Stephen Henry Clement moved to New Orleans to start Tulane Law in August 2009, which was right around the same time Elizabeth “Betsy” Palmer Ellis, a New Orleans native, moved back after graduating from Washington & Lee. The two had several mutual friends who had gone to high school with Betsy and Vanderbilt with Steve, so Betsy had been hearing all about “Vanderbilt Steve.” She finally met him the last weekend before Labor Day. Betsy was with a group of friends at Pat O’Brien’s when a blond man she didn’t recognize sat down and introduced himself. Betsy was happy to finally meet “Vanderbilt Steve” and even happier to see how cute he was.
Steve got Betsy’s number from their mutual friend, Phil Lorio, the day after they met, and they made plans to meet up that evening. The two continued to see lots of each other over the next four months – including their official first date at Sake Café and a trip to Baton Rouge for the LSU vs. Vanderbilt football game. That Christmas Betsy moved to New York City, but the two continued to talk daily and visit each other as often as they could. At some point, they “officially” became a couple and then, after two years in Manhattan, Betsy decided it was time to move back to the city, and man, that she loved.
Steve proposed on the Ellises’ back porch while two hidden GoPro cameras recorded the whole thing. Immediately after Betsy said “Yes!” Steve’s family, who had flown in from Richmond, came downstairs with the rest of the Ellises. The whole group had been hiding upstairs and watching the proposal on the security camera feed. They had a champagne toast before going to Clancy’s for dinner. Afterwards Betsy and Steve headed to Patois, where friends were waiting to celebrate with the newly engaged couple.
After the wedding, the two honeymooned at the Rosewood Mayakoba in Riviera Maya, Mexico for one week. The couple currently lives in New Orleans where Steve is an attorney at Jones Walker and Betsy is a producer at Gillis, Ellis & Baker.
Bride: Elizabeth “Betsy” Palmer Ellis
Groom: Stephen Henry Clement
Bride’s Parents: Nancy and Richard Parke Ellis Jr.
Bride’s Grandparents: Joan and Leslie Lauder Inman, the late Dr. & Mrs. Robert Alfred Palmer Sr. and the late Mr. Richard Parke Ellis Sr.
Groom’s Parents: Joan and Dr. Stephen Clement
Groom’s Grandparents: The late Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge Carter Clement and the late Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Mielke
Rehearsal Dinner Location: Arnaud’s
Date of Wedding: January 3, 2015
Ceremony Location: St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church
Reception Location: New Orleans Country Club
Reception Décor: Amanda and Carl Cottingham, The Pantry, Inc., Greenville, Miss.
Coordinator: Claudia Kelleher
Celebrant: Dr. Donald R. Frampton and Rev. Hill Carter Riddle, uncle of the groom
Ceremony Music: Steven Blackman, organist, and Mary Williams, soloist
Wedding Gown: Custom Gown by Suzanne Perron
Maid of Honor: Meg Ellis
Bridesmaids: Cameron Adams, Rachel Bankston, Ashley Barriere, Caitlin Carrere, Ann Clement, Caroline Irvin, Kasey Sherrick, Margaret Rogers and Libby Spears
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Tadashi Shoji, Ballin’s
Flower Girls: Caroline Hoover, Madeline Hoover, Harper Montgomery, Livie Montgomery and Adele Yu
Ring Bearers: Baldwin Montgomery, Rutledge Yu and Walter Yu
Groom’s Attire: Filarte tuxedo, Perlis
Best Man: Jim Clement
Groomsmen: David Caughman, Matson Coxe, Peter Delaney, Michael Doyle, Philip Innes, Killian Lapeyre, Chad Lockhart, Ryan Messier and Benjamin Turnipseed
Ushers: Harrison Clement, John Clement, Whitt Clement and Hunt Palmer
Groomsmen’s and Ushers’ Attire: Tuxedos, Perlis
Readers: Baker Freiberg and Ford Wogan
Bride’s Engagement Ring and Wedding Band: Jeff Kaston, Beje
Groom’s Wedding Band: Adler’s
Florist: Margaret Ludwig, Giverny Design
Favor: Candy/Snack Room, Graceful Event Productions/Sugarcoat, RSVP Decorating
Invitation: Betty Hunley Designs
Caterer: New Orleans Country Club
Wedding and Groom’s Cakes: Leah Michael
Photographer: Dark Roux Photography
Videographer: Suzy Marks Videography
Hair: Charlotte Williamson Salon
Makeup: Tisa Camet, Tisa Beauty Bar and Ashley Treadaway, Katie Malone Makeup Studio
Music: Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters
Live Art: Art by Christopher Turner
