Elms Mansion

The Elms is an incredible venue. The space is perfect for an outdoor reception and our guests felt like they had been taken into a magical world. The service we received at the Elms was exceptional, as was the food. They went above and beyond our expectations. Jess at the Elms was super knowledgeable about vendors and was able to point us in the right direction. Without her, we would not have had such an incredible reception. We highly recommend the Elms and we are so thankful for all their work. Everything went off without any issues and our guests are still amazed by how beautiful the reception was. Thank you!

Not sure where to begin…. from the initial meeting with Jess, 16 months before my daughter’s wedding, to the day after with oodles of candid photos sent by Jess, EVERY aspect of the planning through the wedding day with The Elms was flawless. The wedding took place on a November evening with the 300 person ceremony on the perfectly manicured grass lawn. Entering and exiting the ceremony through the iron gate on St. Charles Ave and reentering (maybe 30 feet on sidewalk) to the front door/porch of the mansion worked well and created the perception of a “separate space” for the reception. For the cocktail style reception, we chose the Crown Package with premium food and liquor. The oyster shucker set up on the grand side porch was an eye catcher and enjoyed by so many! The food was amazing and plentiful! Many many stand-outs, but in particular the beef tenderloin and truffle risotto and the blackened gulf fish stations, the salmon brûlée presentation, and the passed lamb chop lollipops were to die-for….(I could go on and on). Our weather was ideal, but in the event of rain, the Elm’s was ready to implement the tent plan. I think you need to decide 3 days out. The Elm’s staff was caring, professional and attuned to details that I never would have thought of. The mansion and grounds are just beautiful, immaculately maintained, and so quintessential New Orleans, set on St. Charles Ave, with the streetcars occasionally passing, adding to the ambiance. Months later, we are still receiving comments from guests regarding how the 4 hour reception flew by and how the evening flowed flawlessly. To Jess and all the Elm’s staff- Thank you for making my daughter and son-in-law’s dream wedding a reality.

Choosing this venue for our wedding ceremony and reception was easy. We were first drawn to this venue for it's beauty and location, and their professionalism and commitment to excellence made the final decision easy Jess was nothing short of extraordinary. The venue provided the ideal backdrop for our vows and celebration. Moreover, the food was a highlight for many of our guests, receiving compliments long after our wedding day. The dedication of Jess and her team to our comfort and happiness was evident in every detail, making our wedding not just an event, but a beautifully orchestrated celebration of love.

The Elms was an unbelievable venue to have my wedding at. We were not sure what to fully expect, as the Elms was recommended to us from our planner, but we booked it without even seeing it ourselves (we live up north). When we saw it the day before our wedding, it totally blew us away. The photos are great but cannot do it justice. Everything was perfectly executed and our guests were in awe. We cannot recommend this venue enough!

If you want to have the most storybook New Orleans wedding possible, choose Elms Mansion and Jess. She helped us every step of the way to curate the perfect wedding for us and every turn was jaw droppingly beautiful to all the personal touches that Jess added in for us to really make our day over-the-top spectacular. Would give Elms a 10/10 if I could!

The Elms Mansion is the ultimate wedding venue in NOLA!!! I can’t say enough good things about it. Jess was “THE BEST” and her staff is amazing!!! Here’s what you need to know: the most beautiful venue, no hidden costs, best food in NOLA, memories for a lifetime!!! I am so happy we chose to have our daughters wedding here! Thank you Jessica and chef and owner~we would give you 10 stars if we could!

Thank you to Elms for helping fulfill my dream wedding!!! I have been passing by the mansion for years and always knew if it was possible, I would want to get married there. It absolutely exceeded all my dreams! The food was incredible, all the guests were raving about it. The location and flow of everything is perfect, the guests enjoyed roaming around the mansion and also being in the beautiful outdoor space during the reception. The guests also loved being right on St Charles and seeing streetcars pass— it felt so authentically New Orleans. It was such a unique, beautiful venue and so well maintained. We also added an extra hour which we spent inside with a DJ/after party vibe, and this was so fun! Jessica and Sherri (and the whole rest of the team) were so flexible, kind, and accommodating. If I could do it all again, I would pick Elms again in a heartbeat!!!! Thank you to everyone who made my dream wedding come true!

I would give more than 5 stars if I could! This was the most magical place to have a wedding! All of the guests said it was one of the best weddings they had been to. Jess was so helpful and thoughtful throughout the process! 10/10 would recommend!

