10 Outdoor Wedding Venues in New Orleans: Gardens, Courtyards, and Rooftops

New Orleans offers a wide range of outdoor wedding venues, from historic courtyards and botanical gardens to riverfront parks and rooftop ceremony spaces.

Outdoor weddings can provide strong natural light, room for a second line, and several options for couple and wedding-party portraits. The right venue should also fit your guest count, transportation plan, seasonal weather, and indoor rain backup.

I photograph weddings throughout New Orleans and help couples plan portrait timing, ceremony coverage, and reception photography around the venue and wedding-day schedule. Learn more about my New Orleans wedding photography services.

Here are 10 outdoor New Orleans wedding venues to consider.

This list focuses specifically on outdoor ceremony and reception options. If you are comparing indoor venues, ballrooms, historic properties, hotels, and other spaces as well, browse my New Orleans wedding venue guide for additional venue options and photography considerations throughout the city.

Race + Religious

Race + Religious is located in the Lower Garden District and combines three historic buildings with brick courtyards, greenery, and distinctive indoor spaces.

The courtyards can be used for the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing. From a photography perspective, the connected rooms and outdoor areas provide several backgrounds without requiring the couple to travel to another location. The venue currently accommodates up to 200 guests for a cocktail-style reception or 100 guests for a seated dinner in the Religious Courtyard, depending on the event layout.

The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life in Audubon Park is a practical option for an outdoor ceremony, elopement, or smaller wedding surrounded by one of the city’s most recognizable live oak trees.

The open landscape works well for ceremony photographs, family portraits, and couple portraits under the tree. Because the site is a public park, couples should consider guest seating, weather, sound, parking, and the logistics of moving to the reception afterward.

Audubon Nature Institute requires a private-rental permit for wedding ceremonies at the Tree of Life. Reservations are issued in three-hour increments, with guest-based pricing. Larger gatherings of more than 75 people are discouraged, and there are no restrooms or electricity at the tree. Confirm ceremony and professional photography requirements when reserving the location through Audubon Nature Institute.

The Columns Hotel

Columns is an 1883 hotel located along the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line. Its large front porch, historic interiors, and outdoor areas provide a relaxed Garden District setting for smaller wedding celebrations.

The location also gives couples access to St. Charles Avenue and nearby neighborhood architecture for portraits. Ask the venue which spaces are included in the rental and how guest access, dining, and the rain plan will be handled.

Once you've chosen the setting, the next step is building a photography timeline around the ceremony light, portrait locations and reception schedule. See my New Orleans wedding photography approach for complete coverage.

Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park

Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park offers open green space along the Mississippi River near the French Quarter and downtown New Orleans.

The waterfront, city buildings, public art, and river traffic provide several portrait options. Because it is a large public park, event plans should account for permits, pedestrian activity, sound, weather, and access for vendors and guests.

Unlike a traditional full-service wedding venue, Woldenberg Riverfront Park requires additional planning for private events, including permitted use of the grounds, guest arrangements, vendor access, and event logistics. Couples considering a ceremony here should confirm their plans directly with Audubon Nature Institute's event rental team.

Longue Vue House and Gardens

Longue Vue House and Gardens offers landscaped grounds, historic architecture, fountains, and several outdoor areas for portraits and wedding-related events.

The gardens work especially well for couples who want a formal outdoor setting with greenery and architectural variety. Longue Vue is particularly attractive for bridal portraits, engagement sessions, and wedding-related gatherings. The property offers separate photography reservations and private event rentals, so couples should confirm whether their intended ceremony or reception is permitted before making plans. Photography access and event rentals may have different requirements.

Pavilion of the Two Sisters

Located inside the New Orleans Botanical Garden, the Pavilion of the Two Sisters combines elegant indoor reception space with an adjacent outdoor terrace and views of the surrounding gardens. Its large windows and garden setting create beautiful opportunities for wedding portraits.

The venue is now part of the City Park Collection, with event sales, planning, and catering managed by Joel Catering. It accommodates up to 400 guests for a standing reception, 350 for a seated dinner, or 275 with dancing. Visit the official Pavilion of the Two Sisters page for current wedding arrangements.

The Chicory

The Chicory is a Warehouse District wedding venue with exposed brick, beams, gas lanterns, and more than 20,000 square feet of event space.

Couples can use the rooftop for an outdoor ceremony before moving inside for the reception. The venue states that its primary wedding space can accommodate up to 400 guests, making it a practical option for larger celebrations.

Pitot House

Pitot House is a historic property on Bayou St. John with a large lawn, gardens, galleries, and views of the water.

The 10,000-square-foot meadow can be used for ceremonies, receptions, dinners, and cocktail events for up to 150 guests. The house and grounds create a quieter setting that still feels connected to New Orleans history and architecture.

Historic BK House & Gardens

Historic BK House & Gardens is an 1826 French Quarter property with a formal garden, courtyard, historic interiors, and additional event spaces.

Couples can use different parts of the property for the ceremony, dinner, and dancing. The courtyard and garden also provide an outdoor French Quarter setting without requiring portraits in crowded public streets.

Capulet

Capulet is located in the Bywater inside a restored 1800s warehouse. The venue includes exposed brick, high wooden ceilings, a mezzanine, and a rooftop deck with views across the neighborhood.

The rooftop can be used for wedding ceremonies and outdoor portions of the reception, while the indoor space provides a built-in backup if the weather changes.

Choosing an Outdoor Wedding Venue in New Orleans

Before booking an outdoor venue, ask about:

• Guest capacity and seating layouts

• Indoor rain and heat backup options

• Ceremony and reception transition time

• Parking and transportation

• Vendor access and setup

• Sound restrictions

• Photography permits

• Second line routes

• Seasonal landscaping

• Sunset and available lighting

New Orleans weather can change quickly, especially during the warmer months. A clear backup plan protects the timeline and gives the photography, video, catering, and entertainment teams enough time to adjust.

Couples planning portraits away from the ceremony or reception venue can also explore my New Orleans photography locations for City Park, the French Quarter, Garden District, CBD, lakefront, and other portrait settings.

I provide New Orleans wedding photography with timeline support, guided posing, professional lighting, clean edits, natural skin tones, and a private final gallery.

Send me your wedding date, venue, estimated coverage time, and any outdoor ceremony or second line plans. I’ll follow up with availability and the wedding photography packages that fit your schedule.

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