Elizabeth Rainold “Raine” Rafferty and Matthew Ballard Johnson were introduced at a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend during Raine’s first year in medical school. After the initial dinner party, the two made plans for Cinco de Mayo at The Cub, a local bar in Shreveport similar to Fat Harry’s.
After their first date the two were inseparable. Ballard started making plans for a romantic proposal, and on New Year’s Eve 2014 Ballard and Raine went to dinner at L’Agapé in Paris, France. During dinner, Ballard proposed to Raine and the two rang in the 2015 New Year with friends and family at La Vue, a rooftop bar with a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower.
In true New Orleans style, the Johnson family hosted the February 19 dinner at Arnaud’s followed by a second-line lead by the Mardi Gras Indians and a jazz band to the Carousel Bar to celebrate the February 20, 2016 wedding.
The evening ceremony was at Trinity Episcopal Church, where Albinas Prizgintas was the organist and The Reverend Henry Lee Hudson officiated the ceremony.
After the ceremony, guests were invited to continue the celebration at The New Orleans Country Club under the giant oak tree where they were greeted by the band Julio & Ceasar. Guests enjoyed spicy margaritas, oysters shucked by OystersXO and other passed hors d’oeuvres. In the ballroom a St. James Cheese Company specialist served guests.
Instead of the traditional wedding and groom’s cakes, Raine had a funfetti cake from Momofuku bakery in New York City and surprised Ballard with an ice luge serving Margaritas shaped like the sign of “The Cub” – a sweet remembrance of their first date. Atlanta Allstars performed for guests. Raine left the reception wearing a custom Blaze Milano cream jacket with “GAME OVER” embroidered on the collar.
After the wedding, Raine and Ballard honeymooned for a week at Jade Mountain, a resort in St. Lucia. After celebrating, they returned to their home in Houston, where Raine is a pediatric resident at Baylor/Texas Children’s Hospital and Ballard works at Halliburton and is finishing his Professional MBA at Rice University.
Coordinators: Anna Schaefer and Glenny Beahm of An.gle Event Planning
Wedding Gown: Suzanne Perron St. Paul
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuiller, Bella Bridesmaids
Groom’s and Groomsmen Attire: Black-tie, Perlis
Brides wedding band: Pied Nu
Groom’s wedding band: Wellington & Company
Photographer: Paul Morse Photography
Hair and Makeup: Miranda St. Pierre, Saint Pierre Salon
Invitation: The Printery Oyster Bay
Florals: Gretch and Karl Becnel, Mitch’s Flowers
Cake Designer: Patti ConstantinCake: Momofuku Milk Bar, New York City
TOP LEFT: Raine and Ballard pictured with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Jan Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Palmer Rafferty BOTTOM RIGHT: The wedding party pictured under the oak trees at the New Orleans Country Club: Man of Honor Trevor Johnson; Groomsmen Spencer Johnson, Jordan Johnson, Will Haynie, John Allen Thomas, Connor Long, Palmer Rafferty, David Arnone, Leonard Raymond, Slade Walker and Randolph Smith; Matron of Honor Lucye Rafferty Provera; Maids of Honor Mamie Cowles and Courtney Masters; Bridesmaids Barkley Rafferty, Rachel Doherty, Mallory Robinson, Jessie Bland, Tracy Blackerby, Caroline Cain Rafferty, Ellie Schwing and Leighton Goldsmith; Ushers Scott Weston, Hart Grozinger, Alston Walker, Kemerton Hargrove, Thomas Gaiennie and David Yancy; and Readers Samantha McAshan, Emily Doctor and Lily Cowles