What a fantastic place for a wedding! Incredible venue, unbelievable food, and attentive staff. Emili and Logan were both especially friendly and deserve their kudos. I do think the DJ could use a bit of work. His delivery was a lot more "radio DJ introducing a comedian at a charity event" than it was "fun night of love and togetherness." There were earplugs. There needn't be earplugs at a wedding. Either way, five whole stars easy. The food and the rest of the staff were exemplary. read more

This review is well over due but I couldn't let another day go by without let you all know just how Amazing this venue and its staff are. I planned my wedding in 9 months. I did a quick google search of the best venues in New Orleans for Weddings. Southern Oaks was one of the venues that popped up. I planned a weekend trip for January to visit, it was the first stop on my list and I immediately fell in love. Shoutout to Maxwell who took care of me during my site visit and Mr. Bobby the owner who also made sure I had everything I needed to make the most informed decision. If you are still trying to decide to go with Southern Oaks or another venue, book Southern Oaks. I promise you won't be disappointed. 2 months later and my guest are still raving about our wedding being so Amazing. We owe it all to the Southern Oaks staff, all we did was show up and let them work their magic. Some highlights from our big day were the old fashion Rolls Royce that we arrived in, the attention provided to us, our wedding party and parents ( our parents are still talking about how well they looked after me during the reception), the DJ was awesome, the food was delicious and endless and our fireworks exit at the end of the night. From the very first visit to our last encounter with staff everything was Top Notch. 10's across the board. Thank You Mr. Bobby I really appreciate all that you did for us. It was money worth spent read more

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My husband and I were looking for a venue outside of California to host our wedding as we had (~180) guests flying in from all over and he found this (all-inclusive) venue. Let me tell you, it was an absolute dream. Mr. Bobby, Lauren, and the whole team have this wedding thing down pat. They provide you with such detailed packets and planning information, as well as outside vendor information (hair & makeup, transport, etc.) it really helps the process if you are coming from out of town. A lot of details you would normally have to coordinate are already included with this venue from food to the DJ. Our guests raved about everything from the sound system (really!) during the ceremony, the food, the pageantry they put on, the perfectly timed coordination of each of the attendants, and how amazing they were to our guests. The venue inside and out is gorgeous, the front lawn with the oak trees, twinkle lights and gorgeous estate. The back with the pool and horse stables. The interior with the spiral staircase, private bar room for your wedding party, large reception area, lounge spots, the fountain in the women's restroom. I mean this place has it all. They made the planning process so easy and went above and BEYOND our expectations. I had no idea how COOL and AWESOME our wedding would be. A big thank you to all of the staff at Southern Oaks for your insane attention to detail and for ensuring this crazy process was absolutely seamless. These are people who truly make you feel loved and cared for and want to make sure that you and your guests are taken care of. VIP attendants for parents, private bar for wedding party, private dinner for bride and groom, team coordination throughout the evening, & even fun surprises for you at your wedding. read more

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Lovely venue. 5 stars for the staff, Dylan specifically! I've never seen somebody outside of a movie, that was so pleasant and seemed to genuinely enjoy his job. He was my hero during a stressful evening. His attention to every detail was amazing. He made a point to make sure my disabled Army Vet brother was looked after, throughout the event. On that note, I would highly recommend Signage be added to the front area, to indicate where the wheelchair ramp is located. Which unfortunately is in the back of the venue. Also, the ramp itself could use some lowering and extension for safety reasons. I was slowly leaning backwards to counter my brother's weight, to avoid careening off into the shrubbery and/or pool. Other than those issues, the owner was delightful and staff was pleasant. As a guest, I enjoyed my visit. There were some issues that my daughter, the Bride will be going over independently. *Warning, the GPS will continually direct you to the back of the gated property. Frustrating to guests and the Owner as well. He said he's tried getting corrections made, but has had no luck. It doesn't make sense because it's the back and isn't even the street address you enter into Mapquest. We also had two young females crash the venue. But because there were so many out of town guests, they weren't caught while inside taking pictures and being rude to our guests. They entered from the pool area, in the middle of our event. It was only after the event, when guests started talking about them. Then we realized they timed their entrance perfectly. Probably not their first time. They knew to take advantage of the open bar. That should be locked down for safety and liability issues. Overall easily fixable issues to be a complete 5 star venue. read more

