Hotel Mazarin

Welcome Reception

Hermann-Grima House

Wedding Day

Wedding

Broussard's Restaurant

Reception

Our Wedding

Our story began the summer of 2011 in Ocean Bay Park, Fire Island. I had been invited to participate in a summer share house and through some mutual friends Johanna came into my life. On Memorial Day Weekend, Johanna was invited to come out to spend a night. Our first interaction was very late at night and Johanna and her friends that had come out with her were trying to go to sleep. Me being the pain in the neck that I tend to be, was tossing ice cubes at her from behind the bar and being extremely annoying. We then need to fast forward to mid-August, where I was invited to a fundraising event that Johanna was part of. There was some polite conversation and she thanked me for my donation to the cause. We did have our first picture taken that night of the two of us, although it was unintentional and we actually have our backs turned to each other talking to other people. We then need to again fast forward to Labor Day weekend and that is when my life would be changed forever. During the share houses end of the summer Mardi Gras party, Johanna and I would spend the night singing and dancing and having a great time. She convinced me the next day to stay (even though it was not one of my weekend) and we had a blast. The next few weeks we exchanged some messages through Facebook and texts and she agreed to come out to meet me for my birthday in Huntington. Then we went on our official first date (Millers Ale House) neither of us were looking for a long-term relationship at the time but once we got into October of 2011, I realized that I was so in love with this amazing woman. It’s safe to say that the rest is history and here we are seven years later and I couldn’t be more excited to spend the rest of my life with the girl of my dreams.

Paul's Version

Paul and I met three times, and as luck would have it, the third time indeed was the&nbsp;charm.

The story goes that the 1st time we met was on Fire Island. I was invited out with friends to stay as guests of Dawn and Eva, ladies I was volunteering with. Needless to say as a Fire Island newbie the Rocket Fuels and sun caught up with me; I was asleep on the couch early and didn't make it out. The party eventually returned home to the house where we were staying and I groggily was aware of the shenanigans that were taking place. Mr. Genna assumed his favorite position, behind the bar at the Shark Tank, and began throwing ice cubes at me and my girlfriends calling us "a bunch of stiffs." What a guy! I never got to say anything to him about his charming behavior, I think we left early the next day.&nbsp;



Fast forward to August, the girls and I were hosting a fundraiser in East Northport and they had invited a number of their Fire Island housemates. The hustle and bustle of the event caught up with me and I didn't realize he was there. I think we may have shaken hands because he donated Jets tickets to the raffle.&nbsp;&nbsp;I do remember he was wearing a bright blue shirt.&nbsp;It's funny, there&nbsp;is a photo somewhere out there of us standing back to back.&nbsp; After the event I rushed out of there and went my own way.&nbsp;



As fate would have it, I was invited out again to the house to close out the season for the annual theme party at the house;&nbsp;Mardi-Gras! A lover of all things New Orleans I knew I couldn't pass this up. I got my best mask and beads and jumped on the ferry to Fire Island. Little did I know that things were going to be different from that moment forward.&nbsp;



The party was amazing! I was with girlfriends, we were meeting new people, there was laughing and dancing and sing-alongs. It was such an awesome night! I had noticed Paul of course -&nbsp;his personality is so huge! We didn't talk much that night, we did however sing Toto's Africa as a group at the top of our lungs and danced our feet off at the Schooner Inn. The following morning I (and everyone else in the house) was hurting. There were air mattresses that covered the whole living room and kitchen, it was a mess. Like clockwork, Paul stomped around the house picking up cups and garbage and then proceeded to start vacuuming. We all wanted to kill him, most especially me. WHO DOES THAT AT 7:30AM?? After a little while we all snapped out of our zombie state, the people I came with went home and I stayed. I pitched in to help make a family-style communal breakfast, which was bound to be entertaining as this particular one was special as Dawn was giving out "Awards" for the summer season. I helped to scramble up some eggs, poured some pitchers of mimosa and took a seat. The awards began (they were given out on very official paper plates). All I remember is whispering to Eva that Paul should get and award, pretty sure I said he should get "Most Annoying." He did get an award that day, but it was for "Best New Addition to the House." That didn't go to his head at all!&nbsp;



