You take the elevator from the 19th Street entrance, across from Andrea’s restaurant, and rise three floors above Metairie’s business district. The doors open, and you are somewhere else entirely — not in a suburban office park off I-10, but on a rooftop where the New Orleans sky spreads wide and festoon lights trace golden patterns against the evening. This is The Alexander Room & Terrace, perched on the third floor of a nondescript building that conceals one of the metro area’s most versatile wedding venues. Inside, the Alexander Room is all clean lines and modern elegance: 5,000 square feet of open-concept space lit by crystal chandeliers, bright and airy with a neutral palette that serves as a deliberate blank canvas. Outside, the 4,000-square-foot Terrace stretches beneath the sky, string lights glowing, fire pits crackling, and the kind of sweeping views that make guests forget they are technically still in Metairie. The venue operates as both sanctuary and stage, a place where couples can build their vision from scratch without fighting against heavy décor or restrictive aesthetics. Poppy has received 4 inquiries for weddings at The Alexander Room & Terrace, and while we have not yet designed florals here, the bones of the space — those chandeliers, that rooftop, the sheer openness of it all — tell us exactly what kind of floral moments this venue is built for.
About The Alexander Room & Terrace
The Alexander Room & Terrace is owned and operated by Troy and Cindy Timphony, who also run the Hobnobber Café — the venue’s exclusive catering partner. This is a family operation in the best sense: hands-on, detail-oriented, and deeply invested in making each event run smoothly. The venue opened with the specific intention of providing a modern, customizable alternative to the historic ballrooms and garden estates that dominate the New Orleans wedding landscape. Where other venues arrive with built-in aesthetics — exposed brick, chandeliered ballrooms, moss-draped oaks — The Alexander Room & Terrace gives you white walls, clean floors, and permission to make it entirely your own. The Alexander Room’s modern chandeliers hang from high ceilings, creating a focal point that begs for floral treatment. The rooftop Terrace, meanwhile, offers something rare in the New Orleans metro: an outdoor celebration space that feels urbane and elevated rather than rustic or garden-oriented.
Logistically, the venue sits at 3200 Ridgelake Drive in the heart of Metairie’s central business corridor, roughly 8 miles from the French Quarter and about 15 minutes from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. This makes it exceptionally accessible for out-of-town guests while avoiding the congestion and parking challenges of downtown New Orleans. The venue provides free on-site parking for up to 300 guests in a dedicated garage — a significant advantage in a region where parking can make or break event logistics. For vendors, load-in is straightforward: the venue’s on-site attendant coordinates with florists and other external partners, ensuring access and setup run smoothly. Poppy’s team would appreciate the direct elevator access and the climate-controlled environment, which protects arrangements during install.
The Alexander Room & Terrace requires in-house catering through Hobnobber Café, with bar service starting at $5 per person and menu options that include buffet service, hors d’oeuvres, and stations. Wedding cakes are included in the catering package, though outside cakes are permitted — a flexibility that extends to floral designers as well. Unlike some venues with restrictive vendor policies, The Alexander Room & Terrace provides a preferred vendor list but does not mandate its use for florals. This openness makes it an ideal canvas for a Metairie wedding florist like Poppy, who can design without navigating exclusive agreements or venue markups. The venue also provides setup and cleanup services, meaning couples and vendors can focus on design rather than logistics.
The location in Ridgelake places the venue within reach of Old Metairie’s charming 1920s neighborhoods, modern shopping centers, and a growing restaurant scene that gives wedding guests plenty to explore during a weekend celebration. It is close enough to New Orleans to feel connected to the city’s cultural energy, but far enough removed to offer ample parking, easy highway access, and a quieter pace.
Event Spaces & Floral Opportunities
Alexander Room
Capacity: 300 seated
Setting: The Alexander Room is a study in modern restraint. Five thousand square feet of open-concept space lit by elegant crystal chandeliers, with bright overhead lighting that floods the room in a clean, even glow. The palette is neutral — white walls, light wood or neutral flooring — creating a blank slate that does not impose a style but invites one. There is an open dance floor, a built-in stage for live bands, a dining area with room for long banquet tables or intimate rounds, and an indoor bar that anchors one side of the space. The room feels spacious without echoing, thanks to careful acoustics and thoughtful proportions. The chandeliers are the architectural stars here: geometric, modern, and substantial enough to handle serious floral installations without looking overwhelmed.
