A wedding that felt like home in the heart of historic New Orleans

slim silk wedding dress

Daniel and Ellen met in the summer of 2014 on a rainy night Washington, DC. Both were walking towards the metro after a graduate school prep class, and as Danny tells it, he noticed Ellen first gripping her books from class to her chest without an umbrella. He instinctively covered Ellen with his umbrella, and they ended up walking to the metro together and sitting next to each other on the train home. On the last day of class, Danny asked Ellen for her number. Nine years later, this couple is happily married and expecting their first child in November! Keep scrolling to see the story (captured by Megan Graham Photo) of how this joyful day of "I do's" at The Mazant came together.

floral statement earrings

something blue bridesmaid dresses

cathedral length veil

How to style an elegantly simple bridal look

When it comes to timeless elegance, oftentimes less is more. Ellen wore a silk Sarah Seven dress from Lovely Bride Philadelphia that incorporated a deep square neck drop in the front and the back. The silhouette was simple and followed her figure, while the veil complemented the look without distracting from the bride's natural hair and makeup.

long-sleeve wedding dress

A venue that felt like home

The Mazant Historic Mansion also serves as an upscale Airbnb in New Orleans, Louisiana. The entire wedding party was able to stay in the mansion for the wedding weekend, helping the bride and groom prepare for and rewind after the big day. The caretaker was incredibly warm and helpful, and by the end of the three-day weekend, it felt like home as opposed to a rented venue!

blue floral bridesmaid dresses

Floral bridesmaid dresses from Reformation

Ellen's bridesmaids wore floral dresses from Reformation, while Daniel's groomsmen wore blue suits from their own closets! The bride and groom wanted to keep the looks for the wedding party as low-maintenance as possible, so some bridesmaids chose to do their own hair and makeup, while others opted to take advantage of the bride’s Verde Beauty team.

square back wedding dress

square neck wedding dress

DIY custom confetti baggies

It's not hard for wedding costs to quickly add up. One easy way to incorporate a little bit of DIY into your special day is the make your own baggies of tossing petals. It's easy to learn how to design and print your own stickers for only the cost of materials, and with a little help from your family and friends, these dainty baggies are done in no time!

backyard wedding ceremony setups

custom vows

backyard wedding ceremony

The photo benefits of an historic location

Getting married in an historic location often means that you don't have to go very far for those timeless wedding photos that everyone wants! Daniel and Ellen's photographer made excellent use of the giant hedges and mansion setting to create on-site memories, both inside and outside of the house itself.

blue and white tie

Creating a custom bar

While many couples include custom cocktails, Daniel and Ellen included a nod to their loved ones as part of their custom bar set-up. They personalized shelving behind the antique wood bar by moving the bottles of alcohol to the bar front itself and using that shelf space for vintage photography of family members.

antique wooden bar

custom pet cocktails

Reception luxury with an at-home feel

To get that impeccable at-home feel, Daniel and Ellen - with the help of Andrea Mock Events - kept their reception decor simple and elegant. This simplicity, featuring chinoises napkins, white rose centerpieces, and the noted absence of long table linens, made it feel as though nothing about this wedding day was trying too hard. The intimate backyard setting was able to shine through beautifully at golden hour and put the focus on the people.

backyard wedding layout

blue and white wedding decor chinoises vases

gold frame table numbers

The perfect way to incorporate inside jokes

Even if you want the most luxurious of wedding day aesthetics, it's impossible not to love a tiny nod to an inside joke for the couple. Daniel and Ellen included this by having a Simpsons wedding cake topper with a sign saying "I D'oh." As a separate nod to their love of the Simpsons, they also included gourmet donuts from District Donuts for every guest during dessert.

Simpsons cake topper

Advice from the happy couple

"Happiness is loving the average, seemingly mundane moments together. Waking up during the workweek to make coffee and listen to Lester Holt loudly enough so your partner can hear him in the next room. Figuring out what to order for dinner. Walking to the grocery store to get more cat litter and putting the laundry away. Life is made up of these little moments, and loving the little moments together is what true happiness is!"

choreographed first dance