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Everything might be bigger in Texas, but clearly Texas hasn’t meet its little sister New Orleans which celebrates bigger then anywhere else!  Katie Frichter & Jeff Grose were banking on a New Orleans wedding providing the party atmosphere that they hoped to foster, not just in the spirit but as well in the literal sense, accommodating their over 400 wedding guests! Once finding the Audubon Tea Room, Katie & Jeff’s black & white glam wedding all fell into place.  Crystal was in no short supply, glistening in the form of centerpiece adornments, crystal curtains which framed {in dramatic theater style} the gorgeous 5 tier wedding cake which also served as a centerpiece to the room, even the crystal accented Jimmy Choo’s which Katie wore!  Tables were set with a mix of tall centerpieces while silver accents worked the room providing a pop of shine to match the crystal giving life to the black & white affair!  Getting her girls in on the New Orleans vibe, Katie hand crafted her own personalized umbrellas for the Second Line entrance of the bridal party, each having a unique and special version of celebrate with!  Leaving no area undressed, lanterns were hang in the trees outside the venue, while uplighting provided a truly ethereal aura around them giving off the perfect fantasy vibe.  Katie & Jeff’s wedding was the perfect luxury glam take on a black & white, made New Orleans!

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Novella of the Bride…

Jeffery and I started dating in July of 2006. We have been together for almost 8 years. We met because a friend I danced with on {New Orleans} Saintsations asked me to go to a black and white party at a bar after practice. When I got there he kept trying to talk to me and I didn’t want anything to do with him. He sat me down and made me talk to him. He called his phone from mine so he could have my number. I never really noticed. After that night he contacted me and we started talking ever since. God gave me the most good hearted person you will ever meet. He will do anything for me, family, friends, and strangers. He is my best friend. Although we do not have everything in common, we balance one another out. We got engaged the night before my birthday on December 18, 2011 (my grandfathers birthday) which made it even more special to me and in front of just my brother and his wife and my godchild – Sara Kate – she was in her belly. But she was still there!!! It was very romantic and just perfect. It happened at Weidmann’s restaurant in meridian, Mississippi. My brother and his family lives there. We waited until I graduated from college- bachelor degree in biology and minor in chemistry from Southeastern Louisiana. Now I am currently applying to LSU dental school for dentistry. Jeffery supports me in everything!!! We are very family oriented people. We are always with family going out to eat or just hanging out at the house and for the holidays. Thats what I loved about his family, they have taken me into their family as if I was their daughter. My family did the same for him! Our families both get along perfect – I wouldn’t want it any other way. That was a big thing for the two of us.  On the weekends we hang out with friends. We also go to the gym together everyday – its a good bonding time for the two of us. Jeffery is actually training for the iron man in April. I have danced my entire life – we dated while I was on Saintsations and the honeybees – it was a lot of work and very time consuming, but he knew that’s what I loved to do! He came to almost every game to see me perform. He raced motocross since he was child – his grooms cake was a motocross helmet. He said he thought it would be cool for me to take pictures with his jersey over my wedding dress, after he saw my brothers wife do pictures on a baseball field with his jersey, bat, and ball. He didnt know I heard him say that at their wedding a few years back. So I had a friend take some with his jersey, bike, boots in an open field and had some printed in frames around his cake. Also gave him a book with the images as part as his wedding gift.

I went for elegant, but glamorous.  I needed a place that would be big enough for over 400 people, that was not separated. I wanted a venue that had an inside and outside. The garden is absolutely gorgeous. The wooden floors was something I loved, not many places have wooden floors. It was a perfect spot. Lots of parking as well, where the guests did not have to pay.

