Christopher’s July 4 Microwedding at Xavier University’s Drexel Chapel & Broussard’s
Christopher Verrett’s July 4, 2025 wedding brought together three distinctive New Orleans locations: Common Center in downtown New Orleans, St. Katharine Drexel Chapel at Xavier University of Louisiana, and Broussard’s Restaurant in the French Quarter.
The celebration was a reminder that a wedding doesn’t need hundreds of guests or an elaborate reception to feel complete. With organized group transportation, a meaningful chapel ceremony, a dove release, wedding portraits, and an intimate brunch reception, Christopher’s wedding included many of the traditions of a larger celebration on a more personal scale.
I photographed the wedding day across these locations, documenting the ceremony, meaningful traditions, portraits, and reception details.
Planning an intimate ceremony or microwedding in New Orleans? Explore my New Orleans Wedding Photography services → for coverage options, pricing, and availability.
Starting the Wedding Day at Common Center in Downtown New Orleans
The wedding day began at Common Center, located at 925 Common Street in downtown New Orleans, where the group gathered before traveling to Xavier University of Louisiana for the ceremony.
Rather than having everyone arrange separate transportation, the wedding included a hired passenger van to transport the group to the chapel.
Coordinating transportation was a practical addition to the celebration, allowing guests to travel together and simplifying the transition from the downtown meeting location to Xavier’s campus.
For intimate weddings involving multiple New Orleans locations, organized transportation can make a significant difference in the overall experience. It helps keep the group on schedule, reduces individual parking concerns, and allows guests to focus on the celebration rather than navigating between venues.
Christopher’s wedding demonstrated how a thoughtful transportation plan can support a smaller wedding without requiring an elaborate itinerary.
An Intimate Wedding Ceremony at St. Katharine Drexel Chapel and the Gayle and Tom Benson Sanctuary
Christopher’s wedding ceremony took place at St. Katharine Drexel Chapel on the campus of Xavier University of Louisiana, a historically significant Catholic university in New Orleans.
Inside the chapel, the Gayle and Tom Benson Sanctuary provided the setting for an intimate ceremony surrounded by family and loved ones.
But for Christopher, this location held a personal connection that extended beyond the chapel's architecture and religious significance.
Honoring a Family Legacy at Xavier University
While inside the sanctuary, Christopher shared the story of his grandmother, Gladys Braud Verrette, and her connection to Xavier University's history.
Her name is memorialized within the chapel's Stations of the Cross recognition, where an inscription reads, "In Memory of Gladys Braud Verrette."
The inscription was a tangible reminder of his family's connection to the university, making the wedding location especially meaningful.
For Christopher, celebrating his marriage in a chapel where his grandmother is remembered brought together family history, faith, and a new chapter of his own life.
As a wedding photographer, these are the details that bring greater depth to a wedding story. Beyond the ceremony and portraits, they reveal the personal connections that make a location meaningful to the people celebrating there.
Documenting the inscription alongside the ceremony photographs helped preserve that connection as part of Christopher's wedding gallery.
The Gayle and Tom Benson Sanctuary offered a setting that balanced the formality of a traditional chapel ceremony with the personal atmosphere of a New Orleans microwedding.
A Wedding Dove Release at Xavier University
One of the distinctive moments from Christopher’s wedding was the dove release following the ceremony.
While many New Orleans weddings incorporate second lines, brass bands, or elaborate exits, this celebration included a different kind of wedding tradition.
The release provided a memorable transition from the formal chapel ceremony into the remainder of the celebration.
From a photography perspective, moments like these require attention to timing, positioning, and the reactions surrounding the release.
Unlike a posed portrait, the action happens quickly. Capturing both the release and the couple’s experience helps preserve the occasion beyond a single photograph.
For Christopher’s wedding, the dove release became one of the defining moments of the day.
Wedding Portraits and the Xavier University Setting
Wedding portraits are an important part of an intimate wedding, particularly when the ceremony and reception take place at separate locations.
Xavier University provided the chapel setting for the ceremony, creating an opportunity to incorporate the location into the wedding story.
My approach to wedding portraits combines guided posing with natural interaction, allowing couples to receive direction without making every photograph feel overly staged.
For microweddings, a focused portrait schedule can be especially valuable.
Rather than trying to photograph dozens of wedding-party combinations, the priority can remain on the couple, their closest family members, and the photographs that will matter most after the celebration.
A French Quarter Brunch Wedding Reception at Broussard’s Restaurant
Following the ceremony and dove release at Xavier University, the celebration continued at Broussard’s Restaurant in the French Quarter for an intimate wedding brunch.
The restaurant provided a distinctly New Orleans setting, combining its historic atmosphere with a thoughtfully arranged dining experience.
One of the reception details was a personalized Verrett Wedding menu, featuring several dishes inspired by the city's culinary traditions.
The meal began with duck and alligator gumbo served with popcorn rice, followed by a choice of entrées:
Petite Filet with Lyonnaise potatoes and red wine glace.
Cochon de Lait Benedict featuring cornbread, roasted pork, poached eggs, Crystal hollandaise, and pickled shallots.
For dessert, guests enjoyed traditional Bananas Foster, a classic New Orleans dessert.
