picturesque setting, along with many fun attractions and activities, not to mention the fabulous food. Since they had a few friends and family in attendance, New Orleans offered everyone the opportunity for a great time to go with the celebration for the happy couple. Let’s face it, no matter where you live, there is nothing else like New Orleans, and if you are coming here to get married with a small group in attendance, there is no place better than Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter. It’s truly the focal point of the city. What could be more perfect than that?

When we first heard from Jennifer about her plans to get married in New Orleans, she didn’t know exactly where she would do it. She asked me what I would recommend, and for the type of ceremony she had in mind the traditional locations would be Jackson Square, City Park, or a courtyard with one of the hotels either in the French Quarter or perhaps in the Garden District, like a St. Charles Ave. mansion. I mentioned these to her, and what to consider for each of these. Jackson Square offers the most convenient location for going to get something to eat afterward, which was their plan. She decided to do that, and since it was a late morning ceremony they would go to a nearby restaurant to eat afterward.

The ceremony was scheduled for 11:00am, and we met by the fountain inside the park. It was bright sun at that time, and since it caused everyone to squint we walked over to the shaded area under the large oak trees to the side of the park. The ceremony was very shot, and very sweet. They started right away when we found a good spot, while thier friends and family watched as a group to the side. There were no chairs, everyone stood and enjoyed the moment. Jennifer and Joshua were very animated, and kept glancing over at the group, which made for some fun photos. The first kiss signaled it was done, as he picked her up off her feet to celebrate.

After the marriage license was signed, we took some formal portraits there in the square. First with each of the couples by themselves, and the whole group. Of course, everyone got photos with the newlyweds. Then the guests went to get started with lunch, I believe they went to Tujaque’s or Muriel’s, though there are so many options within just a few blocks from there. While they went to get seated, I walked into the French Quarter with the bride and groom to get some special photos for them together. First we stopped in front of the Cabildo, where a street band was playing some traditional New Orleans jazz. They started doing a little dancing, so we got some first dance photos, street style! We then went to get photos in the streets of the quarter, with the architecture and beautiful wrought iron fences and unique lights for backgrounds. Of course we went up to Preservation Hall to get some photos there, as they had just spent the evening before enjoying the music there. The texture of that building in particular makes for wonderful photos.

In all, I’m sure the day was just what Jennifer and Joshua had hoped for, and their wedding day was well recorded for them to cherish the rest of their lives together.

Lisa & Travis | Riverview Room | New Orleans, LA | Wedding Photography

Lisa & Travis – February 21, 2014
Pre-Wedding – Doubletree Inn, New Orleans, LA
Wedding – Riverview Room, Jax Brewery, New Orleans, LA
Candle decorations – Glowing Occasions

We were originally referred to Lisa and Travis for their wedding video by another videographer friend who wasn’t available to help them. Lisa’s father contacted me and we went over the details of their wedding plans and he booked us to cover the ceremony and reception for them, which was to be at the Riverview Room in the Jax Brewery building by the French Quarter. He later contacted me about doing the photography as well, after looking at our photos and deciding that we would be a better fit for them to do both the photography and video coverage.

I met them at the Doubletree Inn to get some pre-ceremony getting ready photos, first going to the room Travis was in where he was dressing his young son, who would be the ring bearer for the ceremony. I really liked the cute photos we got there, a very special moment between father and son that I’m sure will be treasured when he grows up. I then went over to get photos of Lisa getting ready, and finished up with photos of her with her bridesmaids by the pool, just as we had done with Travis and the groomsmen. Then we headed off to Jax Brewery, where the ceremony and reception would be held upstairs in the Riverview Room.

The balcony off of the Riverview Room has a panoramic view of New Orleans, from the French Quarter to the CBD and over to the river (hence the name I’m sure). The ceremony site was setup with many candles provided by Glowing Occasions. When Lisa’s father had mentioned they only had some lamps for lighting provided by the Riverview Room, I suggested they might want to add some supplemental lighting. Either some decorative lights, such as some net lighting on the railing, or some candles. I gave him the name of Glowing Occasions who I had seen at a bridal show when their booth was near ours. The candles really added a nice ambiance to the setting, with the city lights serving as a brilliant background. After the ceremony, we took photos at the ceremony site with the same setting, which was equally memorable, especially with the bridge in the background. If you have your wedding in New Orleans, then featuring the cityscape as a backdrop is a nice option to have.