My daughter wanted a destination wedding at a venue that truly represented New Orleans. After looking at several options, she chose The Elms Mansion for her December 2022 wedding. It was the perfect choice!! All of the rooms in the mansion are just beautiful and so elegant!! The holiday decorations added an extra special festive touch. The courtyard and grounds are gorgeous and spacious, and the lights in the trees created a stunning effect. Adding to the ambiance were the street cars passing by on St. Charles Avenue. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. Jessica and her staff are very competent and professional. They are the best!! They went above and beyond to make sure all aspects of the night ran smoothly and seamlessly. The result was perfection! Such a memorable and magical evening!! I would highly recommend The Elms Mansion and Jessica!!

Stunning venue! Jessica was so incredible to work with and made everything we wanted happen. She was there to assistant us every step of the way. The venue was so beautiful and food was amazing. So many guests said it was the best wedding food they’ve ever had. It’s such a unique property that shines on New Orleans history. Everyone was so helpful and the event went by so smoothly. I would recommend this venue to anyone!

My daughter selected this venue for her October 2022 wedding. We could not have been more pleased with this gorgeous setting – the interior parlors and expansive garden were perfection – intimate yet spacious. Our sit-down dinner was beautifully staged under the canopy of one of the largest and oldest magnolia trees in the city. Jessica was very helpful, attentive and responsive throughout the planning process. She was always willing to take that extra step to make my daughter and her fiancé feel confident and comfortable with their specific requests. On the day of the event Jessica and her team made everything run seamlessly. The Elms staff was excellent - professional and hospitable - making sure that the guests’ needs were all met. We would highly recommend the Elms as an exquisite location for a most memorable New Orleans wedding

OMG This venue is incredible. We looked at 10 different places and this was the last one, and it had everything we wanted. Open space for a big wedding, different spaces to host the ceremony, reception and after party, and everything you'd want to have a proper NOLA party. We used the upstairs for the bridal party so we had our own space to change and get ready, the downstairs bar room was AMAZING for cocktail hour right after the ceremony for people to walk in and see the food and then walk back into the outdoor patio. It was also fantastic for late night afterparty after the noise ordinance kicked in where a DJ lit up the night. The outside was absolutely gorgeous too for most of the fun. But most of all, the Elms staff were so kind, positive, happy to help, and everyone seemed to want to be there and want to help whenever someone needed something, which I feel like is hard to come by in this industry. I also asked our guests to send my mom texts of the night because she was just diagnosed with leukemia and couldn't make my wedding, and Jess took over 100 pictures throughout the day and sent them to her!! SO above and beyond and it really meant so much to me and my mom. It was literally perfect in every way and couldn't imagine our amazing day anywhere else.

The Elms was simply the most magical place for our wedding day in October. It is quintessential uptown New Orleans. The grounds and mansion are simply stunning. What a treat it was to have our out of town guests get a slice of NOLA. Jessica and her team are willing to go above and beyond to make anything happen. Our happiness was their first priority. Food was fantastic as was the service and staff. This New Orleans spot is a dream. I only wish we could relive the whole day over again!

My daughters wedding at The Elms Mansion was absolutely perfect! The venue is gorgeous and Jess, the venue coordinator, was extremely helpful and easy to work with! We had so many compliments on the delicious food, great service and beautiful venue. I would highly recommend The Elms Mansion!

This venue is so incredibly beautiful (we were married in the mansion's courtyard in October). We had the most perfect wedding day here, and Jess (the venue manager) is the absolute BEST. She worked with us every step of the day, and is so sweet, accommodating, and obviously cares about what she does. We absolutely loved working with her and her entire staff. Beyond that -- the food and atmosphere here were incredible, and we are still getting compliments about the reception from our guests. Our wedding party literally gasped at how everything looked when our bus pulled up to the venue before the ceremony. We would absolutely recommend having your event here. THANK YOU to Jess & the Elms for making our wedding unforgettable! <3

Jessica, the venue manager is the most competent and hospitable person I have ever worked with. Elm's itself is gorgeous and a fantastic venue but she went above and beyond to make sure we had our perfect day. To the point where she was crawling in the bushes the day before helping get our tent setup in the perfect way when we had to add a small one with a last minute chance of rain. She truly cares about you and your big day. She facetimed us multiple times, was available via text for any crazy questions we had since we were planning from California and had to postpone due to the pandemic. The venue itself is stunning. My relatives all commented how the food was some of the best wedding food they have ever had. The speakeasy inside is perfect for an afterhours party as well. The only thing I would have changed is I added an extra hour, but wish I added 2 since it went by so fast!

