Paulina & Michael’s Arnaud’s Rehearsal Dinner in the French Quarter
When Paulina and Michael chose an Arnaud’s rehearsal dinner for their wedding weekend kickoff, they weren’t just booking a restaurant—they were giving their guests the most quintessential New Orleans experience possible.
Why Arnaud’s Sets the Scene for a Perfect Rehearsal Dinner
There’s something about stepping into Arnaud’s that immediately transports you. The historic tile floors, the warm glow of chandeliers, the buzz of conversation bouncing off century-old walls. This French Quarter institution has been hosting celebrations since 1918, and they’ve clearly perfected the art of making every guest feel like royalty.
Paulina and Michael had friends and family fly in from all over the country, and choosing Arnaud’s meant treating them to something they couldn’t get anywhere else. Let me tell you—watching out-of-town guests experience their first taste of classic Creole cuisine in this setting? That never gets old.
Balcony Portraits during Golden Hour
Can we talk about those balconies? We snuck out for portraits before dinner while the golden afternoon light was still soft, then again at sunset when everything turned warm and dreamy. There’s nothing quite like a French Quarter balcony to make a couple look effortlessly elegant.
I loved mixing things up with my camera setup for this one. Alongside digital, I shot both 35mm color film and black-and-white disposables throughout the evening, just for some extra whimsy!
Why Rehearsal Dinner Coverage is Important
Here’s the thing about rehearsal dinner coverage: it often gets overlooked in wedding planning, but these evenings are pure gold for storytelling. The speeches bring out the sweetest laughter and genuine tears. I get to see which family members are the life of the party, which friends have known the couple forever, and I get a sneak peek at who the VIPs are for the actual wedding day.
Paulina and Michael‘s dinner ended exactly how it should—with a fiery tableside show of bananas foster. Because if you’re going to do a New Orleans rehearsal dinner, you commit to the experience.
A Bird’s-Eye View of Dinner
My favorite moments came from somewhere unexpected. I got to sneak up to the mezzanine during dinner, and I’m hoping from my bird’s-eye perspective I captured Arnaud’s in a way you haven’t seen before.
Planning Your Own Arnaud’s Rehearsal Dinner
If you’re dreaming of a rehearsal dinner that feels authentically New Orleans, Arnaud’s absolutely delivers. Their private dining team knows how to create an evening your guests will remember long after they’ve flown home. Arnaud’s has seventeen private dining rooms and three balconies — one over Bourbon, two over Bienville — and they match you to a room based on your headcount instead of charging you for the space.
I’d love to be there to capture it. Rehearsal dinners can be so special! The energy is relaxed, the emotions are real, and the storytelling opportunities are too sweet to miss.
