Flavorful Fare
Locally based Joel Catering, a chef and experience-driven gourmet catering company, offers seamless on-site preparation and world-class service. While the company’s menus are largely influenced by Southern and New Orleans cuisine, Joel Catering also uses unique global flavors to create top-notch dishes. Couples can design a one-of-a-kind menu. The company also owns and operates Il Mercato, the gorgeous event space in the Lower Garden District that’s perfect for small- to medium-sized weddings. 1911 Magazine St., 504-827-2400, joels.com, ilmercatoevents.com.
Flower Preservation
Bridal bouquets are one of the prettiest parts of a wedding, yet they are often discarded after the reception. As a way to create a keepsake, Stephanie Baker Young at Lush Magnolia preserves wedding florals — by encasing them in resin — to create works of art that the bride and groom can treasure for years to come. After drying the flowers, Young creates mock-up floral arrangement designs (mimicking the original bouquet as much as possible) for her clients to approve. Young and her team then create items like tables, lamp bases, serving boards and book ends with a turnaround time of between six to 10 months. Other services include colored resin, such as navy or light pink, and flower painting to enhance the color. 404 Magazine St., 504-457-7157, lushmagnolia.com.
Bridal Style
A new book is scheduled to be released this summer, “Dressed, Styled, and Down the Aisle: Becoming a Stylish Bride,” by Julie Sabatino, focusing on bridal elegance and empowerment. The author, a renowned stylist and founder of The Stylish Bride, invites readers to become the most stylish version of themselves on their special day. The book features insider tips on finding the perfect wedding dress; guidance on selecting accessories; hair and makeup to enhance the bridal look; strategies for managing stress and maintaining a positive mindset throughout the wedding planning process; and real-life stories and inspiration from brides. Look for it at local retailers after its June 3 publication date.
Let Them Eat Cake
Pastry Chef Jeremy Fogg has opened Mae’s Bakeshop Uptown on Baronne Street in the space formerly occupied by Beth Biundo Sweets. In addition to offering American pastries with strong Southern influences (such as biscuits, cinnamon rolls, muffins, cookies and pies), the bakeshop works closely with couples to design the wedding cake of their dreams with a bevy of options for cake flavors, filling and icing. 3917 Baronne St., 504-345-2403, maesbakeshopnola.com.
NOLA Bachelorettes
A new ranking by marketing company Searchbloom has named the best bachelorette party destinations across the United States for 2024, and New Orleans ranked fifth on the list. The ranking was based on three categories for each destination: entertainment value; social scene; and accommodations. Each city’s performance was then compared to its affordability. New Orleans ranked 9.7 out of 10 when it came to the value for the money spent (at $179 per day), with the city’s social scene being its top-performing category. For ideas on where to celebrate bachelorette parties, visit neworleans.com.
