The wedding party in Turks and Caicos: Sidonie and Jonathan (front); Marianna Villere, Bo Wynn, Nico Ferrara and Ava Ferrara (seated on rail); Ainslie Blanke, Michel Varisco, Shannon Gunther, Anne Villere, Elizabeth Montz, Margaret Wynn, Jason Berry, David Ferrara, Sandy Villere, Roberto Ortiz, Vince Morelli, Lee Frank, Dan Berl and Chris Rose. Photo: Tropical Imaging
Sidonie and Jonathan lead the second-line into the New Orleans Museum of Art. Photo: Grevy Photography
Sandy Villere III, Marianne Villere, Anne Villere, Sandy Villere, Sidonie and Jonathan, Margie Villere, Bo Wynn III, Bo Wynn Jr. and Margaret Wynn. Photo: Grevy Photography
Ava Ferrara, Tom Schmith, Sidonie and Jonathan, Joanne Schmith, David Ferrara and Nico Ferrara. Photo: Grevy Photography
The setting: A gallery on Carondelet Street, where two artists, one the gallery owner, meet. Their mutual appreciation for art and attraction to it (and each other) eventually led to a wedding ceremony for Sidonie Swoop Villere and Jonathan Andrew Ferrara at Turks and Caicos on Oct. 12, 2007. This creative duo--she’s known for her works in ceramic, him for his mixed-media pieces--chose Turks and Caicos because they wanted a small, intimate ceremony and the resort they chose, the Regent Palms, had the perfect ambiance. Sidonie wore a Monique Lhuillier strapless A-line dress of Alencon lace from Pearl’s Place accented by a chapel-length train trimmed in the same Alencon lace. Her bridesmaids donned dresses from Wedding Belles. The natural beauty of the island allowed family and guests to relax and get to know each other better, making the experience even more memorable.
Since the ceremony on Turks and Caicos was a small event, the duo decided to hold a larger reception on Nov. 17, 2007. The party started in the early evening at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden with cocktails, hors d’oeurves, and musician Jeremy Davenport’s swinging sounds. Sidonie, who wore her lovely dress again, and Jonathan soon led a second-line to the New Orleans Museum of Art. The museum was blooming with floral arrangements and decorations coordinated by Glenn Vesh of Perfect Presentations. Flowers included antique green hydrangeas, roses, stock, lisianthus, snapdragons, French tulips, peonies, Italian ruscus and greenery. The cuisine, catered by Windsor Court Hotel, included filet, seafood, pasta and other savory dishes. Sidonie designed the wedding and groom’s cakes made by Zoe’s Bakery. The wedding cake was six-tiers covered in cream fondant and fondant roses cascading from the top to bottom, as was accented by hand-piping that looked like the lace of the bride’s gown. The groom’s cake was two-tiers made of chocolate mousse with chocolate-dipped strawberries and was designed to be reminiscent of Jonathan’s art. Wrapping up the night was Kermit Ruffins, who kept partygoers on their toes.
Jonathan and Sidonie live in New Orleans, where they are still creating their art. Sidonie is a professional studio artist, who also teaches ceramics and art at Louise S. McGehee School. She shows her work, which is in a number of collections, locally at her husband’s eponymous gallery, now on Julia Street. When not running his gallery, Jonathan himself is making art and is involved in a number of community endeavors.