I can't say enough good things about Elms Mansion. My husband and I had both our ceremony and reception at Elms in April. The planning process was smooth and painless- Jessica and Sherrie were helpful and guided me every step of the way. The venue itself is so stunning that you really don't need much decoration at all. The food was delicious- my friends and family are still raving about how impressed they were with the food weeks later. All of the staff were friendly and courteous. I am so glad that we chose to get married at Elms Mansion! Everything was even better than I imagined.

I couldn't imagine getting married anywhere else; everything about the Elms Mansion was PERFECT! The ambiance, the staff, the food, the location, the history, you truly can't beat it! Our guests were in awe all night and my husband and I felt like we were in a dream. Thank you to Jessica at the Elms, who went above and beyond to help us plan (and replan) three different wedding dates due to COVID and hurricane Ida. She puts so much heart into her work, and was so kind and helpful during a very stressful time. We will always love the Elms and the amazing people who work there!

I had my wedding at the Elms in October. Jess, at the Elms, was my favorite wedding vendor to work with all year. She went above and beyond to make sure my day was personal, special, and flawless. I completely trusted her to get the job done-- she is reliable and detail-oriented. I truly appreciate the lengths she went to make sure my event was exactly what I wanted including collecting dairy free desserts for some of my guests! She truly cared how I felt on the big day, which meant a lot to me. The Elms is beautiful, and all of the staff is professional and friendly. Don't hesitate to book your event here!

The Elms is an incredible place to get married and I cannot recommend it enough. The location, ambiance, and staff are all amazing. We had to switch venues just 4 weeks before our wedding and the Elms happened to be available due to a cancellation. It was really a dream come true to be able to switch to the Elms. Jessica did everything she could to make the change in location seamless - she's incredibly easy to work with and very responsive. The whole event completely exceeded our expectations.

Pictures really don't do this venue justice. We were absolutely blown away by how gorgeous and large this location is. It definitely elevated the feel of our wedding, and our guests were completely enamored. Jessica and her team were so accommodating and kind. Jessica is so professional, friendly, giving, and a treat to work with. The Elms staff day of were all so nice and hard working. The food was amazing and set up was so quick and painless. I would definitely recommend this venue for any event you host.

The Elms Mansion is a beautiful venue that is perfect for a wedding. Jessica and the rest of the Elms team were great! They went above and beyond to make sure our wedding and reception were the best they could be. On the day of, no detail was missed and everything went off perfectly! All of the wait staff were polite and courteous, and the food was very delicious. We felt attended to the whole night and were left without a worry, so we could really have fun! Our wedding was more than we could have ever expected! Elms delivered on everything we wanted and more!

To say our expectations for our May 2021 wedding at The Elms Mansion were exceeded would be a wild understatement. No words will ever be able adequately compliment the tremendously wonderful experience we had with the Elms Mansion. You will just have to your wedding there yourself… It was an absolute dream, better than a dream. Jessica Serrano with the Elms Mansion team were hands down nicest, most professional, and incredible team I could have imagined working with. They were beyond accommodating and truly cared about making our vision come to life. They made us feel so special and like part of the family. We held our ceremony on the back lawn and then second lined into the court yard for our reception. We then moved into the mansion for our after party. It was beautiful, exquisite and an amazing time. I cannot recommend the Elms enough.

I cannot say enough about Jessica Serrano with the Elms Mansion, she was fabulous to work with, from the beginning to the end she made our event a magical day. The venue was beautiful, the food was delicious and the staff were so kind to all of our guests.

Featured Deedee C. · getting married on 10/09/2021 The Elms Mansion is exquisite . . . As a Wedding Planner, I work with many Event Venues and there Management Staff. Jessica at the Elms Mansion is the most accommodating person I have ever worked with. She puts her full attention to your event. From the food, to the set up to the tear down - it is a magical night at the Elms Mansion! Great staff that will go the extra mile with a smile! Highly Recommend!!!

When choosing a venue, I did extensive research before even deciding which venues I would actually visit. When I was done, The Elms was the clear choice. This was confirmed after I visited the venue & met the wonderful staff there. We set the date & planned everything, then 8 days before the wedding, the mayor shut the city down & we had to postpone the wedding. Even through this and the rescheduling, Jessica (coordinator at the Elms) was so helpful. She was always quick to respond to my emails & never tired of my endless questions (or at least she didn't show it, ha!) All staff we encountered through having bridals there and setting up day before/day of were pleasant and helpful. Day of the wedding went perfectly thanks to Jessica's help in deciding on tents for chance of rain & her seamless skill in coordinating our wedding party/guests/music. The food was delicious and decor elegant. I really cannot say enough good things about The Elms & Jessica -- highly recommend it as a venue for any of your events!

