A New Orleans Courthouse wedding is truly unlike any other. While there are many venues around NoLA, a courthouse wedding can truly be beautiful, even if you have minimal details. In fact, the photos throughout this post are some of my favorite images I’ve ever created. I felt so inspired creating them. Here is what you should know about planning a wedding at a New Orleans courthouse.
A New Orleans Courthouse Wedding
This particular courthouse wedding took place in Gretna, Louisiana, which I’d recommend over the main New Orleans Courthouse if you are planning on doing a courthouse wedding. It’s a bit more “out of the way” but is worth it because of the location and beauty of the building.
This location has the Thomas F. Donelon Courthouse which is on Derbigny Street. Luckily, you can save time on your courthouse wedding by starting the marriage license online. This is a bit easier because you’ll fill out all of your information online. When it comes to receiving your marriage license, you’ll need some basic items, like identification, both of your signatures, social security numbers, and birth certificates. Marriage licenses are valid for 30 days. However, know that there is a 24-hour waiting period before you will actually receive the license.
One of the aspects I find most beautiful about a courthouse wedding is that the focus will really just be on the two of you. This type of celebration is so intimate, and a smaller wedding allows you to share even more tender moments together as marriers.
My Recommendations for a Courthouse New Orleans Wedding
I have a few different recommendations if you plan on having a New Orleans courthouse wedding here. It’s totally possible to have a small, low-key wedding on the Westbank.
- Make a whole day of it over here on the Westbank. While the Westbank of New Orleans , may be a bit more residential but is filled with lots of great places to explore. Create a day of it to make it feel even more like a special occasion… because it is!
- Take the ferry, go to Gretna Courthouse, and come back to Algiers Point. You can have very a cool reception at one of the area’s neighborhood spots. Some of my personal favorites are Plume (a restaurant serving Indian cuisine with mouthwatering flavors), Little House (an actual “little bitty house” serving a great mix of alcoholic drinks and small but mighty plates and appetizers), and Barracuda (a neighborhood taco stand that’s incredibly picturesque and charming). No matter what type of restaurant you’d like to have a reception at, there’s definitely one that’s a perfect fit for you here.
Plan Your Day For Both of You
I always recommend that my couples plan the day with their own tastes in mind as much as possible. Especially with a courthouse wedding such as this one, it’s so easy to create a schedule that revolves around what brings you both the most joy, whether it’s celebrating with family and friends or just the two of you.
You can even add a slight nod to family traditions if needed or create new ones for just the two of you to partake in. The choice is truly yours, and Westbank really serves as a blank canvas that has something for everyone. That’s why I love it so much.
Be sure to add details here and there, too, if you’d like, to make the day even more memorable. Maybe it’s renting out a space for a reception or ordering tacos to eat while wandering around the neighborhood. With the focus truly on the both of you, I promise you that your day will be memorable, and the photos I create will document it all as it happens. It could even be as simple as adding polaroids to your photography package to add a touch of nostalgia to your day.
As a New Orleans wedding photographer, I’d love to help bring a wedding day just like this to life with you. Get in touch here to tell me more about what you’re looking for.
