Holly and Mark are getting married!
We met through the miracle of a dating app in August 2020. After a year of many Covid-safe activities, we realized that what we had together was far more than just a shared love of tacos and bike rides. Soon, we will promise to build and live our lives together. We hope you–our family and dearest friends–will join us to witness and celebrate this promise.
“We love because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:19
The Venue
Compass Point is an outdoor wedding venue located on the crescent of the Mississippi River in historic Algiers Point, minutes from downtown New Orleans. The ceremony will take place at sunset under the giant oak trees, followed by a reception-style dinner, drinks, live music, and dancing.
Mark and Holly are registered at:
Travel & Activities
- For those coming in from out of town, we will have an optional, casual gathering the evening of Thursday, March 31st.
- By air, fly into Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY). The venue is about 25-30 minutes away from the airport.
- We’ve planned an outdoor celebration so that we can all have fun while being safe and Covid-conscious. At this time, masks are not required for outdoor gatherings like ours. Currently, in New Orleans, masks and proof of vaccination or a recent negative Covid-19 test are required at indoor establishments, including restaurants. These restrictions may change before our wedding, but please keep them in mind as you plan your trip.
- There are many excellent hotel, VRBO, and Airbnb options in New Orleans. The wedding venue is a 15-20 minute drive from most areas of the city where we would recommend looking for a hotel or Airbnb. Please feel free to reach out to Holly and Mark for recommendations on where to look for a place to stay. We learned that New Orleans is hosting the NCAA Final Four the same weekend, so you may want to book your travel and accommodations early.
- For those comfortable with taking Ubers or Lyfts, a rental car is not necessary during your stay in New Orleans. The streetcar is also an option for getting around (when you’re not in a hurry!).
New Orleans Activities
FOOD!
One of the best things about New Orleans is the food, so here is a list of some of our favorite spots to try while you’re in town!
Casual Breakfast & Lunch
No reservations are needed, but on the weekends, try to get there by 9a for breakfast if you don’t want to have to wait!
- Bearcat – two locations (Uptown & CBD)
- Molly’s Rise & Shine
- Riccobono’s Panola Street Cafe
- Satsuma Cafe – two locations (Maple Street/Uptown, Dauphine/Bywater)
- Slim Goodie’s Diner
Casual Lunch & Dinner
Reservations aren’t required, but probably not a bad idea to make them if you can! Many of these options are also great for happy hour or a quick drink and snack!
- Barracuda (tacos) – two locations (Uptown, Algiers)
- Blue Oak BBQ
- Bourre (smoked meats)
- Blue Giant Chinese – dinner
- Casamento’s (oysters)
- Dat Dog (hotdogs) – three locations (Freret, Magazine, Frenchmen)
- High Hat Cafe
- La Carreta (Tex-Mex)
- Midway Pizza
- MoPho (Vietnamese-Creole fusion)
- Origami Sushi
- Rosalita’s Backyard Tacos
- Tavolino Pizza & Lounge
- True Food Kitchen (healthy, plant-based)
- Turkey & the Wolfe (Sandwiches) – lunch only
- Val’s (tacos)
Dessert, Drinks, & Snacks
- Angelo Brocato – gelato and Italian desserts
- Bacchanal Wine – outdoor wine bar plus full food menu
- Bakery Bar – cocktails, doberge cake, and snacks
- Barrel Proof – whiskey and cocktail bar, plus food
- Bouligny Tavern – craft cocktails and snacks
- Cafe Du Monde (French Market & City Park locations) – beignets and coffee
- The Columns – hotel bar and snacks
- Creole Creamery (Uptown location) – house-made ice cream
- Cure – craft cocktails and snacks
- Delachaise – wine bar and bistro
- Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar – cigar bar and regular live music schedule
- NOLA Brewery – beer and pizza
- Oak – wine bar and snacks
- Port Orleans Brewery – beer, snacks, and sandwiches
- Sucre – upscale coffee and sweets
Fancy Options
When you’re feeling a little fancier, here are some great brunch, lunch, and dinner spots. Reservations recommended!
