On Friday, August 1, 2014 we celebrated our 1st daughter's wedding at Southern Oaks Plantation. I only have one word to describe it... "perfect". It was the perfect wedding. The hospitality was exceptional, the weather was beautiful and the food was delicious.
Chelsey asked Paul Dabdoub to perform the ceremony. Paul was Chelsey's youth pastor at Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church in Kenner when Chelsey was a teenager and they developed a special bond. He now lives in California and was kind enough to make this long trip back to Louisiana in order to do this for Chelsey. This meant so much to her and it really made her wedding day extra special.
Paul has a special anointing from God and the ceremony was like no other wedding ceremony we have ever attended. The way he spoke about Ross and Chelsey was very personal and made it feel like he had known them all of his life. Several times throughout the ceremony he used the statement of the two becoming one which is also what Chelsey had chosen as their cake topper. I saw God's hand in so many details of the wedding that I know Chelsey and Ross were meant for each other and that God has blessed their relationship.
At one point in the ceremony Paul asked the parents to walk up and stand beside Ross and Chelsey in order to bless their union together. He said that in this marriage two people will become one today, it also signifies that as they begin their oneness together that the two families will become one as well. Then he had Marty speak to Ross and Rhonda speak to Chelsey on behalf of each family in order to hand over our responsibility to them and to let them know that we accept them into our families. It was very emotional and I don't think that there was a dry eye in the house! During the reception, many people made comments about how unique and special the ceremony was.
Chelsey asked Paul Dabdoub to perform the ceremony. Paul was Chelsey's youth pastor at Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church in Kenner when Chelsey was a teenager and they developed a special bond. He now lives in California and was kind enough to make this long trip back to Louisiana in order to do this for Chelsey. This meant so much to her and it really made her wedding day extra special.
Paul has a special anointing from God and the ceremony was like no other wedding ceremony we have ever attended. The way he spoke about Ross and Chelsey was very personal and made it feel like he had known them all of his life. Several times throughout the ceremony he used the statement of the two becoming one which is also what Chelsey had chosen as their cake topper. I saw God's hand in so many details of the wedding that I know Chelsey and Ross were meant for each other and that God has blessed their relationship.
At one point in the ceremony Paul asked the parents to walk up and stand beside Ross and Chelsey in order to bless their union together. He said that in this marriage two people will become one today, it also signifies that as they begin their oneness together that the two families will become one as well. Then he had Marty speak to Ross and Rhonda speak to Chelsey on behalf of each family in order to hand over our responsibility to them and to let them know that we accept them into our families. It was very emotional and I don't think that there was a dry eye in the house! During the reception, many people made comments about how unique and special the ceremony was.
Brittany Champagne was the best maid of honor for Chelsey.
She handled so many details which helped relieve
Chelsey from some of her wedding stress.
Dad seeing his little girl in her wedding dress for the first time.
B.J. Madere was Ross's best man
and he is also Brittany Champagne's fiancé.
Brittany made sure he did his job. lol
and he is also Brittany Champagne's fiancé.
Brittany made sure he did his job. lol
I love this picture of my girls! Look at those cute faces and figures!
The guy's rehearsing and chilling out before the wedding.
Chelsey had a charm with a picture of her Papa Al
and his wedding ring on her bouquet.
Chelsey had this memorial placed in the foyer
of the mansion in honor her grandfathers,
Paul Durapau, Sr. and Al Mayeux
Wishing that they could be there to share this day with her.
Southern Oaks Plantation is a family owned and operated facility located in New Orleans east. The mansion is truly gorgeous, the grounds are meticulously manicured and the staff is truly amazing! They definitely delivered the southern charm and hospitality that Louisiana is known for. While we were there, they made us feel like family and not like we were just another customer. When they found out that Chelsey and Ross were going to Disney World for their honeymoon the daughter looked at her dad and said, "well you know what we have to do!" He just smiled and said, "Yes." Then he told me that they were going to provide a few surprises for Chelsey and Ross free of charge. So during the rehearsal and preparation time before the wedding, they played Disney themed music. After the ceremony, Chelsey and Ross walked down the aisle and climbed into the horse drawn carriage that her and Marty rode to the wedding. As the carriage rode off, they popped fireworks in the background then as the carriage arrived in front of the mansion, they popped streamers! It was just like a fairytale!