Beautiful place for a wedding. So worth it. They had fire works and also horse and carriage to make the day a story book wedding. read more

Southern Oaks - Beautiful venue for a wedding! Loved it and the fireworks and horse and carriage when my friend got married there. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Southern Oaks is what dream weddings are made of. Guests have not stopped raving, we still feel like we're on cloud 9. Flawless, well oiled machine. Dylan and Jae were the stars of the night. Maxwell was a fantastic host and DJ. Mr Bobby was wonderful. Everyone on the team was...exceptional. If you have the money; it's worth EVERY PENNY. read more

Southern Oaks - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

My cousin's wedding was here over the weekend. And they really wow us.. Couple things that went wrong but by all mean it was their fault.. We told our guests that the gate won't open and non are welcome until close to 7pm. However, our elders decided they wanted to do their own thing and show up at 6pm. When the bridal party were trying to enter and prep. Lauren our wedding coordinator was great.. She handle the problems head on. Make sure all of our elders have a place to sit and be out of the way. Bobby the owner have that gorgeous blondish hair quietly oversees everything. Yet step in to make sure everything went smoothly. Nick our party coordinator have been sent to us by Baby Jesus.. He made sure we were on point. Where to walk, when to start walking. When to stop and coordinate everything so we don't look stupid.. Food came out hot and on time. All tapas style. Jambalaya, crab wrapped in bacon, corn soup, sushi, tea sandwiches, alligators, etc. I literally took a bite on a lot but didn't have time to finish.. At the plantation. They have strict rules you must follow. Rightfully so that way there won't be any fighting, dramas, people act accordingly. Here's some of the rules listed 1) no drinks before the ceremony 2) no shots at all 3) don't feed the horse in the back 4) jump in the pool and you will have to hand over $500. I totally Understand why these rules were in place. And due to that. There were no incidents. And overall the place is gorgeously decorated. All around.. give a very historic feel. End the ceremony with fireworks. I mean what more can you ask for!! read more

Southern Oaks - Ladies in the beautiful bathroom getting ready - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Beautiful venue!!!! It's my second time coming here. Both weddings had small wedding parties. It's more intimate. Beautiful oak trees, and the brides gets driven in an old school rolls Royce. The food and drinks are amazing!!! read more

Southern Oaks is a 5 star operation. From booking, to planning, to the big day, and follow up after, the team at Southern Oaks was outstanding. Owner Bobby personally called me after we got home to say thank you and talk more about our wedding. His #2 Lauren is wedding coordinator extraordinaire, she also is the commander on the big day! She drove her team to execute each component flawlessly throughout our reception and ceremony. They make things perfect and stay out of your way so you can enjoy the night. Having a personal attendant assigned to me was amazing because I never noticed them but my drink was also never empty and I didn't even have to ask! For the first time in my life, I attended a wedding and didn't visit the bar once!!! The lighting installed outside at the venue was magical at night. The food was delicious, abundant, and received many compliments from our guests. For enhancements we added: silver cloud limo, second line band, fireworks, drago's oyster truck, and Mardi Gras parade. I'd recommend all of them because they added a lot to the experience for us and for our guests. Tbh the fireworks were the element that truly made it over the top!!! (which is what we were going for) New Orleans: we decided to do a destination wedding because we live out west in Montana and our family is from all over (especially the Midwest). My wife and I have always loved NOLA, and we have been there many times. Once we selected NOLA, Southern Oaks came up to the top of our list for venues. We traveled down to tour the venue and for comparison we found two other venues to tour as well: The Jax & Elms Mansion. We saw those first and they were both phenomenal, but they just weren't what we wanted. When we met with Lauren and drank champagne as we toured the property envisioning our big night there, we knew it was an easy decision. When our date was available we didn't hesitate to book Southern Oaks and you should book them too! Most of our guests and family's hadn't been to NOLA before. We have heard rave reviews about the event at Southern Oaks but also the long weekend in the big easy. To say people had fun, was the understatement of the year. Many of my cousins took my mom to the side at the wedding and said "I'm just glad that I'm already married, so I don't have to try to follow this!!!" They loved the food, culture, music, and vibes. October weather in NOLA is fab too! Pat O'Brien's definitely got some extra business from our Irish crew on our wedding weekend! Thank you so much to Bobby, Lauren, and the entire Southern Oaks Teams. We wish you nothing but success, and we know you'll have it because you are so good at what you do. You will always hold a place in our hearts for being part of our wedding celebration! Ok I'm done gushing. Talk to them and get your event booked, you won't regret it!!! Shoot outs to: Dark Roux (photographer) Redfish (rehearsal dinner) Landry's (welcome party) Bourbon Orleans Hotel (hotel provider) KimStar Wise (florist) Hotard (transportation) Virgo Beauty (make up & hair) read more

