A Romantic French Quarter Wedding with Pops of Color
Neither a pandemic nor Hurricane Ida could keep Zenisha and Gregory from exchanging their vows in a ceremony that guests called the "best ever." Take a look at this wedding that marries Nepali tradition with the celebratory spirit of New Orleans.
It may have taken an entire decade of dating for Zenisha Ghimire and Gregory Mattson to walk down the aisle, but they always knew thatβs where they were headed. Well, almost. When the couple met in an honors class during their senior year of college at the University of New Orleans, Gregory was immediately smitten. It took Zenisha a bit longer to get on board, but Gregory persisted. βShe doesnβt remember that we even had a class together, but I do!β laughs Gregory. βI asked her out several times before she finally agreed to go on a date with me.β One thing led to another, and the couple wed on their 10th anniversary in a stunning French Quarter ceremony that combined Zenishaβs Nepali culture with the celebratory spirit of New Orleans.
Being from the mountains in Nepal, Zenisha has always loved the mountain landscape β an affinity that Gregory shares. So, a proposal in the mountains was only natural. βWeβve been to the Smokies three or four times,β says Zenisha, βand itβs been one of our favorite places.β Anticipating a relaxing vacation, the couple rented a cabin in Bryson City, North Carolina, in September of 2020. It turned into an adventure theyβll never forget, as Gregory got down on one knee in their cabin and proposed, with a beautiful view of the Smoky Mountains just outside the window. And though COVID threatened to spoil their plans, the couple set about organizing an intimate ceremony in the French Quarter.
As Zenisha was in the throes of writing the dissertation for her Biology Ph.D., Gregory was tasked with securing many of the wedding details. In fact, while Zenisha presented her dissertation, Greg was out scouting venue locations. βThereβs a presentation that goes into defending your dissertation, and then thereβs a closed one with your committee, which is when the professors ask a bunch of questions. While I was doing that, he went and looked at the venue,β Zenisha tells us. βI was like, βIf you like it, Iβm sure Iβll love it.β A lot was going on for me, and I trust his judgment!β
Luck was on Gregβs side, and he found the perfect spot for their big day β the W New Orleans in the French Quarter. βWe wanted to keep it smaller,β Gregory says of their wedding plans. βMany of the places here in New Orleans cater towards larger weddings, and they had a minimum [guest capacity] that was too high. We found the W Hotel, which was very intimate and perfect for what we were looking for.β
The wedding planning was gaining momentum, with major players like the photographer and DJ coming on board, when everything came to a screeching halt β Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on New Orleans, causing widespread destruction. βAt the end of August, Hurricane Ida happened,β explains Zenisha, βand it pretty much destroyed our house. We were just trying to figure out where we were going to live. Weβre fortunate that we have really good friends and family who opened their doors for us.β Gregory adds, βWe kind of put the wedding on the back burner. I literally got the cake two weeks before the wedding!β
Against all odds, the couple pulled together their dream wedding on October 8, 2021, hosting around 65 of their close family and friends as they were pronounced husband and wife. Zenisha wore a stunning crimson lehenga, while Gregory sported a gray suit with an appropriately red tie. βTraditionally, you wear a Sari,β says Zenisha of her wedding dress. βIn the Hindu religion, you wear red. It signifies a lot of things. I didnβt wear a sari because it wasnβt an actual Hindu wedding. However, I still wanted some of my traditions represented, so I decided to go with a lehenga, which is still culturally appropriate.β
She found the ideal dress shop in Dallas, where a classmate from Nepal had opened a boutique with her mother. Zenishaβs sister contributed a great deal of assistance to complete the look. βA lot of my jewelry, such as my necklace and earrings, came from my sister in Nepal,β Zenisha tells us. βShe shipped them to me along with my headwear, a Nepali veil called ghumto. A lot of my bangles came from my best friend, who wore them during her wedding back in Nepal.β
The bride and groom met up for first looks before the ceremony, sweetly exchanging affectionate words of excitement for their future together. Then, gathering their wedding party, Zenisha and Gregory led everyone to the celebration site, where the couple descended either side of the grand staircase to tie the knot. A close friend officiated.
βPeople didnβt know what to expect because it wasnβt a traditional wedding,β says Zenisha. βNobody βwalked down the aisle.'β The couple did, however, exchange vows. βWe wrote our own vows,β explains Zenisha. βShe wrote her own vows,β laughs Gregory. βI just kind of talked off the top of my head!β
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Once the happy couple returned to their wedding reception, they enjoyed their first dance to Frank Sinatraβs βStrangers in the Nightβ β a tune that carries a great deal of significance for them. In fact, itβs a frequently played song in their house. βI had given Gregory a birthday gift during COVID β a record player,β explains Zenisha. βI know he likes Frank Sinatra, so I bought two of his records. We listened to them so much that I became a fan!β Because Gregβs birthday is March 4, the city shut down soon after. βWhen we went into lockdown, the only records we had at the time were the two Frank Sinatras,β laughs Gregory.
To further infuse the Nepali culture into their reception, the bride and groom had their DJ play some of the Bollywood songs that Zenisha grew up listening to. Everyone got in on the dancing, dined on food such as tacos and authentic New Orleans boudin balls, and feasted on the cake β a three-tiered beauty with a pretty red scroll design reminiscent of henna. βWe wanted something that tied in her culture,β says Gregory. βI basically Googled Hindu-American ceremonies and found a bunch of ideas!β
All in all, the wedding night was precisely what the bride and groom hoped for. βPeople told us it was the best wedding theyβve ever been to,β says Gregory. βEverybody said it was so us. After college, we were the host of many parties and get-togethers. We donβt have kids yet, but all of our friends do. Weβve hosted multiple baby showers and cookouts.β Zenisha agrees, adding, βOur house has been the place. We love entertaining!β With the festivities turning into an extension of one of their house parties, the couple laughed and danced the night away, then exited to a magical downpour of bubbles.
RESOURCES
Ceremony and reception venue: W New Orleans β French Quarter
Photographer: Linka Odom Photography
Caterer: W New Orleans β French Quarter
Brideβs gown: Mayaβs Desi Boutique
Brideβs shoes: Fizzy Goblet
Brideβs Hair and Make-up: Jacqueline Reynolds
Groomβs attire: Indochino
Cake: The Sweet Life Bakery
Reception Music: DJ Dave
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Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Editorial Operations Manager and Lead Content Editor. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.