Eloping to New Orleans post-Katrina?

May 17, 2006 9:49 AM

My fiancee and I are thinking about getting married in New Orleans. Advice? Is it still in bad enough shape that this is a bad idea?

We're planning on eloping (with kid, dog and parents in tow) and New Orleans is one of the few places that has a special meaning to us. Except, of course, we haven't been back since Katrina. Both sets of parents have put the fear in us.

I know the French Quarter is intact, but I've heard about sky-high hotel costs, no service due to lack of workers, etc. How much of this is bunk versus fact? Am I setting us up for disaster?

Some ancillary questions:
We haven't picked a date yet. Pre-Katrina, there wasn't much downtime in the NOLA tourism schedule. Is January still the only off-season?

So, since City Park is rather destroyed still, any suggestions for a good (informal) spot to get hitched? (Not a church)

Any other destination wedding/NOLA advice appreciated.

posted by Gucky to Travel & Transportation around New Orleans, LA (10 answers total)

Get on the ground and see for yourself. One weekend and you can get all the locations set.
posted by omidius at 10:23 AM on May 17, 2006

I stayed in New Orleans in the French Quarter in the past month and it only cost around 80 bucks a night. A quick search at Orbitz show rates about the same (searching about a month from now). So the sky-high hotel costs are a myth.

If New Orleans is special to both of you as you say there is no reason not to go. The city is definitely still reeling from Katrina but can most assuredly handle a wedding.

As for your other questions I'd post over at the New Orleans LJ community. Even if you have to make a bunk LJ account it will be worth your time.
posted by The Radish at 10:24 AM on May 17, 2006

A couple threads you might want to check out:

Eloping to New Orleans

Weddings

Also i wouldn't totally count out City Park. It seems like it may bare investigating.
posted by The Radish at 10:39 AM on May 17, 2006

I think it all depends on what you want out of the wedding. Having visited for a service project in March, I can tell you that so much of the place is still just a ghost town. However, progress is definitely everywhere. French Quarter and other places close to down town are up and runnning and I remember during St. Patty's day I actually saw a rather large scale wedding party in and around the city. That tells me that wedding related services are available somewhere.

The prices down there are still pretty cheap (this coming from a guy who is used to the extremely low cost of living in Tacoma WA), except when it comes to lodging. Contract worker have filled up every available place so unless you know someone, you might be out of luck. A bed and breakfast might be one approach.

NO would be a great choice though since they are soooooo excited to see visitors/ tourists that help out the local economy.
posted by Smarson at 12:36 PM on May 17, 2006

I went to a wedding in NOLA post Katrina a couple months ago and it seemed literally every place we went people loved tourists for coming back. We stayed at the Omni Royal Orleans in the French Quarter and there didn't seem to be any issues with a lack of workers.

While the wedding we attended was a rather expensive, I expect you shouldn't have any issues. I can recommend a rabbi from Baton Rouge if needed.
posted by rabbitsnake at 1:08 PM on May 17, 2006

350,000 happy guests at Jazzfest last week can't all be wrong.
posted by ikkyu2 at 1:35 PM on May 17, 2006

I attended the NOLA wedding with rabbitsnake and I'll tell you that the hotel was quite nice, and not ungodly expensive. In addition the the Omni Royal Orleans, I know quite a few people in our party stayed at the W and at the Chateau Le Moyne (the latter being cheaper). And, at least in the French Quarter, lots of places were open (restaurants/bars, stores, etc.).

I, too, say you should go for it if it has special meaning for you. That's why we were there: it was a destination wedding for the couple who's wedding we attended. They had actually planned the whole huge (and yes, very expensive and elaborate) wedding for September of 2005 (read: a few weeks after Katrina), but found out earlier in the year that they were pregnant and decided to postpone. When Katrina happened, they wondered if they should still have the wedding there, and decided that a) the city still meant just as much to them, and b) that if anyone they had hired to do their wedding ever needed their money, now was the time.

They did face a bit of adversity from the bride's snobby, rich, and classless father and his snobby, rich, and classless friends -- many of whom apparently didn't go because it was in NO post-Katrina. But if you're planning to elope, then lucky you, because that won't be an issue.
posted by penchant at 2:23 PM on May 17, 2006

Yes, please do come to New Orleans! People will be so glad to have you here.

Smarson's right that some parts of the city are still almost entirely abandoned, but many parts (the Quarter, the CBD, the Garden District and Uptown, some parts of Mid-City) are in good or okay shape. I do think you'll be able to find everything you need for a wedding, particularly such a small one.

I'm not sure what part of City Park you were considering, but the New Orleans Botanical Garden is open, still beautiful, and apparently available for functions. Depending on your budget and how many people will be there, you might also consider the Degas House, which is also a bed and breakfast, and is about halfway between City Park and the Quarter.

In terms of an off-season, the summer is very very slow here. The downside of being here during the summer is...it's summer. Hot and humid as hell. Brave the weather at your own risk.

Congratulations!
posted by Siobhan at 3:16 PM on May 17, 2006

Ditto Siobhan: please come! Much of the city is still intact, and hotel costs are not bad at all. If you want something a little different, try the Avenue Inn B&B. My mom just stayed there this weekend (and due to the incredibly comfortable bed I bunked with her) and it was lovely.
posted by radioamy at 7:14 PM on May 17, 2006

Wait, I just realized the Avenue doesn't allow dogs. Dang. Cuz that's pretty cool that your canine is coming along. There's this cute pet boutique on Magazine called Petcetera (off Louisiana) that sells all sorts of ridiculous things including costumes in case you're interested.
posted by radioamy at 7:19 PM on May 17, 2006