How to Get Married in Louisiana

Check out the ultimate guide to getting married in Louisiana to find essential info, tips, and recommendations for your upcoming wedding.

Whitney Teal

August 27, 2018

Love is Rad

Getting married in Louisiana is a great idea! This gorgeous state is full of natural beauty, romantic architecture, and mouth-watering cuisine. Regardless of whether you’re wanting to know how to get married in Louisiana’s largest cities, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport, or you’re planning a rustic shindig somewhere in the country, you’ll want to cover your basics with this Louisiana weddings guide.

Here’s all you need to know about getting married in Louisiana, from Shreveport to New Orleans.

The Basics

Couples getting married in Louisiana enjoy a slightly longer-than-normal engagement period, according to WeddingWire data. With a 14-month engagement period, Louisiana couples are hiring an average of 13 wedding vendors, between securing a venue, photographer, videographer, caterer, transportation, and additional service categories. May and October are the most popular months to wed in this state and 140 wedding guests are usually invited.

Getting There and Getting Around

Couples will want to be sure to direct their out-of-town guests on how to get to their wedding location, and how to get around once landed.

Louisiana is home to several airports, but New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong Airport is the largest with the most airlines served. For weddings in that city, Baton Rouge, or other locations in southern Louisiana, this will definitely be the most convenient option with the most flexibility.

Delta, United, and American Airlines also operate out of Alexandria International Airport as well, which would offer the easiest access to central Louisiana.

Guests attending weddings in North Louisiana have a few regional airports to choose from (Monroe and Shreveport Regional Airports), too. For those who don’t mind a road trip, though, flying into the much-larger airports in New Orleans or Dallas-Fort Worth, then drive about five or three hours, respectively, into north Louisiana.

Once you’re settled in the state, a rental car is the easiest option for getting around for the wedding and accompanying events.

Weather

Louisiana experiences a subtropical climate due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. This primarily means that the state is warm for most of the year, with the average temperature ranging from about 66 degrees in Shreveport to 70 degrees in New Orleans.

Rain is a constant threat, particularly for the coasts, but October is the driest month. The late summer months of August and September see hurricanes and tropical storms develop.

Wedding Accommodations & Transportation

Don’t leave your guests hanging as you’re planning how to get married in Louisiana. If you’re hosting your reception at hotel, you’ll be offered a room block to secure space for your guests. If you’re choosing a different type of venue, you’ll want to find a nearby hotel, or a set of nearby hotels, and create a hotel room block, to make it easier on your guests. Try to find hotels at a variety of price points that will be affordable to all of your guests.

Transportation is an oft-forgotten, but super-important wedding need, especially in a sprawling state like Louisiana. Think about renting a shuttle bus as an easy, fun way to get your guests to and from your wedding festivities.

Louisiana Wedding Venues

From crawfish boils to Mardi Gras, Louisiana is a state that knows how to party, so you won’t be bereft in your search for the perfect wedding location. Here are a few of our favorite venues for getting married in Louisiana:

Micahla Vaughn

Marriage Licenses

Getting married in Louisiana is a no-go without a marriage license. In this state, photo ID and two witnesses are required to obtain a license. There is a 72-hour waiting period between when the license is issued and when you can be married. The license is valid for 30 days after its issued.

Things to Do in Louisiana

Don’t leave your out-of-town guests hanging when you’re getting married in Louisiana. Here are a few regional must-sees for you to suggest to your guests.

New Orleans’ French Quarter: As bawdy and fun-filled as it is a historical relic, there’s something for just about everyone of all ages in the French Quarter. A simple walk through this neighborhood is full of sights, sounds, and smells, while those who want to experience a little of the state’s revelrous nature need only visit Bourbon Street after dark.

Avery Island: You can’t really claim to have hot sauce in your bag, swag, without paying homage to TABASCO’s hometown on Avery Island, just outside of New Iberia, Louisiana. Visit the salt dome island and check in on the state’s namesake, pelicans, as well as rich bayous.

Riverboat Casinos: Gambling folks wouldn’t want to leave North Louisiana without getting on one of the boat casinos along the Red River that runs just outside of Shreveport and Bossier City.

Swamp Tour: Whether your wedding is held in Lafayette or New Orleans, if it’s within a few miles of the coast, you’ll want to send your guests to one of Louisiana’s famous swamp tours. These tours take customers out in the state’s swampy bayous in motorized boats to see natural wildlife (gators!) and plant life.