By VIctoria Savoy, photo editor
Beaches have always been a popular destination for weddings, and Grand Isle’s beaches are no different. Many couples choose to have their weddings in Grand Isle because of their deep-rooted connections to the island.
“The actual wedding was like out of a book,” Trahan says. “The sun was perfect, the clouds just right – it was a perfect day.”
In addition to the beach, community center, and church, the Hurricane Hole is one of the many wedding venues on the island.
“We are meant to do weddings on the island,” says Lan Tivet, Hurricane Hole Operations Coordinator and longtime Grand Isle resident.
Tivet believes people are drawn to Grand Isle for weddings because of their strong emotional connections to the island.
“You can go to Florida, you can go to all these other places, but when you have a connection to this place, it truly means something,” Tivet says.
“I can’t wait for the island to be all cleaned up and rebuilt. Weddings on Grand Isle’s beach will continue to give happy couples a beautiful backdrop that they will always hold dear to their hearts.”
— Donna Price
Around three to five weddings per year are held on the island, but due to hurricanes – most recently Hurricane Ida – the number of weddings on the island has decreased.
“We had a wedding scheduled for October of last year, and the storm hit, and they canceled it – they completely canceled it because of the storm,” Tivet says.
Samantha White Trahan, who got married on the island, shared that she was devastated after seeing the damage Ida caused. She chose to have her wedding on Grand Isle because of her emotional attachment to the island.
“We both grew up in Chauvin, Louisiana, and visited Grand Isle as kids,” Trahan says. “We have even brought our kids numerous times. Our kids love the beach, and so do we.”
She says she is saddened by the fact that her kids will not be able to see her wedding spot the way she had.
Donna Price from Unique Wedding Designs is a longtime wedding decorator who says that for her, Grand Isle is a piece of paradise. She says she has always wanted to be a part of beach weddings and has decorated two Grand Isle weddings so far.
“Both are my favorite and will always be dear to my heart,” Price says.
As for the future of weddings in Grand Isle, Price says she thinks it is bright.
“I can’t wait for the island to be all cleaned up and rebuilt,” Price says. “It will be better than before.”
“Weddings on Grand Isle’s beach will continue to give happy couples a beautiful backdrop that they will always hold dear to their hearts.”