Floral approach: The Alexander Room is built for drama. Those chandeliers are not merely decorative — they are infrastructure. We would approach them as suspended gardens, wrapping each fixture in a cascading installation of Italian ruscus, seeded eucalyptus, and jasmine vine, punctuated with garden roses (Patience, Quicksand, Keira), white phalaenopsis orchids, and trailing amaranthus in deep burgundy or soft blush depending on the couple’s palette. The effect should feel lush and organic, as though the flowers are growing downward from the ceiling rather than simply hung there. For tablescapes, the room’s brightness and neutrality allow for either high-impact color or soft romantic tones. Tall arrangements on clear glass risers — think 30-inch cylinders topped with explosions of delphinium, foxglove, bells of Ireland, and café au lait dahlias — create vertical interest without obstructing sightlines. Alternatively, low and lush centerpieces in brass compotes or matte ceramic vessels, mounded with garden roses, ranunculus, scabiosa, and pieris japonica, offer intimacy and texture. The stage deserves a floral frame: two large-scale installations flanking the band or DJ setup, using structural branches (curly willow or manzanita), magnolia foliage, and clusters of hydrangea and lisianthus. The indoor bar is an opportunity for a long, horizontal garland — smilax and eucalyptus base with garden roses and spray roses tucked in at intervals. This is a room that rewards boldness, so do not be timid.
The Terrace
Capacity: 300 seated
Setting: Step through the doors from the Alexander Room, and you are on the rooftop. Four thousand square feet of open-air space, wrapped in festoon string lights that glow warm gold as the sun sets. The Terrace overlooks the Metairie skyline — not dramatic, but expansive, with enough visual interest to make the setting feel special without demanding attention. Fire pits punctuate the space, providing both ambiance and warmth on cooler evenings. Outdoor speakers are built in, so the music flows seamlessly from ceremony to cocktails to dancing. There is an outdoor bar, lounge areas, and enough room to configure seating in a dozen different ways. The festoon lighting is strung overhead in a grid pattern, creating a canopy of light that transforms the space as dusk falls. This is where couples marry under the stars, where cocktail hour stretches into dinner, where guests linger by the fire pits long after the cake has been cut.
Floral approach: The Terrace is made for statement ceremonies. If you are marrying here, the ceremony arch is your centerpiece — both literally and figuratively. We favor a large-scale asymmetrical structure: a wooden hexagon or a modern metal frame draped in lush greenery (Italian ruscus, eucalyptus, magnolia leaves) and layered with white and blush blooms. Think Playa Blanca roses, White O’Hara garden roses, quicksand roses, white lisianthus, blush astilbe, and pale pink ranunculus, with trailing jasmine vine and smilax softening the edges. For the aisle, elevated arrangements in tall gold or black metal stands every third row, filled with similar blooms but scaled appropriately to not block views. If the couple wants something more organic, line the aisle with lanterns surrounded by low greenery collars studded with spray roses and eucalyptus. The fire pits are natural gathering points, so surround each one with a low ring of greenery — boxwood, myrtle, or rosemary — dotted with votive candles in glass holders. For cocktail hour, high-top tables get small bud vases or single-stem arrangements: one perfect Juliet rose, one stem of white phalaenopsis, one sprig of eucalyptus. Simple, elegant, repeatable. If the reception is on the Terrace, low centerpieces are essential — the wind can be unpredictable on a rooftop, so we use heavy vessels (stone, ceramic, or brass) and keep arrangements compact and low-profile, no taller than 10 inches. Anchor everything. Use floral putty. Check mechanics twice.
Bridal Suite / Get-Ready Room
Setting: The bridal suite is available two hours before the ceremony, offering a private space for the couple and their bridal party to prepare, touch up, and take a breath before the event begins. It is not described in detail, but the function is clear: a quiet, climate-controlled room removed from the main event spaces, ideal for getting ready and for the couple to debrief privately after the ceremony.