The party to follow was festive and joyous for the happy couple and their family. The Riverview Room has plenty of space for everyone to enjoy themselves, both inside and out on the balconies over looking the river. The groom was a Seattle Seahawks fan, thus the grooms cake, which of course was very sweet for him I’m sure as they had just won the Super Bowl. The red flowers accented the wedding cake nicely, with the candles providing the finishing touch for the cake table setting. After more dancing the bride and groom lead a second line dance around the room to finish off the reception, which was followed by their exit down on Decatur street. They had a horse and carriage waiting on them, and we proceeded downstairs to see them off. There were people already on the street, passers-by out enjoying the night, who stopped to add to the group seeing them off. With all the people crowded on the sidewalk, it really added to the excitement when the bride and groom finally left, ending another fabulous French Quarter New Orleans wedding.

Emily & Joe | St. Timothy Church & Beau Chene | Mandeville, LA | Wedding Photography

Emily & Joe – February 15, 2014 – Wedding Photography
Wedding Ceremony – St. Timothy Church, Mandeville, LA
Reception – Beau Chene Country Club , Mandeville, LA

We’ve covered many weddings at St. Timothy Church over the years, and Emily’s family was aware of our experience there and that we know and respect the rules of the church for ceremony coverage. This was one of the reasons they came to us when Emily was engaged to marry Joe there.

Prior to the wedding day, Emily told me she wanted to do a ‘First Look’ with Joe in the church, then take the formal photos prior to the ceremony. This is where the bride and groom take a (semi)private moment to greet each other before the wedding ceremony. We have the groom turn his back to where the bride will enter, and when she approaches him she taps him on the shoulder so he turns to greet her for the first time in her dress. We get to capture this moment in photos or video in a way we don’t really get with the ceremony itself, a good number of photos to reveal the reactions and love expressed between the couple. Emily and Joe are a very fun loving couple, as you can see in the photos. They both laugh and smile as easily as anyone I’ve met.

The other benefit is the First Look helps minimize the time needed after the ceremony for formal photos, as we can usually get most of them done before hand if planned properly. In Emily’s case, she decided to have the First Look in the church sanctuary, so her family and friends were able to watch from the balcony above. This was a great solution to another question, which is whether the couple want the moment privete, with just the two of them, or to have friends and family there to look on. It’s really up to the couple, which they perfer and feel comfortable with. With the wedding party able to view from above, it was a like the best of both worlds. They were able to view from a distance, without distracting the couple, thus giving them the feel they were having a completely private moment, with just the camera there to document it. It also meant the background didn’t have people in the photos. But more important, it helped them feel less self-conscious and able to just be there and share the moment together without feeling like they were be watched by an audience, even though they actually were able to share it with thier family. I love the stain glass in the church, a solid wall of colors, so I used these as best I could in getting the photos, as well as getting portraits of the bride and groom both inside the church, and getting to go outside by the memorial wall for some nice photos out there.

At the ceremony, the church rules require me to just get photos from the back of the room once the ceremony begins. There is also a nice view from the balcony for an overall shot perspective of the ceremony , so I was able to get a few from there too. After the ceremony, we were able to leave directly to the reception, since had taken care of the important photos before. When we arrived at Beau Chene for the reception, I had a little time to get a few shots of the cake, which was nicely placed in the opening between the entry room and the main room. I loved the big lights in the main room behind the table, so I used them as framing for the cake. When Emily and Joe had thier first dance, then the party began. Family and friends enjoyed the tasty food of the country club while the band kicked in (Rewind out of Baton Rouge). Toward the end of the evening, they handed out Alabama Crimson Tide along with LSU Tiger pompoms, which really sparked the party (a house divided). They used these for the exit to the limo to end a fabulous evening.

Felicia & Ryan | Holy Name of Jesus Church & Mardi Gras World | Wedding Photography

Felicia & Ryan | Holy Name of Jesus Church & Mardi Gras World | Wedding Photography

Felicia & Ryan – December 14, 2013
Wedding Photos
Pre-Ceremony getting ready – Hilton Riverside Hotel, New Orleans, La
ceremony – Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, New Orleans, LA
Reception – Mardi Gras World, New Orleans, LA

When I was first contacted to photograph Felicia & Ryan’s wedding, it was a wedding I knew would be a lot of fun and it certainly didn’t disappoint. They and their family and guest had a fabulous time, from the beautiful ceremony at the Holy Name of Jesus, to the joyful reception at Mardi Gras World. It was a fantastic evening, one that the happy couple certainly always remember.

