This gorgeous elopement in New Orleans City Park wasn’t Shannon + Ben’s original plan. They were going to have a much larger wedding on a beautiful May weekend in 2020 – but with COVID, everything changed. I met Shannon years ago when I photographed her dear friend Emery’s wedding, and when she reached out to me during all this mess about photographing her and Ben’s elopement it was an instant YES!
Shannon didn’t think her father would be able to make it – and at the last minute, he did! Shannon’s mother passed away before the wedding, and she wore her mother’s wedding dress. Her father’s reaction to seeing her was too much for me, and I started tearing up just ten minutes in to the day!
The ceremony was at Our Lady of the Rosary on Esplanade – it’s an absolutely beautiful church in the perfect location right next to NOMA and City Park!
After the ceremony, we took a quick jaunt over to City Park for some portraits! I was with Shannon + Ben for two hours and it was the perfect amount of time for Shannon’s first look with her dad, the ceremony, portraits, and a bit of their picnic!
We arranged for me to be there for two hours and it was the perfect amount of time. I’m grateful that Shannon basically let me choose the ceremony time – that meant we had gorgeous light like this for our fifteen minutes (yes, just fifteen minutes!) of portrait time in between the ceremony and the picnic reception!
Shannon + Ben’s friends put together the cutest lil celebration in City Park where everyone could social distance but still cheer on the newlyweds.
It’s not a “COVID wedding” without at least two bottles of hand sanitizer!
Black Pearl Catering Co delivered the most delicious custom picnic dinners for each guest! Such a fun (and safe) way to eat together!
So many couples have had to completely rearrange their plans due to COVID, and it’s so encouraging to see such a beautiful and sweet celebration come together during such a bizarre time!
PS – liked this City Park elopement and wanting to elope in New Orleans during COVID? Check out this how to post here! It can be done and I’d love to help!
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