REAL WEDDING:: JENNIFER SIMS + JASON HATCHER {Destination NOLA Party}

Written by Jessica Burke

Photos by Brian Jarreau Photography

Video by The Neskes (Be sure to scroll to the end to see Jen and Jason’s video!)

HOW THEY MET IN JEN’S WORDS:

“We met while I was a med student and he was a physician at the hospital I did my rotations at. It was much less scandalous than “Grey’s Anatomy”. We dated long distance while I did my residency in Texas and he lived in Georgia, but survived all of it and finally got married 11/11/19.”

Jen's lace and crepe Stella York wedding gown. — Jen chose a lace and crepe chiffon Stella York wedding gown.

Hatcher_207 — Jen and her bridesmaids share a champagne toast before the wedding.

“We are not the typical wedding couple,” says Jen. “I didn’t care about flowers, or a cake. I just wanted a fun destination party with my friends.”

Jen and Jason embrace during their "First Look" on their wedding day at Rosy's Jazz Hall in New Orleans.

“The first look was a blur,” says Jen. “I am not one for attention, and had the videographer and photographer snapping away. I remember thinking don’t trip, smile, do I pinch his butt or tap his shoulder?”

Jen and Jason took a few moments to take photos together before the wedding. They were sure to grab a photo outside their venue, Rosy's Jazz Hall.

“We had taken a few fun trips to NOLA and knew it would be perfect for a small easy destination wedding,” says Jen. “I really wanted a venue that handled most of the details in house. The fewer vendors the better. When I found Rosy’s I was blown away by the reviews, price and the fact that it was included along with a day of coordinator.” (read more about the history of their legendary venue here)

Wedding first dance at Rosy's Jazz Hall in New Orleans. Photo by Brian Jarreau Photography

“Our first dance was ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran,” Jen shares. “It was one of most fun concerts that we had been to. We were randomly in Atlanta and the people next to us at the bar were going to it. We checked on StubHub about 20 minutes before the show and they had 1st row for $120. We jumped on the MARTA (the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) and made it in the middle of the opening act. The people next to us had paid $2000 for their front row seats.”

Hatcher-Wedding-Bridesmaids-Mardi-Gras-Masks — Jen chose Mardi Gras masks instead of bouquets for her bridesmaids. What a fun way to add NOLA flair to her destination New Orleans wedding!

“We had decided on 11/11 as our date as we always thought it meant good luck,” Jen shares. “At 11:11, we would make a wish when were doing long distance. It worked out well as we planned a wedding weekend trip with the bachelor/bachelorette party Saturday, rehearsal Sunday and wedding Monday.”

Fun details for the wedding included colorful, personalize koozies and in lieu of a traditional groom’s cake, guests noshed on FSU-themed cake pops (in honor of Jason’s Alma Mater). The couple opted for a unique form of reception entertainment – dueling piano players – that kept the dance floor packed the whole evening!