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It’s June and wedding bells are ringing all over New Orleans, right? Well, not as much as you might think. Here, 35% of couples say I do in fall, 35% tie the knot in spring, 13% walk down the aisle in winter, and 12% marry in summer. The fact that you won’t see a lot of June brides here has a lot more to do with weather than a desire to snub tradition. Here’s what you need to know when planning your big day in the Big Easy.
Summer
While summer in New Orleans can be sweltering, there still just something about being a June bride and many go for it. They say the June tradition goes back to the Romans who celebrated the god Juno and his wife Jupiter, the goddess of marriage and childbirth, on the first day of June.
While June 1 is the first day of hurricane season, the season doesn’t tend to seriously kick in until mid-August to mid-September. If you can live with the heat and the humidity, you’ll find hotel and airfare rates are low and the restaurants aren’t as crowded this time of year.
Keep in mind, while it is safe to use outdoor wedding venues in Louisiana throughout the entire year, you should always have a backup plan available in case of rain.
Fall
It’s no surprise that autumn is the most popular time to get married in New Orleans. There are lower amounts of precipitation and the temperature is near perfect (the average daily temperature is 80 degrees in October and 72 degrees for November). Since Mother Nature is so agreeable, airfare, hotel and venue rates are higher this time of year but there truly isn’t a better time to say your vows. Halloween in New Orleans is a huge event with the Voodoo Music Festival, Krewe of Boo Parade and other events, so start planning early. Read: Halloween Wedding Venues in New Orleans.
Winter
Christmas weddings can be spectacular here – many hotel lobbies are sites to behold and most hotels offer lower Papa Noel Rates. And while some will tell you to avoid a Mardi Gras wedding, you won’t hear that from us. It may not be the cheapest or easiest time to get married in New Orleans, but it’s definitely worth it. Your guests will get to see “the Greatest Free Show on Earth” and to be a Mardi Gras bride is to be a Carnival queen – your colors purple, green and gold. Remember though that while the average high in January in New Orleans is 62 degrees, it can get significantly cooler.
Spring
Spring in New Orleans is a lovely time to marry. The average temperature in April is around 78 degrees and, while you hear a lot about April showers, precipitation amounts are actually lower in April than in summer. Still, unless you’re a die-hard fan and don’t mind premium airfare and room rates, we suggest you plan your wedding to avoid French Quarter Festival (mid-April) and Jazz Fest (last week in May and first week in April). Unless, of course, you want to get married at Jazz Fest. (See story.)