New Orleans for Collin & Mere's Wedding!

Thursday, December 10, we headed to New Orleans to celebrate Collin & Mere! Our flight was at 6:30am so we could make the most out Thurs, so we got up early.


This was the sunrise on our way to TX - the sky was on fire!

We're here! When we landed in the airport, it felt like we were in Florida. It's hot and humid - so strange!

Most of the wedding guests stayed at the Hotel Monteleone - which is famous for the carousel bar. It was beautiful and decorated for Christmas. 

Claire + Bryant, Michael & Cara were on our flight from TX to LA, so we checked in to the hotel and then ate lunch at the Gumbo Shop (Tripp's dad had told us about). We were the only ones in the restaurant since it was an early lunch and the service and food was fantastic!

The chicken & Aadouille sausage gumbo is called the "Best Gumbo in the City" - I got it and it was delicious.

The rest of the day, Tripp and I explored NOLA. It was HOT (80 degrees) outside, so that was the only negative. We were sweating in December with Christmas décor everywhere - so weird!

We walked from the hotel to Jackson Square first... walked around and in some shops.


St. Louis Cathedral - the oldest active Catholic cathedral in the U.S.

Sat on a bench on the levee and watched the boats go by on the river.

This is a boat you can talk a cruise on up and down the river - it was decorated for Christmas. If we had been able to stay longer, we would have gotten on that boat! 

I had to visit Aunt Sally's Pralines and bring some home. They were JUST as good as I had hoped... called the most famous pralines in New Orleans!

We walked up and down Bourbon & Royal Street - people watching and looking at the buildings.

We ran into Mere's stepdad, Tom, smoking a cigar on the street after he just paid the last part of the wedding bill haha!

Tripp had made us reservations at NOLA's for dinner at the Chef's table for the two of us that night. WHAT an experience - the food, service and view was so cool. We sat and talked to the head chef and the brick oven chef all night. His name was Ellis :)

After dinner, walked to Café Du Monde for beignets - ahhhh, I could seriously eat these every night. So cheap and so good!

Jackson Square at night.

Where we sat by the river earlier today is behind the tree...

After beignets, we took Uber to the Roosevelt Hotel to see their famous Christmas décor inside. I had been here years ago with my family and remembered taking pictures. SO pretty and definitely got me in the Christmas spirit.

We had drinks at the Carousel bar with Claire and Bryant + her parents and headed to bed! What a day!


On Friday, we slept in a bit and walked to Mother's for brunch. This was another reco from Tripp's dad. It is an old-school, hole in the wall place where you stand and order and they bring you your food at the table after. I loved it!


Look at the size of those muffins.

We took Uber to Commander's Palace (didn't go inside) and then walked around the Garden District. Such pretty homes and a cool vibe... still hot outside!

Walking up Washington St...

Walked up and down Magnolia St - into some shops.

We took the St. Charles Street Car back to the area closer to the hotel... we waited on it for a while and then we got on and it was a FULL car. We were stuffed at the very front and had to stand the whole time. It was sweaty and after walking around a lot already, standing wasn't the best. I'm glad we did it, but it could have been much more enjoyable!


That afternoon, we rehearsed at the church, had a welcome cocktail hour for guests who came in and then went to the rehearsal dinner. It was all so wonderful. My parents came to the welcome hour - I loved having them here!


Walking down Bourbon to the rehearsal dinner.

LOVED seeing my friends... It was so fun and good to catch up and spend quality time together as we celebrated Mere. Will never forget this weekend!


We did our poem for Mere of course and it was HILARIOUS. We roasted her and share so many funny memories.

Saturday morning - we all met in Mere's suite at the hotel at 9am. We had mimosas, beignets and listened to Christmas music in our matching PJs as we got our hair and makeup done. It was a long day, but oh so fun.

Right after the wedding - Mere is married!

First dance at the reception :)

At the reception - Tripp and I + my parents sat with Dougie, Robert and her parents at the reception. Dougie and I's dads were roommates in college and both SAEs... Dougie and I met in college, were both Chi O's and now she is my closest friend from college. Love that we are the second generation of friends and hope there is another generation to come!

Mere's mom (Janet), my mom and Dougie's mom. Too cute! Totally our future.

This one is my favorite - they are all talking at the same time haha!



All four of us "real ones" and our moms - all Chi Os!

We started the second line parade close to midnight and it was crazy! A band came into the reception and then the entire crew followed the band + mere and Collin around! We waved napkins around and sang songs. Such a fun way to end an awesome weekend!