Floral approach: The bridal suite is where small gestures have outsized emotional impact. A single arrangement on the vanity or side table — something personal, fragrant, and beautiful — sets the tone for the day. We recommend a low, lush garden-style arrangement in a ceramic or brass vessel: Keira garden roses, Juliet garden roses, white ranunculus, blush sweet peas (when in season), and eucalyptus foliage. If the bride is carrying a specific bloom that holds sentimental value, include it here. The scent matters, so prioritize fragrant varieties: garden roses, sweet peas, jasmine, tuberose. This arrangement will be in dozens of getting-ready photos, so it should feel cohesive with the overall wedding palette while standing on its own as a small work of art. If the budget allows, add a small corsage or boutonniere for the mother of the bride or groom to wear during preparations — a thoughtful touch that gets photographed and remembered.
Wedding Flower Ideas for The Alexander Room & Terrace
Crescent City Classic
This design pays homage to New Orleans’ iconic elegance with a palette of ivory, champagne, and soft gold. The foundation is built on classic white blooms — White O’Hara garden roses, Playa Blanca roses, white lisianthus, white ranunculus — accented with champagne and café au lait dahlias, quicksand roses, and touches of antique hydrangea. Foliage includes Italian ruscus, seeded eucalyptus, and magnolia leaves for a nod to the South. Metallic accents come through in the vessels: brushed gold compotes, mercury glass cylinders, and vintage brass urns. For the Alexander Room, chandelier installations drip with ivory and champagne blooms against lush greenery. On the Terrace, the ceremony arch is a study in soft romance, with cascading jasmine vine and trailing amaranthus in champagne tones. This palette photographs beautifully under both the bright ballroom lighting and the warm festoon glow of the rooftop, making it exceptionally versatile for a venue that moves between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Modern Magnolia
This concept is a love letter to Louisiana’s state flower, reimagined for a contemporary aesthetic. The hero is magnolia foliage — glossy, architectural, and unmistakably Southern — paired with clean white blooms and unexpected pops of deep green. We use white phalaenopsis orchids, white calla lilies, white tulips (in season), and Patience garden roses, layered with magnolia leaves, ti leaves, and variegated pittosporum. The vessels are modern and sculptural: matte black ceramic, white marble, or geometric copper. For the Alexander Room’s chandeliers, we create suspended installations that feel graphic and bold, with magnolia leaves forming the structure and white orchids emerging at intervals. The stage gets a pair of tall, dramatic arrangements in black vessels, anchored by magnolia branches and topped with cascading white orchids and calla lilies. On the Terrace, the ceremony arch is a minimalist frame wrapped entirely in magnolia leaves, with white orchids clustered at the base and trailing smilax softening the edges. This design is sharp, sophisticated, and unapologetically modern — perfect for couples who want to honor the region’s botanical heritage without veering into traditional Southern wedding territory.
Garden District Romance
This design channels the lush, overgrown beauty of New Orleans’ Garden District — the kind of romantic, slightly untamed aesthetic where flowers tumble over wrought-iron fences and jasmine climbs century-old oaks. The palette is soft and layered: blush, peach, coral, cream, and touches of lavender. Blooms include Juliet garden roses, Keira garden roses, peach ranunculus, coral charm peonies (when in season), blush astilbe, lavender sweet peas, and peach stock. Foliage is abundant: jasmine vine, smilax, eucalyptus, and maidenhair fern. Vessels are soft and romantic: blush ceramic, vintage brass, and weathered terracotta. In the Alexander Room, chandelier installations are lush and overflowing, with blooms and greenery spilling out in every direction. Centerpieces are garden-style and organic, arranged to look as though they were just gathered from a cutting garden. On the Terrace, the ceremony arch is full and romantic, with blooms layered so thickly that the structure almost disappears beneath them. Fire pits are surrounded by low arrangements in terracotta pots, echoing the Garden District’s courtyard aesthetic. This is the design for couples who want their wedding to feel like a secret garden discovered on a warm Louisiana evening.
Seasonal Considerations
New Orleans and the surrounding metro area experience a humid subtropical climate, which means hot, sticky summers and mild, pleasant winters. Floral availability and outdoor comfort vary dramatically by season.
