Jasmine Owens and Glenwood Barbee’s love story began in the summer of 2015 on the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel. After exchanging a few messages online, the duo decided to meet in person at ABV in San Francisco. Once the two started chatting over drinks, Glenwood learned that Jasmine had previously served in the Peace Corps, which immediately caught his attention. “I found myself intrigued and realized that this wasn’t just another online date,” Glenwood recalls.
Jasmine, on the other hand, found Glenwood’s shoes to be a turnoff “Those shoes are no longer in his collection,” she notes. But, that didn’t deter her from pursuing him. At the end of their first date, she turned to him and asked, “So, are we going on a second date or what?” That second date turned into a third date and another date after that, and before they knew it, they were moving in together.
Four summers later, the pair received the keys to their first home. To commemorate the milestone, they took photos in front of the “Sold” sign on their new property. Glenwood saw it as the perfect opportunity to pop the question (while getting it on camera!). “I knew this was the first thing I wanted to do in our new home,” Glenwood reflects. Jasmine gave a resounding “yes,” and they celebrated their engagement and new home with Champagne on their back porch.
The lovebirds couldn’t wait to start planning their wedding, but it took longer than expected since the pandemic delayed the process. However, with the support and guidance of wedding planner Michelle Norwood, orchestrating their big day was more seamless than they anticipated. “There isn’t another planner I would have wanted to spend two years planning a wedding with,” the couple remarks. “We wanted a number of thought options to decide from, and Michelle stayed true to that. We never spun our wheels trying to make a decision.”
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Although the couple didn’t have a clear wedding theme in mind, they knew they wanted to host a classic and timeless October wedding that appealed to all 73 of their guests. “Our vision was to throw a fun wedding that had something for everyone,” Jasmine explains. Read on to see how the couple’s big day unfolded, as planned by Michelle Norwood Events and photographed by Mo Davis Photography.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Since Jasmine loves getting all dressed up, she sported a full ball gown with a structural bodice and a plunging V-neck for her wedding look. “Formal wear is my thing,” she states. “I feel most myself in a ball gown. I really wanted something timeless that had a highly fashionable modern twist, and [the dress] had everything that I wanted. I loved the architectural detail at the top and how it sat away from my body. I felt fabulous in the dress.”
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
For her “something borrowed” item, Jasmine wore her grandmother’s wedding ring. “It began as a 0.75 carat diamond that’s over 70 years old,” she illuminates. “Over the years, my family has added a birthstone [to the ring] for every child, creating a family heirloom.” To match the dazzling ring, she coated her nails in white polish and added ornate silver-leaf detailing.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
The couple’s VIP guest was their 5-month-old son. Jasmine made sure to keep her baby in mind when getting glam. “Our baby boy is hypersensitive to strong smells, so I decided not to wear a fragrance,” she admits.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
I felt like I got to find my dress and say ‘yes’ twice.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
When Jasmine went dress shopping, periwinkle was the only color available in the gown she wanted. She loved the look so much that she bought it in white before getting a chance to try it on. “I had to take a leap of faith,” she reveals. “Admittedly, I was nervous about purchasing it.” Once the gown finally arrived, she received further confirmation that it was the one. “I felt like I got to find my dress and say ‘yes’ twice,” Jasmine adds.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
A sparkly bridal cape topped off Jasmine’s look. “With its sparkles and classic draping, the cape was the perfect complement to my dress,” the bride gushes.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Jasmine’s beauty look was all about simplicity. She settled on flawless bronzed skin with a bold red lip for her makeup. “I wanted to look like myself with makeup that complemented my features,” she discloses. For her hair, she went with a low-maintenance sleek bun, inspired by Tracee Ellis Ross’ red carpet look. She continues, “I wanted to feel comfortable on my wedding day and not worry about my hair.”
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
“My bouquet was a collection of effortless early fall ingredients, loosely designed with plenty of dancing movement and the unique touch of a real pomegranate,” Jasmine imparts. Lush flowers in rich autumnal hues and botanical grasses gave her romantic bouquet color and volume.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Glenwood donned a black peak lapel tux for his wedding attire. “I wanted to keep my look simple yet classic,” the groom divulges. A white and copper boutonniere made of butterfly ranunculus coordinated perfectly with Jasmine’s fall-inspired bouquet.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Jasmine and Glenwood knew they wanted to host their nuptials at Marigny Opera House in New Orleans because they love how the venue is steeped in history, while simultaneously feeling current and exciting. “Our favorite thing about New Orleans is how the old and new mix, and that’s represented in the Marigny Opera House,” the couple shares. “With so much beauty and history, it felt like the perfect place to add our wedding history to.”
