New Orleans Ace Hotel Elopement

I don’t even know where to start with this New Orleans elopement at the Ace Hotel! It’s amazing the incredible people you meet in this job. Chris is a fellow photographer (in the political world!) and Rachel is an elementary education expert whose videos I watch regularly. While they live in Chicago, New Orleans is special to them and it was the perfect place to invite their best friends to celebrate their elopement!

Chris + Rachel created the best guidebook for their wedding weekend to give to every guest – including a “Facebook” (the original kind, not the social media website – sorry Mark!) with a picture and profile of each of their guests! I have never seen that done before and was so impressed by how it helped all their guests connect over the weekend!

Rachel’s gorgeous dress was BHLDN – and I loved how she showed it off to Chris the moment they saw each other!

From the moment I walked into the Ace, we were fast friends and that’s the biggest gift of this job – to encounter people I never would otherwise, and to create something for them on such a special day.

The suites in the Ace Hotel are a DREAM to photograph in! Since the Ace is in the central business district, it’s always pretty busy down below. This is such an easy way to get intimate portraits with just the two of you.

Did I mention there was a deck?! It was very hot this day, so we didn’t spend too much time outside – maybe five minutes? But with light like this, that is all you need!

Had to show off that great dress again – it was just too good!

Obviously needed a little bubbly before the ceremony!

Reading over those vows one last time!

Rachel + Chris kept their wedding a secret from everyone who wasn’t present – and only told the guests a few weeks before! Everyone who was there was SO excited to be there and you could feel it the whole day!!