Blayne Yves Laborde and James Davis Bonham were introduced through a mutual friend at a party in 2008. Instantly they were inseparable and, as they say, the rest is history.
Two years later, while home for the weekend for the Osiris ball, Davis purchased a ring from Friend & Company and later that week, Davis surprised Blayne by getting down on one knee and asking her to marry him. She, of course, said “Yes!”
On March 19, 2011, Blayne and Davis married at Holy Name of Jesus Church, the same church where her parents married almost 37 years ago.
Blayne wore a Monique Lhuillier strapless gown with an embellished bodice of ivory Chantilly lace and crystals, which flowed into a draped trumpet satin duchess silk skirt. Her veil was chapel-length trimmed in Alençon lace. In her hair she wore her grandmother’s diamond brooch as her “something old.” Blayne carried a hand-tied bouquet of white gardenias, peonies, roses, lilies of the valley, tulips and delphiniums. Davis wore a tuxedo with a custom white tie.
Elise Cathrine Beaty was Blayne’s maid of honor. Each of Blayne’s bridesmaids wore a different style dress made of the same blush silk by Amsale purchased in Bella Bridesmaids in Houston, Texas. Each bridesmaid carried a bouquet of pink peonies. James Davis Bonham, Davis’ father, served as his best man. The groomsmen wore Perlis suits with white ties and boutonnieres of gardenias.
Reverend Thomas P. Greene, SJ, and The Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans, officiated the ceremony. Shades of Praise Gospel Choir sang throughout the ceremony accompanied by an organist and a trumpeter. Guests were guided down the aisle with candle pedestals featuring European-style arrangements.
After the ceremony, guests were welcomed to the reception at the New Orleans Country Club. Guests dined on hors d’oeurves and cocktails under the club’s trademark oak trees while waiting for the introduction of the bride and groom. The club’s executive chef Chris Tefarikis and his culinary team served lobster lollipops, pomme frittes in mini cones, lamb chops, roasted beet chèvre truffles and mini shrimp poor boys. With a once-in-a-lifetime Super Moon lighting the evening, the outdoor area was designed with Provence farm tables, and Joe Simon’s Jazz trio provided the entertainment.
Once inside, the Provençal ambiance continued way of the Grand Ballroom. Blayne and her design team of Stephen Sonnier of Dunn & Sonnier Antiques and Kenneth LaCour of Grand Events transformed the ballroom into a dreamlike French-inspired gazebo.
Anduze pots hosted rose topiaries with garland containing clusters of flowers intertwined around the columns towards the pillowy canopied ceiling. Votive candles were hung to define the gazebo. Doorways were dressed with boxwood garland and accented with roses, peonies and lisianthus. An assortment of antique confit jars with floral arrangements were placed on the mantels and food tables.
Guests feasted on Oysters Bienville, Rockefeller and “Bonham,” Crabmeat Ravigote, salmon tartare, turtle soup, Creole veal grillades with grit cakes and beef tenderloin. A Texas flair station included redfish tacos with margarita shooters, adobo-rubbed pork and duck crêpés. Zoë’s Bakery created raspberry macaroons as parting favors.
Blayne, the fashion icon that she is, changed into a reception dress made of silk white tulle that featured an illusion neckline and was adorned with Swarovski crystals and pearls. After the reception, Blayne changed into her going-away outfit, a playful short skirt and top made from hundreds of layers of silk organza.
The wedding cake was designed by Denise St. Pierre and featured hundreds of handmade sugar peonies, roses and lilies of the valley. Davis’ groom’s cake was of chocolate mousse with strawberries designed by Shane Gorringe of Zoë’s. The Tip Tops played throughout the reception. Blayne and Davis’s first dance was to “Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison. Charlotte Latham served as photographer. Alexa Pulitzer designed the wedding invitations.
The happy couple honeymooned in Thailand and Cambodia, and currently resides in Houston, Texas. Blayne is employed with the design firm of Kara Childress Inc., and Davis is an associate with the law firm of Smith, Murdaugh, Little and Bonham, LLP.
