It’s the most wonderful time of the year in New Orleans … Carnival season. This past weekend was the first full weekend of Carnival and though there was a little rain, it mostly went off fabulously.
Many may wonder what Mardi Gras has to do with weddings, but as the Queen of Cleopatra can tell you, Mardi Gras is part of everything in New Orleans. On Valentine’s Day, the Krewe of Cleopatra — an all female krewe — road through the streets of the Crescent City and, if that wasn’t enough, Queen Cleopatra XLVII Amanda M. Roudolfich’s fiancé decided to stop the production and ask his queen to marry him.
Naturally, we assume Roudolfich and her future husband will add a little bit of Carnival into their Big Day. But, we also fully support anyone else wanting to let the good times roll during their wedding festivities.
For any brides and bridesmaids who want to incorporate Mardi Gras into their celebrations, whether for bachelorette trips or a “thank you” present, we’ve got some local items that are sure to make the perfect Carnival care package.
The first necessity is a little glitter. Glitter Over Nola has glitter for any and all occasions, including one titled “Carnival.” A few of our favorites include “Crescent City,” “Festival,” “Brass Band” and “Cubbette” (Kelly here, can’t leave out my Mount Carmel Academy pride).
Typically when bridesmaids are all together there are matching shirts or attire involved. Ride this trend with a “Parade” tee or “New Orleans 1718” purple, green and gold pullover from Schnell Studio. Schnell Studio has a plethora of Carnival and New Orleans-themed attire that punches up any parade fashion.
Because just glitter makeup isn’t enough for a Carnival parade, outfit your besties with this sequined turban headband from Phina. It’s bold, full of sequins and will definitely make a statement on the parade route enough to fill your bags with beads, Muses shoes, Nyx purses and more.
No outfit is complete without some jewelry. These Mardi Gras lip earrings from Fleurty Girl will continue to bring the pop of color to your outfit. Fleurty Girl has other earrings to choose from as well, but we think these make the biggest statement.
Because Carnival parades can involve a bit of imbibing, head to Home Malone and pick up a few bath bombs and facial rollers to keep your skin — and sanity — level during the constant revelry.
Lagniappe:
For maids wanting to pick up a statement gift for their bride, we suggest these custom jean jackets from Morgan Claire. They are custom to every order, but are based off of specific designs. Besides the Who Dat jackets, which are also appropriate for Mardi Gras, the Mardi Gras lips style are second to none when it comes to making a bold pop of a statement on the parade route.