The Oaks

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

We thought it would be fun to share the start of your story from both of our perspectives. Reading each others was so eye opening, because different parts of our story stood out to each of us. If you have ever wondered where it all started, take a journey with both of us below.

Joe's Take

For me, our story goes like this… Our first conversations took place on Tinder, I feel like that really gave me a feel for who Kayla was and where her interests lay. We had immediate chemistry and that chemistry kept us talking through our first weeks. Our first date was a testament to the connection that we had made over tinder. We met uptown and walked down Magazine Street to Basin Seafood. We had good drinks and shared a platter of chargrilled oysters while talking about our favorite movies. I knew that we would last when we started in on Tommy Boy and Black Sheep (Two of my childhood favorites). We finished the night down the street at The Bulldog where we talked more and played tic-tac-toe on bar napkins. Over the next few months and weeks we would have a lot of firsts together. Our first New Year’s Eve came and went, followed by Mardi Gras and Easter. The years have gone by and our love for one another has grown with each change of season. &nbsp;In January of 2020, before Covid-19 took control of the year, Kayla and I had the pleasure of joining my Parents in Mexico for a week to sail with them. Kayla had never been sailing before and I truly hoped that she would love it as much as I do. On the second day of our trip, we were running down the Sea of Cortez with a following sea that was throwing our stern from left to right. It was a really rough ride, but Kayla was a trooper. I know she felt absolutely miserable, but she hung tough. We got through that hard day and Kayla bounced back like I knew she would. The next morning Kayla took over the helm and brought us into Anchor at Isla Partida, near La Paz. Over the next few days, I got the pleasure of teaching Kayla how to snorkel. It took some time to get her comfortable, but once she was in that water there was no stopping her. She was kicking out ahead of me and I could hear her excited yells through the water. At one point she pulled her head out of the water and gave me the biggest, cheesiest grin I have ever seen. For Kayla, it was a big deal to learn how to snorkel and to trust herself in the water, to me it was an even bigger deal for her trust me to teach her. &nbsp;I am looking forward to celebrating five years of our partnership and love with all of our closest friends and family in November.&nbsp;

Kayla's Take

The first time Joe and I met is actually my favorite story, but plenty came before that. I remember when I found his profile on Tinder – I just thought he was the cutest thing. He had the biggest smile and felt so warm and inviting. I could tell that he was a down-to-earth guy who knew how to have fun, someone who I thought I would hit it off with. I didn’t make the first move, but I really hoped he would message me and I’m so thankful he did. Funnily enough, he complimented&nbsp;my&nbsp;smile and the conversation just flowed from there. I learned about all of his travels, how he made it down to New Orleans from California, and about his huge family. He mentioned one day that he was planning to delete the app and that is when I finally made&nbsp;my&nbsp;move - I gave him my phone number and we continued talking from there. He called me one night before he headed back home for Thanksgiving and finally asked me out, but the clock was ticking before he had to catch a plane. There was something in my gut that told me not to wait until after his trip, so I went to my supervisor and said that I had a family emergency and needed to get back to New Orleans a little earlier than expected. In my defense, I was missing a meeting that arguably should have been cancelled since it was the day before Thanksgiving break, but I digress. This was still the best decision that I had made, because our first date was one of the best nights of my life. I rushed away from Baton Rouge after picking out the “perfect” outfit with my friend Natacha (who is doubling as one of my bridesmaids!). As I approached New Orleans, I was keeping Joe updated on my ETA, which is when he asked me what color I was wearing. I finally parked right down the street from his house on Washington Ave, and he came and met me to walk to me to his place. He was wearing a shirt that matched my outfit perfectly and gave me the biggest hug. We immediately felt comfortable around one another and it felt like we were being reunited, not introduced. We walked to his apartment, where I met his brother, Peter, then made our way to Basin Seafood &amp; Spirits. I had never been there, so I was really excited to try a new restaurant. The food was amazing, the drinks were delicious, and the company was superb. We talked for hours – from our favorite movies, to stories about our travels, and even politics. I remember Joe asking me who I voted for in the 2016 election, which was really gutsy since it had just happened a couple weeks prior. Thankfully we were on the same page and things didn’t get tremendously awkward. We finished dinner at Basin and moved to The Bulldog for drinks and to keep the night going. We enjoyed cold beer and played tic tac toe on bar napkins for hours. At one point, while Joe was in the bathroom, I snagged one of the napkins to keep to remember the night, but Joe caught me. He took a napkin out of the his pocket and said “it’s the little things.” This led to a stolen kiss, our first kiss. It’s been the little things since the beginning. Matching his outfit to mine for our first date, holding my shoes I as I walked barefoot back to his apartment that night (I really didn’t pick the best shoes, and I haven’t worn those shoes since), sharing his Russian space station accent (for any Armageddon fans out there), texting me to make sure that I made it home okay, and calling me every day during his trip back home. I told Joe that night that I knew I could fall for him, and he said to fall – he would catch me.&nbsp;

Our Story

Transportation

A taxi ride from Louis Armstrong INTL to downtown costs $25-30 and transportation around town is easy enough with Uber, Lyft, and Public transportation. That being said, The Oaks is a 45 minute drive from downtown New Orleans. We would recommend carpooling if possible and if a rental car proves necessary, you can do a one day rental with pickup and drop-off downtown to cut costs.