- Avo (Italian) – happy hour and dinner
- Birdy’s – breakfast, brunch, and lunch
- Boucherie – dinner
- The Bower Restaurant & Bar – happy hour and dinner
- Brennan’s – brunch, lunch, happy hour, dinner
- Cafe Degas (French) – brunch, lunch, and dinner
- Chais Delachaise – happy hour and dinner
- Chloe – dinner and happy hour
- Clancy’s – lunch and dinner
- Commander’s Palace – brunch, lunch, dinner
- Gris Gris – brunch, lunch, and dinner
- Lillette – lunch and dinner
- Mister Mao – happy hour, dinner, and Sunday brunch
- Mosquito Supper Club – happy hour and dinner
- N7 (French) – dinner
- Saba (Mediterranean) – brunch, happy hour, and dinner
- Shaya (Mediterranean) – lunch and dinner
- Superior Seafood – brunch, lunch, happy hour, and dinner
- Vessel NOLA – brunch, lunch, happy hour, and dinner
- Vincent’s Italian Cuisine – dinner
Activities!
There are SO MANY fun activities in New Orleans. Truly, something for everyone!
Mark & Holly's Top Five
These are a few of the places and activities that are most special to us 🙂
- Barataria Preserve – A 40-minute drive south of the city takes you to Barataria Preserve, a national preserve dedicated to Louisiana’s wetlands. A series of boardwalk and dirt trails get you up close and personal to the plants, animals, and scenic view of the marsh and swamp. It is beautiful, peaceful, and truly worth the trip! We recommend the Visitor Center Loop Trail followed by the Palmetto Trail, Bayou Coquille Trail, and Marsh Overlook. Be sure to stop by the Visitor’s Center first to get a trail map and ask about current trail conditions.
- New Orleans Walking Tour with Kevin Murphy – Kevin Murphy is Holly’s neighbor and a very good friend to Holly and Mark. He’s also a very talented musician (you’ll hear him playing at the wedding!) and tour guide. Kevin knows a ton about the city and truly has a knack for keeping people entertained. Check out Kevin’s website and contact him to schedule a tour!
- Kayaking in City Park – City Park truly has it all, but one of our favorite things to do there is rent kayaks from Wheel Fun Rentals on the Big Lake and kayak through the Sculpture Garden and into some of the more natural parts of the park. The water is calm and the scenery is beautiful, so this is perfect for beginner kayakers! Go in the morning and be sure to use this coupon to get the second hour free before 12pm!
- City Putt – Also in City Park, City Putt is a mini golf course with two courses that span New Orleans and Louisiana geography. Family friendly, but also fun for adults! Be sure to head to Cafe Du Monde in City Park for a beignet afterwards!
- The Fly/Riverview – Get some takeout, a bottle of wine and go cups, and a blanket and head to the Fly–a riverfront section of Audubon Park (right next to Audubon Zoo) that has a perfect view of the river at sunset.Below is our full list of places and activities we recommend trying out while you’re in New Orleans!
Nature & Outdoors
- City Park
- Audubon Park
- Bayou Paddlesports kayak and paddleboard rentals at Bayou St. John
- Lafitte Greenway biking and walking trail; rent electric Blue Bikes and you can go all the way to the French Quarter on a beautiful, car-free greenway!
- Cajun Pride Swamp Tour (about 30 minutes outside of the city)
- Barataria Preserve (about 40 minutes outside of the city)
Museums & Movies
- Broad Theater
- Prytania Theater
- World War II Museum
- New Orleans Museum of Art & Sculpture Garden(in City Park)
- Louisiana Children’s Museum
- Ogden Museum of Southern Art
- Whitney Plantation (about an hour’s drive outside of the city) – Louisiana’s only museum with an exclusive focus on the lives of enslaved people
Shopping
- Magazine Street
- Jackson Square and French Market
- Oak Street
- Riverwalk Outlet
Live Music
Other
- Walking Tours with Kevin Murphy
- NCAA Final Four activities
- Riverboat Cruises
- Sazerac House tour and tasting
- Fulton Alley Bowling
RSVP
RSVP or modify your existing RSVP here!
Due to necessity rather than choice, our celebration will include children of the bride and groom’s immediate families only. Infants under 12 months old are also welcome. We hope you understand and enjoy your night off!