In New Orleans, we love and honor history and tradition. Everything we do, eat, say often has a story dating to the 18th or 19th century. For today’s Location Spotlight we came across a quote that speaks loudly for so many locations and things here in the city. “You don’t need to say the address when everybody knows the name.”
The Columns Hotel on St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District is one of those locations. It’s a staple in the not only the neighborhood it inhabits, but also the city as a whole.
The haute hotel resembles a number of the grand homes along the Avenue, but sports within its walls 20 luxurious rooms for travelers and revelers to lay their heads. The structure itself was built in 1883 as a private residence and turned into a boarding house during World War I. In the early 1950’s, a family bought the property and turned it into a hotel whose outside porch bar became a hit.
The location, which has been listed on the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places, was sold to hotelier Jayson Seidman and his family in 2019. Seidman, who also owns The Drifter in Mid-City has been taking steps to update the property and it continues to be an ideal location for a Garden District wedding.
The property offers couples six options for celebrations ranging in size and atmosphere. Couples can choose from the front porch area, the inside library, Chapel Room, Tea Room, lounge/ballroom and/or the balcony and Upstairs Lounge. Each of the inside rooms offer capacities between 20 and 40 for seated dinners and between 30 and 60 guests for cocktail style. For ceremony spaces, the front porch seats up to 30 guests, the upper porch seats 40 guests and the front porch and terrace combined can accommodate up to 100 seated guests.
Most importantly, the Columns has you covered when you’re looking for New Orleans style noshing. The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Paul Terrebone and can create both seated and stationed menu styles for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner, as well as the option to add passed hors d’oeuvres. The best part, in our opinion, is the option couples have to completely customize a menu that suits any of their day-of or reception needs.
Edit note: We perused the menu and a few standout options include crispy pork belly, fried oysters and beef tartare.
With the option to book multiple rooms and the outside areas, the Columns seemingly works well for any size wedding event, while also allowing for those still cautious due to the coronavirus pandemic to have their cocktails and bites on the porch, watching the streetcars roll.
Pricing for the Columns is based on three-hour packages and offers in-house event planning, floors, coordination and design.
Those looking for more information or rental information and menu options can email events@thecolumns.com.
