A cocktail reception - the wedding style of choice in NOLA! - is where the format for the evening is like a cocktail party with guests mingling throughout the evening while being served food in the form of passed hors d'oeuvres and meal stations, which will be open throughout the night. So while there will be no formally seated dinner, rest assured that food and drinks will be flowing steadily and plentifully throughout the event!
While there will be no formally seated dinner or assigned seating, we will have plenty of tables & chairs for everyone to be comfortable throughout the event.
Unfortunately, due to the policy of the venue, children under the age of 16 are sadly not allowed at the Elms Mansion for the wedding ceremony or reception. However, children are welcome at Welcome Drinks and Saturday's Fais Do-Do, should they be accompanying you to New Orleans for the weekend!
Both the wedding ceremony and reception will be held outside on the Elms mansion patio - although the house will be open for guests to walk through and explore (which we highly recommend!). In the case of rain, the Elms patio will be covered with a tent (don't worry: we intend to keep you dry!).
While there will not be transportation from our recommended hotels to the wedding ceremony, it’s an easy Uber or Lyft ride to the venue from anywhere in the city! Or if you feel like arriving in quintessential New Orleans style, you can take the St. Charles Street Car line to stop 18, which is right across the street from the Elms! See the 'Travel' tab for more details. Following the reception, we will be providing transportation to the After Party, which will be hosted nearby at the Tchoup Yard!
Our wedding menu will accommodate our vegetarian and gluten-free guests, however, if you have a special allergy, please send an email to cj8353@gmail.com and we will be sure to take care of you!
The fall in New Orleans is one of the most pleasant and temperate times of year to visit! Daily temperatures tend to fall between the 60s and 70s. November is also one of the lightest months for rainfall. That said, we do recommend that you keep your eye on the weather before you join us for the weekend to be safe (and prepared!).