
How to Pick Flowers for a New Orleans Elopement Wedding
The bouquet is certainly one of the most iconic parts of any elopement wedding or ceremony. It’s a tradition spanning
Discover the charm of a Pirates Alley elopement in New Orleans with Elope to Nola. Enjoy a stress-free, intimate ceremony at one of the city’s most historic and romantic locations.
Ceremony Coordination
We manage the flow so everything runs smoothly and stress-free.
Custom Timeline
A personalized schedule to keep your day relaxed and easy.
Location + Permit Help
Support choosing the perfect spot and handling any permit needs.
Professional Photography
Natural, thoughtful images that capture the feel of your day and the city.
Licensed Officiant
A warm, personalized ceremony from someone who knows how to keep it meaningful (and legal).
Floral Design
Fresh bouquet and boutonniere crafted to reflect your style.
Custom Cake
A made-just-for-you cake that looks good and tastes even better.
Hair + Makeup Referrals
Local artists we trust to help you feel confident and camera-ready.
Musician Referrals
Want live music? We’ll connect you with local talent—from jazz trios to solo violinists.
Transportation Referrals
Need a classic car or just a ride to the next stop? We’ve got solid options for both.
Other Trusted Vendors
Whether it’s a second line band, private dinner, or custom NOLA props – we’ll point you to the best local pros to round out your New Orleans elopement experience.
Discover How Magical Your Elopement Can Be at Pirates Alley Through Our Lens.
With Ibay Photography, we help make your Pirates Alley elopement simple and stress-free. We handle ceremony coordination, photography, florals, officiant services, permit help, and vendor referrals—so you don’t have to.
We know the ins and outs of this iconic French Quarter spot and how to keep things running smoothly. When you book with us, you get a team that knows what they’re doing and actually cares.
Let’s keep it easy, personal, and all about the good stuff.
EXCELLENT Based on 78 reviews 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. Emily Harris2025-03-13Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Marcia and her team were incredible to work with! Marcia went out of her way to accommodate some family requests, even making a local purchase for us. I was looking for a small, simple but elegant ceremony and it was better than we could have imagined! Marcia ensured all the details were covered and the flowers, cake, and photographs all exceeded expectations! Thank you for making our day stress free, and for the amazing photographs we’ll treasure forever!!
Right in the heart of New Orleans, Pirates Alley is a quiet spot full of history and character – perfect for an intimate elopement.
Its cobblestones, vintage architecture, and tucked-away feel make it one of the most laid-back and photogenic places to say “I do.” Just steps away is the famous Pirate’s Alley Café, known for its absinthe cocktails and moody, old-world bar vibes – great for a post-ceremony toast (or just a cool photo op).
If you’re looking for something simple, beautiful, and full of that old New Orleans charm, this is it.
No permit is required to elope in Pirate’s Alley. It’s a public pedestrian walkway in the French Quarter, so you can hold your ceremony there without formal approval. However, since it’s open to the public, you cannot block off the space or prevent foot traffic during your ceremony.
Pirate’s Alley is best suited for intimate elopements. It’s recommended to keep the guest count to 15 or fewer. The space is narrow and standing-room only; chairs are not allowed.
Weekday mornings or late afternoons are ideal for eloping in Pirate’s Alley. These times help you avoid large crowds and harsh lighting. Avoid peak tourist times like Mardi Gras, Friday nights, and Saturdays, as the area can become quite crowded. Sun-Thur is best!
To legally marry in New Orleans, you’ll need:
A valid Orleans Parish marriage license (applied for at any clerk of court in Louisiana).
A 24-hour waiting period between license issuance and the ceremony. This waiting period can be waived by a judge for non-Louisiana residents.
A licensed officiant to perform the ceremony.
Ensure you have all necessary documents, such as identification and, if applicable, divorce decrees or death certificates.
Let us help you create the intimate, stress-free wedding of your dreams at one of New Orleans’ most romantic locations. Reach out today to get your personalized Pirates Alley elopement quote and start planning your perfect day with Elope to NOLA.
The bouquet is certainly one of the most iconic parts of any elopement wedding or ceremony. It’s a tradition spanning
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