Our March 2020 wedding was an absolute dream, and that is in large part due to the team at The Elms Mansion. They worked extremely hard to provide the best possible day and environment for both my now husband and I, as well as our guests, to enjoy. The food was absolutely amazing! And the ambiance of the gorgeous venue left our guests in awe. One of the best wedding decisions we made was celebrating our special day at such a special place.

The Elms Mansion did a phenomenal job at hosting our ceremony and reception. Jessica and team went above and beyond our expectations to ensure that our day went off with our a hitch. From adding additional food items to our buffet, to decorating with our personal items to just being present throughout the whole wedding and reception to make sure that we were doing well and that we didn't have an empty glass (seriously, our glasses were never empty). We highly recommend this beautiful venue and spectacular team. Cheers to the Elms and Team!

We are so glad we chose the Elms Mansion for our ceremony and reception venue!! The historic mansion on St. Charles is breathtakingly beautiful, and it was the perfect setting for a classic and elegant New Orleans wedding!! The gazebo with the lights at night made it feel so magical. It was a joy working with the everyone at the Elms, including Ms. Judy and the family. We had some special accommodation requests and they went above and beyond to make sure our immediate family members were comfortable and had what they needed. Additionally, the food was FANTASTIC. I received many compliments about the food and venue after the wedding! I could keep going but all in all, this was the perfect venue for the wedding of my dreams!! Highly recommend!!

Our daughter’s destination wedding was perfect and this is the most wonderful venue! They are pros. The food is excellent, the entire event ran smoothly. Thank Judy we appreciate the hard work!

This venue was gorgeous, and they thought of EVERYTHING! My family all raved about the staff there, they were very polite and attentive. Judy thinks of everything! When my bridesmaids and I got there, there was a bottle of champagne waiting for us! The bathroom was even fully stocked with everything you could possibly need! It rained for about 15 minutes during my reception - and my whole party went inside, the Elms just covered everything outdoors with tarps, and helped us moved the party inside. When the rain stopped, by the time my guests went back outside, the staff had hand dried everything with towels - the tables and chairs, the railings, even the steps! The Elms provided us with an attendant, who ended up being unnecessary, because my wedding planner was so awesome, but I'm sure they would have seen to my every need. The food was AMAZING! There were way more appetizers than I had selected, and my only regret from my wedding was that we only had one piece of the fried catfish that night, and I shared it with my husband! I would go back just for that catfish!

Ms. Judy is on top of everything the night of. She will direct you and answer questions- it’s very helpful. The food was delicious. It rained, but we wanted folks to enjoy the house anyway. There were no announcements when they cut the cake, opened the bar upstairs (since it rained, or when we exited, but for us, that didn’t matter much.

Judy and Donna are the dang best. We had our wedding at the Elms Mansions in New Orleans. I was an out of town bride and did not hire another wedding planner or coordinator. Judy and Donna were both a pleasure to work with. Judy is detail oriented and made sure our day went off without a hitch. The rehearsal and day of went incredibly well due to Judy's professionalism and eye for detail. Donna was personable and offered creative ideas and suggestions as I was telling her my plans because she knows the space and what works best for their events. She even offered suggestions on how to save money when selecting vendors and finalizing details for the second line. The Elms and their team offered such a high quality service. My guests had a blast and my husband, my family, and I were all worry free. I would highly suggest The Elms for any event.

My husband and I decided on the Elms mansion immediately upon walking in. The venue is stunning, the staff were unbelievably accommodating, the food was delicious, and we could not have been any happier! One thing worth mentioning (for such a hectic day for the bride and groom) was the way Judy gave us a few minutes to ourselves after the ceremony to have some champagne, grab a few quick bites, and look over the guests at our venue from the second floor. It felt so relaxing to watch as our guests had the time of their lives in NOLA! Thank you Judy and all your team!!

I was I could give the staff at The Elms 10 stars. Mrs. Judy is so patient with all of your questions and concerns and answers you back quickly. All of the staff there are kind and want your day to be just as you want it. The owner of the mansion was always there to help with anything as well. The night of the wedding went perfectly thanks to Mrs. Judy and the staff. They go above and beyond for you. And literally all of my guests are still talking about how delicious the food was!

