Erin Elizabeth: Lifestyle Photographer & Certified Wedding Planner: Firefly Ambiance

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Becoming Brennan: Michelle & Sean

Michelle & Sean are married! They came to me through another client, one of my very first clients, Ms. Pam, of Amanda and Aimee :) Yup, my Houma people are going strong! I have fallen so in love with all of them and Houma that I've seriously considered moving down there! The people are just so nice!!!

Back to Michelle & Sean!

While Michelle was defintely a part of the planning process, it was Mrs. Shelly who worked really hard to give her only daughter a wedding anyone would dream of!

Mrs. Shelly contacted me even before Michelle was engaged (not sure if Michelle knew that :) She was truly on a roll! Mrs. Shelly took the reigns and I helped steer her through the New Orleans wedding planning process. And Michelle, all she wanted was for it to be pretty.

It was definitely a busy year for the May family. They're huge LSU fans which means they travel to both football and baseball games. They run their own business. And their only daughter was getting married, IN NEW ORLEANS! We needed a hotel and church and reception and transportation and we needed it to be "pretty." Of course Mrs. Shelly wanted help; she's from down south! You know, closer to the Bayou :)

I so enjoyed spending time with these ladies and planning this wedding! Both of them are smart, funny and completely successful! And on top of it, they'd chosen the lovely Catherine Guidry for photography which meant I was surrounded by some of the warmest, friendliest people we're going to find in the state! One of my favorite memories from the planning process was spending the day with all three ladies for Michelle's bridals. It was here where I learned Michelle likes to act like she is not photogenic, but I'm pretty sure between Mrs. Shelly, Catherine Guidry, Sean (her now husband), and many others, we would all beg to differ. Michelle May is beautiful inside and out!

Her mom definitely accomplished that goal! It was truly a wonderful day and night!

Of course to our vendors, thank you all so much! And to Ms. Shelly and family, thank you for being so open with me and for being so absolutely wonderful! You are all truly beautiful!

Coordinator: Erin with It’s Your Time Events

Photographer: Catherine Guidry Photography

Videographer: Randy Diddly Studios

Cake: Bittersweet Confections

Photobooth: Boogie Booth

Flowers & Decor & Candles: Bella Blooms Floral

Drape: Event Rentals

Chandelier: Firefly Ambiance

Lounge Area: Fleur de Lis Rentals

Transportation: Big Easy Limos

Lodging: Windsor Court

Ceremony Music: Vincent Woolf

Reception: The Chicory

Reception Music: MoJEAUX Band

Second Line Band: Red Hot Brass Band

Bride's Dress from Wedding Belles & the Stationer

Sunday, June 28, 2015

New Orleans Wedding: Laah & Jerrell

Doing things just a bit different, I asked Laah to tell me her story. For this blog, I wanted to hear it straight from her. She and Jerrell had done the long distance relationship thing and had known each other for what seems like forever, so I thought it best, she tell the story.

Jerrell and I first met in 2003 during our freshman year in college at Southern [BR, LA]. Jerrell asked me out, but at the time, I was not interested.

Years later we crossed paths again during the 2007 spring semester of our senior year & I gave in to going out with Jerrell for dinner at Chilis. Things were going great until Jerrell got accepted to graduate school in St. Louis, Missouri. I was still in school here in Louisiana. It became a seven year long distance relationship. Eventually we agreed that whoever received a job first out of graduate school the other would move to that city. Since Jerrell won, I moved to Houston, Tx in January of 2013.

Laah remembered her engagement like it was yesterday! Jerrell is a guy after my own heart! He gave her a book!

On June 22, 2013, we went to lunch Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant, took a nice stroll by Waterwall Park, and after taking a few pictures we stopped. Jerrell told me he found an original copy of the book version of my favorite movie “Steel Magnolias”. As he handed me the book he stated he was able to get it autographed by the author. As I opened the book, on the first page I saw the words “Will you marry me?” and the other pages of the book were pressed together with a di cut heart shape. In the middle of the heart was a ribbon with a ring tied to it. Thus the fairytale wedding planning began.

Laah always wanted a wedding that gave that “wow” effect and would be remembered for years. The first thing was picking the date, so the last sequential date of the century was agreed upon: December 13, 2014. The couple wanted their guest to enjoy their wedding and have a good time afterward so New Orleans, LA was designated as the host city. Since Jerrell is a huge James Bond fan, the theme “From New Orleans With Love” was born. The couple searched venue after venue but they were either not large enough for the 250 expected guest, or had become a cliche. Laah had the thought of why not check out the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as a venue. After viewing the areas where the ceremony and reception would take place she fell in love and a deal was made. “ From New Orleans With Love” would take place at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on 12.13.14.

I would definitely say Laah had the "wow" factor! She was a beautiful princess and sparkled from head to toe! And while the candles and decor were gorgeous, once Club XLIV put them in Champion's Square with their images on the big screen, and all that's left to do is say "WOW."