New Orleans wedding

[Pixie_Dust]

Our first non-Disney vacation is a chance to go to New Orleans and have some extra time while visiting for my brother's wedding. Any advice on web sites/discussion forums/personal picks for must-dos?

Also, my father (on a fixed income) asked for advice on what to get the happy couple, and not having any real experience with weddings (other than my own almost 20 years ago) I didn't know what to tell him, as picking something off the gift registries seemed weird for the father of the groom.

Thanks, DIS-ers are a great bunch of people and I'll bet I get some good advice!

Cheers

 

[Pam]

I think Skuttle is from New Orleans - hopefully she will see this thread and respond. New Orleans is on my wish list of travel spots!

What about money for a wedding gift??

 

[DocRafiki]

The #1 must is to eat a beignet and have cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde in front of Jackson Square.

But the thing I've done the most there is going to concerts at the House of Blues and Tipitina's (don't even know if that's still there).

I haven't done many touristy things; I just like to walk around the French Quarter window shopping and eating. But what I'd like to do someday...

Riverboat cruise
Voodoo tour
Cemetery tour
Tours of various mansions/plantations (side trips)
Museums surrounding Jackson Square (if you're into that sort of thing; I did go to the Cabildo once which was interesting enough)

If you just want to wing it, that's easy enough in the quarter. Start your morning at Cafe du Monde. Most everything is right in that area. Facing Jackson Square and the cathedral (go in for a peek), the quarter is in front of you, the river is behind you, the French Market is down to your right, and some touristy shopping areas are to your left (Jax Brewery, Canal Place, and the Riverwalk). The Riverwalk is a bit of a walk, or you can take the little streetcar that goes along the river. I believe there's a tourist info place to the right of Jackson Square where you can sign up for historical walking tours.

If you have a bit of time, I'd explore uptown by streetcar. That's one area I've never spent much time in but always wanted to.

Just don't wear Mardi Gras beads unless you go during Mardi Gras. That's a big pet peeve of mine.

 

[Desiree]

Don't forget the Aquarium of the Americas and Audubon Zoo!

But ditto to everything else DocRafiki said!!

Beignets are a must!

Try a haunted or a vampire tour too if you have time.

www.nola.com

http://www.neworleanscvb.com/

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Desiree gave you some good sites. Do you know where you are staying? Also, there are lots of great restaurants in all budgets around. And you definitely have to go to the Quarter at least once during the day and once during the night. It is VERY different from day to night.

As far as the wedding gift goes, DH and I were in our late-20s when we got married, so we were already well established. We truly appreciated folks sticking to the registry. I don't think it would be weird for the father of the groom to go off the registry. At least he knows it will be appreciated. And most registries have items of varying prices. Another thought is a gift certificate from the store where they are registered.

 

[caitycaity]

as picking something off the gift registries seemed weird for the father of the groom.

all of our parents bought off the registry. fil and smil got us all of our china, mil got us our silver, and my parents gave us the knives we had registered for.

i know wedding customs can vary a lot by region/religion, but i don't think it is unusual for parents to buy something on the registry.

money is always a nice gift too. my grandparents and many other relatives gave us $$$.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Hi,
I guess I wasn't very clear. The stuff that's left on their registries were bits and pieces like garden tools from Target, which I didn't think made a very cool wedding gift. I was envisioning something they'd have all their married lives that was within Dad's budget rather than some tools they'd throw in a shed and would eventually get thrown out, or a few plates or glasses that get mixed with other people's gifts rather than something they would always remember came from Dad.
Personally I broke my budget and got them a 6 quart Kitchen Aid mixer, because that is a great present and they would always remember it came from us. I'm going under the assumption this will be a once in a lifetime thing.

Thanks for the Nola info, everyone. Has anyone gone on one of those voodoo or vampire tours? Wondering which one is best.
I noticed from one of the links there is a Six Flags nearby, and since we have season passes (good at all 6 Flags), we want to do Fright Fest there too.

Cheers

 

[TEENEE]

How about an engraved picture frame?

 

[Pixie_Dust]

I forgot to mention the location of the wedding, which is that they are renting a Garden District "mansion" for a week. Someone else backed out of the rental and they were able to snatch up the time slot, which accelerated their wedding plans by a lot. We're all scrambling, and looking forward to it. I suggested to my dad that if he gets a gift rather than a check that he have it sent to their residence (L.A.) rather than bringing something that they's have to tote back on the plane.

New SIL has chosen an ivory gown with a train and bustle (for an outdoor afternoon wedding), and I'm trying to imagine how they'll tote that on the plane, for one thing. Brother will be in a tux. I just got an email since I thought it was his everyday tux, but it won't be black, rather a longer coat in soft sage green with a darker vest and then dark gray pants. He wanted a Rhett Butler suit but even down there they could not find one. We're trying to decide what to wear. I'm not happy with how I look in anything, and can't find anything new to fit.

They'll have autumn-colored roses, which will also decorate a red velvet cake. I think it will be so cool!

 

[caitycaity]

i love red velvet cake.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Six Flags New Orleans is probably about a 35-minute drive for us and we live on the Westbank. The Garden District is fairly close to the higways, so it should be an easy 20ish minute drive from there.

Have fun at the wedding!

Another thought that is very nice, and can be tailroed to any type of budget for a gift is: Side by side hinged picture frames (8x10 works best for this idea). Matte the invitation on one side and put an identical matte on the other side for the bride and groom to put a wedding picture of their choosing. We have done this a couple of times and it has always gone over very well.

 

[DopeyRN]

The Six Flags here is just starting up...you might be disappointed. Definitely ride the St Charles Ave streetcars if the weather is nice...you will get to see some beautiful homes. I don't know what you are like and who will be with you....if you are a partier..there is lots to see in the French Quarter vicinity, including Pat O'Briens and the Riverwalk. If you like history, there are the River plantations between us and Baton Rouge. If you have kids, (or if you like these things), do the Aquarium and Zoo with the Zoo cruise package. Will take you on a river boat back and forth between the 2. Most of all....have fun!!

 

[MerryPoppins]

My father passed away not too many years after I got married. Personally, I would prefer something that I could remember him by forever, like a beautiful frame for a wedding photo or something like that. A pretty clock might be nice.