New Orleans has some of the most beautiful historic wedding venues. The Marigny Opera House is exceptional even among them. This wedding venue, which gained international attention for hosting Solange’s wedding, has that charming combination of old bones with artistic details. Alex and Chris’s Marigny Opera House wedding was intimate, elegant, and full of joy.
The Marigny Opera House
The Marigny Opera House is stunning inside and out. Its architecture is simple but incredibly elegant. The interior floor plan is open and inviting. Tall windows let in bright indirect sunlight on the multi-colored tiles. Arches span between pillars beneath the domed ceiling. The palette of the sparse decor feels both earthy and airy. You could install big florals or just a few chairs and end up with a gorgeous Marigny Opera House wedding.
Like many former churches turned wedding venues, the Marigny Opera House has a complicated history. Originally, it served as a Catholic church for German immigrants in the Faubourg Marigny. Built in 1853, the church served many purposes for over a century while it was property of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. In 2011, the Archdiocese sold the building to developers who converted it into a music and events venue. The Marigny Opera House hosts a number of community events, and is a much beloved center of the arts in the Marigny.
The Marigny Opera House is named for the neighborhood in which it’s located. The Faubourg Marigny is a historic area of downtown New Orleans. Colorful shotgun houses and little cafes line the streets. French Quarter bars and hotels are easily accessible. A Marigny Opera House wedding will offer no end of entertainment for wedding guests.
Getting Ready at Hotel Peter and Paul
Before their Marigny Opera House wedding, Alex and Chris got ready at Hotel Peter and Paul. This hotel is also in a building formerly owned by the Archdiocese. While the outside is impressive, you cannot miss seeing this interior design when you’re in New Orleans. Each room is decorated in jaw-dropping colors with vintage wallpaper and furniture. It’s an incredible getting ready location.
Chris and Alex chose to do their first look at Hotel Peter and Paul before heading to the Marigny Opera House for their ceremony. The chandelier and green curtains frame them so perfectly in this composition. The blues and oranges of the decor fit so well with their wedding details.
Wedding Photography on Film
A Marigny Opera House wedding is such a great opportunity to include film in a photography package. Throughout Alex and Chris’s wedding day, I took photos on 35MM film in addition to their digital photography. The results are so beautiful. The colors and textures of the photos are so warm. In venues as historic and colorful as Hotel Peter and Paul and the Marigny Opera House, film is the perfect way to capture the atmosphere and emotion of a wedding day.
A Joyful Marigny Opera House Wedding
For their Marigny Opera House wedding, Chris and Alex had creative floral installations at the ceremony space. They also had vining plants on the pillars, which gave the venue a feeling of enchantment. A small group of friends and family watched the couple exchange vows in the soft afternoon sunlight.
In true New Orleans fashion, the ceremony closed with a second line! The couple led their guests in dancing with a brass band out to the courtyard for the reception. Their joy was radiating off of them as they stood embracing in the sunshine.
Since Chris and Alex had an outdoor reception at their Marigny Opera House wedding, they rented a tent that was strung with market lights. As the sun sank over the horizon, the white tent glowed with warmth. Alex and Chris really made sure that every detail elevated their day that much more. Guests were treated to a decadent meal on an elegant tablescape. Everyone continued to celebrate long into the evening.
Do you want to see more great venues for small weddings and elopements in New Orleans? Check out this list of 14 of my favorite places for an elopement in New Orleans!
