Although Meredith Emory and Cole Claiborne’s parents have been good friends for many years, they were seldom in New Orleans at the same time.
After Meredith moved back to New Orleans in July 2010, Cole’s mom suggested introducing her to Cole’s roommate. When Cole contacted Meredith to have drinks one Friday night in late September 2010, she assumed it was to finally meet his roommate. Meredith then decided to bring one of her best friends, Annie Malone, who’s also a good friend of Cole’s, to go along with her. Meredith was pleasantly surprised when Cole was the only one who showed up to her door. Meredith, Annie and Cole enjoyed drinks, and later Meredith went off to have dinner with friends. A few weeks later, Cole asked Meredith for a cozy dinner for two. It was after a golf game a year later that Cole discussed his intentions to marry Meredith with Meredith’s dad. Cole then spent the next few months planning a surprise engagement.
It was the week before Christmas 2011, and both families were having dinner at Meredith’s home when Cole handed Meredith a Crockpot box, saying that it was an early Christmas gift. Inside were four different-sized boxes, with the last being a watch box. To her delight, it wasn’t a watch but a beautiful diamond ring, and the rest of the evening was spent celebrating their engagement.
After the wedding, Meredith and Cole went to Anguilla and St. Barthelemy for their honeymoon. The couple currently resides in New Orleans, where Meredith is a kindergarten teacher at Louise S. McGehee School and Cole is a clinical research fellow in dermatology at Tulane University.
Bride: Meredith Brooke Emory
Groom: Dr. William Charles Cole Claiborne IV
Bride’s Parents: Dr. and Mrs. William Brooks Emory
Groom’s Parents: Dr. and Mrs. Martin Duralde Claiborne, III
Date of Wedding: August 4, 2012
Ceremony: St. Francis of Assisi Church
Reception: New Orleans Country Club
Coordinator: Kelly Sherlock
Celebrant: Very Rev. Philip Landry, V.P.F.
Ceremony Music: Sarah Jane McMahon (vocalist) and Thomas Wright (organist)
Wedding Gown: Anne Barge bridal gown purchased from Neiman Marcus and an antique laced veil borrowed from the groom’s mother.
Matron of Honor: Caroline Smiley Bredthauer
Bridesmaids: Ashby Navarro, Lauren Laughry, Dominique Haydel, Amy Leefe, Charlotte Sapir, Caroline Baum, Katie Osborne, Brittany Hunt, Jennifer King, Catherine Renaudin and Annie Malone
Groomsmen: Bailey Edwards, David Batt Jr., Grant Gish, Craig Webb, Claiborne Schmidt, James Delaune, Cameron Emory, Preston Emory, Carter Clement and John Marshall
Best Men: Jeffrey Reid Claiborne and Harry Ross Claiborne
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Green Lula Kate dresses purchased from Bella Bridesmaid in Baton Rouge.
Flower Girl: Susan LeClercq
Ring Bearer: Price Daniel
Program Bearers: Olivia McClanahan, Eleanor McClanahan, Thomas Daniel, Caroline Daniel, Douglas LeClercq and Price LeClercq
Groom’s attire: White linen suits purchased from Joseph A. Banks. Cole wore a French cuff straight collared shirt along with his grandfather’s cufflinks.
Groomsmen’s attire: White linen suits from Perlis and Joseph A. Banks.
Rings: Meredith’s ring was purchased from Rothschild Diamonds, and Cole wears his grandfather’s wedding ring.
Florist: Glenda Ivy
Favor: Candy bags from the candy bar
Caterer: New Orleans Country Club
Wedding and Groom’s Cake: Zoe’s Bakery
Photographer: Julia Bailey
Videographer: Bob Eustler
Hair: Charlotte Willamson and Linzy Pennington
Makeup: Katie Malone and Kellie Bode
Music: Anita from Atlanta, Ga., East Coast Productions
