New Orleans - Wedding Time of Year

I'm not local but my mom's family lived in Louisiana.

The weather in April is usually not too hot, and its definitely not as busy as Mardi Gras, and it puts you before hurricane season. I used to go to Louisiana every spring break when I was growing up and I remember my grandpa telling me it barely rains in April in Louisiana (don't know how accurate that is but it never rained when I was there).

October and November are also good options, the temperature is pretty mild. However, that is still technically hurricane season so the weather could be unpredictable.

We are in the midst of planning out wedding there now. I would stay away from summer because of the heat and humidity. Usually June-August are horrible. I've gone several times in February and January and found the weather to be unpredictable. My wedding coordinator told me that March-May and September- November are the best time weather wise but also the busiest for weddings. We chose October. I would suggest looking at a calendar that shows their big festivals and plan around that as prices will be high. Ours is on a festival weekend, which I wasn't aware when we booked and hotel prices are going up daily. Mid-September had the beat prices with good weather (silly us). I used Place D'Armes hotel as our pricing reference when I did my research as it tends to be a cheaper hotel.

Having grown up in South Louisiana, the weather is very unpredictable. It rains ALOT in Louisiana all year round, so be prepared. If you can't abide high humidity, avoid June- September at all costs!! September is just as hot as August. Since Mardi Gras begins on Jan 6th, as you already know all of that time is out. I'd say April or early May for the Spring and late October, November and December (New Year's Eve wedding?) for late fall/early winter. Technically, it is hurricane season until November 30th. Find a good wedding planner who can assist. You won't regret it. I love Louisiana, but people who are not used to the humidity can't handle it like someone who lives there. You'll have a gorgeous wedding in an equally gorgeous city. Best wishes!!

I live near by and I'd be more worried about football season and hotel availability in the city in the fall. I would say April/May is probably your best bet.

I'm from New Orleans and live in Ca. I would say between March and May.

I lived in New Orleans for years and worked in hotels there. My advice:

January - Too cold. You'd be pretty amazed at how bone-chillingly cold it can get - and dreary. I'd recommend staying away.

February - Cold AND Mardi Gras season. Stay away.

March - Typically warm, not a ton going on in the city, and generally a good option.

April - Great month for getting married in New Orleans. Keep in mind, French Quarter Fest is normally mid-month and hotel prices can get pricey for this event. Jazz Fest is the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May. Hotel prices are at Mardi Gras rates, so probably steer clear of these two weekends completely.

May - Generally a great option, as long as you steer clear of Jazz Fest.

June - CAN be nice, but you can be pushing it w/r/t heat and humidity, especially later in the month.

July - Too hot. Don't do it.

August/September - Lumping these together because seriously, just don't visit New Orleans these months. It's extremely hot, humid, and peak hurricane season. Also, a lot of the local restaurants shut down for the month because tourism is so low both months.

October - There is always a threat of a hurricane, but historically, they have not been a problem for the city in October. It's a pretty great option if spring won't work for you. Keep in mind...New Orleanians are BANANAS for Halloween, so beware if you hold a wedding around that time.

November - Milder weather, but kind of a boring time in the city. Not a horrible option, but there just generally are not as many festivals and not as much fanfare this time of year.

December - The holidays around New Orleans are absolutely gorgeous, but the weather can be chilly. Likely you won't spend a ton of time outdoors if you choose a December wedding.

Hope this helps!

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I'm planning mine along the same time line as Tiffany, and this was beyond helpful!

I live in MS, but visit frequently, and my fiance loves the city. They also recommend watching out for St. Patrick's day, as those parades can draw a crowd comparable to Mardi Gras. There's generally a parade the weekend closest to the actual date, so watch out for that as well!!!

I ended up choosing the last weekend of March! Thank you everyone for your helpful comments!