Happy Mardi Gras!  Even if you didn’t know Mardi Gras was today, you probably knew that it takes place in New Orleans, LA. New Orleans is a singular place in the world: its culture, food, and language are an amazing hodgepodge of French, African, Spanish, and American traditions. So many unique elements come out of The Crescent City that it would be a week’s worth of posts just to name them all, let alone go into detail. But as today is Mardi Gras, I give you one of the most unique of all: a second line.

The second line is, quite literally, the second line of a traditional jazz parade. It is made up of spectators and dancers that was once spontaneous, but is now often an organized group with costumes and meetings. Participants dance, wave parasols and hankies, and generally have a good time. The parades happen for just about anything; funerals, weddings, and even just because it’s Sunday. The photo above is from a wedding we produced in New Orleans with the bride leading the second line!

Second line is best witnessed in NOLA of course, but if you’re not thinking of visiting Louisiana anytime soon, this wedding video should help. The quality isn’t Oscar worthy, but everyone is clearly having a fabulous time and the music is great.

We love New Orleans and we especially love doing weddings there; there’s no more fun environment for a party anywhere! (Also, it is one of the most gorgeous cities in the world.)  So, have a great Mardi Gras and, as the Cajuns say: “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”

*Let the good times roll!

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