Nestled between the bustling French Market and the quiet Mississippi River sits Marché, a new wedding and event venue created by Creole Cuisines. The building was originally part of the French Market, which is how the name Marché, the French word for market, came to be.
Once you walk through the light turquoise door, you are greeted by a cheery peach foyer. Upstairs, the Main Room, Terrace Room, two balconies and the Terrace make 35,000 square feet of celebration space.
The Main Room can fit up to 150 for a seated dinner and 250 for a reception style party. All catering is done in-house, however custom menus can be created with Chef Steven Marsellas and outside cakes and specialties items are welcome. Furnishings and decor are included and the custom champagne Chiavari chairs, ivory linens, neutral color schemes and mixing of metals throughout the space allows brides to bring in their own colors.
A private bridal suite is tucked away off the Main Room with everything you need for Big Day preparations. A smaller room for the bride and groom sits next door, with a private bathroom, comfy chairs and a large floor length mirror.
The neutral color scheme, softwood floors and touches of gold, silver and bronze create a modern take on chic rustic style. Every room is light and airy, with a simple elegance, maintaining the “New Orleans” feel without slipping into kitsch. Two balconies and a terrace allow for guests to step into the city without leaving the party.
Go through the tall turquoise doors off the main room for views of the back end of the French Market, which at night is beautifully lit with string lights, making for a spectacularly festive sight.
Back inside, through the Main Room, is the Terrace Roots. Its cream and sandy checkered tiles make a perfect dance floor and the rounded sky blue ceiling will make you feel like you’re dancing under a cloudless sky. A cloudless sky with three bronze chandeliers lighting the night. The room isn’t cavernous, but the large windows and high ceiling give it the feel of glamorous ballroom.
While the light is amazing, the view of the river and bridge are picturesque and the details catch your eye (like the cherubs topping the pillars and the antique-looking light fixtures), the real beauty in this room is on the wall without the windows. A floor to ceiling antique mirror inlaid with gold is truly unique and complements the rustic-chic aesthetic. Two other antique gold mirrors are in the Main Room, one at either side, but the one in the Terrace Room is particularly stunning.
Exiting through the French doors in the Terrace Room will transport you back into the city, with clear views of the French Quarter on one side, and the Mississippi on the other. At night, the lights from the Crescent City Connection Bridge make for an Instagram-worthy backdrop.
Of course, one cannot dream of having a New Orleans wedding without a bar, and Marché has three. With one in each the Main and Terrace rooms, and one out on the Terrace, there is one bartender per 50 guests, so a drink is always close at hand.
Aside from the small bathroom upstairs for the bride and groom, the rest of the guests can powder their noses in style too. The ladies’ room is located just downstairs and is fitted with a comfortable seating area, two large, well lit mirrors (perfect for pictures), and plenty of counter space. The men’s room across the hall is a tidy, utilitarian space featuring masculine wallpaper, with chocolate brown Moroccan print and light brown wall.
Marché is mainly a space for receptions, however they can do ceremonies on a case by case basis. They offer many in-house services, such as day of coordinating, front door security, attendants for both the bride and groom, customized lighting, cake cutting and more. Both sit down dinners and cocktail style receptions are available, however they tend to encourage reception style celebrations. As Stephanie Jones, the wedding sales manager said “If you’re getting married in New Orleans, why not make it a party?”
From now until October, couples are invited to share their French Quarter engagement stories, for a chance to win $25,000 towards their big day, at Marché.