The champagne and OJ was flowing, we hoisted Lorraine up in the air on her chair, we were joking around and laughing. Paul then informed me that he had to get going soon as he had to go shopping for a Labor Day party that was taking place at his parent's house. I somehow convinced him to stay, just for one drink and some food at Hurricane's. So we got dressed and out we went. Before we knew it it was late afternoon and the trip home was looking less and less likely. JHaus was playing and we were loving life. Then he asked if he could kiss me, and there it began.&nbsp;



Paul never made it back to mainland that night, we hung out all afternoon and into the wee hours of the night. We danced and sang and laughed. He left on the first ferry the following day and somehow managed to pull it all off, there were 200 people in his parent's backyard and no one was the wiser. I got a call from him that night, my phone was dead and I somehow didn't have a phone number register. Mr. Rico Suave forgot to leave his number so I had to resort to facebook stalking him because I didn't want him to think I wasn't interested. Thankfully we connected and he asked me to come to his birthday. I was scared to go alone so I enlisted to girlfriends to come with. We had a great time at Honu that ended up with Paul ordering everything off the diner menu. A few days later he set up our first date - he was very romantic. We went to Miller's Ale House to watch the Yankee game. When I got there and he asked if I could sit on the other side of the booth so he could watch TV (insert eyeroll).&nbsp;I probably should have gotten up to leave, but I didn't - I was intrigued (and hungry). I'm really glad I stayed.&nbsp;



Things progressed from that moment, and while we don't really know when things officially started, we know that they kept moving forward from there. Here we are, on the eve of Memorial Day weekend, 7 years later, sending out Save the Dates for our wedding. It's crazy how the universe works and I'm so thankful our story ended up this way.

Johanna's Version

Our Story

Where to Eat

Cafe du Monde

Make your belly happy and satiate your sweet tooth!&nbsp;Lines can be long during the day, try to hit Cafe du Monde first thing in the morning or late night.<a href="http://www.cafedumonde.com/">http://www.cafedumonde.com/</a>

Felix's

Oysters. All we have to say. Oh and crab fingers. YUM!<a href="https://www.felixs.com/">https://www.felixs.com/</a>

Peche

We literally ate everything on this menu. NOLA flavors + Uruguayan fish preparation = match made in heaven!&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pecherestaurant.com/">https://www.pecherestaurant.co...</a>

Calling all meat lovers!

Click to see the menu. And commence&nbsp;drooling.<a href="https://cochonrestaurant.com/">https://cochonrestaurant.com/</a>

Antoines

You read it right.&nbsp;$20.19 Lunch Special includes a delicious three course menu including three different options for each course along with .25 cent martinis!The new menu is offered Monday-Saturday from 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. and can be used for groups of 15 and under.Check out the oldest family-owned restaurant in the United States!&nbsp;<a href="http://www.antoines.com/">http://www.antoines.com/</a>

Details

Wedding Party

Photos

Q + A

Registry

Taxicabs: 





Taxicab booths are located on the first level of the Terminal outside of Baggage Claim Belts 1 and 14. Passengers must wait in line at one of these booths for taxi service.













Taxi rides cost $36.00 from the airport to the Central Business District (CBD) or French Quarter (west of Elysian Fields) for up to two (2) passengers. For three (3) or more passengers, the fare will be $15.00 per passenger. Taxis are required accept credit card payments.