The Elms was amazing for our January wedding. We had our 150 guest wedding reception at the Elms. The interior spaces are beautifully decorated and the flow is great. The main reception was outdoors and we had the tent with the heaters and the pictures are just beautiful. The food was amazing. The chef went above and beyond providing excellent hor d'oeuvres on top of the menu we selected. Judy and team were great to work with. I could not imagine a better venue or experience.

Spectacularly beautiful venue! Although we had a little rain scare, the staff took very good care of us and made sure our day was exactly what we had dreamed!

The Elm's Mansion was absolutely perfect for our May wedding. Mrs. Judy and Mrs. Donna were extremely helpful in planning my big day. They were both very kind and gave me great guidance along the way. This venue is stunning. The weather was perfect and the outside courtyard looked like a dream with the strung lights and the chandelier underneath the gazebo. Not only was the venue beautiful, but the food....was AMAZING. The chef really out did himself with our food. We had so many hand passed appetizers, all with a unique taste and presentation. It was absolutely delicious! The reason I booked this venue was because I had walked past this venue on several occasions and saw so many beautiful weddings take place there. The Elm's Mansion definitely made all my wedding day dreams come true. It could not have been a more perfect day :)

My fiance and I had a private wedding but wanted to celebrate with friends at a later date. We initially picked The Elms Mansion because it is stunning, it is in our neighborhood, we had heard excellent reviews, and their prices are so reasonable compared to the rest of the wedding industry. The Elms Mansion EXCEEDED our expectations in every way. Judy and her team took us under their wings and helped us throw an unforgettable party. All the staff were incredibly kind and excellent at their various jobs. We did not bring a sign-in book and Judy took it upon herself to find a book on the history of St. Charles, the gorgeous street the mansion is on, for people to sign. It is a treasure from this very special evening. I honestly wish The Elms Mansion had a restaurant. Their food is that good! As the bride, I was so busy greeting and meeting with people, Judy and her team ensured that I received their specials (like the Bananas Foster we had instead of a cake!) and my glass was always topped off with champagne. When the fabulous night was over, The Elms Krewe sent us home with a variety of food, a bottle of champagne, and a very kind card of gratitude. I look forward to going to another event there! Hint hint all my newly engaged friends!!!

I had my wedding there last month and I have had so many people say how beautiful it was. Ms Judy and her team were excellent to work with. Also, we got so many compliments on the food (wish I would have eaten!). The elms is such a beautiful place I can't see why anyone would want to get married anywhere else!

I cannot say enough to recommend The Elms Mansion! Their team, especially Judy and Faith, did a truly fantastic job with our garden ceremony and reception. My husband and I are still amazed at how fabulous our wedding there was. Throughout the entire planning process, for every random question (and there were many) I sent them, they responded immediately, all the while reassuring me that it was all going to be fantastic. And it was!! Our entire wedding and reception was flawless. The mansion and garden are just stunning. Our guests keep raving about it, saying it was the most beautiful location for a wedding. The food was exceptional, the servers so friendly and yet professional - everything was perfect. The value of their packages is absolutely amazing. There are other lovely venues around town, many of which are considerably more expensive and offer less, but The Elms' location on St. Charles Ave, centuries-old history, tasteful elegant decor and thorough events team are simply unmatched in my opinion. They quietly took care of every last detail and provided my husband and me with the most beautiful wedding imaginable.

Summary: Go here if you have a wedding planner and/or an unlimited budget. Don't try to to plan it yourself with any sort of budget in mind. Pros: It's gorgeous, both inside and out. The location is perfect, right on the streetcar line. Cons: They are terrible at communicating and explaining vague aspects of their contract. I could write a very long list about the ridiculous back and forth that went into our contract negotiations, but nobody wants to read that. Just, get everything in writing - TWICE - and make sure they stick to it. Worst Part: It had rained earlier the week of my wedding, and they asked if we wanted to rent a tent and we said no (as the forecast was looking fine for our date). Then, my now-husband walks by the venue earlier in the day and sees that the tent is up, even though it's 80+ degrees with no chance of rain. Knowing that I absolutely hated the idea of the tent, he knocked on the door and asked them to take it down. They said they could take down the covers, but had to leave the poles up for the bistro lighting we rented. This is completely untrue (as anybody can see from the photos of the venue). They blatantly disregarded our contract, lied to my husband's face, and there are hideous tent poles in all of my photos.

Words cannot describe how beautiful this venue is! It was everything we wanted it to be for our wedding reception. We originally looked at it because it was next to our church but then immediately knew it was our dream wedding spot! The mansion and garden are beautiful on their own but The Elms really knows how to make the house turn into magic! The service was amazing and the food was so fantastic! Judy and her team know exactly what they are doing and can make your event unforgettable! It will always be a very special place to my husband and I! If you are looking for the diamond of New Orleans you have found it!