We started with photos at the Hilton Riverside Hotel of the bridal prep. Felicia and her bridesmaids were wearing monogrammed shirts. They also had the dresses all hanging up together, which was a lovely touch. Usually, I’m just photographing the bride’s dress along, this was something a little different. When it came time for taking photos of the shoes and flowers, the light was just fading out side the window and I thought it was a pretty setting with the lights of the bridge in the window as a backdrop. I later used this for photos of the bride and her individual photos with bridesmaids and parents. I then left the room so she could get in her dress, and went down to the lobby for photos of the groom. The inside of the Hilton Riverside is architecturally dynamic, so I looked to incorporate that in their photos. The guys were very jovial, and did a great job posing in a group. The groom was on the 2009 LSU Men’s baseball championship team, which I didn’t know when I was taking his photos. I didn’t find out until the ceremony when the priest mentioned it. It was fun to find out, I remember that championship year and it was really exciting. Afterward, I went back to get the photos of Felicia in the hotel room before leaving for the ceremony.

Holy Name of Jesus church is one of the truly grand old Catholic churches of New Orleans. We’ve done many weddings there, and they are always spectacular. I was able to get some nice moments of the bride and groom looking over their shoulders in between the prayers and readings. I always look for those moments where the bride and groom are enjoying the moment on the alter, one time that is usually nice is when they are doing the communion, it’s a moment where the focus isn’t on the bride and groom and they have a little moment together. After the ceremony, I was able to get some fabulous photos in the church with the bride and groom, they are a lovely couple and this setting really highlighted them nicely.

From the church, we headed to Mardi Gras World. Years ago, we had done a wedding in the old Mardi Gras World on the Westbank. This new location is amazing, the detail they put into the interior gives the perfect illusion you are outside. As a wedding reception location, there is nothing quite like it, and it certainly added to the enjoyment of the evening. The band was the Boogie Men, one of the best party bands in New Orleans. After the first dance, the bride and a very emotional dance with her father, and the groom with his mother. The wedding cake was beautifully crafted with Fleur de Lis and the groom cake celebrated his LSU championship experience. The evening ended with a DJ finishing out the entertainment, and a 2nd line dance around the room. A tremendous evening none shall soon forget.

Jill & Eric | Magnolia Plantation, New Orleans | Wedding Photography

Bride and groom wedding ceremony Magnolia Plantation

Jill & Eric – November 15, 2013
Wedding Photos by Robert Welch
Pre-Ceremony Prep: Hampton Inn & Suites, Metairie, LA
Wedding & Reception: Magnolia Plantation, Metairie, LA

Wedding reception at Magnolia Plantation

Jill and Eric had a lovely wedding at the Magnolia Plantation. Jill’s father did the service, it was very emotional for father walking daughter up the aisle, then presiding over the matrimonial ceremony. As always, Magnolia Plantation served as a perfect location to have the ceremony and reception in one location. This proved to lighten the spirits despite the rain which would have dampened things otherwise.

The pre-ceremony photos were at the Hampton Inn & Suites, which is conveniently located a few blocks away from Magnolia Plantation. Jill did her own makeup, and she had the bridal bouquets lined up for me to photograph on the table. The shoes made a nice composition for the shot, as they kept in the color scheme of the flowers and was accented by the bridesmaids sashes. Once Jill had put on her dress, she went in the adjoining room, which made for some lovely shots of the special moments with her bridesmaids and mother helping her get ready. I always love the observer nature of shots like this, giving a sneak peak at the ‘behind the scenes’ action.

When I got to the Magnolia Plantation, I got the photos of Eric with the guys, all dressed up and looking dapper, but still having plenty of fun. I really loved the photos of the groom with the sweat little ring bearer. Once the processional started, the ring bearer was to overwhelmed to make down the aisle holding hands with the flower girl, he stopped about half way down, refusing to go on, so Eric walked up to help then walked the flower girl down the aisle. It turned into a really cute shot having the groom walk with the flower girl like that. Moments like this are what define each wedding, and make each one unique and memorable for the people in them. It’s always great when it’s allowed to happen in a spontaneous manner, the photos and video usually have a warmth and naturalness that reflects the impromptu nature of the moment.

For the ceremony itself, Jill and her father made a lovely entrance, and once at the ceremony spot, she and her soon to be betrothed were absolutely gleaming at each other. It was not a long ceremony, still it was filled with emotion, and my favorite moment was Jill spinning around to kiss her husband for the first time with such vigor that her dress when flying around like a Whirling Dervish dancer. In all my years of photographing weddings, I’ve never seen a first kiss quite like that. Certainly made for a fun and different photo.

Everyone had a great time at the reception, Jill and Eric’s family were all present and had lot’s of group photos taken. The dance floor was in regular use, with both the bridal party and friends as well as lot’s of kids enjoying themselves. The parent dances were very cute, as were the decorations for the wedding cake, which has a fabulous setting in the Magnolia Plantation. All and all, a special event for the happy couple, one they and their friends and family won’t soon forget.

