Hey there! Welcome to Part 1 of my New Orleans Elopement Venue guide, 2020 edition!

This article will feature an elopement at Henry Howard Hotel. HHH is an intimate hotel in the Lower Garden District neighborhood.

What I love about Henry Howard Hotel

Henry Howard Hotel is a historic boutique hotel that was built in 1867 and located in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans, a central part of Uptown known for its beautiful homes and picturesque 19th-century architecture.

The hotel itself is beautiful. Imagine classic New Orleans architecture meeting modern-day decor with eclectic touches. The space feels unique and fresh and the parlor is the perfect amount of space for your small wedding or New Orleans elopement.

There are a few reasons why Henry Howard Hotel is a great venue choice for small weddings and elopements in New Orleans.

Logistical Reasons:

1. You can sleep at Henry Howard the night before your wedding and get ready there on the morning of. And the rooms have plenty of room for your small bridal party to join you in one of HHH’s suites!
2. Your guests can stay here. The hotel is small enough that you can rent out every room for your family if you’d like. If there’s more of you than HHH can accommodate, or if you’d just like a bit of privacy & distance, there are many awesome hotels nearby including The Pontchartrain Hotel, The Columns Hotel, or the Hampton Inn. You can find all of these options located directly on the St. Charles Streetcar line for easy transportation around Uptown & the Garden District.
3. Ceremony options include their courtyard or the (aforementioned) salon.
4. They can provide cocktails & champagne to celebrate after your ceremony.
5. The Lower Garden District has lots to do & plenty of restaurants, shopping, and access to the St. Charles streetcar line.

 

Aesthetic Reasons:

1. Picture a traditional neoclassical New Orleans style home & an updated modern, fresh interior design. The parlor features 12-foot ceilings, ornate crown molding, and red pine floors. *GASP*
2. The rooms and suites in the hotel feature large windows and beautiful light.
3. The beautiful Lower Garden District provides lots of opportunities for great photos.
4. Henry Howard is located in a less touristy part of the city – which means fewer people in the background of your photos.

 

Why is it called the Garden District?

When this part of the city was first developed it featured only a few homes per block, leaving room for each to be surrounded by exquisite gardens. As New Orleans became more of an urban area, developers subdivided the properties to make room for more housing. However, the neighborhood still features many stunning neoclassical homes. (Read: it’s freaking gorgeous!).

What is there to do around Henry Howard Hotel?

Where to eat in LGD
Historic Architecture of LGD
Shopping uptown & garden district

An example timeline for an elopement at Henry Howard:

Here’s the timeline we used for this 6-hour elopement day with 12 guests.

2:00 pm – Brei arrives and begins telling the story by capturing the space, decor, details (including rings, bouquet, dress, shoes, cufflinks, bowtie, watch, sentimental items, invitations, welcome gifts, etc).
2:45/3:00 pm –  Begin finishing hair/makeup/etc. Brei is currently bouncing between each partner’s room, photographing candid moments of everyone hanging out
3:20 pm – You & your partner begin getting dressed (together or separately)
3:30 pm – Final touches
3:40 pm – First Look + we’ll explore near HHH or even drive around to some awesome spots in the city for cute photos of the two of you
5:30 pm – Head back to HHH
6:00 pm – Arrive back at HHH. Family/group photos
6:30 pm – Ceremony
7:00 pm – Ceremony ends + sign marriage paperwork
7:10 pm – Congratulations & cocktails
7:30 pm – Toasts & a first dance
8:00 pm – Head to dinner. Photography ends.

 Note! You do not have to follow this timeline or anything like it at all! There are endless ways to plan out an amazing wedding day or weekend. The best thing about elopements is you get to do what you want!

What does pricing look like for a typical small wedding or elopement package at Henry Howard Hotel?

When couples choose Henry Howard Hotel for their elopement in New Orleans, they typically book rooms 201 and 202 for two nights. These two rooms are on the second floor and share a large veranda balcony overlooking historic Prytania Street. Both rooms feature floor to ceiling windows with lots of light and high ceilings. This setup is perfect for couples to get ready and then do their “First Look” on the balcony! (Check out the photos below!)

For a ceremony, Henry Howard has a few spaces fit for a quick & low-key ceremony. There’s a courtyard, a small second-story roof terrace, and their main parlor (which is stunning!). These spaces are very intimate and best fit for ceremonies with few guests attending (about 15-20 max). If you stay at the hotel, you can rent the parlor for just $300. That’ll reserve you two full hours in the space which is the perfect amount of time for your ceremony, cocktails and cake cutting, and your first dance as a married couple.

Speaking of cocktails and celebrating, HHH offers two different drink packages. The first is $28 per person and includes beer, wine, champagne. The second package includes drink package 1 + cocktails and mixed drinks for $32/head. Both packages require a bartender for service at $100.

If you’d like to cater some light bites for your small elopement, Suzanne, the general manager recommends ordering from Martin Wine Cellar or Joel catering. Although these are the hotel’s recommendations, any catering is allowed as long as the food is delivered ready to serve.

Is Henry Howard Hotel a good elopement venue for me?

Henry Howard is probably a good fit for you if you:

• Would prefer a space off the beaten path
• Plan on having 10 guests or fewer
• Want the people coming with you to be able to stay in the same place
  • There are various sized rooms in the hotel with a total of 18 rooms
  • You can buy out the entire hotel if you’d like (housing about 45 people total!)
  • If you book more than 10 rooms for you and your guests, HHH may extend a discount for the parlor.
  • There are also lots of great places to stay nearby! (For links, refer to above: Logistical Reason #2!)
• Enjoy cozy, unique spaces
• Like boutique hotels
• Prefer a quiet, residential neighborhood over the rowdy French Quarter
• Don’t mind that it’s a little trek from the FQ, but easily accessible by streetcar!

How can I get more information and see if they’re available for my wedding date?

• You can get in touch with Suzanne, the hotel’s general manager at (504) 313-1577
• Another way to get in touch is to inquire via their website.

Other links for HHH:

Henry Howard Hotel 
Their amenities 
Accommodations
Henry Howard Hotel’s website

Explore More New Orleans Elopement Resources:

More venue ideas for your small wedding or elopement
Get More Wedding Planning Resources and Inspo
How to Elope in New Orleans| Paperwork Checklist (Updated for 2020)