How to Elope in New Orleans French Quarter
Dreaming of a romantic elopement in the heart of Louisiana? The French Quarter in New Orleans is a perfect blend
Say your vows on the bow with our all-inclusive New Orleans boat wedding package – stress-free, wildly romantic, and made for couples who want stunning lake views and zero fuss. The ultimate elopement experience, right on Lake Pontchartrain.
Say Your Vows on a Private Sailboat in New Orleans
Sunset. Skyline. Sailboat. That’s the whole scene.
You didn’t come all the way to New Orleans for something generic. And you’re definitely not the ballroom type. If the idea of a packed venue and a never-ending to-do list makes you want to ghost your own wedding — skip it. You’ve got better options.
Picture this: an all-inclusive sunset sailboat wedding on Lake Pontchartrain.
Just you two (or a few of your favorite people), exchanging vows on a private sailboat as the sun dips behind the New Orleans skyline. It’s personal. It’s romantic. It’s exactly how you want to start your marriage — calm, real, and ridiculously beautiful.
We take care of everything:
✔️ Licensed officiant (your sailboat captain!)
✔️ Professional local photographer (hi, that’s me)
✔️ Custom florals
✔️ Petite cake
✔️ Seamless planning
✔️ Two hours on the water, surrounded by skyline views and Louisiana skies
It’s not a production. It’s a moment – rooted in real connection, full of feeling, and built just for the two of you. With local recommendations, personalized details, and the kind of charm only New Orleans can bring, this isn’t just a wedding. It’s a story worth telling.
Let’s make it real. And have a great time too!
⚜️ Up to 4 Guests
⚜️ Ceremony on a Private Sailboat
⚜️ Assistance with logistics, timeline, restaurant (think top seafood spots on the riverfront)and hair/makeup recommendations
⚜️ Up to 2 hours of professional wedding photography coverage to capture every intimate detail of your special day
⚜️ Officiant who will assist with obtaining and legally filing your marriage license
⚜️ Florals for couple (Bouquet and Boutenniere’)
⚜️ Petite themed cake
⚜️ All professionally hand edited images delivered in a private online gallery of your digital photos with unlimited downloads and print release included
⚜️ 60-Day private online gallery to share with loved ones
⚜️ Print package included
Sail into married life from $2900.
Let’s make it official—with champagne, sunsets, and zero stress.
Couples choose Elope to NOLA because we turn the dream of a stress-free, all-inclusive boat wedding into a seamless reality. Whether you’re planning a romantic elopement on Lake Pontchartrain or an intimate ceremony aboard a private sailboat, our experienced team takes care of every detail. So, you can simply show up and celebrate your love.
From helping you obtain your New Orleans marriage license to coordinating with trusted local wedding vendors for flowers, photography, and beauty services, we provide a concierge-level experience that feels personal and effortless.
Our all-inclusive elopement packages include a licensed officiant, professional photography, custom florals, a petite cake, and more, bundled to deliver everything you need for a perfect celebration.
With deep roots in the New Orleans elopement community, we’re passionate about crafting moments that are magical, memorable, and authentically yours. That’s why couples from around the world trust us to plan their destination wedding or luxury elopement by boat.
EXCELLENT Based on 78 reviews Eric2025-05-15Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I cannot say enough good things about Marcia! We planned our elopement in about 6 weeks, and during our initial call we told Marcia that we just wanted to show up and enjoy our day. She took care of literally everything, helped with vendor recommendations, and was extremely flexible when we had to change the time of our wedding due to the weather. Every vendor that she recommended was equally as amazing, and the whole process was stress-free and fun to plan. On our wedding day, she took the reins and made sure we got all the photos we wanted, that every detail we wanted to capture was done, and most importantly she made sure that we felt comfortable so that we didn't look awkward in our pictures, which was something we were concerned with since we're not people who spend a lot of time in front of a camera. We just got our final photos back, and they are absolutely beautiful. They're exactly what we wanted, and there are many beautiful ones to choose, we're having a hard time deciding which ones are the favorites to display. Also, her daughter Krislyn was our second shooter for the day and her photos were just as amazing! If you have the opportunity to work work Ibay Photography, DO IT! They will be your favorite wedding vendor! Sheila Morgan2025-05-12Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We use Marcia for our boat weddings at Captan Morgan Sailing Charters. She is so talented and wonderful to work with. She knows what she is doing and makes sure that the wedding is seamless. Gissel diaz2025-05-01Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our entire day was completely magical. Marcia did her absolute to capture all the right moments. I absolutely love all of our wedding photos and so do both of our families. The overall team did amazing. Wouldn’t have chosen anyone else for our big day!! Jessica Chui2025-04-18Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Marcia did an amazing job photographing our day!! She was so knowledgeable of the venue and knew the perfect spots as well as listening to our ideas. She took the time before the day to touch base and it helped to ensure a smooth wedding day. She gave us such great pointer to ensure our photos could be the best they could be. We received the photos so quickly and they were all so flawless. We will appreciate the photos forever. Thank you for everything! Samantha Watson2025-04-10Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Marcia is the best professional photographer ever! She made us feel so comfortable on our wedding day. She has a keen eye. She is talented and super sweet! My makeup came out too orange and she edited our pictures to where you couldn't even tell! Highly recommend!! Heather Tucker2025-04-09Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Marcia & her daughter did an amazing job on our photos! She made it go so smooth & stress free. We absolutely love our photos. They both were so kind & helpful. I would recommend them to anyone wanting to elope in New Orleans. She knew all of the right places to go. 10/10 experience!!!!! Liz James2025-04-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our elopement was absolute perfection thanks to Marcia and her team. She didn't just help plan our perfect day; she captured every moment beautifully. I met with a handful of planners, but the