The printed menu, coordinated table settings, and illustrated artwork depicting Broussard's historic French Quarter entrance were among the details photographed during the reception.
These elements helped tell the story of the wedding beyond the ceremony itself, preserving the dining experience that Christopher and his guests shared.
For couples considering a smaller New Orleans wedding, a restaurant reception offers an alternative to a traditional banquet hall or ballroom. It allows the celebration to focus on conversation, food, family, and the experience of sharing a meal together.
Christopher's reception at Broussard's demonstrated how an intimate brunch can feel like a complete wedding celebration while maintaining a relaxed, personal atmosphere.
Why a Brunch Reception Works for a New Orleans Microwedding
Christopher’s wedding is a useful example of how a traditional ceremony and a restaurant reception can work together.
A couple can still include meaningful traditions, professional wedding portraits, family photographs, and a reception without committing to an all-day celebration.
A brunch reception can also keep the wedding timeline focused.
Instead of extending the celebration into late-night entertainment, couples can organize the day around their ceremony, portraits, and a shared meal with family and friends.
New Orleans is particularly well suited to this approach because couples can combine churches, chapels, historic architecture, and French Quarter restaurants within one city.
Planning Note: Coordinating Transportation and Multiple Wedding Locations
One important consideration for weddings like Christopher’s is coordinating the transitions between locations.
With the day beginning at Common Center, continuing to Xavier University for the ceremony, and finishing with a reception at Broussard’s, transportation and scheduling were essential parts of the experience.
Christopher’s decision to use a hired passenger van illustrates one way couples can simplify these logistics.
When helping couples organize a wedding across multiple locations, I recommend establishing the ceremony time, transportation schedule, portrait priorities, and reception arrival time before finalizing the photography timeline.
For a July wedding, outdoor portrait timing and the summer heat are also worth considering.
The goal is to preserve the important moments without making a small wedding feel unnecessarily rushed.
Wedding Venue and Photography Credits
Wedding: Christopher Verrett
Wedding Date: July 4, 2025
Initial Gathering: Common Center, 925 Common Street, New Orleans
Transportation: Hired Passenger Van
Ceremony: St. Katharine Drexel Chapel, Xavier University of Louisiana
Ceremony Sanctuary: Gayle and Tom Benson Sanctuary
Wedding Tradition: Dove Release
Reception: Broussard’s Restaurant, French Quarter
Reception Style: Intimate Brunch Reception
Photography: Chad Populis Photography
Wedding Style: New Orleans Microwedding
Frequently Asked Questions About New Orleans Microweddings
Where did Christopher’s New Orleans wedding take place?
The wedding day began at Common Center in downtown New Orleans. A hired passenger van transported the group to St. Katharine Drexel Chapel at Xavier University for the ceremony, followed by a brunch reception at Broussard’s Restaurant in the French Quarter.
What is the Gayle and Tom Benson Sanctuary at Xavier University?
The Gayle and Tom Benson Sanctuary is the altar area inside St. Katharine Drexel Chapel at Xavier University of Louisiana. It was named in recognition of the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation’s support of the university.
Can a microwedding include a traditional chapel ceremony?
Absolutely. A microwedding refers to the smaller scale of the celebration, not the absence of wedding traditions. Couples can still incorporate a formal religious ceremony, portraits, meaningful rituals, and a reception.
Is a restaurant a good option for a small New Orleans wedding reception?
A restaurant reception can work especially well for couples who prefer an intimate dining experience over a large ballroom celebration. Private dining arrangements, guest capacity, and event logistics should be confirmed directly with the restaurant.
How much wedding photography coverage does a microwedding need?
Coverage depends on the ceremony length, number of portrait locations, travel between venues, and reception activities. A shorter wedding may not require full-day coverage, but the timeline should still provide enough time for the moments the couple wants documented.
Explore More Real New Orleans Weddings
Every wedding has its own combination of locations, traditions, timelines, and personal details.
For another intimate chapel celebration, explore Joseph and Sylvia’s French Quarter Wedding Chapel Elopement →, featuring a small ceremony followed by portraits throughout New Orleans.
You can also browse my Featured Real New Orleans Weddings → to see more authentic wedding stories, ceremony locations, reception venues, and photography from around the city.
Available for Publication — Online + Print
Select photographs from Christopher Verrett’s July 4, 2025 wedding at Xavier University’s Drexel Chapel and Broussard’s Restaurant may be available for editorial consideration, subject to image-use permissions.
The wedding includes chapel ceremony photography, a dove release, wedding portraits, and an intimate French Quarter brunch reception.
For publication inquiries, image usage requests, venue information, or photographer crediting, contact Chad Populis Photography at photography@chadpopulis.com.
Planning a New Orleans Microwedding or Intimate Chapel Ceremony?
Your wedding doesn't have to be large to deserve thoughtful, professional photography.
Whether you're planning a ceremony at Xavier University's Drexel Chapel, a French Quarter restaurant reception, or an intimate celebration at another New Orleans venue, I offer photography coverage built around your timeline, locations, and priorities.
From the ceremony and portraits to the details and family moments that make the day personal, my goal is to document the complete experience without making the photography feel overwhelming.
Comments