April and Alex: French Quarter House of Blues Wedding Photography
A Gorgeous Couple Gets Hitched at the House of Blues
Alex and April say “I do” In the French Quarter
You may remember this tall, gorgeous couple from their engagement photos in early 2021 (well, they didn’t make it onto the blog until October but we worked together during carnival season!) Alex proposed to April on the trip and while he considered hiring me for New Orleans Surprise Proposal photography, he wanted to be a bit more spontaneous about it so he hired me for a surprise Engagement Session the following day.
It was one of those engagement sessions that I wished lasted twice as long. Aside from being devastatingly good looking, Alex and April are also the kindest, smartest, and most enjoyable couple to spend time with. And even though I will only book a handful of big weddings a year theirs was one I wouldn’t dream of turning down.
This would be my second time photographing a wedding at the House of Blues. The first time, I was a second photographer for Minneapolis based photographer Jason Albus who used to live here full time and often returns to capture weddings. It only seemed fitting to bring him to town to pair up again for this wedding! I shot my very last wedding before Covid lockdown with him and this was the first time we had seen each other since. Fortunately, we still make a fantastic team.
And to make the day even better, Alex and April hired my favorite officiant, Reverend Andrew Ward, and a stellar videography team, Studio. Vieux Carre. I’ve known the guys at SVC for close to twenty years but this was the first time I had gotten to work alongside of them! And man… they are GOOD! I was thrilled to not only get to work with a bunch of rad people on this large wedding but also that this killer couple was getting a top notch team of pros for their day.
The couple got ready at the Royal Sonesta and April’s suite had beautiful light to work with! We also had a wrap-around balcony for portraits and their first look! Capturing a first look with two photographers and a videographer on a balcony was tricky. But we all worked well together to catch a great moment while also staying out of each other’s shots!
Pedicabs took us to the House of Blues for the ceremony. I put Jason with my camera bag in one while I jumped in another with Joe from SVC. It actually wasn’t my first time on a pedicab during a wedding! But it was the first time riding with a videographer I’ve known forever. I gotta say, it was pretty fun! It was a challenge getting shots of the couple in their pedicab ahead of us but that added to the good time. I caught some sweet moments in their first second (sort of) alone together as bride and groom. I really love the way this couple loves each other.
After portraits outside of the venue and a short break so the bride could change shoes and warm up (it was rather chilly for November! The ceremony had a heated tent but the portraits didn’t!) it was time for a wedding! The couple had a surprise in store for everyone- myself included! They didn’t have a flower girl, or even a flower dog, they had a flower MAN. He sashayed his way down the aisle tossing rose petals and tiny liquor bottles from his herschel fanny pack- getting applause and laughter from the guests (and me! Definitely from me too!). Also, all of their processional music was from the Bridgerton soundtrack (you know, chamber music string versions of modern pop hits). I was LOVING this ceremony even before the most hilariously endearing officiant in New Orleans got started.
Reverend Ward delivered the officiation I’ve come to expect from him- heartfelt, funny, and sincere. He gets the couple to send their story to him- each in their own words- and then he weaves it together into a beautiful speech that leaves not a single eye dry in the house. He also joined us for the secondline that followed and showed this Texas party how we do it down in the dirty, dirty South!
It felt like it had been years since I’d photographed a secondline- and I guess it almost had! It felt great to run backwards through the quarter again after a covid year and a half. And this time I was running backwards alongside a couple of old friends.
The reception was up in the Parish room rather than in the big room of the House of Blues. But I was not going to let this couple leave without a photo in front of the iconic House of Blues stage! After their first and parents dances (ACK! So lovely! So cute!) I went out into the main room and planned a shot before bringing my light gear out and then grabbing Alex and April.
Not every couple can nail a dip. It is a HARD pose. Like really hard. It not only requires strength and balance but an awareness of your body while it is in an unnatural and precarious position. But Alex and April dip like pros and I knew that was going to be the money shot (spoiler alert: it was).
The band rocked HARD and their guests spent a lot of time on the dance floor. At one point the band called the couple onto the stage to sing and dance along to “Fireball”. It was delightful watching them have such a good time on their wedding day. Every couple deserves a happy wedding. But when I work with a couple this wonderful I am especially happy to see their day go off joyfully.
Here is a (rather large) selection of April and Alex’s New Orleans Wedding Photography images! I hope I see this kids again in the future. They’re absolutely the best.
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