Warehouse 535, Lafayette LA : Mikayla & Derek
Updated: Aug 15, 2022
In February we celebrated the month of love with Mikayla and Derek's wedding day! The ceremony took place at St. Pius X Catholic Church, then guests made their way to Warehouse 535 for the reception. It was a truly beautiful day filled with so a lot of fun, a few happy tears, and so much love.
For this wedding I was booked for Month Of Coordination - I met with Mikayla & her mom a month prior to the wedding where they walked me through everything they had planned and how they envisioned the day going. Leading up to their big day I touch based with all of their vendors to confirm all final details. I was present their entire wedding day to ensure everything flowed smoothly and stayed on time!
The day started with Mikayla and her girls getting prepped at Home2Suites by Hilton in Parc Lafayette. When I arrived the girls were all so relaxed and full of giggles! The spacious suite allowed enough room for the girls to spread out and for the photographer and videographer to get creative for some cool shots!
Prior to getting dressed Mikayla opened a letter from her very soon to be husband. During this part of the day it feels like everything slows down for just a few minutes...even though the other partner isn't around, you can always feel the presence of the love they share. Although it's usually an emotional part of the day, this private moment is one of my favorites!
But there was more.... a gift that a few bridesmaids were in on!
The gift bags contained a dog stuffed animal and a framed photo of the cutest pup. After a second of confusion and the Maid of Honor ensuring her it wasn't a joke, Mikayla realized that her wedding gift was a new puppy! Not just any puppy though, it was the Laberdoodle that she had been wanting for quite some time now, named Krewe!
*Although not present at the wedding, I have seen pictures of Krewe and he is QUITE a handsome fella
By this point in the day, you could feel the anticipation building as we approached the time of the wedding. After getting dressed Mikayla shared a first look with two of the most important guys in her life - her dad and her almost husband! These were two of the sweetest moments of the day and you could feel the love radiating. After Mikayla and Derek saw each other, you could tell they were much more at ease and in their element - one of the many perks to doing a first look!
Of course, we took advantage of beautiful Parc Lafayette for wedding party and family photos as well- it was the perfect location for Jessica with Jess Johnson Photography to work her magic! This group was so fun and made this portion of the day a breeze. The entire wedding party went out of their way to celebrate Mikayla and Derek every chance they had and you could tell both families were so thrilled for this big day!
Mikayla's dress had the most beautiful details and it could not have been more "her"! The bridesmaids had a variety of styles in lilac, which matched the other wedding details perfectly - it was such a fun pop of color for a February wedding. Mary Ellen's Tux Shop always does a phenomenal job with suits, and this day was no exception - the guys all looked so handsome!
Finally, at 7:00pm, the church doors opened and Mikayla was escorted down the aisle by her father to her groom who was waiting at the altar. St. Pius is one of the most beautiful churches in Lafayette and it was a joy to witness Mikayla and Derek exchange their vows in such a breathtaking location. The pews were filled with so many family members and friends, which made such a large church feel so intimate and personal.
It was very obvious that so much time and thought was put into the details by Mikayla, Derek and their families. Mikayla's something blue was fabric from one of her late grandmother's dresses - it was pinned on her garter, so a piece of her grandmother was with her the entire night. There was a memory table for family members who had passed and there were even trinkets on the table that represented each person and something that they enjoyed. Derek's groom table was filled with treats and decor that represented his love for photography and videography perfectly! Unique touches like these that really describe the bride and groom are always so special and make the wedding day so unique!
Russell's catering served a DELICIOUS dinner buffet - they never disappoint! After dinner guests had a variety of options to choose from for desserts including - two cakes from Nicole Darbonne and personalized cookies from Mimzie's Tiny Treats.
If one thing is certain, this group was ready for a party! The wedding party stayed on the dance floor from the time they were announced into the reception until the lights came on at the end of the night. Acadiana's DJ Service kept the party rolling all night long with music selections that pleased all age groups of the crowd. Clearfog Productions stayed in the mix all night getting all the good party footage and I can't wait to see the completed video! I have no doubt in my mind that people will be talking about how fun this night was for many years to come - Mikayla and Derek sure know how to throw a party!
Mikayla & Derek are so perfect together and their people celebrated them so hard - I'm so thankful I was able to play a role in their special day! It was a day filled with beautiful weather, so many laughs, and hours worth of dance moves - it represented the two of them and their love perfectly! I'll always remember this day so fondly!
Ceremony Venue: St. Pius X Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Warehouse 535
Photographer: Jess Johnson Photography
Videography: Clearfog Productions
Cakes: Nicole Darbonne
Caterer: Russell's Food Center
Bridal Gown: A-Net's Bridal Boutique
Suits: Mary Ellen's Tux Shoppe
Hair Stylist: Angelle Goodeaux
Makeup Artist: Morgan Thistlethwaite