Southern Oaks - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I want to get married here again and again. Everything was so taken care of from beginning to end. I still and probably will always have guest raving about the service and FOOD! The food is out of this world. I almost wish they would open it up once a year as a restaurant just so I could have it again. As a bride there are several things that happen wedding day that can be extremely stressful and not once did I feel that way. My husband and I laugh because the people were soooo fast with everything. As soon as we got down to the last sip our drinks a new one was already in our hands. They are worth every penny. I do feel like some areas need to be updated but that just added to the charm of the place. I could rave about the staff for days but y'all get the point.... They know what they are doing!!! read more

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As soon as you drive up you know you are somewhere special. From the front landscaping to the beautiful decor inside to the relaxing pool in the back. The doorman shakes your hand as you enter to make you feel welcomed. The food is amazing. The crawfish dressing and sweet potato casserole stand out. Sushi is from from Mikimotos on Carrollton Avenue. They are so good at perfecting every detail to make your experience outstanding whether youre the host or the guest. read more

Southern Oaks - Southern oaks 25th anniversary party - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I don't know how to find the right words to adequately explain how magical your wedding will be with Southern Oaks. From your very first visit through your special night, they make everything feel like a dream. The food, the enhancements, the special touches they went the extra mile on...It was overwhelming. When our night was finally coming to a close, we were sad to leave because we knew we were going to miss the team. Everyone at our wedding raved about the food and the venue and how it was the best wedding they had ever been to. Thank you so much Mr. Bobby, Lauren Burgess and the entire family at Southern Oaks!! read more

Where to begin.... Southern Oaks is by far the best vendor experience I have ever had. They truly aspire to make this experience as easy and magical as possible. I booked Southern Oaks in January 2020. I was pretty nervous throughout the whole year as our wedding date, March 2021, was getting closer and closer due to COVID. Southern Oaks was very prompt to answer my emails and was always on call away for any questions. They did such a fantastic job guiding me through the planning process and helping ease some of my stress. Our wedding day was an event out of a fairytale movie! We met Mr. Bobby, the owner, and quickly connected over our Disney obsession. I never knew that most of their visions come from Disney. This is why they strive to have a top notch crew and it was incredible to see how smoothly and stress-free the ceremony and reception was. They were constantly checking in with us along with our parents. I've never seen a service quite like this. I am still blown away!! Our guests are still ranting and raving about the whole experience! They loved the second line, fireworks, Mardi Gras parade, and the FOOD! The food was the biggest hit! Every single item was delicious. Thank you so so much Mr. Bobby and the Southern Oaks team! You made our day so special and we can't thank you enough read more

