New Orleans Destination Wedding Photography

Lindsey and Sam

You’ve heard me mention Jason Albus before. He’s a badass wedding photographer who splits his time between New Orleans and Minneapolis. Well, he referred Lindsey and Sam to me and I will forever be grateful to him for introducing me to this great couple. Their garden destination wedding was nothing short of perfection and I had the absolute pleasure of capturing it.

Lindsey and Sam met, as many modern couples do, on a dating app when Sam ( from Canada) was visiting Pittsburgh. As luck would have it, their paths continued to cross. And soon a long-distance romance blossomed. After a year or so of dating, they decided to end the romance commutes and tie the knot. But an international wedding proved to be stressful to plan. So what do you do when it’s too tough to plan a wedding between two homes? You fly somewhere together to get hitched! Enter: New Orleans Destination Wedding!

By the time Sam and Lindsey found me, they already had Paradigm Gardens booked for their venue. I’ll admit, I was unfamiliar with the place. But a quick google image search showed me a delightful little Oasis tucked away in Central City. I was immediately flooded with portrait ideas for this couple. We didn’t skype, only chatted on the phone, but I got to know their personalities a bit and was extremely excited to work with them. It was one of those phone calls where I’m almost 100% certain they’re going to book me but am completely nervous because I’d be super bummed if they didn’t! Like going on a great first date and stressing about that text that takes 3 days to come (why do people insist on waiting 3 days? If you like someone, text them! Sheesh!). Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait days. I barely had to wait hours. Sam and Lindsey were as sure as I was: we were meant to work together!

They had another officiant in mind but I insisted they contact Andrew Ward. He’s not always available but he’s one of the best damn officiants in the city. And he doesn’t do it for the money (he honestly does not charge enough. You hear me, Rev. Ward?!?); he does it because he enjoys it. And it really shows. Lindsey was nervous about his tactics- he asks the couple to each email him their love story. She was afraid he would get up there and pretend he knew them and it would be super awkward. But the officiation he gave was anything but.

It was a hot, sticky October day but Paradigm really was an Oasis. Even though it was right next to the interstate, we couldn’t even hear it. It was like it wasn’t even there. And did I mention there were goats? Yep. There were goats (this was a huge selling point for Lindsey!).

Reverend Ward walked Sam down the aisle in the most amazing suit he had just had made in Africa (he had literally flown back the night before!). Sam was in a fantastic light-blue seersucker suit perfect for the sweaty evening. And when Lindsey made her entrance from the back of the garden, there was not a single dry eye in the house (mine included!). She even had to stop and turn around to compose herself at the site of Sam. It was the kind of emotion you see in weddings in movies. Only real. And I got to be there!

The ceremony was exactly what I’ve come to expect from Reverend Ward: hysterical, heartfelt, and personal in a way that feels sincere and not in the least bit awkward. The couple wrote their own vows on small pieces of paper they had folded up with them (I love that it wasn’t on their phones!). We all laughed, we all cried, and when they finally kissed the small crowd erupted in cheers.

Their guests were all close, loving friends. The kind of friends that feel more like family. Some of Lindsey’s relatives got on an airplane for the first time for this wedding. It was a wedding that felt as much about the guests as it was about the couple. And no love got lost in an details. My absolute favorite kind of wedding.

The reception was dimly lit by candles and strings of bistro lights. I try to capture receptions like these without flash as much as possible in order to preserve the ambiance. I got along really well with everyone at the wedding and had some great conversations in between snapping photos. Someone even took a polaroid of me! (or, they tried to but were waaaay too far away. So I am preserved in a pitch black polaroid for all eternity) When it was time for me to go, I reluctantly left a raging dance party. I was tired and it was time to go home but this was one of those nights when this New Orleans Wedding Photographer wanted to stay.

I was truly impressed with Paradigm as a wedding venue. It didn’t have much space for getting ready but the food they prepared in their outdoor wood-fire stove was phenomenal. Guests could wander around rows of flowers. And there were frickin’ goats!

Want your own intimate New Orleans Wedding photographed (with or without goats)? I got you.