Ashley & Blake | The Louisiana Castle | Wedding Photography

Ashley & Blake – November 14, 2013
Wedding Photos by Robert & Lisa Welch
Wedding & Reception: The Louisiana Castle Wedding, Franklinton, LA

Ashley and Blake had a terrific time at their Louisiana Castle wedding. It was a beautiful day, and they had some nice personal touches with their decor, including the sign inviting guests to sit where they like. Many times, we see people sitting mostly on one side or the other, or sometimes all toward the back, thinking it is more polite for them to not sit in the wrong area. Of course, the front rows are always reserved for parents and grandparents, but the idea of everyone else only sitting in certain areas has become a thing of the past in many of the weddings we see these days. It is nice to see more freedom for people to sit where it’s comfortable for them, and to balance out on both sides is always better than too many on one side of the aisle.

Leah & Skip | Beauregard-Keyes House, New Orleans, LA | Wedding Photojournalism

Leah & Skip – November 3, 2013
Wedding Photos
Ceremony & Reception: Beauregard-Keyes House, New Orleans, LA
Wedding Day Coordinator: Rhoda at All About Events
Second Line Band: Storyville Stompers Brass Band

Beauregard-Keyes garden wedding ceremony

New Orleans is a favorite destination wedding town. Leah and Skip invited their friends and family to spend the week with them here and enjoy all the city has to offer. It was a perfect choice, I’m sure, as everyone obviously had a fabulous time. The wedding ceremony was in the garden by the historic Beauregard-Keyes House, followed by a second line march through the French Quarter with the Storyville Stompers Brass Band. It was quite a tour and ended back at the Beauregard-Keyes House for a sitdown supper and the reception in the courtyard. All told, it was a picture perfect New Orleans style evening wedding for the happy couple and their friends, one we are sure they will not soon forget.

Megan & Joel | Amite, LA | Wedding Photojournalism

Megan & Joel – November 2, 2013
Wedding Photos
Ceremony: First United Methodist Church, Amite, LA
Reception: Private home, Amite, LA

Wedding dress and shoes — Wedding dress, rings and shoes

After a lovely wedding ceremony at the First United Methodist Church in Amite, LA, Megan and Joel had their reception in her parents old house. A tent in the back yard served for the dance area with the band, an the house provided an area for guest to gather and visit with each other. It was a beautiful location and everyone had a terrific time.

Ashley & Eric | Parkview Terrace, New Orleans City Park | Wedding Photojournalism

Ashley & Eric – October 26, 2013
Wedding Photos
Ceremony & Reception: Parkview Terrace, New Orleans City Park, LA

The Parkview Terrace enjoys easy access to the lovely City Park surroundings for additional photos. For Ashley and Eric we were able to get some beautiful portraits, first of the bride at New Orleans Museum of Art, then the groom with the groomsmen on the nearby rock bridge. We were later able to get the bride and groom on the Pop Bandstand with the wonderful lighting for a night shot. They of course had a great time at the wedding and reception, with a brass band coming in for some fun second line dancing to end the evening.

Skylar & Ryan | Benachi House, New Orleans | Wedding Photojournalism

Skylar & Ryan – October 19, 2013
Wedding Photos
Ceremony & Reception: Benachi House and Garden, New Orleans, LA

Located a bit above the French Quarter, the Benachi House offers lovely grounds for a true New Orleans style wedding. Skylar and Ryan took full advantage of the location for their stellar wedding with all their family and friends. It was a heartfelt event, with both families eagerly celebrating the beautiful couple.

Jessica & Don | Southern Oaks Plantation | Wedding Photography

Jessica & Don – October 20, 2013
Wedding Photos
Pre-Ceremony – Queen And Crescent Hotel, New Orleans, LA
ceremony & Reception – Southern Oaks Plantation, New Orleans, LA

Wedding Ceremony at Southern Oaks Plantation

Another beautiful wedding at Southern Oaks Plantation, Jessica & Don had a Second Line Band to lead them back to the reception after the ceremony. This is a really joyous way to get the party started, and always gives us great opportunity for photos. I really enjoyed their first dance too, you can see in the photographs how much love these two have for each other, the emotions of the moment really come through. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that they are a fabulous looking couple.

Gina & James | Tchoupitoulas Plantation | Wedding Photojournalism

Gina & James – October 12, 2013
Wedding Photos
Ceremony & Reception: Cedar Grove Tchoupitoulas Plantation, Westwego, LA

Tchoupitoulas Plantation wedding ceremony

Bride and Groom portraits with bridal party

Gina & James wedding at Cedar Grove, Tchoupitoulas Plantation was on a gorgeous October day. The large chapel area is perfect for such weddings, the light is beautiful and the feeling of the day is a big part of the wedding even while everyone is actually indoors.