REAL WEDDING: Dr. Neal Pavlov & Lance Wiggins

MISCHIEF MANAGED

MAY 22, 2021 | NEW ORLEANS, LA

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIA NASH

HOW THEY MET + THE PROPOSAL

“Our story starts in Little Rock, Arkansas almost 5 years ago. Lance was working as a nurse in the Neurocritical care unit and Neal was just starting residency in internal medicine at a different hospital. Shortly after moving there, Neal volunteered to help a fellow resident move into his new home/propose to one of Lance’s old friends. At the suggestion of this very friend (and a thus far dormant online dating match) Lance reached out.

Three years later, Neal had 7 plans to propose (all of which were during an end-of-residency trip to London) and the final one was successful. 1. Propose at the airport, if security ended up finding the ring and asking about it. 2. Propose during a picnic in the park (but never actually had a picnic) 3. Propose at actual 9 3/4 (too many people in line) 4. Propose at the Harry Potter Studios (not a good spot there) 5. Propose at London Pride (there wasn’t a good time and it was sorta cheesy). 6. Propose outside of the bathroom in the hotel (this was a last ditch effort and somewhat of a nod to Neal’s parents’ proposal story) 7. Row out onto the lake in Hyde Park and hand Lance the golden snitch that Neal had brought with the ring inside (successful).”

THE WEDDING COLORS Neal chose the color red for his bow tie and pocket square and Lance chose the color blue. Attendants for each groom wore their respective “house” colors.

THE CEREMONY The entire wedding included subtle nods to Harry Potter and as Lance and Neal put it, the “irony of the match of a Slytherin (Lance) and a Gryffindor (Neal).” The couple’s pup, Patronus, took part in the wedding ceremony, wearing a tiny tuxedo with a purple bow tie, and the ceremony backdrop was built by friends of the grooms and included a greenery wreath to form the Deathly Hallows. Lance and Neal made the Quidditch goal decor themselves and included small trinkets and charms in the ivy.

THE RECEPTION After the ceremony, Lance and Neal’s guests joined them for a three course banquet dinner and dancing. Guests discovered wands from Lance and Neal’s personal collection in the floral arrangements on the tables. Guests were asked to “capture the mischief” of the reception with a Polaroid camera and sign the guest book using a rainbow of colorful markers.

THE CAKE The decadent wedding cake by Kimbla’s Cakes was full of surprises, including a different flavor for each layer as well as beautifully crafted, edible elements such as two Golden Snitches that the grooms fed to each other after cutting the cake.

NOW FEATURED VENDORS

PHOTOGRAPHY: TIA NASH tianash.com

EVENT PLANNER: ALCHEMY EVENTS alchemyeventsnola.com

BAKERY: KIMBLA’S CAKES kimblascakes.com

ADDITIONAL CREDITS: WEDDING VENUE: Hotel Monteleone | OFFICIANT: Danielle Nodurft | GROOMSMAID’S GOWNS: Kennedy Blue + Cocomelody | MENSWEAR: Indochino (Grooms), Men’s Wearhouse (Groomsmen) | PHOTOGRAPHY: Tia Nash | FLORIST: Berry Blossom Flowers | | CEREMONY MUSIC + RECEPTION ENTERTAINMENT: Khancept Entertainment | HAIR + MAKEUP: Cam Stromboe | JEWELERS: David Yurman, Sissy’s Log Cabin (Little Rock, AR) + Lee Michael’s Jewelry | INVITATIONS: Shutterfly