Welcome Party

The Chicory

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Rehearsal Dinner

Our Wedding

Amanda and Ben first met at a mutual friend’s wedding. After the ceremony they ended up in the same Uber. Amanda mentioned her love for Jimmy John’s bread—and it turned out Ben had worked there back in high school! They chatted all the way to the reception, which was held at the Audubon Tea Room connected to the Audubon Zoo. They joked about sneaking into the zoo later that night. They laughed, enjoyed the reception, and though they walked into the venue separately, neither could stop stealing glances across the dance floor. Eventually Ben mustered the courage to ask if Amanda was serious about sneaking into the zoo—and when she said yes, off they snuck. The rest, as they say, is history. Not long after the wedding, Amanda made her first trip to Dallas to visit Ben. It was a fun‑filled weekend—full of laughter and new memories—that felt like the beginning of something beautiful. In the months that followed, their long‑distance visits (from Baton Rouge to Dallas) grew more frequent. Then one day, Ben said it was time for Amanda to meet his grandmother, Muddy. She welcomed Amanda warmly, and right after they left her house, she texted Ben, calling Amanda his girlfriend—that moment became theirs and is the day they now celebrate as their anniversary. A few months later came their first big adventure together: a trip to New York City for Amanda’s birthday. She had always dreamed of seeing the city during the holiday season, and Ben was determined to make it special. It was magical—bright lights, festive cheer, and just the two of them discovering a new place together. Then life brought something difficult. Not long afterward, Ben lost his grandmother, Muddy. It was a heartbreaking time, but Amanda was there, steady and loving, supporting him in ways he’ll always remember. It was in that love and that grief that Ben realized he wanted to spend his life with her. Three months later, Amanda made a courageous decision: she moved to Dallas to build a life together with Ben and their dog, Nola. She left behind stability and took a leap of faith with him. Adapting to life together wasn’t always easy, but every day they found themselves falling more deeply in love. By December of that year, Ben planned another surprise trip to New York City for Amanda’s birthday. This time he went all out—first‑class seats, an upgraded suite at the Hyatt Grand Central, incredible restaurants, and New York in full holiday splendor. On her birthday, as they walked through Central Park, Ben led Amanda across Gapstow Bridge—and there, waiting under a heart of roses, he got on one knee, held out Muddy’s ring, and asked her to marry him. She said yes.

Our Story

Photos

Haley Forshag

Chelsea Teague

Amanda Gibbs

Andrea Ziervogel

Maddie Armstrong

Megan Gilliam

Jonathan Whelan

John Bradford

Ryan Roberts

Glenn Lorio

Taylor Armstrong

Payton Smith

Nathan Gibbs

Henry Creel

Devin Lilly

Wedding Party

Q + A

Hotel room blocks are available at Le Meridien and Cambria

Le Méridien New Orleans

Cambria Hotel New Orleans Downtown Warehouse District

Additional Hotels in the Area

Caesars New Orleans

Loews New Orleans Hotel

Renaissance New Orleans Arts Warehouse District Hotel

Hilton New Orleans Riverside

Travel

French Quarter Festival

New Orleans City Park

The National WWII Museum

The Sazerac House

Jackson Square

Things to Do

Registry

What Is Cocktail Wedding Attire?

Cocktail Dresses to Add to Your Cart ASAP

What Guys Need to Know About Dress Codes

We kindly invite our guests to dress in cocktail attire for our wedding celebration. Think polished and festive—perfect for an elegant evening of dinner, drinks, and dancing.For men, this typically means a suit or dress shirt with a jacket (tie optional). For women, cocktail dresses, dressy jumpsuits, or elegant separates are all great choices.We recommend choosing comfortable yet stylish footwear so you can fully enjoy the celebration.

Dress Code

Ben & Amanda

Ben & Amanda

Wedding Party