We had our ceremony and reception here. Judy made it extremely easy to plan the entire wedding from across the country ! I highly recommend the elms! it was gorgeous and stress free!

I just had what was called the #BestWeddingEver on social media by many of our guests at The Elms Mansion. My husband and I are still reeling from how wonderful our wedding was. The Elms was the perfect setting for my destination wedding which was a combo Indian/Western/Bohemian affair. I had seen the Mansion online and immediately booked my date. Though I did go to New Orleans to visit a number of venues, my suspicions were right and The Elms was by far the standout in terms of beauty, affordable wedding packages and in house catering. It is a beautiful 1869 mansion with a gorgeous open outdoor courtyard, a stunning preserved interior and it is a National Historic Landmark. In terms of planning my wedding, Judy Fern, the Elms' event manager was a pleasure to work with. She answered all of my questions promptly and was a delight to work with on the day of the wedding. Since I had a destination wedding, I also hired a day of planner (Unique Weddings) to work with Judy, and they were flawless in their efforts. Everything went perfectly. The food was fantastic! I had a number of guests who told me that the food at the Elms was the best that they had the entire time they were in New Orleans. Yes, that good! The staff at the Elms were wonderful. I could go on and on. The ambience, the location, the food, the staff, the price, the entire experience at The Elms was all I could ask for in a wedding venue. Note that the mansion is on St. Charles and watching the trolleys pass by added to the NOLA experience. We had a second line with which the Kinfolk Brass Band came to The Elms and surprised our guests and then rode back with us in the charter buses to the French Quarter for our second line parade! It was all magical! In totality, I would recommend everyone get married at The Elms Mansion!

At first sight, the Elms seemed to be everything I was looking for in a wedding venue. Unfortunately, the experience of actually working with the Elms significantly detracted from its beauty and value, and made my fiancé and I ultimately question our decision to get married there. The problems really boiled down to the “wedding planner” that the Elms bills as being inclusive to the cost of having a wedding there. When we first toured the Elms, we were assured that she would help us plan everything and eliminate the need to hire anyone outside of the Elms. In actuality, working with her was extremely stressful and left the impression that she did not care at all about us or our wedding. Our faith in her completely crumbled when we inadvertently discovered that the date of our wedding fell on the same weekend as the French Quarter Festival. As out-of-towners, we had no idea that the city’s population literally doubles over that weekend. We only found out about this problem when we began calling hotels around 8 months before the wedding to reserve blocks of rooms and hotel staff were literally laughing at us or gasping when we told them our date. Room rates were double the cost, and plane tickets were also much more expensive. Despite that we picked out our date a year and four months in advance, however, no one at the Elms, including our “planner,” bothered to alert us to our bad date. At best, this was negligence, at worst, a deliberate lack of information due to the fact that no one else would be ignorant enough to choose to get married on that weekend. When we brought this up, the Elms’ planner acted lackadaisical and surprised that this was an issue. Her solution was to suggest we change the date of our wedding, but at this point our stationary had already been printed and some guests had already bought plane tickets. The planner never apologized omitting this vital information, or took ownership of the fact that, as a so-called wedding planner, this is something that she absolutely should have mentioned. As we feared, the French Quarter festival did indeed wind up being a significant stumbling block for our wedding; several guests could not attend due to cost. The biggest issue turned out to be the tent, however. The days before our wedding forecasted awful weather, with a 90% chance of rain. Our ceremony, like all of those at the Elms, was to take place outdoors, so we told the Elms that we did indeed want the tent that they say they can arrange for a fee in their contract. But the planner got back to us and said there were no tents available in the entire city, due to the French Quarter Festival! We were utterly shocked that the Elms – a venue that literally has weddings every weekend – does not own its own tent. The Elms’ Saturday night min is 150 guests, but their indoor space cannot comfortably accommodate this number of people. They have no back-up plan for rain. In the end, guests were literally standing in the hallways during the ceremony. Worst of all, during the ceremony I saw my 88-year-old grandfather standing and peeping through a window in the other room, trying to get a view. This is not at all how I envisioned my wedding, and it remains a major regret for what should have been a perfect day. The Elms' space was absolutely stunning and the wait staff very friendly; we heard the food was great, too. As a wedding venue, the Elms could be absolutely unrivaled in New Orleans, but that would require hiring a new planner.