Accomodations

We would recommend staying in New Orleans during your time in the South. There are hundreds of fantastic Airbnb's and lots of hotels throughout the city. We would recommend Airbnb's to give you a true feel for what a wonderful and energetic city New Orleans is.

Our Recommendations

These are a few options that would put you Uptown. There's plenty of shops, restaurants, and nightlife to be found. These would also put you within walking distance of the historic garden district and some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in New Orleans. <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/38587497?adults=5&amp;check_in=2021-11-18&amp;check_out=2021-11-20&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1609976540_Kq8fB4S1Cw7gtUO4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spacious 5BR Near Magazine St &amp; Uptown</a><a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/38376032?adults=5&amp;check_in=2021-11-18&amp;check_out=2021-11-20&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1609976434_a1AJk%2FAzyL2p0Mer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spacious NOLA House w 2 Attached Units</a><a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/16976088?adults=4&amp;check_in=2021-11-18&amp;check_out=2021-11-22&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1609975903_hvfa0b0a6hGQbUZY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Retreat and Relax 1 block off Magazine St.</a> These options are situated in the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods. They will be close to the French Quarter with fantastic live music and nightlife a quick walk away. <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/46242435?adults=5&amp;check_in=2021-11-18&amp;check_out=2021-11-20&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1609977174_7XJjD9mQk5vQf6CE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bywater 2-story, 4 bedroom. Sleeps 11</a><a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/plus/4394146?adults=5&amp;check_in=2021-11-18&amp;check_out=2021-11-20&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1609977496_gzHwIIeYQNKGeaKH" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ma Maison Marigny—Boho Paradise near the French Quarter</a><a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/921154?adults=5&amp;check_in=2021-11-18&amp;check_out=2021-11-20&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1609977503_nC1TSdbUId1Fpd%2FR" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Marigny Music Courtyard &amp; Pool!&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/24822349?adults=5&amp;check_in=2021-11-18&amp;check_out=2021-11-20&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1609977486_nejsSUgoSwxu%2FrwH" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Orleans Home w/Hot Tub-1 Mi to French Quarter!</a><a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/9044001?adults=5&amp;check_in=2021-11-18&amp;check_out=2021-11-20&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1609977490_baZX%2BpOiJunWBwe8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Bedroom Cozy Shotgun Marigny House!</a>

Staying Near the Venue

If you wish to find a hotel stay for the night of the wedding near the venue, Hammond, LA is going to be your best bet. Below we have linked a few nice options that would be about a 10 minute drive away from the venue.<a href="https://www.hotels.com/ho360010/?q-check-out=2021-11-20&amp;FPQ=2&amp;q-check-in=2021-11-19&amp;WOE=6&amp;WOD=5&amp;q-room-0-children=0&amp;pa=2&amp;tab=description&amp;JHR=1&amp;q-room-0-adults=2&amp;YGF=14&amp;MGT=1&amp;ZSX=0&amp;SYE=3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">La Quinta</a><a href="https://www.hotels.com/ho203816/?q-check-out=2021-11-20&amp;FPQ=3&amp;q-check-in=2021-11-19&amp;WOE=6&amp;WOD=5&amp;q-room-0-children=0&amp;pa=11&amp;tab=description&amp;JHR=2&amp;q-room-0-adults=2&amp;YGF=14&amp;MGT=1&amp;ZSX=0&amp;SYE=3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hampton Inn</a><a href="https://www.hotels.com/ho328197/?q-check-out=2021-11-20&amp;FPQ=3&amp;q-check-in=2021-11-19&amp;WOE=6&amp;WOD=5&amp;q-room-0-children=0&amp;pa=9&amp;tab=description&amp;JHR=2&amp;q-room-0-adults=2&amp;YGF=14&amp;MGT=1&amp;ZSX=0&amp;SYE=3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Holiday Inn</a>

Travel

New Orleans School of Cooking

The <a href="https://neworleansschoolofcooking.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Orleans School of Cooking</a> is an absolute blast. We recommend signing up for a Demo on a free morning or afternoon. During the demo, the chef will break down the traditions and technique behind some of souths best foods and you get to watch the dishes be prepared and taste them once they are done. All while sipping some fine local beer!

A Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour

We had an absolute blast doing a swamp tour at <a href="https://www.jeanlafitteswamptour.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jean Lafitte Swamp tours</a>. Joseph's parents Jana and Dwight joined us for one during one of their summer visits and we had so much fun! Its a really neat way to see some true Louisiana wildlife.

Cocktails at the Hot Tin Rooftop Bar

The <a href="http://hottinbar.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hot Tin</a> bar is an excellent place to see the whole spread of downtown New Orleans. You can go for a cocktail or dinner and soak up the sights. I took Kayla here on our 3rd date and we enjoyed it thoroughly, as you can see from the elevator selfie on the way down.

Escape Rooms!

Kayla and I had a blast breaking out of one of the escape rooms at <a href="https://theescapegame.com/neworleans/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Escape Game</a>. We didn't break any records, but we definitely had some fun!

Bowling!

Bowling is always such a blast, even if it's your first time, you'll have so much fun. There are a few choices to make when finding an Alley. A good downtown option would be <a href="https://www.fultonalley.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fulton Alley</a> and if you're up for a little car ride, <a href="https://colonialbowling.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colonial Lanes</a> has good lane prices and cheap pitchers!

Things to Do

Bridal Party

If you know me, then you know Emily. She has been by my side since 8th grade with a bowl of stale popcorn. We have been through it all together - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful. There are times in my life that I couldn't imagine having made it through without her supporting me, challenging me, and offering a shoulder to cry on. It is only fitting that she stand by my side on one of the best days of my life, and I can't wait to stand by her side next year.

Emily Suchman

Natacha and I went to grad school together at LSU. She is one of the best people I know - so caring, generous, and genuine. She always challenges me to be stronger and confident, which I need sometimes. She is always there when I need advice, both personally and professionally. I'm truly a better person for having her in my life and having her as a friend! Plus, I got a dogphew out of it - Beaux! I can't wait to tear up the dance floor with her like old times!

Natacha Rivera-Ruiz

Amanda and I met at Loyola in a mass comm class. We went through sorority recruitment together and joined Gamma Phi Beta. I was so excited to be in the same sorority as her - I just knew we were meant to be friends. As time went on she became one of my most trusted friends. If I needed a Starbucks break, study buddy, or someone to just talk to about who knows what - Amanda was a text away. She is the definition of a true and constant friend, and honestly - the little sister that I never had.

Amanda Mullady

Caitlin's friendship means the world to me, because it came right when I needed it. We met during my sophomore year at Loyola, when I was really struggling to find friends or a place in college. She made our friendship a priority, which really made me feel like I mattered. She became one of my best friends - we were together all the time. From doctor appointments, to Applebees nights, and wedding planning - I can't imagine not having her by my side.

Caitlin Ryan

Bree and I met in high school and became quick friends. She is the funniest person and we have gotten to share so many laughs over the years. From our robotics practices, academic games trips, crawfish dates in Baton Rouge, and nights out - there were plenty of laughs to be had. She actually saved my life once and drove me to the emergency room, so I truly wouldn't be here without her. Time and distance may not work in our favor, but when we get back together it is like time hasn't passed.

Bree Bell

Grooms Party

Casey, a man of sophistication and ridiculousness, is one of my best friends here in the south. Casey and I first met at MBS Equipment on my 3rd day in New Orleans. We were almost roommates, and we have always been friends. I am so thankful to have a friend like Casey backing me up at every corner and I know he is going to be a fantastic best man. 

Casey McCoy

I had the privilege of getting to live with Peter during my time in New Orleans. Our friendship and brotherhood grew immensely during this time, as we spent countless nights sitting on the porch of our apartment talking late into the night. Peter is one of my best friends and I could not be more honored and excited to have him in my wedding party. 

Peter Heirendt

Michael is one of my best friends. We grew up only two years apart and spent most of our childhood building tree forts, snowboarding, playing video games, and hanging out with our neighbors Sam and Amy. I'm so grateful to have him joining me for this special occasion.

Michael Heirendt

My nephew Noah has often been more of a little brother than anything. He has grown up so much over these past few years and is becoming quite the young man. I am so proud of his growth and work ethic, and I am so excited to have him join our wedding party. 

Noah Heirendt

Over the past few years Zack has become a close friend of mine. We have bonded over music, food, and good times. I am grateful for his friendship and I look forward to having him be a part of our ceremony.

Zack Bardwell

Wedding Party

Photos

Registry

Can I bring guests/plus ones not noted on my invitation?

As much as we would love to say "the more, the merrier", our wallets feel differently! Unfortunately, we are only able to accommodate those guests formally invited on your wedding invitation. If you received a plus one, they will appear under your name when you RSVP. Please ensure that you are RSVP'ing for yourself and your guest.

What time should I arrive to the wedding?