Spring (March - May): Spring is peak wedding season in the New Orleans area, and for good reason. Temperatures range from the mid-60s to low 80s, humidity is manageable, and the region is in full bloom. Local flowers include azaleas, camellias, magnolia blossoms, wisteria, and early-season hydrangeas. This is the best time for Terrace ceremonies and outdoor receptions, as evenings are comfortable and the weather is generally cooperative. Be mindful of the occasional spring thunderstorm, which can roll in quickly and dramatically. For The Alexander Room & Terrace, we recommend having a flexible floral plan that works equally well indoors or out, and ensuring all Terrace arrangements are secured against sudden wind gusts. Peonies, sweet peas, ranunculus, and tulips are all at their peak in spring, making this the season for romance and abundance.
Summer (June - August): Summer in New Orleans is brutal. Temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, humidity hovers near 100%, and afternoon thunderstorms are a near-daily occurrence. If you are marrying in summer, plan the ceremony and reception in the air-conditioned Alexander Room, using the Terrace only for brief cocktail hour or late-evening dancing once the sun has set. Choose heat-tolerant blooms: orchids, anthuriums, succulents, tropical foliage, and flowers with sturdy petals that will not wilt in the heat. Avoid delicate blooms like sweet peas, anemones, or anything with thin petals. Hydration stations for guests are essential, and so is timing — schedule the ceremony for late afternoon or evening to avoid the worst of the heat. For florists, summer means working quickly during load-in and using floral preservatives aggressively to extend bloom life in the heat.
Fall (September - November): Fall is the second-best season for weddings at The Alexander Room & Terrace. Temperatures begin to drop in October, ranging from the high 70s to low 60s by November, and the humidity finally relents. The light is golden, the air is crisp, and the Terrace becomes magical at sunset. This is the season for rich, saturated colors: burgundy dahlias, deep red roses, rust-colored chrysanthemums, and burnt orange marigolds. Foliage options expand to include dried grasses, pampas plumes, and the first magnolia branches with seed pods. Local flowers include late-season zinnias, celosia, and asters. Hurricane season technically extends through November, so keep an eye on weather forecasts and have a backup plan, but September and October are generally safe bets.
Winter (December - February): Winters in New Orleans are mild, with temperatures ranging from the 40s to 60s. Cold snaps are rare but possible, so if you are planning a Terrace ceremony in winter, have heaters and pashminas available for guests. This is the season for classic winter blooms: amaryllis, hellebores, anemones, and ranunculus. Evergreen foliage — magnolia, cedar, pine, and holly — adds texture and structure. For holiday weddings, incorporate seasonal elements like berries, pine cones, and touches of gold or silver. Winter light in New Orleans is soft and flattering, making it a beautiful time for both indoor and outdoor photography. The festoon lighting on the Terrace takes on extra magic in winter, glowing warmly against the cooler evening air.
Poppy’s Expert Take
Plan for the rooftop wind. The Terrace is stunning, but it is a rooftop, which means wind is a factor. Every arrangement placed outdoors must be weighted and secured. We use heavy vessels — stone urns, thick ceramic pots, brass compotes — and anchor mechanics with floral putty and waterproof tape. Tall arrangements are risky; we prefer low and lush. For ceremony arches, secure the structure itself with sandbags or weights hidden at the base, and ensure the floral installations are wired and zip-tied into the frame, not just tucked in. Do not assume the wind will cooperate. It will not.
Use the chandeliers as your hero moment. If you are investing in floral design at The Alexander Room & Terrace, the chandeliers are where your budget should go. These are not delicate fixtures — they are substantial, geometric, and built to handle installations. A chandelier wrapped in lush greenery and cascading blooms creates a focal point that every guest will see and photograph. This is the installation that defines the room. Skimp on cocktail arrangements if you must, but do not skimp on the chandeliers.
Coordinate with the festoon lighting on the Terrace. The string lights are the Terrace’s signature feature, and they do a lot of heavy decorative lifting. When designing ceremony and reception florals for the rooftop, consider how the arrangements will look under warm Edison bulb lighting at dusk. Whites and blushes glow beautifully. Deep purples and burgundies can read almost black. Test your palette under warm artificial light before committing.
Take advantage of the blank slate. Unlike venues with strong built-in aesthetics, The Alexander Room & Terrace does not impose a style. This is both a blessing and a responsibility. You have total freedom to create your vision, but that also means the florals need to do more work to establish the mood. Do not be afraid to go bold. This venue rewards confident design choices.