My husband and I decided on The Elms for our June 1st wedding (2013). We could not have been happier with our decision!! The Elms is a beautiful home on St. Charles, right in the Garden District of New Orleans. The location is PERFECT for a classic NOLA wedding, with the streetcar line running right by the home. We were married outside in the gazebo, and if there is inclement weather, they have a beautiful tent with chandeliers and lights. Judy, who worked with us from day one, was amazing. She guided us through the entire process, while still allowing for our own creativity. She was also there on the day of the wedding, so everything went PERFECTLY. I didn't have to worry about a thing. There are two areas for bars, so my guests never had to wait in a line. There are also two dance floors, one outside and one inside. Our 150 guests had plenty of room to spare. I am still hearing about how wonderful the food was!! I wish that we had eaten more of it, but we were sent home with a goody bag with food and champagne!! If we had to do it all over again, I would chose The Elms without a doubt!

I'm so glad that we chose the Elm's mansion for our wedding venue. During the spring and the fall the weather is perfect for a garden ceremony. We had many out of town guests so having the ceremony/reception at the same site was tremendously helpful. We wanted our out of town guests to see the beautiful southern charm of the garden district (think big beautiful mansions and big mossy trees... it's gorgeous). Other venues nearby did not have the same quality when it came to the details. The food is incredible and menu selection was very easy (several customizable packages). Inside the mansion, the details are just impeccable! From the crown molding to the marble flooring, the fire places, the grand staircase, and the old wooden bar everything is simply gorgeous and truly requires no decorating! Last and certainly, not least the staff is incredibly helpful and attentive. I planned my wedding by myself with my family and bridesmaids all out of state. The onsite wedding coordinator indulged my every question and let me walk through the venue as many times as I needed in order to make wedding planning decisions. Judy (the onsite wedding coordinator) was very accommodating but let me know when how to make the logistics work best for the venue. It was a match made in heaven! Needless to say, I can't imagine having picked getting married else where although we did strongly consider other locations to save money. Go ahead and splurge and choose the Elm's mansion! It truly was the best decision and completely worth the investment!

The Elms Mansion was the absolute perfect place for a New Orleans wedding. It has it all - a historic gorgeous home, expansive side yard with a gazebo and paved area for dancing, situated directly on the streetcar line. We hosted 200+ guests there for a February wedding. We were married in the gazebo and then had a flawless indoor/outdoor reception. The band, Refried Confuzion, was setup to play mostly outside, but at one point, they changed to brass instruments and processed inside the home and played in the back bar area (another option for a small band setup). The food was amazing. We had heard great things about the chef and he definitely lived up to his reputation. Judy, who worked with me throughout the whole process, was just great. I didn't have a wedding planner and definitely didn't need one. She had everything under control, kept me informed as we needed to make planning decisions, and was a pleasure to work with. I'd recommend the Elms to any bride looking for a perfect wedding venue in the heart of New Orleans.

If I could give the Elms 100 stars out of 5, I would. I can't say enough complimentary things about this venue and Judy, the coordinator. It has absolutely everything you'd want in a wedding site: an ornate 19th century mansion, a gorgeous patio and garden, the streetcar going by on St. Charles Avenue, lots of space for any size party, beautiful interior furnishings, ample street parking, a photo-ready gazebo, DELICIOUS food, courteous waitstaff, and years and years of experience running perfect events. Judy makes it easy to your all vendors to set up everything beforehand, and she's great to work with. She knows what special touches to add in order to up the "wow" factor at your event. We had many many people tell us it was the best wedding they had been to, and that it was the best food they'd ever had at a wedding. I'd recommend the Elms to every bride. My day was PERFECT!!

All of our guests were coming from out of town (some had been to Nola before and some had not) so we really wanted to get married in a spot that would allow us both an indoor and outdoor space for the ceremony/reception and a venue that would show off some of that classic New Orleans of long ago. Well, The Elms delivered and more! Our ceremony took place outside in the gazebo, which is situated on a beautiful garden patio, and the reception was held both inside and outside the mansion. The mansion is lit up at night and honestly all night long guests were telling us they felt like they had walked onto a movie set. The food (catered in house) was amazing. My new husband and I were taken upstairs a little after the ceremony and the coordinators had set up a small dinner (with champagne) for us. It was so appreciated because it allowed us a little bit of time to take in everything (we had a view to the party outside) and actually eat some food (which was scrumptious!) before the party went on. Judy (the in house coordinator) is a dream to deal with. She is so personable and quick to respond to any and all questions. She made sure we were taken care of the whole evening. Just can't say enough about the venue and the staff. It was a dream location. Definite recommend!!!

