Wedding Flowers at Antoine's Restaurant (12th Night Revelers Room- 2nd floor)

Designing flowers for Antoine’s is less about decorating a room and more about accessorizing a museum. This is the oldest family-run restaurant in the country, and the 12th Night Revelers Room on the second floor is a dense, atmospheric archive of New Orleans history. The floral opportunity here lies in creating a sophisticated counterpoint to the dark wood, heavy frames, and Carnival artifacts that line every inch of the space.

The 12th Night Revelers Room is not a blank canvas. It is a room with a massive personality, characterized by its deep-toned built-in bookcases and a standard-height plaster ceiling. Because the walls are already visually “loud” with memorabilia, the floral strategy must be disciplined. We focus on the tables and the entrance, using color and texture to bring light into a space that relies heavily on artificial illumination.

The Spaces

12th Night Revelers Room

This second-floor dining room is an intimate enclave of French Quarter history. The room is dominated by dark wood and glass-fronted cabinets filled with the history of the 12th Night Revelers, one of the city’s oldest Mardi Gras krewes. The lighting is warm and somewhat dim, which creates a cozy, club-like atmosphere but poses a challenge for floral photography.

• What works: Low-profile, footed compote arrangements. Use flowers with high “lumen” value—whites, creams, pale yellows, or vibrant jewel tones—to pop against the dark wood. Textural elements like ranunculus, sweet peas, and garden roses feel appropriately historic and high-end.
• Skip: Tall arrangements. Anything with height will block the very thing people come to this room for: the art and the history on the walls. It also makes the standard-height ceilings feel lower.
• Watch out: The room is narrow. Tables are often rounds, and space for large-scale floor installations is virtually non-existent without compromising guest movement.
• Budget hero move: Focus the entire budget on lush, over-stuffed centerpieces for the dining tables. Since the walls provide the decor, the tables are the only place where flowers can truly shine.

Antoine’s Restaurant Entrance

The entrance on St. Louis Street is one of the most photographed facades in the city. With its iconic green-and-white awning, iron balconies, and gas lamps, it offers a premier opportunity for a “statement” moment before guests even ascend to the second floor.

• What works: Framing the double doors with asymmetrical floral pillars or installing trailing greenery and blooms along the iron balcony railing. This creates a sense of occasion and marks the private event for passersby.
• Skip: Ground-based arrangements that extend too far onto the sidewalk. The French Quarter sidewalks are narrow and heavily trafficked; keep installations tight to the building.
• Watch out: The wind in the Quarter can whip through the narrow streets. Any exterior installations must be weighted or securely tied to the ironwork.
• Budget hero move: A single, high-impact floral installation on the exterior awning or the balcony above the door. It serves as the ultimate backdrop for guest arrivals and street-side portraits.

What Works at Antoine’s Restaurant

Embrace the “Old World” Palette. Avoid overly modern, minimalist designs. Antoine’s calls for classicism. Think Dutch Masters—deep reds, moody purples, and pops of peach—or a crisp, all-white-and-green look that feels like a traditional New Orleans debutante ball. The room’s dark wood acts as a shadow box for the flowers.

Prioritize Scent. In an intimate dining room like the 12th Night Revelers, the fragrance of the flowers becomes part of the dining experience. Incorporating scented garden roses, stock, or freesia enhances the sensory experience of a French-Creole meal.

Use Reflective Vessels. Since the room has limited natural light, using metallic vessels—silver, gold, or mercury glass—helps bounce the artificial light and adds a layer of formal elegance that matches the restaurant’s silver-service style.

Design for the Camera. Because the 12th Night Revelers Room is dark, flowers can often look like a “blob” in photos if they are too monochromatic and dark. We recommend high-contrast pairings (e.g., dark burgundy with a bright white) to ensure the arrangements have depth and dimension in professional photography.

The Balcony Moment. If your event includes access to the balcony, do not ignore it. A simple vine of jasmine or smilax woven through the wrought iron, punctuated with a few large blooms, transforms the exterior from a public landmark into a private garden.

Budget Guide

Antoine’s is a venue where the architecture does 70% of the work; your floral budget should be used to provide the “living” 30% that makes the space feel like a celebration rather than a museum tour.

Tips

Think about the stairs. The 12th Night Revelers Room is on the second floor. While there is an elevator, load-in can be tight. We recommend designs that are pre-assembled in-studio to minimize the time spent in the restaurant’s busy hallways.

Color-match the lighting. The artificial light in the room is warm (yellow/orange). Cool-toned purples and blues can sometimes look muddy in this light. Stick to warm-toned colors or very clean whites to ensure the flowers look fresh.

Repurpose with purpose. If you have a ceremony elsewhere, your altar arrangements can be moved to flank the entrance of the 12th Night room or placed at the bar. However, ensure they aren’t too tall, or they will feel out of place with the room’s proportions.

Go foam-free. In a historic venue like Antoine’s, we avoid floral foam to prevent any potential water damage to the antique furniture and to remain environmentally conscious. We use reusable pin frogs or chicken wire armatures for all centerpieces.

The “Street View” impact. Remember that your guests will likely arrive via a second line or a walk through the Quarter. The flowers at the entrance are their first “hello” and set the tone for the entire event. Don’t neglect the street-level experience.