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Based in vivid New Orleans, I am a wedding and couples photographer capturing the honest, intimate, and unforgettable moments. I hope you enjoy some of my most recent adventures and stories worth sharing!

I’m Olivia.

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Emotional Riverview Room Wedding on Film

January 22, 2022

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Film is the perfect medium for documenting the emotion of a wedding day and making it tangible. I photographed Juan Pablo and Katie’s Riverview Room wedding on film and Polaroids. The result was a collection of tender, authentic images that they’ll be able to treasure.

The groom dips the bride in the aisle

The Riverview Room

The Riverview Room is a ballroom-style wedding venue on the edge of the French Quarter. Unlike a lot of ballrooms with unfortunate carpets and poor lighting, the Riverview Room has fun details and lots of big windows. The ceiling has geometric champagne tiles. A custom window arches across one wall. The walls are papered in a subtle black and white design that adds a classic element to the decor. Overall the palette is very neutral but refined.

A view of the Mississippi River from the Riverview Room
A view of Decatur Street from the Riverview Room
Sunset on the terrace
black and white wedding Polaroids

As you may have guessed from the name, the Riverview Room is located near the Mississippi River in New Orleans’ French Quarter. A Riverview Room wedding happens in the heart of the historic neighborhood. Locals and out-of-towners alike enjoy the experience of an intimate private event in the midst of the bustling French Quarter with its vibrant nightlife. 

The bride's details for the Riverview room wedding
Florals for the Riverview Room wedding
The bride before the wedding at the Riverview Room
Riverview Room wedding party

Since the Riverview Room is on the Mississippi, its large windows offer beautiful views of the French Quarter and the river. The best part is not the ballroom itself but the adjacent terrace. The large terrace overlooks the French Quarter and the river. It’s big enough for seated ceremonies with cafe lights strung overhead. Watching the sunset over St. Louis Cathedral is pure magic. Guests can watch the Steamboat Natchez rolling down the river as they sip cocktails. It’s an incredible way to experience the city.

earrings for the wedding at the Riverview Room
Polaroid wedding photos for the Riverview Room
The bride puts on her shoes before the wedding at the Riverview Room

A Wedding on Film

I was excited to photograph Katie and Juan Pablo’s wedding for so many reasons. One of the biggest was that they decided to prioritize film photography and Polaroids. I really value giving couples photos that they can feel. With film wedding photography, not only do couples feel emotional when they look at the images, but they can physically hold them in their hands. That’s a whole experience in itself.

The couple exchanges vows outside their hotel
The bride holds her notebook
The couple walks to their Riverview Room wedding
New Orleans wedding portraits

The importance of tangible momentos is why I love offering full Polaroid albums. It gives couples a material way to experience their images immediately. Polaroid wedding albums can sit out on a coffee table so couples can relive their weddings over and over again. It’s something that they can feel with their hands and hearts.

a Polaroid wedding album with a pink cover
Inside a Polaroid wedding album
Polaroids outside the Riverview Room

Wedding photography on film makes perfect sense for Katie and Juan Pablo. Their love for each other is palpable. As individuals, they have such unique energies. Together you can feel how visceral their love is. Film was a perfect fit for documenting their wedding day, and they were both excited to incorporate it. Instead of worrying about getting the perfect shot, we could focus on capturing the emotion and energy of the day. Of course, their digital images are incredible in their own right, but Katie and Juan Pablo have really loved their film images. The couple thinks film is cool, but they also have a deeper appreciation for the craft that goes into it. That made working with labor-intensive film worth it for me.

Polaroid of bride in car
Close up image of bouquet
Individual portraits on the Riverview Room terrace
The bride signs the marriage license
The couple kisses

Katie and Juan Pablo’s Loving Wedding

Katie and Juan Pablo’s wedding at the Riverview Room was an amazing reflection of who they are as a couple. They’ve been together for seven years. Originally, they’d planned to marry in October 2020. At that time, COVID restrictions made international travel uncertain, and most of Juan Pablo’s family was traveling from El Salvador to attend the wedding. In a quirky coincidence, I spent several extended periods in the same city where Juan Pablo’s family lives. We enjoyed sharing that connection.

The bride with her bridesmaids at the Riverview Room
The couple stands at the altar for the Riverview Room wedding
The bride holds the groom's arm
The couple wears a rosary together
The couple laughs during the Riverview Room wedding ceremony

In the end, the couple was grateful that they waited until Juan Pablo’s family could be there with them. After a moving ceremony on the Riverview Room’s terrace, the couple danced the night away with their guests. They really knew how to celebrate!

Black and white Polaroids from the wedding ceremony
The bride holds a parasol
the Riverview Room wedding reception
The couple dances at the Riverview Room
The couple kisses at the Riverview Room

By the time I left, I felt emptied out in the best way. Shooting film, Polaroids, and digital at one wedding is hard work, but I gave it my all. Honestly, it was so rewarding to see the images and hold them in my hands. I know Katie and Juan Pablo feel the same way.

The groom dances at the Riverview Room
Guests grab sparklers
A sparkler exit at the Riverview Room

Are you interested in having me photograph your New Orleans wedding on film? Reach out, and let’s make it official!

Thank you to the vendors who made Katie and Juan Pablo’s wedding possible:

Venue: Riverview Room

Florals: Crystal Vase Flowers

Hair and Makeup: Salon Du Sud

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