Noelle + Phil

Noelle and Phil met in college at Loyola University New Orleans during their sophomore year. They lived a floor apart in freshman year, but only knew each other in passing. They were more formally introduced by a mutual friend at the organization’s fair (she ended up being one of Noelle’s bridesmaids!) Phil offered to teach Noelle to play the ukulele, and they’ve been together ever since.

The proposal: Phil kicked off the day by making Noelle her favorite breakfast and serving her breakfast in bed at her apartment. They then went to the Audubon Aquarium (where they had their first date.) Unbeknownst to her, Phil had secured two behind the scenes adventures. In the morning, they snorkeled with stingrays in the aquarium’s archway tank. In the afternoon, they helped prepare lunch for the penguins and hand fed them in their exhibit. They even got to meet and cuddle a penguin backstage (his name was Sassy and he loved being held by Noelle.) That evening, they had reservations at Commander’s Palace, where Phil worked at the time. The restaurant prides itself on taking great care of its employees, so they received “gifts from the kitchen” in the form of sample portions of a variety of appetizers, as well as free desserts. After their delicious meal, Phil drove Noelle to his apartment. Earlier that morning, he had moved all of the furniture from his hardwood floor living room and hung over 1,000 string lights over the windows, door frame, and mantles. When Noelle walked in, music started playing and they slow danced to meaningful songs from their relationship. Following the song we knew would be their first dance, Phil got down on one knee and asked his best friend and love of his life to marry him. After Noelle’s initial surprise and shock, she said yes! They spent the rest of the evening sitting on the floor of his empty apartment listening to music, reminiscing, and looking ahead to engaged and married life together.

Processional- “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by Sleeping At Last / “Forever Like That” by Ben Rector
Recessional- “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles
First Dance- “I Like You” by Ben Rector
Sparkler Exit- “MFEO Pt. 1 Made for Each Other/Pt. 2 You Can Breathe” – Jack’s Mannequin

Cake flavor: Lemon poppyseed with buttercream icing.

Cupcake flavors: Carrot cake with cream cheese icing, chocolate with chocolate ganache icing, and funfetti with buttercream!

Noelle’s favorite moments from the wedding day: Holding hands during the ceremony and watching Phil tear up during our vows and while our pastor spoke. And we got to have one of our dogs, Thelma, as a flower girl, and she was adorable in Phil’s childhood red wagon. Also, our first dance! Dancing with Phil was a moment I had day-dreamed about since we first listened to that album in the car, and immediately knew it would be our first dance song (a year before we were engaged). I felt like we were the only two people in the room, and it was my most emotional part of the day. We also had a lot of guests travel in from out of town, and I absolutely loved being with family and friends that I don’t get to see regularly, all in one place! And being with both of my siblings who flew in from out of town, and getting to show off our ~super fly~ dance moves.

Phil’s favorite moments from the wedding day: In addition to all the moments Noelle mentioned, one of my favorite memories is definitely the private meal we shared immediately following the ceremony and photos. Sitting on the balcony of the Lakehouse, we enjoyed a beautiful view of the lake and tasted all of our delicious food without having any other responsibilities or expectations. To have a few moments to relax together just the two of us in the midst of all the festivities was so appreciated and beautiful. I also loved our sparkler exit. It was so fun and heartwarming to see all of our friends and family from across the country bidding us farewell with fireworks and smiles and cheers. It created a particularly memorable conclusion to the evening.

We had a crazy weather week leading up to our wedding, with flash flooding all over the north shore, which led us to make some very last-minute changes to what our ceremony looked like (from outdoors on the lakefront to in a tent at our reception venue), and we couldn’t have done it without our family and friends going above and beyond to make our day special and wonderful.
Also, my bridesmaids are the best, ever. I decided to change the dresses (after a ton of alterations and rental nightmares, and no one feeling comfortable in the dresses) that week. The day before the wedding, they all went to the mall and found $15 dresses at Forever 21, and they ended up being perfect in every way.

Also, shout out to Neutral Ground Woodshop for making us a bomb guestbook two weeks before our wedding, as well as some custom signs in the font from our invitations!

Ceremony + Reception: The Lakehouse | Videographer: Tres Bien | Hair/Makeup: Just Face It Beauty | Florist: Iris Floral and Event Design Studio | Cake: Shannon Munday (friend of Phil’s family) | DJ: Party-Tyme Productions