Michaela Mitchell and Jay Warren’s wedding day was first and foremost about family. But fun came as a close second.

The couple met as co-counselors at Mississippi State University’s welcome week and were later paired up again as lab mates. They dated through the rest of undergrad and into their post-graduate studies—she’s a nurse, he’s a doctor. When Jay proposed around Thanksgiving of 2023, Michaela immediately jumped into planning mode.

First order of business? Finding a venue that could accommodate Michaela’s large extended family and guest list, about 400 people in total. The couple quickly homed in on New Orleans for its atmosphere, venues and sentimental ties.

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Their parents both met in the Crescent City, and the couple felt that tying the knot there would pay homage to their relationships.

Michaela, a Baton Rouge native, also grew up visiting New Orleans just about every weekend, she says, for Saints and Pelicans games, Mardi Gras or other events near her family’s condo across from the Saenger Theatre. And Jay, though raised in Gulfport, had family in the area. Still, most guests lived out of state and would be traveling to Louisiana for the wedding.

“If they were going to come to Louisiana, they needed the full-blown New Orleans experience,” Michaela says.

Music, a shared passion between Michaela and Jay, would help bring that vision to life.

The couple was married at Marigny Opera House, surrounded by family and friends, on April 12, 2025. Jay’s longtime youth pastor performed the ceremony, while Michaela’s ring featured gold from her father’s band, and her bouquet was wrapped with lace from her mother’s veil.

Michaela, a practicing Catholic, says she felt the venue’s history and grand architecture tied back to her faith. She liked that the Opera House was a deconsecrated church—and that Beyoncé’s sister Solange Knowles had been married there, too.

For the reception, the couple zeroed in on the Civic Theatre for its stage, size and the lively parties they’d seen thrown there.

Fitting with the venue and the couple, Michaela says she knew they had to secure a top-notch band. As fans of the Bee Gees, she and Jay specifically wanted a group who could belt out “How Deep Is Your Love” for their first dance. New Orleans’ Blue Rhythm delivered, perfecting a P.J. Morton cover of the hit, playing through the night (no breaks) with a full horn section and leading the party down Poydras Street in a second line.

One of Michaela’s major hopes for the night was that the dance floor would be packed. She says she was happy to learn that the only thing keeping guests from boogying was the standout Louisiana-inspired cuisine from Black Pearl Catering Co. Think: crawfish boil tacos, grits and grillades and more.

“People kept telling me ‘I really wanted to get more food, but I didn’t want to leave the dance floor.’ … That was a good problem to have,” Michaela says.

Her other hope was that the wedding would uniquely represent her and Jay.

Almost a year into married life, she feels that it achieved just that. Just like them, the day was thoughtful, musical and full of life.

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Hear from Him & Her

What is your favorite thing about one another?

Jay: Her radiance! Michaela is able to bring light and joy to any room that she walks into.

Michaela: His heart. Jay loves with intention and purpose. He is also extremely witty and is constantly making me and others laugh

How did you know he/she was the one?

J: When we first started dating in early 2020, we had lots of free (quarantine) time to get to know one another. It was in those moments that I got to see her at her most authentic self, and I realized we shared the same values, goals and hopes for the future. Those are the moments when I started to imagine our life together as husband and wife.

M: After our first meeting, Jay and I connected instantly. As time went on, I really got to understand him as a person. We share all the same values and goals. It was pretty clear that he was the perfect life partner for me.

What is one detail that stands out when you think back on your wedding day?

J: The FOOD! We had such a blast tasting and brainstorming our wedding menu with our vendor, and it was such an incredible experience to see how those ideas came to life on our wedding day.

M: I think we were able to showcase our personalities throughout everything. From our setlist, food, venue and décor, it all highlighted Jay and me in the perfect way.

Did you disagree on anything during the planning process? If so, what was it and how did you compromise?

J: I am a huge fan of air dancers–the inflatable tubes you’ll see in front of car dealerships– and wanted to include one (or two) in our wedding day. Michaela disagreed pretty heavily.

M: We were on the same page about most things! Well, maybe not the airdancers …

If you had one piece of advice for engaged couples, what would it be?

J: Trust the process and support your partner’s vision.

M: Always remember that the wedding day is about celebrating the love you and your partner share. And remember it’s your wedding, do what you want! It also helps when you have amazing wedding planners/vendors.

What surprised you the most about your wedding?

J: How quickly everything was over! We didn’t stop moving for the entire night, and suddenly we were dancing to the last song.

M: We invited around 400 guests, and I was surprised by how many guests I was able to speak to on the actual day. Of course, that didn’t stop me from being on the dance floor!

CEREMONY Marigny Opera House / RECEPTION Civic Theatre / COORDINATOR Nice Day / CATERER Black Pearl Catering Co. / CAKE The Cake Artistry / FLORIST Antigua Floral / INVITATIONS Aerialist Press/Studio ED/Gem Printing / BRIDAL GOWN Chosen by Kyha, Alice in Ivory / HAIR Domonique Mosely/Jacques Landry / MAKEUP Petal Salon / VIDEOGRAPHER Nathan Willis Wedding Films / BAND Blue Rhythm/BE Collective / RENTALS Distressed Rentals/Element/True Value Rental / OTHER VENDORS The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans