June 21, 2024

Chae + Drew's New Orleans Wedding Pt 1: The Ceremony

If you haven't heard yet, our lovely owner, Chae Carter, tied the knot on March 16, 2024, in the heart of New Orleans! The affair was nothing short of a fairytale. "Everything was so romantic and absolute perfection," Chae gushes, but perfection, as we all know, doesn't just happen on its own. Anyone who's dipped their toes into the wedding planning pool knows it's a journey that takes a village. If you're looking to have your own wedding in New Orleans or you're just searching for vendor recommendations, we're spilling all the tea on Chae's unforgettable day in a three part blog series!

Drew proposed to Chae in February of 2023 with an antique engagement ring from 1890 featuring a Colombian emerald center stone accented with old miner cut accent diamonds. Then the wedding planning journey began!

After exploring countless wedding venues and destinations online and in person, Chae and Drew decided to keep their celebration close to home in the South’s most vibrant city, New Orleans. This is both of their favorite places to visit for day trips or even a weekend getaway. The couple visited numerous venues before choosing a more intimate ceremony with family and close friends at the stunning Tree of Life in Audubon Park. Chae had always dreamed of a beautiful outdoor wedding, and this location, packed of sentiment, was the perfect backdrop for their special day.

The Tree of Life, also known as the Etienne de Boré Oak, is a beloved wedding spot in New Orleans. This ancient live oak, one of the oldest in Audubon Park, is steeped in history. Legend has it that the tree was planted by New Orleans' first mayor as a wedding gift for his bride, making it an especially meaningful and romantic setting for Chae and Drew’s ceremony.

But Chae's journey to bridal bliss began long before the "I dos." In true Chae fashion, she found her dream dress just weeks before the big day at Unbridled in New Orleans. She searched for a fun and fitted dress and was surprised to find one she loved so much. "When I tried it on, I was shocked it fit so perfectly!", Chae recalled. She decided to make the dress even more unique by adding removable sleeves and a triple bustle- all one week before the wedding! Donna from Sew Beautiful in Hattiesburg, MS, worked her magic to ensure the gown fit like a glove and was ready in time.

Every bride knows that the perfect look doesn’t end with the gown. A lot of effort goes into getting ready for the big day, especially when it comes to beauty. For flawless eyebrows, Chae trusted Heather Hilton Darby (@pigments_permanents_cosmetics), while Lauren Carter Smith (@l.smithstudio) worked her magic on Chae's blonde extentions. On the big day, Jacqueline Reynolds (@thejacqofalltradesbeauty) ensured Chae's hair, makeup, and tan were absolutely stunning. "I cannot recommend Jacqueline enough for your tan, hair and makeup. She is truly a magician!" And let's not forget Chae's fabulous bridesmaids and family, who were pampered to perfection by the talented team at Flawless Bride and Beauty (@flawlessbrideandbeautyllc).

And who could forget the jewels!?! As the owner of a jewelry store, Chae knew her jewelry had to be on point. That’s why she chose a Classic Diamond Tennis Necklace, a Multi Shaped Diamond Tennis Bracelet, a pair of one of a kind Emerald and Diamond Dangle Earrings, AND a Diamond Eternity Band. In case you glazed over all of that- Chae was literally dripping in diamonds with a look totaling over 80 carats in natural diamonds. Chae definitely made a statement, but kept the overall look pretty classic. We would expect nothing less from our lady jeweler!

Chae knew she needed the power of local expertise, so she enlisted the help of Kristen from PK Events NOLA (@pkeventsnola). With Kristen’s savvy guidance, Chae’s dreams of a perfect ceremony and second line turned into a beautiful reality. For all the details about the unforgettable second line, go to Part 2!