Author name: Marcia

When it comes to celebrating love in a unique and memorable way, few places can compare to the magical city of New Orleans.  Getting married in a beautiful location doesn’t always have to be expensive. You’re in luck if you’ve been hoping to have a romantic elopement in New Orleans without going over budget. The lively city’s vibrant culture, historic allure, and captivating atmosphere make for the ideal setting for a reasonably priced celebration of your love. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to put together a lovely elopement wedding in the heart of New Orleans for less than $5,000. Selecting a Reasonably Priced Location New Orleans provides a variety of venues that won’t break the bank. Explore picturesque neighborhoods with quaint courtyards or public parks like Audubon Park. By choosing an outdoor location, you can keep the costs of your wedding location down so that you can spend it on other memorable things. And, what else is more beautiful than getting married in nature’s splendor. Click here for a list of our recommended locations Consolidate as you personalize Some couples choose to elope with the barest of essentials. If you do choose to incorporate some traditional elements, don’t be afraid to get creative. To dress up the cake, request that the florist who makes your bouquet to add a few extra blooms. This is a low-cost way to dress up the dessert while still having it coordinate with your wedding flowers. Don’t feel like you have to follow convention since eloping is by nature unconventional. Choose what is best for YOU! A Taste of the Local Cuisine It’s essential to indulge in the flavors of New Orleans, which is a culinary paradise. Instead of a formal reception, choose a private dinner at a local Creole or Cajun restaurant. Numerous restaurants provide reasonable prix-fixe menus so you can enjoy the city’s world-famous cuisine without going over your spending limit. Get in touch with us for our recommendations. Get married during the week Did you know that most vendors offer discounts for weddings held on a weekday? What a great way to keep costs down without compromising the experience. Plus, if you have your wedding on a Monday or a Tuesday, when many places see their fewest visitors, you’re much more likely to have the venue to yourself. Just make sure to check online ahead of time to confirm that the place you’re visiting is open on the day you intend to stop by. Have an intimate guest list This one is simple if it’s an old-fashioned elopement! Your future spouse and you alone. This can be more challenging for contemporary elopements with a larger guest list. You can create a personal and meaningful experience while effectively managing costs if you only invite your closest relatives and friends. A smaller guest list enables you to select more budget-friendly locations, streamline catering choices, and concentrate on the factors that are most important to you and your partner. With this strategy, you can have a more intimate elopement and spend more time with the people who are important to you while also keeping costs down. *** Check out our Custom Packages! Select a restaurant with a $50 per person post-celebratory brunch or dinner for 20 people… and you are still at $5000! *** Eloping in New Orleans on a budget is possible and can result in a charming and unforgettable experience. You can create a romantic celebration that captures your love story for less than $5,000 with careful planning, considerate decisions, and an emphasis on what matters most. New Orleans offers the perfect setting for couples looking for a magical elopement on a budget, thanks to the city’s historic charm, vibrant culture, and mouthwatering cuisine. As you say “I do,” embrace the energy of the city and go on an unforgettable journey. And Yes, an elopement should be exciting and unplanned, but you want to save money while still having a good time, right? Work with an experienced local business like Ibay photography that has the knowledge to help you save money while still getting the most out of the experience and guarantee that you stay under $5000. Hiring an elopement photographer has many advantages. With the assistance of an elopement photographer, you will have someone take care of all the last-minute hassles and complications on your special day, allowing you to simply enjoy the occasion. We can guide you through all the details and make sure you do not forget anything. Unlimited planning support, including access to the Ibay Photography team for assistance with ceremony location (*permit fees may apply; not included in package pricing…Click HERE for suggested ceremony locations), vendor recommendations, activities suggestions, and a timeline. We are by your side at every turn! Reach out to us for more details, and we’ll work with you to make your dreams happen!!

