Elope to New Orleans

One of my fellow ICU coworkers used Simply Eloped to elope in Hawaii last year. She spoke so highly of the company and her photos were absolutely breathtaking. When I mentioned the possibility of a courthouse wedding, she recommended we consider using Simply Eloped and returning to the city where we reconnected.

Laura was so helpful throughout the entire process to make sure Simply Eloped was the right fit. She was quick to provide suggestions and input that met our needs. The services provided were reasonably priced and we found the perfect venue to fit our personalities. We were able to have the traditional elements, such as hair and makeup, flowers, and photos, readily available without the stress of planning.

We wanted to have our ceremony in New Orleans so everything would feel “full circle.” We wanted to return to the city where we fell in love. We were attracted to City Park because the moss and trees would make a beautiful backdrop for our photos, and the city itself is rich in culture.

To be honest, preparing for our elopement was one of the most challenging experiences we have ever faced. Days before our scheduled flight, the entire U.S. shutdown for the COVID-19 pandemic. I went to work with the fear that I may not return or get the chance to marry my best friend. Never had we thought that something of this scale would happen. At worst, we thought we might have the normal wedding-day jitters. If anything, this experience has solidified our commitment to one another. We kept in contact with Laura about closures and restrictions. She was able to accommodate changes and put our minds at ease. Once we felt that we could safely and responsibly proceed with the elopement, we did. We were so excited everything worked out and that we were able to have a memorable wedding despite a global pandemic.

In two words, simply amazing! As I have mentioned, Laura was extremely helpful throughout the entire process, pre and post-pandemic. Janessa (the CEO and co-founder) even took a moment to reach out and express her condolences over how the pandemic affected our initial wedding plans, and allowed us to postpone until we were ready to pick back up.

How did you celebrate after?

Given the circumstance surrounding Covid, we had to cancel our original plans to celebrate. At this time, we still have yet to formally celebrate or travel for a honeymoon. Following the ceremony, we had a lovely dinner with our immediate family members to share in our joy. The nurses and other healthcare workers wanted to partake in something festive and threw a mini, COVID-friendly bachelorette party once I returned to work.

During this time where COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on everyone’s lives and relationships, couples that are considering marriage should realize that even though they may sacrifice some elements of a traditional wedding, eloping is the best way to optimize the health and wellness of their loved ones. One should not lose sight of why you’re getting married, it is for love and not materialistic things. While there were setbacks, in the end, we have each other and are excited about what our future together holds.