I will never be able to put into words how exquisite our rehearsal dinner was at Arnauds.
As parents of the groom of a destination wedding, our rehearsal dinner functioned more like a 2nd wedding reception. We wanted to welcome all of our gue...sts who had traveled long distances to be there.
Between the cocktail hour and the dinner, we basically took over the entire 2nd floor. At least 4 bar areas were set up so no one had to stand around to wait for a drink.
Lovely hors d’oeuvres were passed. The space opened up to a balcony overlooking the French Quarter. The ambiance and history of Arnauds cannot be equaled.
The Royal Dining Room was majestic, as the name portends.
We required AV equipment that was up and ready and worked beautifully all evening.
My husband and I still cannot believe that the staff served 195 people an absolutely delicious WARM dinner and the same number of bananas foster desserts - with ice cream that had not melted and buttery, rum- drenched bananas that were still warm! How do they do that?
Superb. Just superb.
I have saved the best for last, and that is Caroline Hubbard, who is Arnauds event manager.
From the moment we called about having our dinner there, Caroline was available to me at a moments notice. Even picking up my phone calls over weekends.
She was endlessly patient and accommodating as I labored over menus and wine lists. Never acting concerned when we’d start over with some detail.
Amazing.
But all that didn’t prepare me for Caroline’s sacrifice the day of the event. It was Feb 28, 2020. Lots of couples wanted a Leap Year wedding. Armauds had 5 other rehearsal dinners that same night!
I planned for some posters and a huge banner to be placed in the area where cocktails were to be served. Only problem was, how to hang them. Caroline spent the better part of that afternoon helping me make a frame to post the banner.
Besides which she stored the banner and posters in her office before and after the dinner.
I told Caroline that I’d look her up if ever return to New Orleans.
Arnauds, you not only have the best venue for a celebration. You have the best staff, the best chef, and the best event manager in the country.
Who gets to write a review like this?
’Thank you’ doesn’t come close to expressing my gratitude.
But...Thank you.