I came here for a wedding, and largely agreed that it was a beautiful venue considering the size and facilities. On premise, there's: (1) a parking lot in the back (2) big beautiful garden at the front (fireworks ok) (3) interior of the house which clearly accommodates many rooms for different functions (e.g., picture booth room, dance floor, dining room, bar, changing rooms, etc.) (4) pool in the back with additional patio seating (5) a horse drawn carriage for making your grand wedding entrance and exit Clearly, this place has it's stuff in order with many planners and attendants professionally dressed and running around. Also +++++ good job on the speaker system outside and choice of music which had instrumental movie soundtracks and medleys running. On the downside, there wasn't much going on around this place. My parents, who were not wedding guests, had to go elsewhere to do stuff. This made coordinating with them very difficult on rides. It seems to be at least 20 minutes to downtown if you're catching Uber, Lyft, or a cab. The bride said that the wedding was pretty expensive, although she did not qualify that for me with any hard numbers. I'm sure the venue and staff played into that. However, if you're looking for the value of an all-inclusive place, I'm sure this one tops the list for New Orleans. read more

Southern Oaks Plantation is a great place to get married or have a reception. I may not have ever been married here, but I have been to several events here. The first time I had been here was as a member of a wedding party. I had been in many weddings prior to this in many different types of venues. Southern Oaks had them all beat. There was a nice room off to the side where the groomsmen could sit back, relax, drink, hang out, or do whatever guys do prior to weddings. There was even a bathroom. It was nice to be out of the public view too. The weddings are held on the front steps. Sure you are in New Orleans East, but the atmosphere makes you think you're at a real plantation. The bride, groom and wedding party all stand on the front steps. Depending on the time of year, it could be very hot, but fortunately the inside has a great A/C. The bride and groom get to ride off in a horse drawn carriage after the ceremony which is a nice touch. The receptions here have been among the best I have ever attended. There is another private room for the wedding party that serves as a holding pen while photos are taken. The difference is that this holding pen had food and its own bar. Once photos are done, the main reception floor is where it's at. There is no traditional buffet style serving line. What seemed like several dozen several dozen servers were walking through the crowd with trays of food. Because there were so many servers, we were able to sample all of the great food. I highly recommend this venue if you are looking to have a great wedding and reception. read more

The best reception venue in New Orleans! The food is amazing served by a very pleasant staff. If you are looking for that Disney experience with a True southern flare, Southern Oaks is your place! First class all the way around! read more

Southern Oaks - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Came to a wedding here. The grounds were totally gorgeous. The reception was also amazing. The food was to die for. I stuffed myself silly with all kinds of Cajun cuisine, including different types of jambalaya, gumbo, crabcakes, sweet potato casserole, pasta, sandwiches, etc. And there was also a sushi station that was really good. On top of that, there was a live jazz band. This place was fantastic. read more

Son got married and these guys went above and beyond. Destination wedding for about 80 and everything was perfect. The service was fantastic and the staff was having a great time. I'm not sure how they find so many happy employees but they must be doing something right. A happy team means great service and a perfect end result. Not one complaint from anyone. read more

I just can not say enough good things about this venue, it's owners, and every employee we met! My daughter had her dream wedding and reception here that was absolutely perfect in every way! They just made it look and feel effortless! From the moment we arrived for the ceremony, Bobby made sure that everyone felt comfortable, calm, and welcome as did every one of the people working there. And then we were guided right through the steps and treated like royalty! They were so attentive to our every need! The horses and carriage, fireworks, fountain, and twinkling lights in the old oak trees made for the perfect southern wedding! What a beautiful starry ceremony under the oaks! The best part was like I said before, effortless! Everything was included. Premium open bar, delicious food (which everyone was raving about), and happy, smiling, and attentive service. We all would do it all over again and again.....which is why my daughter chose this place! We had all been to weddings and receptions here over the past 30 years. It was her dream wedding spot that she had wanted and then chosen over all the other places in New Orleans! Definitely the right pick!!! read more

