Ok so I live in New Orleans, LA. Here's a glimpse into what happened last night, New Orleans style.
The groom last night, yes a Tuesday night, is the CEO of our Convention and Visitors Bureau
http://www.neworleanscvb.com/static/index.cfm/contentID/696/sectionID/3/subsectionID/0 . Third marriage for him, second for her. Lots of dignitaries there. Former govenors, CEO of Audubon Institue, owner of our local basketball team, etc.
Ceremony takes place upstairs at one of New Orleans oldest restaurants, built in 1905, Galatoire's,
http://www.galatoires.com/in a little bitty room with 80 people sitting at their tables already with absolutely no room to move about. Low light situation. Bride and groom kept their backs to us almost the entire time. Backs to their guests also. Finally turned to each other to put the rings on. No vows were said, just "i do". The judge announced them husband and wife and in strolls a 4 pc. gospel choir singing "oh happy day". After the song, 1st course is served. So since we don't shoot people eating, we were just standing around shooting the 3 pc. jazz band that was playing. Right before second course is served 3 guys come in and sing "my girl" and some other song.
Before 3rd course is served, 2 opera singers waltz in and sing O Sole Mio and some other song. 4th course entertainment was the Choctaw Mardi Gras Indians,
http://www.houstonculture.org/cr/indians.htmlsinging Iko, Iko in all their Indian glory. They could hardly get through the door cause their headress was so high.
5th Course, Brice Miller (famous New Orleans trumpeter)
http://thisisbricemiller.com/bricemiller.php comes in and plays 2 songs on the trumpet. By this time no one is feeling any pain.
Final entertainment is a 6 pc. brass band
http://orleansrecords.com/artist09.shtml that leads everyone down the steps and out the door in a second line.
http://www.frenchquarter.com/history/SecondLine.phpOnce we get to Bourbon Street there is red carpet laid out in the middle of the street all the way down to the Royal Sonesta Hotel.
http://www.sonesta.com/RoyalNewOrleans/ Rose petals cover the red carpet. Costumed masaqueraders
http://www.mgpevents.com/talent/ are standing along the red carpet down the street. Police officers on horseback lead the second liners.
As we get closer to the hotel you can see the banner "Congratulations bride and groom" (but their real names) draped across the street and confetti cannons are shooting silver confetti in the air. The group stops underneath the banner, the brass band now joined by Brice play "when the saints go marching in". A good ole time!
Another famous New Orleans musician, Kermit Ruffins, trumpeter,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermit_Ruffinsis the entertainment at this event. besides having an espresso bar, a cigar bar and cooking bananas foster, there is an artist who's painting a painting
http://reggieart.com/reggiebio.html for the couple to take with them. Very cool abstract painting with symbolims of the wedding.
Stayed there for 2 hrs. Walked home. I live in the French Quarter. Today my aching body is sore. Tough wedding, great experience for all.
After Thanksgiving I'll capture a little of the second line and post it here.
