Two brides hold hands during a garden wedding ceremony.

A Meaningful Garden Wedding in the Colorful Marigny

wedding

April 14, 2025

A garden wedding is a great way to celebrate New Orleans’ natural beauty. Allie and Teresa took the idea a step further and treated their guests to events across the city. Their vibrant wedding was full of laughs, great food, and unforgettable moments.

Two brides drink cocktails at the end of a garden wedding in New Orleans.

A Celebration as Colorful as the Marigny

This garden wedding actually took place across three amazing New Orleans neighborhoods.

The Marigny

Allie and Teresa got ready for their wedding day at their home in the Marigny. The neighborhood was founded in 1805, and it’s full of colorful historic homes. People who live in the Marigny love living there. You never know what quirky detail you’ll spot on someone’s front porch or in their garden. 

A bride poses with bridesmaids in matching robes.
A bride pops a champagne bottles while bridesmaids cheer.
A bridesmaid fastens a bride's wedding dress in a hallway.
Bridesmaids react to a first look with a bride.

The Bywater

Their garden wedding ceremony took place in the Bywater. The Bywater is a favorite neighborhood for people who love good coffee, laidback cafes, and friendly dive bars. It was a great place to welcome Allie and Teresa’s guests.

A bride poses for a portrait in her New Orleans home.
A dog in a tux lays on an outdoor rug.
Two brides kiss in front of a palm tree before their New Orleans wedding.

Bayou St. John

After the ceremony, the wedding moved to Bayou St. John. This neighborhood on the bayou is largely residential. It enhanced the joyful, relaxing atmosphere of the day.

Two brides pose for a New Orleans wedding photographer in front of the Marigny Opera House.
Two brides hold bouquets in front of the Marigny Opera House.
Two brides pose with bridesmaids in front of a New Orleans firehouse.
Two brides walk down a Marigny street with their dog.

Allie and Teresa’s Clouet Gardens Wedding Ceremony

Allie and Teresa held their wedding ceremony at Clouet Gardens in the Marigny. This lush slice of land is a quiet park in the middle of a residential street. It often makes lists of hidden gems in New Orleans, and it’s easy to understand why. Native plants line the plot, giving shade for picnics in the summer. A vibrant mosaic decorates one side of the park. 

Wedding guests walk to the back of Clouet Gardens.
Wedding guests show off custom coozies at a wedding.
A bride's father hugs her at the altar.

Some people choose Clouet for their garden wedding because they want to get married in front of the mosaic. Allie and Teresa took a different approach. They draped fabric from the oak tree in the back from an elegant, festive look that incorporated the park’s nature. Tucked so far back from the street, it’s easy to forget you’re in a public park.

Two brides stand in front of guests for a garden wedding ceremony in New Orleans.
A bride smiles as she reads her vows into a microphone at Clouet Gardens.
A wedding guest puts their arm around their partner.

Clouet Gardens is a great ceremony venue. It’s not just beautiful; it’s an important community space. The neighborhood hosts markets and gatherings there, and it’s a beloved meeting spot for friends ready to lounge on a blanket and share snacks on a beautiful day. The nonprofit that runs the park rents it out for a really inexpensive rate compared to other venues.

Two brides share their first kiss under an oak tree at a garden wedding in New Orleans.
A wedding party waves New Orleans wedding umbrellas.
Wedding guests dance with New Orleans wedding umbrellas under a big tree.

Allie and Teresa’s garden wedding ended with a brass band meeting them in the aisle. Everyone joined the dance party with parasols decorated with rainbow boas. Guests enjoyed beer, wine, and champagne while they danced. It was a really fun twist on cocktail hour, and it gave everyone a chance to enjoy the park a little more.

Wedding guests drink cocktails in front of a mural at a garden wedding in New Orleans.
Two brides for a New Orleans wedding photographer on a bridge at Crescent Park.
Two brides lean towards each other on a bridge at a New Orleans park.

A Warm Reception at the Pitot House

After the ceremony at Clouet Gardens, Allie, Teresa, and their guests headed to the Pitot House for their reception. The Pitot House is a beautifully renovated mansion right on Bayou St. John. It was built around 1799, so it’s got all the features people love in New Orleans homes – a big porch, wooden shutters, and cool vintage furniture.

Two brides pose with family members on a blue footbridge.
A bride poses outside the Pitot House before her garden wedding reception.
Reception tables sit on the lawn of the Pitot House for a garden wedding reception.
Colorful goblets sit on a wedding reception table at the Pitot House.

If you’re considering holding your wedding reception at the Pitot House, here’s some helpful information:

  • Rental Cost: $3,000
  • Capacity: 250 guests
  • Venue Type: Indoor/outdoor
A guest puts a Polaroid photo in a guestbook.
Wedding guests pick up oysters at a buffet.
Wedding guests smile during speeches.

The gorgeous weather continued for this part of Allie and Teresa’s garden wedding. The venue set up the reception tables and dance floor outside on the big lawn. Even in November, the garden looked lush and inviting. The flowers and colorful glassware on the tables resembled the hues we saw at Clouet Gardens and all around the Marigny that day.

Two brides sit with their arms around each other.
Two brides drink wine out of colorful glasses at a garden wedding.
A bride dips her wife for a kiss.

Before everyone hit the dance floor, family and friends gave speeches. Allie and Teresa’s reactions show just how loved they felt.

A bride dances with her father.
Wedding guests drink cocktails under strings of lights at a garden wedding in New Orleans.
A singer leans forward singing into a microphone.

Allie and Teresa’s garden wedding was such a blast to photograph. If you’d like to hear more of their perspective on the planning process, check out The Pearl’s feature on their wedding. You might see some familiar photos!

Wedding guests dance with their arms outstretched.
Two brides cut a decorative cake.
Two brides kiss during a wedding reception.

Would you like me to photograph your wedding? Hi, I’m Ali. I’m a New Orleans wedding photographer specializing in digital and film photography. I’d love to document your day with easygoing images. Inquire with me here! 

Thank you to the vendors who helped make this garden wedding so beautiful.
Photography: Alyssa Fisher Photo 
Ceremony Venue: Clouet Gardens
Reception Venue: Pitot House
Hair and Makeup: Glam2Geaux 
Dress Designer and Bridal Boutique: Allie – Alexandra Grecco from Lovely Bride – Houston, Teresa – Unbridaled New Orleans
Cake: Karaline Ziegler and Bywater Bakery 
Caterer: Elysian Events Catering
Band: The Phunky Monkeys

I’m Ali, a wedding and portrait photographer in
New Orleans, LA.