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Allie & Teresa | 11.4.22
Teresa Carretero (née Turner) first met Allie Carretero as friends and sorority sisters at St. Louis University. They reconnected several years later at Mardi Gras in 2019, soon becoming more than friends. While Allie is from St. Louis and Teresa is from Kansas City, the couple knew they wanted to hold their big day in New Orleans, their shared home.
Allie (left) and Teresa (right)
For the nearly 10 months of planning — which they did themselves with the assistance of their five collective sisters — Teresa and Allie bonded deeply over the spirit and love they wanted to deliver on their wedding day. "I loved our wedding talk date nights," Teresa said. "We wanted the wedding to feel extremely unique to us. We envisioned lots of really intentional words shared about queer love and love in general, a long dance party, and being outside the whole day."
"I had no idea what I wanted to wear but absolutely fell in love with this dress when I tried it on." - Teresa Carretero
The couple prepared for the big day at their Marigny home, surrounded by friends and family. Allie wore a simple, classic low-back silk crepe gown with a wide scoop neckline, structured bodice, and fitted skirt that she found at Lovely Bride in Houston. She accessorized with strappy sandals and Jack vintage gold statement teal crystal earrings by Kendra Scott. Teresa found her dream dress, a deep and dramatic V-neck with delicate sheer bodice and long sleeves, at Unbridaled on Magazine Street. She complemented the look with dangling statement earrings.
The couple chose poems and writings that they both adore, read a "profession of love," and said their vows together.
The ceremony was held at Clouet Gardens in the Bywater. It was officiated by their friend Meredith Clancy and included co-handwritten vows by the couple said together in unison. After they shared their first kiss at a married couple, a secondline style brass band ushered them down the aisle and a 25-minute dance party ensued in the garden for guests along with beer, wine, and champagne. Guests reconvened at the Pitot House along Bayou St. John for the reception, where they were treated to an oyster bar along with gumbo, chicken, and mac and cheese catered by Elysian Seafood while dancing the night away to the Phunky Monkeys. There were four wedding cakes made by a friend, along with a sheet cake from Bywater Bakery.
Allie and Teresa had a total of 15 women as bridesmaids — five sisters, two cousins, seven sorority sisters, and one close friend.
The couple reconnected in New Orleans during Mardi Gras after not seeing each other for five years. "We completely hit it off and sparks flew." - Teresa Carretero
While there were other personalized events surrounding their wedding day — a welcome reception at Mr. B’s and a flash mob/bar crawl the next day in the French Quarter, where guests were encouraged to wear wedding dresses — the most memorable moment for the couple was walking to Clouet Gardens from their home, surrounded by their bridal party.
Floral arrangements and bouquets were designed by a friend with flowers from Trader Joe’s.
"Every morning we walk the same streets to the same garden to play fetch with our dog, Paul. On November 4, as brides, we walked that same route to the garden to become wife and wife. Having this huge moment with our family and friends, in the place we spend each morning, felt like pure magic."
This article appeared in the March 2023 issue of Adore