French Quarter Event Photography For Your Elopement You decided against the big wedding and instead opted for a more fun, intimate adventure at a beautiful elopement destination like the New Orleans French Quarter. You’re not worried about family drama, planning for a hundred people, expensive decorations, or any of that other typical wedding stuff. But wait, you still need someone to capture those special moments! This is a situation many couples find themselves in. They make the choice to get eloped, forgo many of the typical trappings of planning for a big wedding ceremony, but forget that they still need a professional to man the cameras. Believe me, you don’t want to leave this task up to a local hobbyist or your niece who bought a GoPro last year and who suddenly thinks she’s a star on Instagram. Elopement photography is almost an art unto itself: often it’s about capturing more candid moments than in a normal wedding. It’s about grabbing those magic moments, the intimate setting, the romantic day trips, the quaint aura of the ceremony, and all the little memories in between Historic French Quarter Imagine a place where gorgeous ambiance meets historical class: that’s the New Orleans French Quarter summed up. There’s a reason why this area sees thousands of couples every year for their special destination events, because it offers everything you could want in a romantic getaway. Active nightlife, exquisite restaurants, fancy boutiques, art, entertainment, and photogenic vistas, all with traditional New Orleans style. What’s not to love? Capturing these moments is so important, especially for an elopement. If the French Quarter is your dream destination, you don’t want to leave the job of capturing those memories to any second-rate photographer. This is one of the greatest issues couples face when planning for a big wedding. Booking a reliable “camera guy” is perhaps one of the biggest headaches outside of the catering. There’s many amateurs out there, and still others just don’t have the eye for the romance and fun of an elopement. You’re looking for a “set it and forget it” kind of service, someone who knows what they’re doing and will transform ordinary pictures into memories that will last a lifetime. Your elopement photography should be something you can cherish forever. That’s what we at IBAY Photography believe. Our goal is to do all the work so you don’t have to: we provide the tools, we put ourselves in the right places at the right time, we capture all the golden moments (and the silly ones!) and ultimately take the burden of having to worry about your photography completely out of the picture. Your elopement should be about you, no stress, no hassle. That’s why we’re here. New Orleans Photographers who Specialize in Elopements and Micro Weddings There are a lot of photographers out there, and many who do weddings as a side gig. We however have perfected the art of attention-grabbing, romantic elopement shots, it’s our specialty!. We live to capture all of your best moments on film so you can have them forever, without forcing you to break the bank or have to rely on outsiders. We’re located right in New Orleans, minutes from the historic French Quarter itself. We know the area and pride ourselves in delivering top quality service to couples from around the country. Here’s just a taste of some of our recent elopement shoots. We work intimately alongside couples to help them plan their day, arrange shoots, and even provide elopement package plans that take care of everything you could possibly want in a romantic destination elopement. Stunning photography is one of the cornerstones of an amazing wedding or elopement, this is not an area you want to leave to chance. Contact us for more information on how you can have us capture the magic moments in your elopement! Grab our 5 secrets to a successful (and stress-free) elopement and receive a FREE checklist!

Whenever we travel we always want to experience the best out of every place we visit. Aside from the tourist spots, we look forward to meeting new people, discovering different cuisines, immersing ourselves in the rich culture and making amazing memories. It’s no wonder that New Orleans is one of the most perfect destinations for you to experience all of that and more.  As a lifelong New Orleanian, I have composed a list of the very best must see places in New Orleans, Louisiana. The French Quarter This is the oldest and most famous area in the city of New Orleans. Visiting the French Quarter is like stepping into a new realm where the classic and modern blend well together. Despite various colonial influences each street is filled with harmonious and captivating ambiance which simply makes it unique. Fall in love with its architecture and witness the beauty of 18th century French homes and historic buildings.  What to do  Walk around Bourbon Street and party 24/7 or be entertained by the impressive jazz music around the area. Be captivated by the art galleries, antique shops, fine dining and boutiques at Royal Street and listen to a wide variety of music at Frenchman Street. Last but not the least, don’t forget to drop by Jackson Square, the historic park of French Quarter. Check out the artworks of local artists and see the beauty St. Louis Cathedral which is also a perfect sight for weddings.   Don’t Miss  Jazz shows, Hurricane’s from Pat OBriens, Daiquiris in go cups and Beignets Uptown/Garden District  If you’re a fan of grandeur and elegant Victorian houses, then a trip to Uptown NOLA is something you shouldn’t miss. The mansions in the Garden District look like something that came out of a Hollywood movie or something that you have probably pictured while reading a classic novel. Uptown is a scene for romantically built mansions, so captivating you cannot help but fall in-love with it.   ​What to do  The best way to explore the most brilliant part of uptown is riding the oldest operating streetcar line in the world, the St. Charles Streetcar. Riding the streetcar is like hitting two birds with one stone plus it is really affordable. St. Charles Streetcar is the longest line in the city that will not only take you to the best part of the Garden District but you will also pass through some notable spots like Central Business District, Lee Circle and a glimpse of the National World War II Museum. Then, take a long walk into the streets covered by old oaks and pass by those elegant 19th century houses in the Garden District or uncover the beauty of Lafayette Cemetery, which is also one of the must see places in the area.  Don’t Miss  Shop at Magazine or Oak Street.  For overnight stays, the Grand Victorian Bed & Breakfast is certainly “Grandeur” and right on the streetcar line for a quick ride into the French Quarter Natchez Steamboat  Sailing on the historic Natchez Steamboat as it traverses the Mississippi river is a-must when you are in NOLA. You can learn more about the history of the city while looking at its breath-taking view along the river. Make beautiful memories while on board, dine, listen to good music and enjoy the ride. What to do  Take a cruise either morning, lunch time or afternoon. If you check online, you will already see a lot of options to book a boat tour. You might probably want to take the tour during the afternoon because of the breath-taking sunset, though the steamboat experience itself can be quite satisfying. Imagine being serenaded by a live band while surrounded by the beautiful view of the city along the water. It is one of the best places to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and even intimate weddings.  Swamp Tour  Get closer to nature by visiting the famous swamps of Louisiana. Be transported to a whole new world of water, wildlife and wilderness. Swamps are a habitat to different kinds of animals and are rich in biodiversity, from alligators to fleeting birds. It is majestic in its own way with abundant trees reflecting in the calm water and the slight thrill of encountering alligators and other wildlife.  What to do  Get out of the city and take the Cajun Encounters Tour to discover the most beautiful swamp you could ever see. It is nearly 70,000 acres of protected wildlife area and finely laid cypress trees. Taking a swamp tour is a unique and memorable experience that you should definitely try.  Algiers point The second oldest neighborhood in New Orleans and a modest counterpart of the French Quarter. It is dubbed as New Orleans’ Best Kept secret since it is quite an isolated and less travelled place in the city but certainly worthy of your time. Out of all the places you will visit in NOLA, Algiers point will be the closest place that feels like home away from home.  What to do  Take a ferry ride from Canal Street to Algiers point. Walk through the path along the river and rest in front of the river bank with the best view of the city. Walk along the streets of colorful Creole houses and historical structures. Visit a glass studio and art galleries then dine at the local restaurant of your choice. This place is called NOLA’s best kept secret for a reason and it is better for you to find out why.   Known as a melting pot of diverse cultures, New Orleans has a lot to offer from food, history, art and architecture. This place is filled with romantic venues perfect for weddings too, no wonder it’s also a top destination for couples who wish to tie the knot. Without a doubt, anyone who visits will never get enough of this truly unique destination. For more information on getting married in New Orleans, visit ElopeToNola.com  

You’ve decided to forgo all the stress of wedding planning and run off just the two of you to say I Do. But just because this plan is much easier to pull off, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to put in some effort. Check out this “How to Elope” guide for tips for the five things you might forget to do before eloping. How to Elope Guide – 5 Things not to Forget Make sure all of your paperwork is ready, completed, and out of the way. That way, your getaway will be headache free and your union will be official.   An elopement should be stress free and full of romantic events planned out – treating it otherwise will only give you headaches. Why would you want to risk not having a reservation at the restaurant you had your heart set on, or not being able to find a certain venue because you don’t know the area that well yet? Elopement and wedding planning services take all the hassle away, save you time, money, and best of all, they are experts at maximizing your enjoyment.   One of the easiest ways to get tangled in your own wedding plans is to dive in without an idea of what you really want to do. Once you decide on a theme, that will set the pace for everything else, including catering, flowers, decorations, cake, dresses, and more. You might even want to base your elopement destination on what your theme is.   One of the most important aspects of planning an elopement is deciding early on how big of an event are you planning and who’s invited. The sooner you hash those details out the better, that way you can get the word out to the right people when it’s time. Knowing what NOT to do on your elopement is just as important as knowing what TO do. With these tips, you’ll be better prepared and you will be less likely to make any mistakes along the way.  For more information on eloping and best locations, visit our partner site HERE!