Patrick's Bar Vin at Hotel Mazarin

Meet-up Friday night

House of Blues New Orleans

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Second Line

Our Wedding

For our loved ones watching from up north...

We will be streaming the ceremony through Zoom. Even though we are able to stream virtually, this is still a private ceremony. We kindly request for you to respect that by not sharing this link with others without permission from the bride and groom.

The ceremony will start at 5:00pm, but the Zoom will be available shortly after 4:30pm, as guests in New Orleans are also arriving.

(If needed, meeting ID is 893 2160 9723)

The passcode to join is 452025.

STREAM THE CEREMONY

How We Met

The last thing that either Nicole or Jack expected to find in grad school was the love of their life. The couple met when they both were in the same first-year cohort of Media and Communication doctoral students at Temple University - Jack researching LGBTQIA+ representation in video games, and Nicole doing work in health communication and children's media (of course we had to throw in our academic elevator pitch!). They were instant best friends, though a couple of close friends (including a few members of the wedding party that will gladly tell anyone who will listen) sensed that there would be a forthcoming romance, even before Jack and Nicole themselves were aware.

"If we can get through this, we can get through anything."

Nicole and Jack did eventually realize too that there was more than friendship between them, and quickly realized that they each had found their person. Unfortunately, it was also Spring 2020. The pandemic marked the early days of their relationship with challenges that they couldn't have predicted, compacted with the challenges of having family in two different countries (Nicole being a born and raised Pennsylvanian and Jack hailing from Ontario, Canada) and a closed international border. "Your family has the right to meet the weird American that you've been dating for the last year!" was Nicole's frequent exclamation in the final months before the U.S./Canada border was re-opened. Through the emotional and logistical challenges of the pandemic they made the best of the situation, supporting each other and keeping each other laughing as they continued virtual coursework, binge-watched Netflix reality TV, and learned what it meant to be pet parents to a newly adopted and chronically ill cat, all while navigating a new relationship. As the dust settled in the pandemic, Jack got to meet more of Nicole's family and friends, and Nicole finally got to meet Jack's (she hopped on a flight the first morning that the borders were open). This was the start of many trips back and forth to both of their home cities, as well as numerous journeys via academic conferences (Paris, New Orleans...) and family vacations (mostly Disney, of course!) - not to mention their ongoing adventures to concerts (both in Philly and Detroit), musicals at the Kimmel Center, and hockey games (Go Flyers! And Red Wings!). Through good times and bad, it quickly became clear to the couple that they bring the best out of each other, and that united they can handle any and all challenges ahead.

Our Proposal

After what had been quite a challenging year, Jack and Nicole had already been looking forward to their upcoming Disney vacation with Nicole's dad and Jack's mom, step-dad, sibling, and grandma. But once Jack decided that he wanted to propose, he saw the trip as a great opportunity to do so in a place that they love and in the presence of family. Just weeks ahead of the trip when Nicole was spending a few days away (at an academic conference, where else?) he seized the opportunity to talk with his family (who was happy to help plan), get Nicole's dad's blessing (which realistically he had since the day that they met), and put the plan in motion. Unbeknownst to Nicole, who to this day remains impressed that no one managed to spill the beans, the whole family was in on the secret and waited in anticipation through the first half of the week-long vacation for Jack to pop the question. He asked her to "be his lobster forever" on the bridge to Belle's castle in the presence of family (and a few Disney cast members who were valiantly blocking traffic from interfering), making for a very magical proposal. Immediately following, the family celebrated in the Be Our Guest restaurant where the waitstaff kept the food and drinks (and bride and groom mouse ear hats) coming as they toasted to the future, and to the adventures that Jack and Nicole's life together will continue to bring.

Their story on the back of their stag &amp; doe shirts

Our Story

Photos

Syd Krisiewicz

Riley McLaren-Isberg

Lara Miller

Iza Chabarek

Ashlyn Neiffer

Katie Chittle

Jocelyn Frye

Kris Kovacs

Rachel Walla

Livy Demers

Nicola Govocek

Christine Hoffman

Annette Masterson

Lynn McLaren

Betty Isberg

Brenda Renaud

Lucy March

Wedding Party

Q + A

We have blocks at three hotels in the area, all in the French Quarter and within walking distance of the ceremony and reception venue. Please let us know if you are having trouble booking a room.

This hotel is where the bride and groom will be staying, and where we will be gathering after the rehearsal dinner for those who would like to say hello the night before the wedding. The room rate is $169 for Thursday and Sunday nights. This hotel is a five- minute walk from House of Blues, and a block away from Bourbon St.

Hotel Mazarin

This hotel has rooms available for us for the nights of Thu April 3 thru Sun April 6. The room rate is $139 for Thursday and Sunday nights. This hotel is on the same street as House of Blues, about a minute walk away.

Bienville House

This hotel has rooms available for the nights of Thu April 3 thru Sun April 6. The room rate is $119 on Thursday, and 179 for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This hotel is a five-minute walk from House of Blues, and 1 block away from Bourbon St.

Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter

Travel

Nicole's must-do activities in New Orleans include: cemetery and history tours (nothing beats learning about New Orleans culture from the locals!), walking around Jackson Square and down Pirate Alley, and enjoying the local food! She highly suggests trying coffee with chicory and crawfish etouffee.

Jack would encourage everyone to enjoy the food and learn about the culture - the haunted history is one of his favorite aspects of New Orleans that makes it unique!

Amy (mother of the groom) enjoys the ghost/vampire/haunted tours in New Orleans. There is one that the whole family has really enjoyed on some recent visits: <a href="https://www.expedia.ca/things-to-do/haunted-pub-crawl-of-new-orleans-french-quarter.a527901.activity-details?location=French%20Quarter%2C%20New%20Orleans%2C%20Louisiana%2C%20United%20States%20of%20America&amp;startDate=2024-09-22&amp;endDate=2024-10-06&amp;rid=800072" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>

Like his wife, Mark (stepdad of the groom) enjoys the ghost/cemetery tours. He also likes people-watching on Bourbon Street when they're in the French Quarter.

Vince (father of the bride) loves spots where you can learn about the pirate culture and history of New Orleans, including the <a href="https://www.jeanlafittes.com/collections/pirate-king-coffee?srsltid=AfmBOooWqH62KOAr3bk1N0uTFd0MzSbZ4Tpd414D8r9AicVKhwOpDKab" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jean Lafitte Trading Company Pirate Shop &amp; Coffee House</a>, and the<a href="https://pyratesalley.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Pirates Alley Cafe &amp; Olde Absinthe House</a> (where he highly suggests the Green Pirate drink). He also recommends the tours if you are a fan of history and/or ghost stories, and trying alligator sausage when you go out to eat.

Riley (sibling of the groom) would suggest simply walking around and enjoying the great vibes and beautiful architecture of the city.

David (cousin of the bride) suggests <a href="https://www.experienceneworleans.com/audubon-park-and-the-fly.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Fly</a>, a park in uptown New Orleans right on the river. He says its a great place to hang out!

Bella (cousin of the bride) recommends going to <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/listing/the-club-ms-maes/33730/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ms. Mae's!</a>

Nicole & Jack

Nicole & Jack

N&J

Meet-up Friday night

Wedding Day

5:00 PM

Ceremony

6:00 PM

Reception

9:00 PM

Second Line