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Having a few quiet moments to talk, laugh, take in the Opera House, and share our excitement about getting married (at last!) was priceless.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
The grand exterior made the perfect backdrop for their first look. “Having a few quiet moments to talk, laugh, take in the Opera House, and share our excitement about getting married (at last!) was priceless,” the couple reminisces. Glenwood made the experience even more special by gifting Jasmine a set of pearls from Tiffany & Co.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
I’ve loved the unique (and literal) journey we’ve been on together.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Before the ceremony, the couple shared an intimate moment together, taking photos and reflecting on their relationship. “I’ve loved the unique (and literal) journey we’ve been on together,” Glenwood expresses.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
The groomsmen all wore the same classic peak lapel tuxedos to supplement the groom’s look and the venue’s aesthetic.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
“We wanted to match the beauty of the Marigny Opera House, so we went with things that completed the space,” the couple says of their ceremony décor. They lined the aisle with geometric gold lanterns and a canopy of 15-foot trees that drew your gaze to the ceiling. For their altar, the pair arranged an arch of grasses and flowers, surrounded it with more lanterns, and stacked votive candles on a modern white bookshelf behind it.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Jasmine’s father escorted her down the aisle to “Here and Now” by Luther Vandross.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
The lovebirds wrote their own heartfelt vows to add a personal touch to the ceremony. Jasmine carried family photos in her wedding dress pocket to keep her grounded and composed during the vow exchange. “When reading my vows, I touched [the photos] to remind me of the love my family has shared for over 90 years,” she illustrates.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
After their officiant, Glenwood’s high school advisor, pronounced them husband and wife, the newlyweds recessed to “Everlasting Love” by Natalie Cole.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
In true New Orleans fashion, Knockaz Brass Band led the flock on foot to the reception while playing jazz, go-go funk, and current hits. Everyone danced along while sipping their drinks.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
To foster a sense of community, Jasmine and Glenwood made sure to design an inclusive table layout for their garden-themed dinner party. “It was important to have a communal table and family-style dining to bring our guests together,” they remark.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
“Everything inside the Marigny Opera House was so dramatic, so we opted to keep the tent simple and intimate,” they explain. The couple hung greenery from the ceiling and set the table with oatmeal linens, rust velvet napkins, modern acrylic chargers, and chic gold flatware. They combined votive candles, fruit, and floral arrangements to create their table runner.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Our guests were blown away by how veggie-heavy our meal was.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Since Jasmine is fully vegan and Glenwood is vegan-friendly, they selected a vegan menu full of delicious comfort food for dinner. “We worked with Joel Catering to create a menu that was perfect, no matter our guests’ dietary preferences,” they share. “Joel Catering nailed this by showcasing some amazing vegan dishes that weren’t boring.”
The star of the lineup was an autumn succotash with butternut squash, mushrooms, okra, corn, and fava beans. They also served ratatouille with fresh vegetables smothered in tomato sauce and jambalaya with vegan sausage, fried okra, sautéed swiss chard, and blistered tomatoes for the main dish options. “Our guests were blown away by how veggie-heavy our meal was,” the couple adds.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Guests returned to the ceremony site for late-night fun and endless dancing. High-top tables wrapped in emerald green velvet linens and gold bar stools replaced the ceremony seating. Of course, the towering trees made another show-stopping appearance.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Although the duo didn’t serve a signature cocktail, they presented a multitude of drink options—spirits, wine, beer, and mixed drinks—for their guests to enjoy. They painted their menu in emerald green to match the venue and surrounding decorations.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Everyone mingled and danced while the live band D’Play performed. The couple wanted to go all out with musical entertainment. “You only live once, and this was the first party people were attending post Covid,” they share.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Jasmine and Glenwood had so much fun showing off their moves during their first dance. They chose “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green to set the tone for their next chapter together as newlyweds.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
The couple wanted to set aside time during their after-party for the traditional father-daughter and mother-son dances. Jasmine and her father spun around the dance floor to “My Girl” by The Temptations, and Glenwood and his mother swayed to “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
When Jasmine’s parents got married 39 years earlier, they served a Barbie cake at their reception, so Jasmine surprised them with her very own vegan Barbie cake. It couldn’t have been more serendipitous. “What luck I have that 39 years later, I married a man with the last name Barbee,” she ponders. “It just felt right.” Jasmine even pulled her hair back into a braided ponytail to match the Barbie doll’s hairstyle.
Photo by Mo Davis Photography
The couple’s wedding day was everything they could have dreamed of. Instead of letting the stress of planning a wedding interfere with the experience, they advise other couples to put everything into perspective. “The things that you worried about while planning your wedding won’t matter after your wedding,” they observe. “Just let it go and don’t sweat the small stuff.”
