The Saints were playing the Cowboys in Fort Worth when Michael Leonard Yates knew he wanted to propose to Caroline Martin Gray. It was days before Michael was leaving for a job in Geneva for six months, and he planned to propose in a nearby park. But due to Caroline’s “dilly-dallying” the two never made it to the park, and Michael proposed to Caroline right before they went to a steak dinner. When the happy couple got to the hotel lobby to meet Caroline’s family, Caroline was surprised to see the whole Yates clan was also there to celebrate.
The Yates held a rehearsal dinner for friends and family at Broussard’s in anticipation of the June 20 wedding.
Caroline and Michael wed at Christ Church Cathedral. Ella Events & Design assisted with the coordination. Rachel Van Voorhees coordinated the ceremony music compromised of The Louisiana Philharmonic Brass Quintet and Zion harmonizers.
Photographer Charlotte Latham and videographer Tres Bien were there to capture all the special moments of the ceremony and reception.
Guests then attended a reception at Arnaud’s. Steve Baker from Ambrose Gardens provided planters to adorn the entrance and used silver vases for flowers. The wedding cake was created by Purre Cake while Arnaud’s pastry chef created a Baked Alaska shaped like the groom’s own Stubbs & Wooten monogrammed loafers. Escalade provided music throughout the evening, and The Jaywalkers second-lined guests to continue the fun at the Ritz-Carlton.
After the wedding, the couple traveled to Harbour Island, Bahamas for seven days before settling back into their home in Houston, Texas, where Michael is Director of Structured Finance for Koch Supply & Trade and Caroline is Regional Brand Manager for Ralph Lauren.
Celebrant: Father Rob Courtney
Wedding gown: Ines de Santo
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Ralph Lauren navy chiffon dresses
Groom’s attire: Ralph Lauren bespoke navy tux
Groomsmen’s attire: Their own tuxes
Wedding bands: Aucoin Hart
Invitation: Ella Events & Design
Hair: Allison Schacherl
TOP LEFT: Bridesmaids (in alphabetical order) Caroline Milling Fabacher, Whitney Miller Janke, Carlotte Atwood Laborde, Elisabeth Gray Laborde, Leslie Yates McCracken, Caroline Reed Landry, Collen Key Zbrzeznj; Charlotte Atwood Laborde; the Bride and Groom; Groomsmen (in alphabetical order) Robert Sim Barnwell III, Mark Lee Burleson, Houston Korth Frost, Brian Lee Laborde, Alfred Patrick McEvoy III, John Thomas Steen III, Thomas O’Neil Turner and Christopher Hugh Yates TOP RIGHT: William and Kathy Gray, the Bride and Groom and Patricia Yates BOTTOM LEFT: Bride and Groom BOTTOM RIGHT: Bride and Groom
