An Intimate New Orleans Wedding on a Hot Summer Day

A Love for NOLA

Originally, Jaquita and Carlton planned to marry in Los Angeles, since they both live there. But a New Year's Eve spent in New Orleans changed it all. They both fell in love with the city's electric vibe. When they found the Hermann-Grima House, a historic residence that was built in 1831, they were captivated by its elegant, slightly-rustic architecture. It was the perfect venue for their "Art Deco goes tropical" theme proposed by their wedding planner, Clark and Kelly.

An Art Deco-Inspired Wedding Dress

Since Jaquite chose not to have a bridal party, dress shopping became a special mother-daughter activity. Her mom spotted the "Tara" gown by Theia at the Lovely Bride shop in Pasadena, California, and she immediately knew it was the one for her daughter. Jaquita admired the dress's Art Deco-style, silhouette, and beading, all of which made her look and feel regal.

Funky Shoes

Without hesitation, Jaquita says her red Aquazzura shoes were her favorite part of her big-day ensemble: "Those pom-pom sandals are so fun!"

DIY Hair and Makeup

Jaquita, the artist she is (she's an actress and writer!), did her own hair and makeup for the big day. "It was important to me that I still looked like myself," she says. She even wore the same rose gold nose ring she wears every day.

She polished off her bridal look with a pair of diamond earrings—a gift from her paternal grandmother—and an embellished feather comb by A Stich in Time (the atelier was also responsible for Jaquita's wedding dress alterations).

The Bouquet

The official symbol of the wedding was the succulent. The couple wanted a piece of home worked into their wedding day, so they shipped a bunch of succulents from Los Angeles to New Orleans. The bride chose an expressive bouquet with a mix of tropical greens, succulents, white delphinium, and other large blooms; the clutch was held together with a natural wrap.

An Unexpected Wedding Party

"We didn't have any traditional bridesmaids or groomsmen, but somehow our friends managed to wear complementary colors of red, burgundy, teal, and emerald," said Jaquita of her accidental bridal party.

A Bike Taxi Ride

Jaquita and her father, Osayande Ta'le-Sekani, took a fun bike taxi to the Hermann-Grima House after they finished getting ready. Friends and family cheered them on as they departed for the ceremony site.

The First Look

Carlton was in awe of how beautiful his bride looked. "[The] most memorable moment was probably every man's favorite moment, seeing my wife in her wedding dress for the first time," he explains. The last time they had seen each other was at their rehearsal dinner the night prior at a nearby restaurant, Atchafalaya. "There are no real words to describe the feeling of seeing each other in our wedding attire. Pure joy," the couple says.

A Very Important Guest

Jaquita's 93-year-old maternal grandmother wouldn't let cancer stop her from attending the wedding; the couple mutually agree that her attendance was what made the event special. Sadly, she passed away just the following month.

A Special Officiant

At most weddings, the father walks the bride down the aisle to give her away. Jaquita's dad, however, went the extra mile and officiated the ceremony, which wasn't religious, but still honored their faith.

The bride fiercely strutted down the aisle solo to the Muppet's "Somebody's Getting Married."

A Thoughtful Program

To keep guests cool during their outdoor ceremony, Jaquita and Charlton provided raffia fans, which rested under the small program cards. The favors proved useful in the soaring 90-degree heat—many attendees used them throughout the balmy reception, too, after working up a sweat on the dance floor.

A Hot Groom

Carlton's big-day ensemble consisted of a light gray Zara suit—he promptly slipped out of the jacket (it was just too hot!) during his walk down the aisle, which he took to UGK's "International Playas Anthem."

He also wore a a spearmint dress shirt from Banana Republic to complement his neutral ensemble and accessorized with a hunter green Tie Bar tie, a mahogany belt, and matching Cole Haan dress shoes.

The Ceremony

The couple exchanged hand-written vows, which were accompanied by the "tears, laughter, and cheers from our families and friends," says the groom.

As for the ring exhange? Jaquita opted for a unique band with conflict-free opals (her birthstone!) and diamonds from Wwake. Carlton also wanted a non-traditional ring: With three built-in bands made from patina cooper, spalted maple, and antler (all ethically-sourced), his Stag Head Designs ring was the clear winner.

We Do

Jaquita and Carlton shared their first married kiss after the bride's father declared them husband and wife—at last.

A Tropical Reception

The couples Art-Deco-meets-tropical theme was enunciated during the wedding reception, which took place at Broussard's, a local eatery known for its Creole-meets-classic-French cuisine. Clark and Kelly adorned guests' tables with tropical greens and succulents, which made guests feel like they were, in fact, attending a beachy destination wedding.

Highlights from the menu included coconut rice with grilled pineapple and red chili butter, as well as fried Creole-spiced catfish bites. The guests dined in the outdoor banquet area just in the back of the restaurant.

An Upbeat First Dance

The newlyweds took their first dance to Christopher Williams' "Don't Wake Me I'm Dreaming." Both '80s babies, the bride and groom made sure that Merc80, their DJ, played a handful of old-school jams during the reception.

A Quick Change

Shortly after the bride slipped into her short, easy-to-groove-in reception dress, she, Carlton, and their guests moved on to the dancing portion of the evening, which kicked off with Juvenile's "Back That Thang Up." This was one of Carlton's favorite tunes of the night.

Bust a Move

Carton's nephew stole the spotlight when Ghost Town DJ's "My Boo" came on.

"Donut" Mind If I Do

The couple served donuts instead of a wedding cake, which they displayed on a tiered stand from Your Divine Affair. They catered the treats from District Donuts; flavors included maple Sriracha, wedding cake, carrot cake, and vegan salted caramel. Their customized toppers were from Ready Go.

A Magical Event

When asked to describe their wedding day in one sentence, both Jaquita and Carlton say, "magical—not quite a sentence, but the most truthful. Our wedding was pure magic."

Part of that magic? One of their wedding gifts—Jaquita's parents framed the picture and program from their joint play at NYU, where they first became friends. "Can you believe they kept that after all this time? Who knew we'd end up getting married one day?"

Sources

Photography, Hannah Pickle

Venue, The Hermann-Grima House (ceremony), Broussard's (reception)

Event planning, Clark and Kelly

Catering, Broussard's

Flowers, Luna Vicini

Stationery, Wedding Paper Divas

Donuts, District Donuts

Music, Merc80

Rentals, Able Music

Bride's gown, Theia Couture (designer), Lovely Bride (bridal shop)

Bride's accessories, Aquazzura (shoes), A Stitch in Time (hairpiece and dress altering)

Groom's suit, Zara (suit), Banana Republic (shirt)

Groom's accessories, The Tie Bar (tie, socks, and shoelaces), Cole Haan (shoes)

Transportation, Bike Taxi Unlimited