The amber pink uplighting on the columns and side walls gave a soft, calm, and warmth feel. I had silver sequin mesh overlays on the reserved tables and one on the cake table to add some glam. All the other table linens were the silver pintuck. All white flowers were used for the elegant theme with black vases on some. Along with flowers on some tables, other had just floating candles and submerged flowers to add more candle light in the room. Outside, I had someone hang white lanterns in the trees across the entire garden area, this was one of my favorites. Lining the garden, I had various clusters of tea lights in the middle area. My sign in table was fabulous as well. Dee from Bella Blooms out did herself with this! Then she added a a big wooden monogram I had made. For favors I went with mini king cakes from Nona Randazzos, roman candy-taffy, and pralines. I stayed with the New Orleans theme. We also did the second line and my entire bridal party- bridemaids each had their own umbrella I made for each of them. They were nude umbrellas with black lace materil covering them with feathers trimming it. They were with the glamorous and elegant theme. I had black curtains and crystal beading hung from the ceiling when you walk in to hang on side of the cake table. The cake table is right when you walk in in the middle of the room. I wanted something glamorous to make the table pop.

I had many many family  and friends help with the wedding. My mom and dad gave me what I dreamed of since I was a little girl. They both were very involved and wanted me to have the best day of my life. My mother in law and father in law also helped tremendously with everything! They gave us a wonderful rehearsal dinner at Ralph’s on the park, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She had Bella Blooms do the flowers and they were all submerged with candles.  I couldn’t ask for a better family then the Knoblochs. His parents are divorced. His mom and step dad did everything for us. My matron of honor – my cousin and maid of honor – one of my childhood best friends help with everything that night a various other parts of the wedding planning process and parties. My best friend Gabrielle Hubbard is the one I went to for everything, from decor to keeping me sane.  We are the exact same, have the same taste – thats why we are best friends – she helped me make sure the look was perfect.

Bride’s Favorite Moment: ” Walking down the isle to the man of my dreams with my father by my side. My dad and I have a very special relationship, and it was very moving to me for him to give me away. I knew if he would give me away to Jeffery, I knew this was the perfect person for me to marry. He wouldn’t give me to just anyone. Saying our vows was a very special moment for the two of us. Standing up there saying we love one another and would always be there for each other no matter what God throws our way. And to be together and love one another until we are gone. When the vows were being said, I didn’t know anyone was in the church with us because hearing Jeffery say those words it was so special to me. Its a commitment when made together and will cherish that moment and wording forever.”

Closing Praise: “I had Paul Lacour with Paul J Lacour LLC hang the lanterns in the trees in the entire garden area outside. He hung curtains behind the band with lights shining on them. He also hung crystal beading and black curtains from the ceiling around the cake table because I wanted to have an entrance. I also had a flipbook booth, from www.funfasticfotos.com. Each person got their own book after taking pictures with props for 15 seconds. I wanted something different then the normal photo booth. It was perfect. It was more expensive, but worth the money.  My viedographer was Contrast Films from baton rouge. They also came to my rehearsal dinner to capture the speeches made from our family and friends. This was an excellent decision.  We stayed at the Lowes hotel, where we got ready and had the wedding prep there in the presidential suite. Also we had a huge room block there for the weekend. For the guests that stayed at the Lowes with us, we had a New Orleans tours bus pick them up to bring them to the church and from the church to the reception – tea room and then back to the Lowes hotel. My mom didnt want anyone to drive and thought this would be better where everyone could be together. We had 260 passenger buses. We had around 440 attend the actual wedding!

 

Vendor Love

Ceremony: St. Mary’s Assumption  | Reception: Audubon Tea Room  | Wedding Dress: Enzoani | Bridesmaid Dresses: Alvina Valenta | Shoes: Jimmy Choo  | Hair: The Hair Gallery | Makeup: Ashley Sievert  | Groom’s Attire: Vera Wang by Men’s Wearhouse  | Invitations: The Write Collection  | Transportation: Big Easy Limos and New Orleans Tours | Music: The Top Cats  | Lighting: Event Rentals  | Rentals: Event Rentals | Florist: Bella Blooms FloralCaterer: Audubon Tea Room | Baker: The Royal Cakery  | Photographer: Mark Eric Weddings