This Court of Two Sisters wedding planned by Brooke Casey Weddings is nothing short of magical. Carmen + Chelsey chose New Orleans for their wedding location because Carmen grew up in Alabama and wanted to tie the knot in a city that felt like home. Their hope was when their friends + family came into town for the wedding, they could experience the salty gulf breeze, the amazing food, and our incredible southern hospitality. These two beautiful women began their morning getting ready at this stunning hotel.
Aren’t these blooms by Antigua Florals just incredible?
Carmen + Chelsey put so much care and thought into their day, especially the ceremony. Craving a unique and personal experience, they started from scratch and built the ceremony with Joan, one of Carmen’s best friends from college + their wedding officiant. Challenging traditions, they were each escorted down the aisle by both of their parents. When they all stood in front of their guests, Carmen + Chelsey asked their parents to make vows to support their marriage and accept this new person into the family as their own. 
Carmen + Chelsey wanted the ceremony to be about the decision to get married, not marriage itself. They had their friend and officiant read from Justice Kennedy’s opinion in Obergefell which discussed the important link between marriage and liberty. Driven by their decision to marry as not a “hemming in” but as a “marvelous living side by side” (a Rilke reference, for all of us romantic poetry lovers), these two drew everyone to tears as they emphasized how much the loved the other as an individual. 
Chelsey + Carmen didn’t buck all tradition, they kept what felt special to them. One tradition in particular felt so celebratory – twirling napkins when the newlyweds enter the dinner reception. This set the tone for a dinner filled with love and celebration! Walking into the reception with the music playing, all of the napkins twirling and people cheering was one of their favorite moments of the night. 
Instead of tossing her bouquet, Carmen asked all the single people to toss back champagne in celebration of choice and singledom. (Best idea, ever!) After that, she dedicated the bouquet to her mama, a new tradition I really hope to see at every celebration of love. This Court of Two Sisters wedding couldn’t have been more special and was such a tribute to marvelous living side by side.
Kinfolk Brass Band really upped the festivities during this second line, don’t you think?
P.S. Loved this unique celebration? Check out another French Quarter wedding here.
