Best New Orleans balconies for wedding prep

Timelines run tight on a wedding day, and it doesn’t take a lot for one little thing to throw it all for a whirl. So when time is of the essence, it helps to have nearby a beautiful spot to quickly grab portraits and first looks.

One of my favorite ways to accomplish that is with a balcony. Not only do they provide great light and cool backgrounds for your video, they also reflect the long history of New Orleans through their architecture. Because if you’re getting married in the Big Easy, why not bring a bit of its zest into your day?

So to help you with choosing a spot that will look great on video while you and your friends prep for the big day, I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite balconies in the area.

The French Quarter has no short supply of balconies. They are part of the core identity of the area’s architecture. So what sets the balconies at Omni Royal Orleans apart? This may sound strange, but the Louisiana Supreme Court.

I know what you’re thinking. “…huh?” The Louisiana Supreme Court and its Beaux-Arts architecture isn’t in and of itself particularly noteworthy, but what it does have is not found often in the French Quarter: beautiful, verdant trees.

The French Quarter is such a dense neighborhood that trees are uncommon outside of Jackson Square. But across from the balconies at the Omni Royal Orleans you’ll find tall trees that provide a lovely backdrop to pajama pics and first looks. And even better, the court is west of the hotel. This means that when you’re doing your photos in the afternoon, you’ll have buttery backlighting that hits both you and the trees, giving a three dimensionality that makes your images pop and makes you look fantastic. Don’t want to take my word for it? Just check out the clip above.

And of course that’s not the only benefit to the Omni Royal Orleans. It’s located smack dab in the middle of the French Quarter just two blocks from the St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, where you’ll have a veritable treasure chest of places to choose for portraits.

If you’re looking for a balcony that is located right at the heart of the action, The Royal Sonesta has a lot to offer.

Seated right in the heart of Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta has all kinds of music and activity going on right underneath your feet. This, of course, is a double edged sword. If you’re looking for a quiet morning with your bridal party, then maybe look elsewhere; but if you’ve got a bunch of friends from out of town that want to feel the pulse of the French Quarter, to be able to step out and see all the action, you’re not going to find a better option.

But that’s just the ambiance. The actual balcony is outstanding. Many of the suites have a wrap-around feature that gives you ton of space and even the opportunity to have multiple rooms utilizing the same area. It’s wide, giving me and your photographer a lot of room to play with. And it will work in just about any kind of day, either sunny or cloudy, as the balconies face both north and east; this means you’ll always have a nice diffused shade and no hard light to have to wrangle. Makes our job very easy.

One last consideration. It’s pet friendly, and a dog loooves himself a balcony to lounge around on, as you’ll see in the video above.

One of the newer hotels on this list, the NOPSI Hotel is a fantastic option if you’re looking for the balcony experience away from the French Quarter, but not too far away. It’s located in the middle of the Central Business District, or downtown as us locals call it.

The NOPSI has a big, wraparound balcony with tons of space behind it. Huge, looming buildings behind them can give a sense of scale that you won’t be getting in the French Quarter. And since they aren’t confined, you’ll find this to be the biggest balcony on this list, with not just wide but also long spaces to hang out and do large family portraits.

Another benefit is that these are more private. There’s plenty of furniture to lounge, and you don’t have a bunch of units sharing the same space, so you can feel a bit more relaxed if you and your friends want to cut loose.

Many of the weddings shot at The Elms Mansion are focused predominately as a ceremony and reception venue, but it can also be utilized as a wonderful space to get some shots before the real festivities begin.

This is a great option if you’re looking for a St. Charles Avenue style balcony. These are going to be more private and relaxed, and instead of the iron-lacework that you’ll often find in the French Quarter, you’ll come across wood or wrought iron railings. These can look wonderful with the trees and streetcars in the background, giving a more old-timey feel, closer to the vibe of a porch than a balcony.

And oh man. The trees! The Elms Mansion has that classic St. Charles Avenue backdrop that looks so warm in photos and video. And after you step off the balcony, you’ll have the coolest vintage decor and a lovely garden just steps away. It’s the perfect option for someone looking to get a little bit of everything in a single venue.