Michael Caswell Photography
Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans Wedding in the Blue Room
Capulet Bywater Wedding in New Orleans
Metairie Country Club Wedding Reception
Bride and Groom Last Dance at Slavonian Lodge Wedding
Bride and Groom Dancing at Gallery Venue at Tomas
Groom lifts bride at Gallery Venue at Tomas Wedding
The Greenwood Covington Wedding Reception Send-Off
Brides Second Line Down Bourbon Street
Wedding Reception at Pat O's on the River
Father and Bride Dance at Broussard's Courtyard Wedding
Couple Second Line through French Quarter
Wedding Reception at The Greystone in Mandeville
Republic NOLA Wedding in the Warehouse District
Kinfolk Brass Band Wedding Second Line Parade
Wedding Guests Having Fun at Southern Oaks
Kinfolk Brass Band
Arbor Room City Park Wedding with Bucktown All-Stars
Reception at Chateau Country Club Wedding in Kenner LA
Ritz-Carlton Wedding Reception in New Orleans
Second Line Parade Through the French Quarter
Bride and Groom Dance with Brass Band at Southern Oaks
Bride Sings with the Band
First Dance at the Omni
Lafayette Louisiana Wedding Photographer
Reception at The Rose Garden in Elmwood Louisiana
Jeremy Davenport Performs at Tipitinas Reception
Departure with Bubbles from The Elms Mansion
Pin-Stripe Brass Band Second Line
University of Louisiana Lafayette Groom
Riverview Room Reception in New Orleans
Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans Wedding Reception
Civic Theatre New Orleans Wedding Reception
Bourbon Orleans Wedding Reception
Bride and Groom Dance at Board of Trade
Groom lifts bride at Elms Mansion wedding reception
Couple's first dance at Maison Dupuy wedding reception
Bride Dances with Flower Girls at Federal Ballroom
Messina's at the Terminal Wedding Reception in Atrium
Groom Throws Garter at Riverview Room Wedding
Bride and Groom Dance at Court of Two Sisters Wedding
Margaret Gardens WeddingReception First Dance
Royal Sonesta New Orleans Wedding Reception
Wedding Reception at Pat O'Briens Briars Room
Gallier Hall Wedding in New Orleans
Bourbon Vieux in the French Quarter Bride and Father
Audubon Park Golf Clubhouse Wedding Reception
Same Sex Marriage in New Orleans
Guests Sing Along with the Mixed Nuts Band
Bride Rides on Back of Police Motorcycle
Second Line Parade Down Canal Street
New Orleans Museum of Art Wedding
Sparkler Send-Off at The Chicory
Pat O's on the River Wedding Reception
Same Sex Wedding in New Orleans Second Line Parade
Deacon John Leads a Second Line
Michabelle Inn Wedding in Hammond Louisiana
Wedding Reception at the Capital on Baronne
Bubbles Send-Off at Palmettos on the Bayou Wedding
Hotel Peter & Paul Wedding Reception in New Orleans
Wedding Reception at Southern Oaks in New Orleans
Ribbon wand wedding send-off at The Chicory
Wedding Reception at the Federal Ballroom
Petroleum Club Wedding in Lafayette Louisiana
Bride Dances at Pavilion of the Two Sisters Wedding
Wedding Reception at Trinity Banquets in Slidell
The Chicory Wedding in the Warehouse District in NOLA
Second Line Parade to New Orleans Wedding Reception
Wedding Reception at Degas House in New Orleans
Glowstick Send-Off at Maison Dupuy
House of Blues New Orleans Wedding Reception
Wedding Reception at Academy of the Sacred Heart NOLA
Bride and Groom's First Dance at the Ritz-Carlton
Indian Baraat at Pat O's on the River
Audubon Tea Room Wedding Flower Petal Send-Off
Southern Oaks Reception First Dance
Chinese Sky Lanterns at Stonebridge Golf Club Reception
New Orleans Cake Pulls
Federal Ballroom Wedding Reception
New Orleans Board of Trade Reception
Newly Married Couple Rides the Streetcar
Bride and Father Dance at Muriels
Wedding at the Musee Conti Wax Museum
Bride and Groom Second Line by Cathedral
Hotel Mazarin in the French Quarter

Wedding Receptions in New Orleans

There is no shortage of absolutely amazing reception venues for weddings in New Orleans and the surrounding area! My reception coverage is almost completely a purely documentary style. I will typically not attempt to get the attention of the people I am photographing, but instead will try to keep my distance and capture more natural and candid moments, or dive right in to the middle of the dance floor action with a wide-angle lens when the party really gets going. Of course, I am happy to shoot any informal group shots (friends from college, co-workers, etc.) during the reception.

I've photographed weddings with a diverse range of venues and guest counts, from a huge ceremony at a majestic and historic church followed by an opulent and extravagant ballroom reception with hundreds of guests, to an intimate and magical French Quarter courtyard gathering with only a few dozen close friends and family in attendance, and everything in between.

Most New Orleans wedding receptions are 3 hours, occasionally 4 hours, but rarely longer than that, and usually have a buffet-style meal. This can sometimes come as a bit of a surprise to families from some other parts of the country where longer and slower-paced receptions with formal seated dinners are common (though most venues will be able to accommodate that type of seated dinner reception if desired, and I photograph several of those each year).

Of course, a shorter reception doesn't have to mean the party's over at that point, as very often the celebration simply moves to a nearby bar!