I cannot talk about Southern Oaks without mentioning their delicious food! They served 90 different items but what we enjoyed the most was how they provided personal service for Chelsey and Ross and both sets of parents the whole time we were there. Food and drinks were hand delivered to us and when Marty dropped his drink (he said it was because the glass was wet) ; ) People were there within seconds to clean it up and Ross said, "Mr. Marty you have your own pit crew." lol That person attended to every detail for us and served us all night long. They did everything from directing the entire wedding party to sewing clothes, cleaning spills on our dresses and making sure that I didn't miss the cutting of the cake. They definitely spoiled us while we were there!
I cannot talk about Southern Oaks without mentioning their delicious food! They served 90 different items but what we enjoyed the most was how they provided personal service for Chelsey and Ross and both sets of parents the whole time we were there. Food and drinks were hand delivered to us and when Marty dropped his drink (he said it was because the glass was wet) ; ) People were there within seconds to clean it up and Ross said, "Mr. Marty you have your own pit crew." lol That person attended to every detail for us and served us all night long. They did everything from directing the entire wedding party to sewing clothes, cleaning spills on our dresses and making sure that I didn't miss the cutting of the cake. They definitely spoiled us while we were there!
And the two shall become one!
The reception rooms
The picture above and below is the room where the bridal party
were served food and drinks before going into the reception.
The room used for taking pictures of the bridal party.
Relaxing seating area outside by the pool
for the guest to enjoy
for the guest to enjoy
Horse stables. Even the horses are pampered!
Girl's Rehearsal
Marty getting his instructions.
The grounds at Southern Oaks Plantation are so beautiful.
Family and friends
There was a door man that opened the door for each person.
It set the atmosphere for a plantation style wedding.
Grandparents
The song "A Thousand Years" by The Piano Guys was played as the
wedding party entered the service.
The Cinderella theme song (A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes,
by Magic Philharmonic Disney Orchestra) was played as
Marty and Chelsey rode up in their horse drawn carriage.
by Magic Philharmonic Disney Orchestra) was played as
Marty and Chelsey rode up in their horse drawn carriage.
Pachebel's Cannnon in D
was the song playing as they walked down the aisle.
was the song playing as they walked down the aisle.
I love this picture with Marty's two brothers in the background.
The ceremony!
The ceremony was so personal. Paul read what Chelsey and Ross had told him about each other. This is what Chelsey said about Ross... "I think I realized he was the one when I saw him accepting my flaws. Ross is persistent and he doesn't give up. He works hard to provide for our future family and us. He'll even cook me dinner or do house chores just so we can spend time together. He challenges me to keep going."
This is what Ross said about Chelsey... "Through the past 6 years when I was working hard towards building my career and working towards my dream job, Chelsey was there every step of the way. Chelsey never stopped believing in me and supported me 100% the whole time. There would be times when I would feel like I was not good enough and Chels would always lift me up and tell me how good I am."
Paul spoke very encouraging words about Ross and Chelsey. I believe he also spoke what God sees in them.
"Ross in the very short time that I've known you I love the fact that you are a what you see is what you get kind of guy. You actually look people in the eye when you shake their hand and I want you to know that in this day and age, it actually still matters to be that kind of a man. You are not afraid of hard work. You're not afraid of relaxing. You're not afraid of acting goofy. You're not afraid of giving yourself to relationships. There is something that's really special about you that's incredibly endearing, you fill up the room from the moment you walk in and you just draw people to you. It's an incredible magnetism that God has placed upon you for your life. I'm really impressed with your desire to do what you love because there's so many people out in the world who will just settle and they will get trapped into working a job just for a paycheck. But what you can teach people is that when you settle it's really hard not to fall into predictable and you guys are made for an adventure! So, I thank you and I encourage you to continue to take those risk because it is an amazing adventure that you will continue to build your life around. And she's one that's ready for an adventure!"
"Chelsey, you are a spectacular woman. From the day that I met you I've always seen you as a person who could really hang with anyone and it didn't really matter whether it's a sprained ankle on a canoe trip or it was slamming a bunch of guys in a big mud hole. You have always been this person who was tenacious, and it mirrored something in your life. It mirrored the fact that you're just a person incredibly determined, you are not afraid to get your hands dirty and matching that intensity is the purest heart and it's the greatest love that I've ever seen in a woman. You are a person who in the day that I met you have always seem to take people in and you nurture them. And God's given you a gift of creating an environment that brings people into wholeness, it's amazing!"