Airport Shuttle 













Shuttle service is available from the airport to hotels and various other locations in the New Orleans for $24.00 (per person, one-way) or $44.00 (per person, round-trip). These fares include three (3) bags per person. Additional baggage may be subject to additional fees. Passengers can purchase tickets at the Airport at Airport Shuttle ticket booths located on the first level throughout the Baggage Claim area.&nbsp;















Airport Limousines:













A-Airport Limousine is the official luxury transportation service provider for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Passengers can request service at one of the A-Airport Limousine's convenient kiosks located in the Baggage Claim area. Rates range from $58 for two (2) passengers to $118 for eight (8) passengers. Rates depend on the number of passengers and the type of vehicle. Please visit the ticket booth on the first level throughout Baggage Claim.&nbsp;&nbsp;













Transportation Network Companies:&nbsp;











<img src="http://www.flymsy.com/Images/Interior/transportation%20&%20parking/uber.png" title="" alt="" width="150px" height="150px" border="0"><img src="http://www.flymsy.com/Images/Interior/transportation%20&%20parking/lyft.png" title="" alt="" width="127px" height="100px" border="0">











Uber and Lyft offers transportation services from the Airport. Passengers can meet their app-based ride service outside of the Ground Transportation Center located on the first floor of the Short-Term Parking Garage by crossing the pedestrian crosswalk located outside of Baggage Claim 6.&nbsp;

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

There are currently 2 rooms left in the block at Hotel Le Marais. They are both rooms with two Double beds, but&nbsp;they can accommodate&nbsp;Kings, please call Gianni to reserve.

 

<a href="http://www.hotellemarais.com/">Hotel Le Marais</a> is&nbsp;a chic boutique hotel nestled in the heart of the French Quarter one block from our&nbsp;wedding venue.



The gem of a property features:















•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Daily complimentary full American breakfast buffet















•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Complimentary Wi-Fi in guest rooms and public areas















•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Welcome beverage voucher per guest redeemable in their bar VIVE!















•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Complimentary bottled water and coffee in guest rooms















•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; State of the art Fitness and Exercise room















•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Heated Saltwater Courtyard Pool















•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Service quality rated in the top 10 out of 155 hotels in NOLA on Trip Advisor

Hotel Le Marais

UNFORTUNATELY all&nbsp;hotel rooms in our blocks are taken. You are welcome to make a reservation, but they will be unable to honor the block pricing.&nbsp; 

 



<a href="http://www.hotelmazarin.com/">Hotel Mazarin</a> is a chic boutique hotel nestled in the heart of the French Quarter two blocks from our wedding venue. The Welcome Reception will be held in the courtyard here.



Your stay includes:





<ul><li>Full breakfast&nbsp;(including&nbsp;eggs, bacon, sausage, cereal, fruit, pastries, coffee, tea, milk,&nbsp;juices) each morning in Louis XVI Dining Room overlooking beautiful Queen Anne's Courtyard,&nbsp;</li><li>Complimentary drink in 21st&nbsp;Amendment bar,&nbsp;</li><li>High speed wireless internet,&nbsp;</li><li>In-room safe,&nbsp;</li><li>In-room beverage cooler,&nbsp;</li><li>In-room coffee and bottled water,&nbsp;</li><li>Complimentary local newspaper,</li><li>24 hour access to the fitness center and business center</li></ul>

The <a href="http://www.wyndhamfrenchquarter.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=places&utm_campaign=google_places_ms">Wyndham New Orleans French Quarter</a> is conveniently located in the French Quarter and within a few minutes walking distance to our Welcome Reception and Ceremony/Reception!

Wyndham New Orleans French Quarter

The past blends seamlessly into the present at the <a href="http://www.dauphineorleans.com/">Dauphine Orleans Hotel</a>,&nbsp;which boasts a history almost as old and rich as the Crescent City itself, and offers guests an authentic experience of both local culture and community. The hotel is located a short walk from the wedding festivities!

Your stay includes:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Continental breakfast&nbsp;(includes whole fruit, pastries, Bagels, Granola Bars, coffee, tea, milk,&nbsp;juices) each morning



·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Complimentary drink in May Baily’s bar&nbsp;



·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;High speed wireless internet&nbsp;



·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In-room safe



·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In-room coffee and bottled water&nbsp;

Johanna & Paul

Johanna & Paul

Photos