very first time we spoke I knew Marcia was who I wanted to use. She was engaging, excited, attentive, and incredibly thoughtful. All of her suggestions perfectly aligned with our vision for an intimate ceremony with our boys. She made everything so easy that I had zero stress on the day of our ceremony. As our photographer, she captured such incredible moments that I am forever indebted to her. Her ability to make us at ease in front of the camera resulted in stunning photographs encapsulating memories we can now cherish for a lifetime. If you're looking for a planner/photographer who can perform miracles and create perfection, Marcia is your girl! She is a friend for life now!! Aden Ardoin2025-04-07Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We love Marcia!!!!!!!! My fiance and I worked together with Marcia and Bob Morgan to get engagement photos taken on a sailboat. They turned out so good!!!! We appreciate Marcia and Bob for making our dream come true!! Thank yall so much 💓 11/10 would recommend:) Lovess Henry2025-03-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Working with Marcia was an absolute dream. My (now) husband and I were having so much trouble devising a plan to get married in New Orleans and when we found Marcia (or did she find us?) all the pieces fell into place in her articulate hands. She handled all of our arrangements so gracefully. We never had to worry that something wasn’t handled and there were so many times that she went above and beyond to give us the experience we wanted. Marcia hand-delivered to us a team of experts in Sandy Arce (Rockstar Officiant and all around kind and dynamic person), Kimberly Quinlivan who crafted the bouquet and floral pocket arrangement of my absolute dreams, and Terry of Chez RuRene Bakery who delivered the tastiest Almond Raspberry cake, decorated to perfection! If you go with Marcia Ibay of Ibay photography as your photographer, wedding planner, or both, you’ll never regret it. You might even walk away with a new friend. <3 Dana Rogers2025-03-15Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Marcia was amazing and that’s an understatement. We changed our plans for our wedding about 6 months ago and decided to get married in NOLA during Mardi Gras. Crazy idea had no idea how to pull it off. She helps us get it together and made it super easy to get married on Endymion Saturday. Our pictures were fabulous they had some Mardi Gras flare but they were breathtaking Goulding give this company more praises and recommendation.
What’s your story? What’s your vision for your big day? How can we help you plan the perfect day? This is a great opportunity for you to get to know us, too! Ask us anything you’d like, we may even share some insider tips about our wonderful city.
When you’re comfortable, we will sign the agreement with a first payment collected to secure your date.
After we’ve determined your vision, we will help with all the fun parts of planning. This includes creating a timeline fit for you, hiring your florist, baker and even assisting in choosing the perfect after ceremony meal.
We are also happy to help with other fine details including finding the perfect hair and makeup artists for the bride, a charming hotel or airbnb, and even transportation (which by the way, the sailboat is only a 15min Uber drive from the French Quarter!)
Our team will be fully available to you throughout the planning process, all the way up to your special day.
We are all yours on your elopement day. Your officiant (also the Captain of the boat!) will meet us at the agreed location to board the sailboat. Florals and Cake will be delivered to the sailboat
After your ceremony, your captain will sail you straight to a lakefront dock – no car needed. Choose from three dockside restaurants, each with its own ambiance, menu, and lakefront view.
Landry’s Seafood House
Classic and polished. Great for a calm, comfortable dinner with shrimp, crab cakes, and crawfish étouffée—plus steak and chicken options. Patio views are especially dreamy at sunset.
The Blue Crab
Local, laid-back, and full of energy. Expect oysters, fried seafood baskets, cold beer, and maybe even live music. It’s breezy, open-air, and always a good time.
Felix’s Oyster Bar (Lakefront)
Old-school and full of flavor. Known for raw or grilled oysters and bold Louisiana seasoning. Casual, lively, and all about that real New Orleans feel—no dress code required.
After your elopement, we know you’ll want to relive your day over and over again. We will send you a sneak peak of your photos so you know what to look forward to! Sneak Peaks will be uploaded to social media shortly after your elopement, and full galleries will be sent to you in 4-5 weeks.
Let’s skip the ordinary and make it official on the water.
Want the scoop on our all-inclusive sailboat elopement? Check your date, fill out the form, and we’ll set up a time to chat. Can’t wait to hear all about your day!
Our all-inclusive sailboat elopement packages typically cover everything you need for a memorable ceremony: a licensed officiant (often the sailboat captain), professional photography, custom florals, a petite cake, and expert planning. You’ll enjoy approximately two hours on the water, with the stunning backdrop of Lake Pontchartrain and the New Orleans skyline enhancing your experience.
Prices for sailboat elopement packages generally start at $2,900. The final cost can vary based on additional services or customizations you choose. This investment offers a unique and intimate experience, combining the charm of New Orleans with the serenity of a private sailboat ceremony.
Yes – if you legally want to wed in Louisiana, you’ll need to obtain a marriage license from the Orleans Parish Marriage Office. Non-residents can typically have the 24-hour waiting period waived by an Orleans-registered officiant if “serious and meritorious reasons” are cited on the application. It’s advisable to check the latest requirements and plan accordingly.
Weather can be unpredictable, but we have contingency plans in place. In case of inclement weather, options may include rescheduling the sail, moving the ceremony to a covered area at the nearby yacht club, or selecting an alternative indoor venue. Our goal is to ensure your day remains special, regardless of the weather.
Absolutely! While all sailboats have capacity limits (per coast guard regulations) for safety and comfort, we can accommodate up to 4 guests. If you wish to include more close friends or family, let us know, and we’ll provide options that suit your group size.
The most favorable times are during the spring (March to May) and fall (October to November) when the weather is typically mild and pleasant. These seasons offer comfortable temperatures and beautiful sunsets, enhancing the romantic ambiance of your sailboat elopement.
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