On the evening of November 4, 2023, Reyna Lubin and Patrick Narcisse married within the storied walls of New Orleans’ Marigny Opera House. Before we dive into the day’s boisterous brass bands, Southern cuisine, and downright raucous dance floor, let’s rewind to the beginning of their story.
Amid global pandemonium, Patrick stumbled upon Reyna on Instagram and knew he had to play his hand. He messaged her “hello,” and she responded. After long days and nights of phone and text conversations, the two agreed to go out on a date. During their many virtual and in-person dates, a deep connection developed … one they realized could last forever.
While vacationing in Portugal in the summer of 2022, Patrick asked Reyna to marry him, and, surprise! She said yes. Their engagement season lasted a little over a year, and they wouldn’t have done it differently. “It was a good amount of time to save and plan for our special day,” Reyna says. Patrick is an orthopedic surgeon, and Reyna is an attorney, so a wedding planner was a must. “Planning a wedding would have been very tough with our busy schedules,” Patrick adds. So they tapped Iris and Oak Events to lead the charge.
As they started looking at venues in Reyna’s home state of Louisiana, they searched for a place that matched their timeless and classic aesthetic. “Marigny Opera House is breathtaking,” Reyna says of the restored Catholic Church that now operates as a performing arts center and opera house. “The stained glass, high ceilings, and distressed walls made it the perfect fit for our ceremony.”
When it came to picking a dress, Reyna wanted a timeless look with a dramatic train. “It was absolutely perfect,” Reyna says of her Martina Liana gown. “I found the dress in the Bay Area in California at Janene’s Bridal. My mom and I went shopping together, and we found the dress on day two of looking!”
So many friends and family surrounded Reyna and Patrick during their wedding weekend, and they’re grateful for that for many reasons. Two weeks before the wedding, Reyna’s grandmother passed away. Reyna’s bridesmaids gifted her a beautiful pendant with a photo of her grandmother, which she attached to her bouquet.
The couple exchanged traditional yet heartfelt vows at the altar and personal vows in private during their first look. “We wanted to have a special moment during the day for ourselves, and it was very meaningful,” Patrick says.
They snuck away between the ceremony and reception to enjoy dinner together while guests mingled and whetted their palates for the evening’s revelry. “It was amazing to have those special private moments together to celebrate, laugh, and take everything in!” Reyna adds. “When we entered the reception, we danced the entire night away.”
Cocktail hour kicked off the night in the courtyard of the Marigny Opera House. Luminous Events strung a canopy of twinkling lights above the courtyard, and Harry Hardin’s New Orleans String Quartet kept the tunes going from opera hall to courtyard.
After an hour of hugs, sips, and photos, guests were whisked off to The Westin in buses. For the reception, Reyna and Patrick wanted to transition to a well-equipped, beautiful space that could provide delicious food. The Westin proved perfect. “The space has amazing chandeliers and overlooks the Mississippi River,” Reyna recalls.
“We did a cocktail-style reception and had all sorts of delicious foods,” Reyna says. “We had gumbo, shrimp and grits, blue crab and lemon truffle brioche, lamb chops, prime rib, crab cakes, beignets, and more! We really wanted our guests to be well-fed and ready to party.”
“We are both Haitian and take pride in our culture,” Reyna adds. “To incorporate our culture into our wedding, we had a poem read in French during our ceremony. During the reception, our guests brought Haitian flags, and we also played Konpa music (Haitian dance music!).”
Reyna never left the dance floor, and we wouldn’t have either, but the DJ’s last song inevitably came to a final crescendo. Growing up in a small town outside New Orleans, Reyna always wanted a traditional New Orleans second line. “And that’s exactly what we had!” Patrick says.
Reyna and Patrick recently moved to Baltimore, Maryland, after Patrick accepted a job at Kaiser Permanente Hospital. Reyna works remotely and takes the train to New York City when she has court appearances or in-person commitments. “We moved to Baltimore just a few weeks before the wedding and are currently enjoying exploring and learning the city, ” Reyna says. They’re headed to Morocco for a summer honeymoon this year.
Thank you, Patrick and Reyna, for walking us back through your big day! And a huge thank you to Shagari Gerard for the stunning photos.
RESOURCES
Ceremony: Marigny Opera House
Reception: Westin
Planner: Iris and Oak Events
Day-of coordinator: Iris and Oak Events
Photographer: Shagari Gerard Photography
Videography: Studio 87 Media
Flowers: Michelle West Design
Candles & Lighting: Luminous Events
Stationery: Paume Design Co.
Hair: Christina Michelle & NOLA Beauty
Makeup: Amanda Lee Harvey of Petal Salon
Bride’s gown: Martina Liana Bridal
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Meshki
Groomsmen attire: Men’s Warehouse
Catering: Westin
Cakes: Bittersweet Confections
DJ: DJ Kelly Green
Quartet: Harry Hardin’s New Orleans String Quartet
Glassware & Linens: Westin
Transportation: Burton Transit
Second Line Band: Kinfolk Brass Band
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