Emma and Alex’s summer wedding was held at the New Orleans Museum of Art, with the ceremony outside in the sculpture garden. The bride opted to wear yellow, with the groom in statement suit with custom appliques and a bolo tie hand-carved for him by his grandfather. Their theme, a blend of disco and classic country influences, was inspired by the venue’s colourful surroundings as well as their desire to have a wedding which was true to them rather than following trends.

The ceremony was held in front of their favorite sculpture, The Sun, chosen for its symbolism of brightness and guidance. A custom-designed chuppah adorned with carnations in their wedding colours was the focal point, blending their Jewish and Unitarian traditions.

“Alex and the wedding party walked out to an instrumental version of Lovely Day and I arrived to an instrumental version of As Time Goes By from Casablanca“, Emma told us. “Alex and I both wrote our own vows, making intentional promises to each other (a Quaker tradition), while reverend Melanie created a custom blended Unitarian and Jewish service for us. Our reading was a excerpt from the Frog and Toad are Friends story Alone. At the end of the ceremony, we had a Second Line which was a surprise our guests. We strutted through the sculpture garden and had a dance party on the steps of the museum where we would have our reception. We even had locals spontaneously joining in!”

The reception inside the museum was set among works by Nick Cave and El Greco. Guests dined on a mix of traditional New Orleans dishes and the couple’s personal favourites, while a jazz band filled the space with the city’s signature sounds. The hora, a real highlight of the night, brought their community together both literally and figuratively as friends and family hoisted them into the air.

Reflecting on the day, Emma shared some wisdom for other couples planning alternative weddings. “Decide early on what’s most important to you and respect those priorities”, she said. “If you can self-finance, it’s worth it to have the freedom to make decisions that feel true to you.”

For Emma and Alex, this approach paid off. “Some guests were skeptical of our choices at first, but by the end of the day, they told us they understood exactly why we did what we did. That meant so much to us.”