Caitlin & Hyder
Both Caitlin Kelly Craig and Gary “Hyder” Brewster Jr. knew of each other while they attended Louisiana State University, yet they never formally met. They went to the same parties, knew the same people, had the same interests… but for three years, never ran into each other. It wasn’t until July 2005, when a mutual friend brought Hyder to the opening of Caitlin’s family’s new business that they officially were introduced. From that night on, the rest just fell into place.
They dated for almost two years before Hyder popped the question at Clancy’s Restaurant before they attended the 2007 Chase Zoo-To-Do. “It was a perfect excuse to be dressed up and it also allowed for all of our friends to help celebrate,” the bride says. The two were led upstairs to a romantic table for two and right there in the restaurant he got down on one knee and gave her a round brilliant cut diamond ring on a diamond studded band. At their departure the entire restaurant cheered.
The couple wanted to be married in a church that was meaningful to both of them, so they chose Holy Name on Loyola University’s campus. The two are earning their master’s degrees in business at Loyola and Caitlin is currently the marketing director of Loyola’s Dining Services. Holy Name was also the perfect setting because Caitlin’s family is very close with Loyola’s president, Rev. Kevin Wm. Wildes, S.J. whom Caitlin wanted to perform the ceremony.
The traditional ceremony took place on May 17, 2008, and included a special blessing from Rev. Jesse Adams from Trinity Episcopal Church. Caitlin walked down the aisle in a Vera Wang off-white, strapless, ball gown-style dress purchased at Mimi, with ruffles cascading down it. Her father walked her down half of the aisle and led her to her stepfather, who walked her to the alter and gave her away.
Caitlin’s bridesmaids wore different styles of navy and white seersucker dresses, while the groomsmen wore white linen suits from Jos. A. Bank with NOLA Couture ties.
Following the ceremony, the bride and groom walked out of the church into a
horse-drawn carriage while guests were treated to mint juleps as they second-lined the three blocks to the reception. Photographer Charlotte Latham and videographer Matthew Noel were on hand to capture plenty of memories of this grand entrance into the party.
For the reception, Caitlin and Hyder wanted a place they could make their own that was unique to them, therefore they chose to have it at Caitlin’s parent’s home Uptown on State Street. To make the reception even more unique, they covered the pool with plexiglass, making it the dance floor for guests to dance all night long to Jimmy Maxwell.
The food was also something really special. Caitlin’s stepfather is Dean of the John Folse Culinary Institute in Thibodeaux, so the food was all prepared and served by the school’s faculty and staff and included some very extravagant dishes including white fish, turtle soup, Beef Wellington, Hog’s Head cheese canape, crawfish bouchée, fried oysters with spinach brie, grilled red fish, passed hors d’oeuvres and even a couchon de lait (a whole roasted pig). In addition, the bride and groom featured a special cigar and martini bar for their guests. The wedding cake was modeled after a Martha Stewart wedding cake with five tiers of crème-colored icing a cascade of flowers.
After a night of dancing, the newlyweds left their reception down the driveway, lined with long sparklers among their family and friends wishing them well. They honeymooned for a week in Antigua. They currently live Uptown on St. Charles Avenue. •
The couple with: back row: Hal Brewster, Robert Richmond, Philip Sherman, Cary Craig, Christopher Koch, William Wolf, Talylor Guiza, Read Coleman and Kurt Fromherz; and front row: Jessica Henderson, Dorian Geraci, Christine Fortunato, Katie Landry, Mimsy Brewster, Mary Frances Craig, Anne Craig (sister-in-law of the bride), Elizabeth Foley and Blaire Fernandez.
Alton Doody, Sally Lightfoot Doody, Caitlin Kelley Craig Brewster, Hyder Brewster and Michael Craig.
Hal Brewster, Mimsy Brewster, Caitlin and Hyder, Cathy Brewster and Gary Brewster.
Bride and groom with Rev. Kevin Wm. Wildes, S.J.
