laissez les bon temps rouler!

Rachel and Scott first met September of 2012, both committed to service in New Orleans with Louisiana Delta Service Corps. Rachel was a second year corps member on the prowl for a first year cutie but sadly Scott didn't fit the bill. Fast forward to March 2014. A combination of Mardi Gras magic, Scott's new beard and a few too many beers drew the two of them together at a Chewbacchus Parade party at Kajun's [where they got engaged 3.5 years later]. Rachel pulled her friend Coral aside and said "I think I'm into Scott" and she replied "I think he's into you too" and the rest is history!

On a chilly Friday in early December 2017, Scott invited several of his and Rachel's friends to their favorite karaoke bar, Kajun’s, to [supposedly] celebrate finishing his last final of the semester. Post work-day, Rachel and Scott first headed to a friend’s office holiday party in matching Christmas sweatshirts and proceeded to take full advantage of the open bar. Before heading from the party to Kajun's (in high spirits), Scott nervously texted their friend Maddy with the plan, and asked her to gather their friends there and put their names in for a song - the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell duet version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Upon arrival, Scott grabbed a Long Island Iced Tea [which Rachel thought was a strange choice at the time] and bribed the DJ to move their song to the front of the line. Rachel, completely oblivious, was suddenly pulled on stage by him to sing. As the second verse approached, Scott suddenly dropped to one knee and sang: "Remember this day/ I set you free/ Rachel Marks will you marry me, girl?" Rachel was frozen in shock for the rest of the song while Scott finished out the song singing both parts. It wasn’t until the song was over and the next group was being called to the stage that Rachel came to, and with the crowd screaming “Say something!!!” she grabbed the mic and was able to answer his question with a “Yes!”

The New Orleans Lakefront Airport has been Rachel's dream wedding venue far longer than Scott was ever in the picture. Her great-grandfather, New Orleans architect Leon Weiss, designed the state-of-the-art airport in the 1930s. The Art Deco terminal was a social and aviation destination for decades. During the Cold War, however, its stunning exterior was obscured by concrete and steel panels, the two-story lobby was reduced to a single story and other features, such as murals by artist Xavier Gonzalez, were covered or damaged. These alterations remained in place until a major post-Katrina renovation, completed in 2013, restored the terminal to its original grandeur and brought it back to life as a modern airport and event venue. On Scott's first visit to the airport after their engagement, he knew that it was really the only venue on their list.