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

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!