Undeterred by Covid-19, this intimate 10-guest bayou wedding in New Orleans captures the essence of love and family.
Jessyca and Ahmad were originally planning to have 250 guests come to New Orleans to celebrate their union in March of 2021, but of course, COVID-19 altered their plans. In order to keep their original wedding date, the couple decided to downsize their wedding to 10 guests and had a beautiful sunset ceremony at Jessycas’ aunt’s home overlooking the Bayou St. John.
Everything was perfect, and the energy was moving and captivating. Jessyca shared, “After the officiant officially announced us as husband and wife, we heard faint shouting from a distance. I couldn’t believe they thought enough of us to watch our ceremony from afar, across the bayou. My heart was so full!”
Their wedding may not have been what they imagined a year ago, but it was exactly what they needed.
More beautiful details below (and check out their feature in Munaluchi Bride Magazine Issue 25!).
- Couple: Jessyca Butler & Ahmad Oliver
- Location of Wedding: New Orleans, LA
- Wedding Date: March 21, 2021
- Wedding Guest Count: 10
Quick Facts:
- Wedding Style: Minimal monochrome, soft and chic
- Wedding Flowers: tulips, baby’s breath, pussy willow, myrtle, eucalyptus, white roses
- Favorite item on the menu: The crawfish cornbread appetizer!
- Bridesmaids/groomsmen gifts: N/A
- First dance song: N/A
How they met…
We met while Ahmad was in New York City for a work trip in 2015. We had already been following each other via social media and had many mutual friends from our hometown of New Orleans, LA. We met up over drinks in Harlem and the rest is history! Since then, we have been together for over 5 yrs. In the first half of our relationship, we would visit each other for days at a time every month due to long-distance (Ahmad living in New Orleans and me living in New York City). In September 2017, Ahmad relocated to New York City to be with his true love, me!
The proposal…
He proposed to me on my 30th birthday in 2019 at The Palace of Versailles in France. After taking a tour of the estate indoors, he found a quiet spot in the garden so I could have a birthday photoshoot. Ahmad promised me a new iPhone for my birthday, so I was in complete shock when he asked me to marry him instead. I was caught off guard and asked “Are you serious!?” After a few minutes of happy tears, I quickly added, “Yes!”
How they knew they found “the one”…
There wasn’t a specific moment I knew he was the one but more so the consistency in his actions over time. When he was willing to move cross country to be with me, I knew this was someone who truly loved me! And I was excited to start that next chapter of our life together.
Their initial wedding plans & how COVID-19 affected them…
We were initially planning to have 250 of our closest friends and family come celebrate our union in March 2021 but of course, COVID-19 changed all of that. We kept downsizing the list to be in compliance with the current/local COVID guidelines but it became too stressful. In early January 2021, we made the hard decision to postpone our bigger wedding celebration to the same time in 2022. More than anything, we still wanted to get married on our original date so we started planning our private, micro ceremony to solidify our commitment to each other.
The dress & favorite accessory…
My wedding dress was an ivory satin cut-out midi dress by Anna Quan, a designer I discovered on Net-A-Porter. It was so difficult to find a dress that was subtly sexy, elegant, and fresh (non-traditional) at an affordable price point. I couldn’t have chosen a better dress! My favorite accessories were jewelry pieces gifted to me that belonged to my late grandmothers; a ring from my maternal grandmother and a watch from my paternal grandmother.
Best wedding day memories…
My aunt and uncle attending our wedding ceremony as surprise guests from across the bayou! We kept our guest list to a very small number to keep everyone safe but that didn’t stop my family from finding creative ways to still be a part of our special day. We got married in our aunt’s backyard which sits along Bayou St. John. After the officiant officially announced us as husband and wife, we heard faint shouting from a distance. I couldn’t believe they thought enough of us to watch our ceremony from afar, across the bayou. My heart was so full!
Advice for other engaged couples planning their wedding during the COVID-19 epidemic…
Know that everything will work out! Don’t stress over what you can’t control. You want to look back on your special day with no regrets.
Tips for brides from the bride…
Trust your gut and instincts! You will have a lot of different (mostly unsolicited) opinions thrown at you but only you and your partner will know what’s best for your special day. Stay true to your vision.
Looking for more bayou wedding inspiration?
Click here.
Vendors:
- Bride’s Dress: Anna Quan @annaquanlabel
- Bridal Salon: Net-A-Porter @netaporter
- Bride’s Headpiece And/Or Veil: Handmade By Mom
- Bride’s Shoes: Boohoo @boohoo
- Cakes/Desserts: Amber Oliver @cakes_by _amm
- Ceremony Venue: Private Residence Along Bayou St. John In New Orleans
- Event Decor/Design: Wooden Altar Built By Dad And Uncle
- Florals: Amanda Mcgowan @statementpiecesbyjane
- Groom’s Attire: J. Crew @jcrewmens
- Hair: Denise Robinson @msdeescurlmagic
- Photography: Khrystina Steib, Steib Weddings @steibweddings
- Reception Venue: Private Dinner At Superior Seafood @superiorseafood
- Bride Earrings: Rayne Schlöss @onlymade.rs
- Engagement Ring: The Real Cut @theclearcut
- Wedding Bands: Diamonds Direct @diamondsdirect
- Groom Shoes: Aldo Shoes @aldo_shoes
- Groom Watch: Seiko Watches @seikowatchusa
- Bridal Nail Artist: Kiyann Bramlett @nolanailgirl
Leave a Reply