Big Easy Bliss: My Sister's NOLA Wedding (Hurricanes, Beignets, and Happy Tears)

Feb 15, 2024

Normally, "family vacation" and "intimate setting" don't exactly go hand-in-hand. Picture your cousin elbowing in for the wedding bouquet or Tito Resty launching into his patented "dad jokes" during the vows. But when your sister says "I do" in the heart of New Orleans, surrounded by beignets, second lines, and enough jazz to wake the dead, things get a little...well, magical.

Our basecamp? The Hyatt Regency French Quarter. Prime location for Bourbon Street shenanigans (yes, even the adults snuck in a peep!) and steps away from enough restaurants to rival the number of beads thrown during Mardi Gras. Speaking of beads, this wedding was all class, folks. No plastic necklaces here, just genuine love, laughter, and maybe tons of cocktails.

Fueling the fun: Cafe du Monde. Beignets so fluffy they could float down Bourbon Street, and cafe au lait strong enough to power a second line all by itself. Pro tip: share an order (unless you have the appetite of a jazz trumpeter).

Fluffy beignets — Beignets at Cafe du Monde

History with a kick: Napoleon House. Pimms Cups colder than a jazzman's heart and a courtyard dripping with Southern charm. We raised a glass (or three) to Ems and Brandon, and maybe learned a few questionable dance moves from a rogue squirrel (blame the cocktails, not me!).

Enjoying cocktails at the courtyard — Pimms Cup at Napoleon’s House

Bourbon Street: tamed (slightly): Yes, we ventured onto the legendary strip, but traded bead battles for balconies overlooking the vibrant chaos. Pat O'Brien's Hurricane? More like a tropical vacation in a glass (with a serious hangover potential). Remember, friends, sweetness is often deceptive.

A group of people enjoying bourbon street — Bourbon Street

The grand dame enters: Antoine's. Built in the 1840s, it oozed Old World elegance and served up French Creole cuisine that could make Marie Laveau jealous. The wedding itself? Pure NOLA magic. Tears, laughter, and a second line band that almost had everyone two-stepping down Royal Street (if not for the rain). Honestly, the best (and most dance-filled) ceremony I've ever witnessed.

Couple dancing in New Orleans — Second Line Dancing at Antoine’s

Ems and Brandon’s Love Story

**Brunch of champions: Brennan's.** Bananas Foster flambéed tableside, enough shrimp and grits to feed a brass band, and formal rooms that whispered of antebellum grandeur. It was the perfect send-off to a truly unforgettable weekend.

Historical timeline — Second Line Dancing at Antoine’s

Ems and Brandon’s Love Story

**Brunch of champions: Brennan's.** Bananas Foster flambéed tableside, enough shrimp and grits to feed a brass band, and formal rooms that whispered of antebellum grandeur. It was the perfect send-off to a truly unforgettable weekend.

Final verdict: Destination weddings are great, but throw in New Orleans, fantastic food, and the most amazing family and friends, and you've got the recipe for something truly special. So cheers to Ems and Brandon, to beignets and second lines, and to proving that family vacations can be both intimate and, well, a little bit wild. Just like New Orleans itself.

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