Plan the flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. Many couples use the Terrace for the ceremony and cocktails, then move into the Alexander Room for dinner and dancing. This creates a floral challenge: how do you design for two distinct spaces that guests will experience sequentially? We recommend a cohesive palette and vessel style across both spaces, with the Terrace leaning more organic and the Alexander Room more polished. Repurposing ceremony arrangements is also an option — after the ceremony on the Terrace, we can move altar arrangements to flank the stage or entrance of the Alexander Room, maximizing your floral budget.
Communicate with the on-site attendant early. The venue provides an on-site coordinator who works directly with vendors. Reach out well before the wedding day to confirm load-in times, elevator access, table counts, and any last-minute changes. This person is your ally. Use them.
Do not overlook the bars. Both the indoor and outdoor bars are visible, high-traffic areas. A simple garland or a pair of small arrangements on the bar top adds polish and ties the floral design together without requiring a major budget investment. This is an easy win.
What Poppy Couples Spend on Flowers Here
While we do not yet have completed bookings at The Alexander Room & Terrace, we can project typical investment levels based on the venue’s size, versatility, and the floral opportunities it presents. These ranges reflect what couples in the New Orleans metro area typically spend on wedding flowers for a venue of this scale.
$4,000 - $7,000 | The Essentials
This budget covers the fundamentals for a beautiful wedding at The Alexander Room & Terrace. For a Terrace ceremony, you would have a medium-sized floral arch (5-6 feet, half-covered in blooms and greenery), aisle markers at every other row, and a pair of arrangements flanking the entrance to the ceremony space. For the reception in the Alexander Room, you would have centerpieces for up to 20 guest tables — low, garden-style arrangements in brass or ceramic vessels — plus a small arrangement for the indoor bar and florals for the cake table. Personal flowers include bridal bouquet, three bridesmaid bouquets, four boutonnieres, and two corsages. At this level, the chandeliers would remain unadorned, and the stage would not have dedicated florals, but the overall effect is polished and complete. This tier works well for couples who want beautiful flowers without making them the centerpiece of the design budget.
$7,000 - $12,000 | The Full Picture
This range allows for a more elevated floral presence throughout both spaces. The Terrace ceremony gets a large, fully adorned arch (7-8 feet, lush and layered with blooms and greenery), aisle arrangements at every row, and arrangements flanking the fire pits for cocktail hour. In the Alexander Room, centerpieces for up to 30 tables become more substantial, with a mix of low lush designs and a few tall arrangements on risers for visual variety. The indoor bar gets a full garland installation, and the outdoor bar gets a similar treatment. One chandelier receives a floral installation — greenery garland wrapped around the arms with blooms tucked in at intervals. The stage gets a pair of large-scale arrangements flanking the band or DJ setup. Personal flowers expand to include a more elaborate bridal bouquet, five bridesmaid bouquets, six boutonnieres, four corsages, and a toss bouquet. At this level, The Alexander Room & Terrace wedding flowers feel abundant and intentional, with statement moments balanced by cohesive, polished details.
$12,000+ | The Full Experience
This is where The Alexander Room & Terrace becomes a floral destination. All three chandeliers receive lush installations, transforming the Alexander Room’s ceiling into a suspended garden. The Terrace ceremony arch is a true showstopper — 8-10 feet, asymmetrical, overflowing with blooms and greenery, with additional floral clusters at the base. Every aisle row gets an arrangement, and the fire pits are surrounded by low floral installations in weathered terracotta pots. Cocktail tables on the Terrace get individual bud vases or small arrangements. In the Alexander Room, every table has a unique centerpiece — no repeats — ranging from tall and dramatic to low and lush. Both bars receive full garland treatments with blooms integrated throughout. The stage gets a floral backdrop or a pair of massive installations that frame the entertainment. The bridal suite gets a luxury arrangement, and the entrance to the venue gets a large welcome installation. Personal flowers include an oversized bridal bouquet, eight bridesmaid bouquets, eight boutonnieres, six corsages, a toss bouquet, and flower crowns or hair flowers for the bridal party. At this tier, every surface, every sightline, and every transition between spaces is considered and adorned. This is the investment level for couples who want their wedding flowers to be one of the most talked-about elements of the day.