As a little girl, I envisioned one specific thing about my wedding – that it would be a fairy tale day. My dream came true! God provided some very special people to make my perfect day happen, one of whom was Ashley Wright at the Windsor Court....
When my mom and I met Ashley, there was an immediate peace that Ashley would make my reception exactly what I wanted: festive and beautiful with delicious brunch food. My husband (then fiancé) and I both have some food allergies – peanut, tree nuts, corn, pitted fruits, and gluten (yes, it sounds ridiculous!) – so we wanted a menu that would be free of all our allergens. And the space of the brunch had to be gorgeous. The La Chinoiserie ballrooms on the top floor of the Windsor Court overlook the Mississippi River and the city, providing elegance and spaciousness with delightful outdoor terraces, and would be perfect for the jazz brunch reception I envisioned. While this type of reception was a bit different than the typical, nighttime dinner reception, Ashley did not imply any judgment about my dream, only wanting to help me make my day what I wanted it to be. When Ashley confirmed that she could make all this happen, all within the budget we’d presented and on the Saturday of French Quarter Festival, my mom and I were ecstatic.
Then the planning started and, wow, was I even more impressed! Ashley set up an amazing tasting with the chef, at which time my parents and I sampled delicious allergen-free courses. For reception layout, Ashley and I communicated via phone, email, and Pinterest with layout ideas, and she took my parents and me on a walk-through to make sure we were all on the same page. She also met with my wonderful friend and wedding planner, Jerri Cullinan, and me on multiple occasions to sort out other important wedding details. All this time, Ashley was incredibly patient and supportive.
On my wedding day, everything was amazing. My planner worked with Ashley to arrange the wedding caravan from the hotel to Metairie Baptist Church and back. As the wedding party stayed back at the church for pictures, guests returned to the hotel for the reception and had the juice bar and hors d’oeuvres awaiting them in La Chinoiserie A, just as I’d requested. When my husband and I arrived, we began the receiving line in the foyer as Dr. jazz began playing in La Chinoiserie B, so guests moved from La Chin A through the receiving line then into La Chin B for dancing and brunch. The tables, food, and dance floor were arranged just as I’d requested. I had made a few more specific requests: the beautiful fruit juice bar before brunch then local boudin and Andouille and Mexican Coca-Cola with brunch. I also requested a special sparkling apple cider be shipped from Virginia for our wedding toast. Everything was there! And the brunch food was fabulous! The hours flew by and, before I knew it, my husband and I were hopping into a horse-drawn carriage as Dr. Jazz filled the air with jazz in the background of the well-wishes of our family and friends.
Ashley Wright and her team at the Windsor Court did an amazing job with my wedding reception. We still hear compliments from our friends and family that the wedding and reception were classic and beautiful, that the food was the best wedding food they’d ever eaten, and that the overall day was completely in-tune with who my husband and I are as a couple. To me, it was the best reception I’d ever attended. Every bride should be able to say that!