REAL WEDDING:: Caitlin Bumby + Donald Roof {Second Line Saturday}

::AS SEEN IN THE OCTOBER 2020 ISSUE OF NOW WEDDINGS MAGAZINE::

Written By: Jessica Burke | Photos: Dark Roux

CAITLIN + DONALD’S STORY:

Caitlin and Donald don’t have a typical, or conventional love story, but “that’s the way we like it,” shares Caitlin. The lovebirds met one Mardi Gras at 4am in the French Quarter at a bar called “The Dungeon.” Donald was captivated by Caitlin’s smile and Caitlin was impressed with his dancing skills, specifically his high kicks to Metallica’s “Walk.”

The two would find themselves laughing together while enjoying beer and crawfish two days later and then a few days after that they’d meet again on Second Line Sunday. That day would end in a kiss, the sweetest start to their “happily ever after” tale.

As fate would have it, a month after they met, Caitlin, who had been living in an Air Stream trailer, was accepted at Tulane University for a Master’s program and she didn’t hesitate to move her life to New Orleans. After six months Caitlin and Donald were officially a couple. In August 2019, on a beach in Nantucket, they got engaged.

The wedding invitation, rings and a botany book flatlay. Photo: Dark Roux

Caitlin's bouquet by Berry Blossom Flowers. “Caitlin and Donald dreamed of a biophilia-themed wedding that encompassed their love of New Orleans, plants and music,” shares their wedding planner Rena Sweeney of Alchemy Events. “Caitlin works in evolutionary biology and is pursuing her Ph. D. while Donald works in the local music industry. We planned a 120 person wedding that would marry each of those passions as we married the two of them.”

The original plans included food stations featuring their favorite local cuisine, centerpieces with plants in clear vases showing their exposed bulbs and botanical elements under cloches and of course local musicians entertaining their guests at their reception and, of course, an after party.

“Once we knew that these plans weren’t going to be possible due to covid restrictions,” shares Sweeney, “Caitlin and Donald decided they still wanted to move forward with their wedding on the original date, June 13, 2020.”

Caitlin and Donald's cats watch as their "parents" tie the knot.

Although most of Caitlin and Donald’s original 120 guests attended their back porch nuptials via Zoom, they did have 3 friends celebrate with them in person and were thrilled to count their cats, Buck and Roux, as unofficial witnesses for the wedding. The cats watched the wedding from inside the house and even “helped” with wedding preparations by eating Donald’s boutonniere!

Caitlin and Donald dance in the street as the Big Six Brass Band play.

When it comes to choosing her favorite parts of the wedding day, Caitlin has a few moments that stand out: “Donald showing up 20 minutes before the first look was supposed to take place because he was too excited, the second line coming THROUGH our house and then parading around the block with us, and our neighbor Bay Bay joining us!”

Donald’s favorite moment of the day was seeing Caitlin for the first time. It’s a moment he describes as “breathtaking.”

Mushroom Meringues by Lord of Meringes

One of the original wedding details was an elaborate display of meringue mushrooms. Even with all the other changes, the couple were still able to enjoy this special treat for their micro wedding.

Caitlin and Donald feed each other meringue mushrooms.