Bywater New Orleans Wedding at the Mazant - Annie & Coleman

Bywater New Orleans wedding – Annie & Coleman

Despite minimal travel in 2020, my last wedding of the year took place in New Orleans. I double masked, doused myself in sanitizer (kidding, but not really), packed up my gear, and flew down to Louisiana to document and celebrate Annie and Coleman. Like many others, they downsized their original plans in order to get married, but it made for a beautifully intimate event among their closest community.

Although we had met up the previous day for a quick ceremony + portraits in Audubon Park, Saturday was the main event at The Mazant in Bywater. New Orleans is famous for its beautiful old historic mansion homes, and The Mazant is one such home that now is the perfect place for a timeless and relaxed wedding day. 

Annie and Coleman married under an ancient oak tree in front of family, close friends, and more of their loved ones watching via Zoom. It was an emotional ceremony that led into a laid back dinner with equally emotional toasts in the garden. Many family members and friends got up and shared stories and wishes for the couple, and the tears and laughter flowed. Toasts are my absolute favorite at weddings – it feels like I’m stepping into a secret bubble where I can almost see the connections between people like leaves on the trees.

Once dinner was over and the cake was cut, guests went inside the house for cocktails, conversation…and cat tattoos! Annie and Coleman had custom temporary tattoos made featuring their cat Clarence. By the end of the night, everyone was sporting matching tiny cat faces. Friends popped Christmas crackers and raced with the wind-up toys inside – a fun, unexpected memory. 

It was a perfect end to my wedding season during a hard, lonely, long, weird year. In the midst of the pandemic, weddings grounded me. The intensity of our shared worldwide experience brought out a sense of meaning and purpose when it comes to gatherings, and what’s most important in our lives. When kept away from our friends and families, it becomes crystal clear how special it is to be able to gather and celebrate life’s moments. How important it is to commemorate love with a ceremony.

Among so much hardship in 2020, there were beautiful moments like the ones I witnessed on this day, joy and emotion amplified by all that led up to it. The “why” behind weddings has never been clearer to me than it was on this particular day. I hope anyone reading this can see exactly what I mean from the story told in these photos. 

Finally, from the beginning, here’s Annie and Coleman’s Bywater New Orleans wedding day…

Vendor Team:

• Venue: The Mazant, Bywater
• Bride’s Wedding Dress: Emilia Wickstead
• Bride’s Party Dress: Undress
• Groom’s Tux: Brooks Brothers
• Rings: Symmetry Jewelers
• Florals: Moonbeam Fleurs
• Catering & Dessert: My House Events
• Rentals: Distressed Rentals & Revival

Travel Note:

I loved my time in New Orleans and would love to shoot there more often. If you’re planning a New Orleans wedding, elopement, or portrait session, reach out via my Contact form here! I love to travel, and especially love to photograph couples in places special to them!