How the New Orleans wedding industry is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic

Samantha Grindell,Dylan BarthJun 13, 2020, 02:37 IST

Nothing has disrupted the New Orleans wedding industry like the coronavirus since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
New Orleans began reopening in mid-May, but musicians, planners, and decorators are still completely out of work.
One couple had to postpone their wedding twice because of the virus, and they told Business Insider Today that they still don't know if their wedding will happen on the 2021 date they have planned.
As a result of the rescheduling, those who work in the industry won't make any money in 2020, leaving them uncertain of their futures.

New Orleans is one of the top wedding destinations in the US, with couples from all over the country making their nuptials a pilgrimage to the Big Easy.

A wedding in New Orleans. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

But the normally lively scenes of the French Quarter were barren during the spring of 2020 as a result of the coronavirus.

New Orleans in the spring of 2020. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

The pandemic has left people like musician Ben Schenck unemployed and unsure of their futures.

Ben Schenck is a New Orleans-based musician. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

"Except for Katrina, we'd been working steady right up until March 14. But there's nowhere you can go from this," Schenck told Business Insider Today.

The wedding industry in New Orleans hasn't been disrupted like this since Hurricane Katrina. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

Couples planning their weddings are at just as much of a standstill.

Stephanie Ezcurra and Matt Williams had to postpone their wedding. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

They originally postponed their wedding to August, but they had to push it again to March 2021.

The couple had to postpone their wedding twice. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

Ezcurra and Williams are keeping their wedding decorations in a storage unit until they're able to have the event they've been dreaming of.

The couple can't use their party favors. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

"Am I ever going to have the wedding that I plan?" Ezcurra asks herself amid the uncertainty of the pandemic.

Engaged couples don't know what to do about their weddings. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

Some couples are choosing to do just that, with Zoom weddings occurring all over the country.

Virtual weddings are becoming popular. Reuters

Elyse Jennings, a wedding planner, told Business Insider Today she's wrestling with the uncertainty while trying to think of ways to accommodate her clients during the pandemic.

Elyse Jennings is trying to plan weddings amid the pandemic. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

Elyse Jennings, a wedding planner, told Business Insider Today she's wrestling with the uncertainty while trying to think of ways to accommodate her clients during the pandemic.

And the uncertainty is costing people like Jennings thousands of dollars.

Professionals in the wedding industry are losing thousands of dollars. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

The decor rental side of the wedding industry is similarly struggling, according to Lisa LaFrance, the co-owner of Luminous Events.

Decor rentals have stopped. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

With their free time, LaFrance and her former staff are delivering meals to local hospital workers.

Most weddings are being rescheduled. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

But professionals in the industry remain hopeful the New Orleans industry will come roaring back just like it did after Hurricane Katrina.

The city is hopeful New Orleans will recover. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

And the natives plan on staying loyal to the city they love.

People will always get married. Nathan Willis/Business Insider

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How the New Orleans wedding industry is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic

New Orleans is one of the top wedding destinations in the US, with couples from all over the country making their nuptials a pilgrimage to the Big Easy.

But the normally lively scenes of the French Quarter were barren during the spring of 2020 as a result of the coronavirus.

The pandemic has left people like musician Ben Schenck unemployed and unsure of their futures.

"Except for Katrina, we'd been working steady right up until March 14. But there's nowhere you can go from this," Schenck told Business Insider Today.

Couples planning their weddings are at just as much of a standstill.

They originally postponed their wedding to August, but they had to push it again to March 2021.

Ezcurra and Williams are keeping their wedding decorations in a storage unit until they're able to have the event they've been dreaming of.

"Am I ever going to have the wedding that I plan?" Ezcurra asks herself amid the uncertainty of the pandemic.

Some couples are choosing to do just that, with Zoom weddings occurring all over the country.

Elyse Jennings, a wedding planner, told Business Insider Today she's wrestling with the uncertainty while trying to think of ways to accommodate her clients during the pandemic.

And the uncertainty is costing people like Jennings thousands of dollars.

The decor rental side of the wedding industry is similarly struggling, according to Lisa LaFrance, the co-owner of Luminous Events.

With their free time, LaFrance and her former staff are delivering meals to local hospital workers.

But professionals in the industry remain hopeful the New Orleans industry will come roaring back just like it did after Hurricane Katrina.

And the natives plan on staying loyal to the city they love.