Parker Kennedy and William Wildman
How did you two meet? At Brighton Village in Oxford, while we were both undergrads. William spotted Parker popping a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne across the pool, and he was smitten. We connected on social media a few days later, and the rest is history.
Tell us about the proposal: On Christmas Day 2020, William proposed to Parker at their favorite spot in Audubon Park in New Orleans. Throughout the pandemic, we would eat lunch together at a specific park bench in the park overlooking the duck ponds. It was our favorite place to retreat from the chaos of COVID, and this spot formed so many special memories for us early in our relationship, so our proposal there seemed appropriate. We had a busy day and were on the way to Parker’s grandparents’ house for Christmas Day festivities when William took a detour toward the park. Parker was frustrated as we were already late to lunch, so much so that William eventually had to ask Parker to chill and go along with it. We, along with our dog, Remington, made our way to our favorite spot where William asked Parker to marry him. Little did Parker know, the party at his grandparents’ house was also for our engagement, so they knew we’d be a little late!
Favorite moment from your big day: The transition from wedding reception to New Year’s Eve party. Our guests dressed to the nines for our wedding, which made for a swanky, chic New Year’s Eve party to ring in the new year. We danced until just before midnight, when we all went outside our venue to watch an amazing fireworks display. It was remarkable and symbolic to watch so many people we love enter a new chapter and also a new year with us in France!
Favorite wedding details: Our favorite detail had to be our wedding cake. In France, the traditional wedding cake is a Piece Montee, which is essentially a tower of creme puffs encased in solid sugar. We adopted this tradition in light of our wedding venue. We’d brought a beautiful cake knife with us that was gifted to us by David and Katie Naron at Oxford Floral, but per French tradition, we were actually to cut our cake with a sword from the chateau! It was a unique and memorable experience for everyone.
What you’re doing now: Parker is the owner and founder of Pique by Parker Kennedy, a full-service luxury interior design firm and lifestyle boutique in the Historic Magazine Street District in Uptown New Orleans. William is an associate attorney in Baker Donelson’s New Orleans office.
Ceremony date: Dec. 31, 2022
Venue: Chateau le Chereau
Reception Venue: Chateau le Chereau
Wedding planner: Sarah Thomas and Guillaume Bernard, Sarah Thomas Events
Photographer: Option 1
Florist: Sarah Thomas Florals
Caterer: Lovage and Pumpernickel
Bridesmaids’ dresses: All of our wedding party wore varied shades of emerald in formal gowns.
Groom and groomsmen attire: The grooms wore bespoke, black double-breasted tuxedos from Indochino for the ceremony before changing into classic white dinner jackets for the seated dinner and green velvet jackets for the reception and New Year’s Eve party.
Music: Evan Xerri (harpist), Ensemble Obligato (string quartet)
Bar: In Cocktail We Truck
