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I Got Married at a Plantation Home and My Apology Is Not Enough
My wedding day was gorgeous, but now I know the truth behind that pretty facade
From the moment I set foot on the grounds of the Houmas House and Gardens, I became enchanted by its elegance and Southern charm. The low-hanging tree branches, whimsical gardens, and grand structure seemed like the perfect backdrop for our special day. The website describes it as “one of the top plantations in Louisiana.”
Even more captivating was the way that the grounds transformed by nighttime. Carefully placed spotlights illuminated every fountain and sculpture on the 38-acre estate. It took my breath away. Our wedding guests would feel as though they were walking through a fairytale wonderland when they arrived. The beauty of this centuries-old mansion was blinding, and I couldn’t wait to get married beneath the live oak trees and Spanish moss. It would make for picture-perfect memories.
December 31, 2016, was the best day of my life. I sauntered through my wedding day as though I were in a dream — it far surpassed my wildest expectations. A string quartet played “A Thousand Years” as I walked down the aisle. My husband and I exchanged our handwritten vows with the soft glow of our unity candle between us. The night overflowed with joyful tears, laughter, and dancing. So much dancing.
Lately, I reminisce about our big day with both fondness and guilt.
At the time of our wedding, I didn’t realize that the Houmas House Plantation was previously one of the largest sugarcane plantations in the South and that hundreds of enslaved Black people built it and its grounds.
Born and raised just outside of New Orleans, I grew up with great admiration for the big city and its culture. I spent many weekends walking around the French Quarter, delighting in the street artists and jazz musicians lining the square. Among them were kids wearing homemade tap shoes (with coke cans taped to the bottom) dancing for money.
My mom often took me through the French Market downtown where we would buy food (including fresh jambalaya and po’boys), jewelry, and crafts from the vendors.