Elm's Mansion was a perfect place for our wedding. We had a day wedding in April so we wanted something outside that had an inside area as well where people could go if they got too hot (it is the south). People stayed outside the whole time, the court yard is absolutely beautiful. The stone is even enough for people to dance the day away (unlike a lot of cobble stone courtyards throughout New Orleans). My guests were able to walk around the gorgeous Garden District after and before the wedding, and were able to ride the street car from the ceremony to the Elms Mansion which they all loved. Judy was great, so helpful the whole way through, easy to get in contact with, and great on email. Judy is really adamant about it being the bride’s day and what the bride and groom want and she really catered to us. The servers were fantastic, they were right there every time I turned around. Not to mention it is one of the most fascinating and gorgeous homes I have ever been in. Lastly the food was amazing. People are still raving about the food. It was so much more food than I ever expected and the food was the best wedding food I have ever had. Most of the venues that cook their food in house generally use staple frozen items that are not very good, not Elm's mansion. Their food is fresh and delicious and very New Orleans style. I would more than recommend Elms Mansion to any bride.

Pros: The Elms Mansion is absolutely gorgeous; the mansion and grounds are some of the prettiest New Orleans has to offer and because of that our wedding was equally beautiful. Our guests are still raving about the quality of the food (we didn't have much opportunity to eat at the wedding, nor were we ever offered a tasting prior). The serving and grounds staff are outstanding. Cons: Everything else. There are plenty of other places in New Orleans that are beautiful with delicious food. If I had the chance to do my wedding all over again, I wouldn't entertain the thought of selecting Elms Mansion as our venue for even a moment. I would choose Chuckie Cheese or the bowling alley before Elms, since they would probably at least treat me like a person. While the support staff are incredible, the management is abysmal. Summary: The Elms Mansion is probably the perfect venue for extremely traditional weddings, hands-off brides, or New Orleans debutantes with unlimited budgets, well known families, and prima donna personalities. I would strongly urge anyone else to run away. Your venue should *never* treat you the way we were continually treated, especially not a venue that prides itself on 40+ years of hosting special events. Please review the details and avoid making the same mistake we did. Your Elms wedding will be beautiful, but it will always be about *them,* not *you.* I can practically guarantee that your Elms Mansion wedding will be breathtakingly beautiful and that the food will be delicious. However, before choosing Elms, be prepared to get *every* detail in writing, be ready to justify and defend your decisions, and prepare for months and months of hassle and inadequate communication. If you still choose to move forward with Elms, I'm certain you'll be pleased with the final result, but the ends might not justify the means. *****Update:***** I did speak with the Elms Mansion via email, as they contacted me after seeing this review. They were well aware of my concerns both during the planning and after the wedding. While the Elms Mansion considers excellent service to be everything getting done, I consider it to be much more than simply finishing everything ("Obviously we are very concerned about this because I'm not aware that anything did not get accomplished for your wedding," said Elms. They are "sincerely sorry that you feel you had a poor experience," which is about as much of a non-apology apology that there can be. I'm sincerely sorry the Elms was so difficult to deal with, so I suppose it balances out). I stand by my original review and am happy to answer any questions other couples may have about this venue. You may also wish to review my longer review on some of the other travel and wedding sites, which provides full details and photos when possible. The Elms has still failed to address any of my specific concerns, which is neither surprising nor unusual. As I said, for some couples, the Elms will undoubtedly be a beautiful and pre-packaged venue. Unfortunately, we were not one of those couples, and it showed.

Great location. Beautiful venue. Good food.

I had my ceremony and reception at the Elms Mansion and I must say it was the best decision I made for my wedding day! Faith and Mackenzie were amazing. they made the process and work preparing for the big day very easy, and they made the day of the most unstressful experience. How many brides say their wedding day was exactly how they dreamed? Well I can say it was all that AND MORE and i give that credit to the amazing staff of the Elms!!! The food was AWESOME...almost 3 month after my wedding and I am still getting compliments on the food. I had a large wedding so instead of sticking to their traditional wedding menu they gave the chef the creative freedom to have fun with the food and I am so glad they did. It was all so great! I highly recommend the Elms. The mansion is beautiful (of course, what else would you expect from a southern style mansion) and the courtyard where most of my festivites were held was the perfect backdrop for an outdoor spring wedding. Be sure to book them first thought because they fill up very quick...especially if you are doing a spring, wedding.