Wedding vendors

Wedding vendors in New Orleans, LA

Few cities make a wedding feel like an event the way New Orleans does. Ceremonies happen in French Quarter courtyards and Garden District homes, receptions spill into Warehouse District lofts and Uptown ballrooms, and a brass band leads the second line from one to the other. Across the causeway, the Northshore towns of Covington and Mandeville offer live oaks and lakefront lawns at a slower pace. Destination demand keeps venue fees and planner rates high, while photography and hair and makeup stay in line with the rest of the South. Here's what a New Orleans wedding actually costs, where couples are getting married, and when to book, plus a shortcut to vetted, available New Orleans vendors matched to your date and budget.

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What weddings cost in New Orleans

Median ranges from vendor pricing in Our Day's New Orleans data (about 800 vendors). Actual pricing varies by date, guest count, area and vendor.
CategoryTypical range
Venue (venue fee)$8,000–$12,000
Catering$400–$3,000
Photography & video$2,400–$4,200
DJ / live music$1,300–$3,400
Hair & makeup$150–$350
Event planner$3,200–$4,800

Where couples get married in New Orleans

The French Quarter & the Marigny

Hidden courtyards, balconied townhouses and small hotels where the ceremony, reception and second line all happen within a few blocks.

The Garden District & Uptown

Historic mansions under oak canopies along the streetcar line, with Audubon Park nearby for portraits and a quieter feel than the Quarter.

The Warehouse District & Mid-City

Converted cotton warehouses, galleries and City Park's lagoons and live oaks for couples who want a modern room with a sense of place.

The Northshore

Covington, Mandeville and Madisonville across Lake Pontchartrain, with lakefront lawns, tree-lined estates and easier parking for a big family crowd.

When to book in New Orleans

October, November, March and April are the sweet spots, when the humidity drops and the courtyards are comfortable, and those Saturdays book 12 months or more ahead. Carnival season runs from early January to Mardi Gras day and parades close streets across Uptown and the Quarter, so most couples avoid the final two weeks before Fat Tuesday. Jazz Fest weekends in late April and early May, French Quarter Fest and Sugar Bowl week also fill hotels. June through September is hot and falls inside hurricane season, so summer weddings lean indoors and usually cost less.

Common questions

New Orleans is a destination market, and it shows in the venue fees and planner rates, which sit well above what neighboring Southern cities charge. Catering spans an unusually wide range, from casual po'boy and crawfish setups to formal multi-course Creole dinners, so the menu choice moves the total more than in most cities. Live music also costs more here because couples often hire a brass band rather than a DJ. The ranges above come from real vendor pricing in our New Orleans data, and Our Day negotiates exclusive rates on your behalf.

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