As the school year draws to a close, I have finally had time to sit down and write up a review for House of Broel. First, let me say that Joan and I visited a number of venues before choosing to have our reception here in December 2015, and th...e other places were quite nice. New Orleans is filled with beautiful reception halls and great food, but House of Broel stands out among them.
The house is located on one of the prettiest and most historic streets in the city, and its beautiful location on St. Charles is mirrored by the rooms on the inside. The inside is filled, not just with antiques, but also with pieces of New Orleans memorabilia, such as one of Bonnie Broel’s Mardi Gras gowns. The layout of the house is perfect for any kind of party, and we loved moving from room to room, dancing, chatting, and enjoying the excellent food. The fountain and courtyard out back was also lovely, and we took some of our favorite wedding photos there. Of course, there is also a second floor filled with items from Bonnie’s travels, her frog collection, and a host of doll houses. Our guests were treated to a tour, and they loved it.
House of Broel is outstanding on its own, but there’s more. Bonnie Broel is a great host. She was always willing to address any concern leading up to the wedding, even offering to open the venue for a visit from my mother-in-law who happened to be in town one random day leading up to the wedding. She chatted with our guests and charmed them, too. Honestly, we were sold on House of Broel from the moment we sat down with her to view picture albums. She is a New Orleans treasure.
Lastly, let’s talk pricing. I won’t go into all of the details here, but I would be surprised if there is a better price out there. The food was tasty, we had an open bar with top shelf alcohol, the cake and dj were included in the package, etc. Her rates were easily the most reasonable ones we encountered, and, for what she gave us, she could have charged a great deal more. During our first meeting, Bonnie made a remark that she wanted to “give the house to the girls.” She sincerely means that, and it’s clear that she is delighted to have guests in her family home.
TLDR: You won’t go wrong choosing House of Broel for your wedding reception or any other party. The price won’t break the bank. Make sure you spend some time chatting with Bonnie; she rocks.