"Ross in the very short time that I've known you I love the fact that you are a what you see is what you get kind of guy. You actually look people in the eye when you shake their hand and I want you to know that in this day and age, it actually still matters to be that kind of a man. You are not afraid of hard work. You're not afraid of relaxing. You're not afraid of acting goofy. You're not afraid of giving yourself to relationships. There is something that's really special about you that's incredibly endearing, you fill up the room from the moment you walk in and you just draw people to you. It's an incredible magnetism that God has placed upon you for your life. I'm really impressed with your desire to do what you love because there's so many people out in the world who will just settle and they will get trapped into working a job just for a paycheck. But what you can teach people is that when you settle it's really hard not to fall into predictable and you guys are made for an adventure! So, I thank you and I encourage you to continue to take those risk because it is an amazing adventure that you will continue to build your life around. And she's one that's ready for an adventure!"
"Chelsey, you are a spectacular woman. From the day that I met you I've always seen you as a person who could really hang with anyone and it didn't really matter whether it's a sprained ankle on a canoe trip or it was slamming a bunch of guys in a big mud hole. You have always been this person who was tenacious, and it mirrored something in your life. It mirrored the fact that you're just a person incredibly determined, you are not afraid to get your hands dirty and matching that intensity is the purest heart and it's the greatest love that I've ever seen in a woman. You are a person who in the day that I met you have always seem to take people in and you nurture them. And God's given you a gift of creating an environment that brings people into wholeness, it's amazing!"
"In this marriage two people become one today! It also signifies that as they begin their oneness together that these two families become ones as well. To establish, build up and defend that these two are no longer separate but they are one."
This is what Paul had the parents say to Ross and Chelsey...
(Marty) As the father of Chelsey, I protected her heart, I've provided for her life, and I have loved her since the day she was born. Ross, I give you permission to protect her as I have. I give you permission to provide for her as I have. I give you permission to love her as I have and I honor you as a son and I welcome you into my family.
(Rhonda) As the mother of Ross, I've stood by him. I've defended him. I was the first arms that he was held in. When his heart was broken, I was there. When there was injustice, I stood up on his behalf. Chelsey, I trust you to defend him. I trust you to be a loving force in his life, to stand when no one else would. I trust you to guard his heart and Chelsey, I accept you and I receive you as a daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Montet
Bittersweet symphony instrumental song played
as they walked down the aisle to get into the horse drawn carriage.
as they walked down the aisle to get into the horse drawn carriage.
Off they go... Cinderella and her prince charming.
At Last, by Edda James was the song that played as
Chelsey and Ross took their carriage ride.
Be Our Guest from Disney's Cinderella was played
to invite everyone into the mansion for the wedding reception.
Chelsey's Godfather or as she calls him "Pie"
(Pie is short for par rain a french term for Godfather.)
Paul is Marty's oldest brother.
This is the Mayeux side of the family!
Chelsey and Ross took their carriage ride.
to invite everyone into the mansion for the wedding reception.
Chelsey's Godfather or as she calls him "Pie"
(Pie is short for par rain a french term for Godfather.)
Paul is Marty's oldest brother.
This is the Mayeux side of the family!
Father - Daughter dance
Daddy Dance With Me, by krystal Keith
Daddy Dance With Me, by krystal Keith
Mother - Son dance
My Wish, by Rascal Flatts
My Wish, by Rascal Flatts
Bride and Groom dance
God Gave Me You, by Blake Shelton
Party Time!
Ross and his grandmother dancing!
Sister-in-law and Brother-in-law love.
Cake cutting time.
Feeding each other cake
Cheers!
The cake pull.
The cake pull is a southern wedding tradition. Wedding charms date back to Victorian times. Tiny charms, made of silver with ribbons attached are placed inside the cake. During the reception, bridesmaids pull the ribbons and charms out of the cake. Chelsey chose really cute Louisiana themed charms like an alligator, crawfish, Fleur dis lis, etc.
Looks like Jenna really had to fight Rachael for the bouquet. lol
Tossing the garter.
A western wedding tradition is for a bride to wear a garter to her wedding, to be removed towards the end of the reception by the groom, who will then toss the garter to the unmarried male guests. The person who catches the garter is supposed to be the next person who will get married.
With this tradition guests pay to dance with the bride and groom. It helps the couple with the cost of the honeymoon and gives the guest time with the bride and groom.
Chelsey's Uncle Paul made Amaretto
as Thank You favors for all our guests.
as Thank You favors for all our guests.
Chels, your dad had a great time at your wedding!
One wedding down and 4 more to go!
