And They Lived Happily Ever After...With Orleans No. 9

It's always fun to log onto Instagram to see that a customer has tagged us - we love seeing our products in your homes, offices, and even in different retailers across the U.S. But a few months ago, we were tagged and it was extra fun! To our delight, we discovered Mollie O'Hearn Ruiz had an Orleans Home Fragrances inspired wedding! All of us at Orleans Home Fragrances were so excited to discover this one that we knew it had to be shared. We reached out to Mollie and asked if she'd give us a sneak peek into her wedding!

Mollie and her now-husband, Anthony, met during their undergraduate studies at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. They shared mutual friends for a few semesters and started dating in 2012 shortly after Mollie became his fraternity sweetheart. 

"I am originally from the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area but went to Louisiana for undergrad. When we started dating, Anthony and his family certainly made it feel like "home" for me," Mollie shared.

Anthony was born and raised in Iberia Parish. Mollie's parents have a condo in New Orleans that they'd travel to occasionally. But the majority of their collegiate friends are originally from New Orleans, so they have spent their fair share of time in the city. New Orleans has made many memories for Mollie and Anthony, including Mollie's bachelorette party, where she and 11 of her girlfriends experienced Krewe du Vieux 2019! 

Once the wedding date was set - Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Cincinnati Club in downtown Cincinnati, the planning began. The couple wanted to create an entire "wedding weekend" for friends and family from Louisiana, especially those who had not yet had the chance to come visit since they had moved back to Fort Thomas, Kentucky. They hosted 135 guests at their wedding, 45 who traveled in from Louisiana!

The couple decided to incorporate Orleans Home Fragrances into their wedding to recognize Anthony's Louisiana roots. Mollie wanted to create a "fun" wedding, but she said it was also important to her to create an entire atmosphere that stood out and appealed to all of the senses, making it an entirely unforgettable experience for everyone.

Featuring navy and varying colors of blush, the bridesmaids chose their own dress styles and colors. Groomsmen's' ties were coordinated to match. Special pin spotlights and dramatic uplighting at the venue created a beautiful ambiance. The wedding cake featured subtle fleur-de-lis to honor where the couple's relationship began. And making the wedding extra special was the fact that Anthony's cousin and Godfather, Cristian, led the ceremony.

Mollie focused on the scents in the room, using Orleans Home Fragrances candles, room spray, and fresh eucalyptus to achieve a very romantic environment. 

"The OHF candles were a huge factor: ALL 80 of our votives used in our reception were Orleans No. 9! It is our favorite scent," Mollie told us.

And when it was time to leave, the couple wanted everyone to take home a little piece of NOLA with them as a wedding favor. Mollie had purchased Kate Aspen fleur-de-lis candleholders and sent each guest home with their favorite OHF fragrance - an Orleans No. 9 votive.

"They were a huge hit – especially for the local Cincinnatians who had never been exposed to OHF!"

Such a fun spin to bring a little bit of NOLA to your guests when you can't actually be in NOLA! 

The wedding might be over, but Mollie and Anthony still need some NOLA in their life! The couple regularly uses their favorite scent, Orleans No. 9 at home. 

"We love the candles and the wax melts. Occasionally, we will also splurge on Nu Wash to use for our linens. Angel is my second runner up, but we also can't wait to try out Saint soon with our next order!"

We loved getting a peek into Mollie and Anthony's special day and are thrilled they chose to make Orleans Home Fragrances a part of their wedding!

All photography by Mary R. Aulick, Chocolate Paper Studios