When Patty and John started planning their destination wedding in New Orleans, they fell in love with Hotel Peter and Paul. This stunning hotel and restaurant has been renovated from a church and school. The beautiful lighting and impeccable interior design will make it an unforgettable place for their wedding guests to stay. It also turned out to be the perfect setting for their New Orleans engagement photos on a rainy spring day.

Rainy Day Engagement Photos

If you can believe it, New Orleans is a big reason John and Patty met in Nebraska. In 2013, Patty moved from New Orleans to Omaha. A mutual friend introduced her to John who had just returned from New Orleans’ famous St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. It turned out that they had attended the same block party in the Irish Channel!

A destination engagement session suits this couple. When John and Patty first started dating, he loved planning trips to new places. Patty is such an enthusiastic, positive person that she was always up for the adventure. In fact, Patty is the reason that John eventually lived overseas. They love old homes, live music, and travel. What better place to document their love than New Orleans?

When I met Patty and John at Ayu Bakehouse for their engagement photos, rain was in the air. We decided to try and beat the rain with an early morning in the Marigny and French Quarter. The humidity eventually chased us inside, but we were still able to create beautiful images outdoors. 

For these New Orleans engagement photos, we embraced the tropical colors of downtown. The dark greens of the antique shutters are mirrored in the lush palms and hanging ferns. John’s green and white gingham shirt went seamlessly with the neighborhood’s palette. We also found buildings in earthy shades of pink. They feel vintage and inviting.

Intimate Photos at Hotel Peter and Paul

When the tropical weather got to be too much, we headed inside. These photos have a sense of intimacy that you can only get in a more private space. The French Quarter is iconic for couples photos because it’s so romantic. There’s something special about the quiet space that allows a couple to connect inside cozy walls. The uneven light, startling noises, and cross of the French Quarter don’t always allow for that.

From a technical standpoint, engagement photos in the French Quarter can start to feel a little “flat” because the narrow streets make it hard to create layered compositions. My favorite French Quarter sessions lead to a quieter secondary location. This could be at home, a favorite bar, or a hotel, like Hotel Peter and Paul. Having two locations gives you lighthearted city photos in the French Quarter while still having the space for more intimate, private moments at the secondary location.

Hotel Peter and Paul is truly stunning. I love photographing here, so I was more than happy to do the rest of our session in John and Patty’s room. These rooms have the best light for engagement sessions and getting ready on a wedding day. John and Patty’s room was decorated in cream, wood trim, and Hotel Peter and Paul’s signature gingham curtains.

John and Patty plan to have their guests stay at Hotel Peter and Paul for their wedding, but it’s also a beloved New Orleans wedding venue. The wedding hall has a breathtaking domed ceiling and beautifully restored details from the former church. Walking in feels like stepping through time. Local wine bar Bacchanal offers catering packages too. You’re sure to dine on food as refined as your surroundings.

For John and Patty’s engagement photos, Hotel Peter and Paul provided a space for them to connect and be present with each other. You can really feel their love in these images. There’s so much tenderness in the way Patty touches John’s faces and the way he kisses her shoulder. The light coming through the window casts a warm glow on them. I appreciated that they gave me this window into their relationship.

Would you like me to photograph your engagement or wedding at Hotel Peter and Paul? I would love to help tell your story in this beautiful space. Reach out to me!