Where do I begin?!?!? Rasheed and I knew we wanted our wedding to be a destination experience....and couldn't think of a more appropriate city than "NOLA....BAAABBBYYY!" because of it's deep rooted culture, electric energy, sexy vibe, hospitable residents and the delicious cuisine. So thus begin our quest for a wedding venue. We initially set our sights on another venue in NOLA, but upon my further research, I came across Southern Oaks Plantation.....and the rest is history! From the first time I called the venue, to the day our car service pulled off of the property after our wedding/reception, it was nothing short of pure excellence on behalf of Stacey (my doll), Lauren and all the other members of Southern Oaks. We fell in love and booked our date just by the pictures, videos and conversations we had with Stacey. Once we had the opportunity to travel down to NOLA and actually visit the venue and meet Stacey in person, it was no doubt we made the right decision! The venue is AMAZING! They give care to EVERY detail! They understand how important of a day this is for the couples they service and they deliver, in a major way!!! A spirit of excellence is by far their credo!!! My family and friends were BLOWN AWAY by the beauty of the venue, the food, the hospitality and care in the service rendered, the horse and carriage (Magic and Majestic) .....and the (suprise) FIREWORKS presentation, as was Rasheed and I! Stacey was so understanding, compassionate and efficient! She helped to put many of my concerns to rest as we had a few hiccups along the way (on our end) . Honestly, Rasheed and I cannot begin to verbalize in words just how FANTASTIC AND MAGICAL our wedding day was, simply because we chose SOUTHERN OAKS PLANTATION!!! It was definitely a Godsend finding this venue! I wish I could do it all over again!!! If you are seeking a fantasy wedding, without worries or concerns and everything done with "10 STARS" ......Look.no further.....you've found it with SOUTHERN OAKS PLANTATION!!!!!!!! Maisha & Rasheed ~~~~Married 9/29/19. read more

Highly recommend for a wedding. Was just here for a wedding this past weekend and it was gorgeous! My friend got married on their front lawn and then we moved inside for the reception. The dinner was endless apps with 80 on the menu. It was great because we got to try all the local favorites. The only bad thing is they are STRICT with no drinks on the dance floor. This was a bit of a bummer as it stopped us from dancing. The staff would ask us to leave with our drinks :( the back lawn is also beautiful. FYI don't jump in the pool $500 fine. Place has a lot of rules read more

Southern Oaks - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Wow, it feels so surreal that I just got married this past Saturday June 23rd at Southern Oaks. I'm still in shock on how great everything was from start to finish. How all my details came together and how the amazing staff were at Southern Oaks was. Lauren is an angel that I can't thank enough for having so much patience with me and all my questions and requests. I trusted her with all my details and the staff at Southern Oaks made my beautiful day come true, my guest can't stop talking about it from the food,music, atmosphere and how sweet all the staff was to them. I want to say Thank You to Mr.Bobby for a beautiful venue and for gracing me to the isle in my 1954 entrance it was an exquisite entrance!!! Thank you From The Hayes read more

I know, I know, the only review of Southern Oaks that is not a five-star! But I am not your typical bride. (Background: I think the wedding industry is ridiculously over-priced and I wanted to elope, but mama wasn't having it!). This much is true: the staff at Southern Oaks are very, very accommodating, the food is amazing, and it is a luxurious experience indeed! They sent us home with a huge box of food (which we ate for days!) and a data stick containing all the images from our photo booth (so much fun to review!). Our guests were blown away during the ceremony and reception, and they would all give the place a 4 or 5 star rating. Their attention to detail is great! But I must be honest: I found the whole event to be a bit wasteful, as did several of our wedding guests. (And it isn't cheap; I can't help but think they could charge less if they didn't pass over 80 food options. Who can possibly eat over 80 food options in less than 3 hours?) Also, we had cupcakes in lieu of a wedding cake. I bragged about these bad boys to my friends for WEEKS (ok, ok, months!). It was the one detail I was honestly most excited about; and when the time came, the cupcakes looked glorious on the cake table! (I was so proud!) However, after we took photos in front of them, the cupcakes seemed to disappear and our guests couldn't find them. Which maybe isn't a big deal, but I really wanted people to try them (& we paid for them!). They were eventually served, but I assumed they would be left on the display so that people could go up and grab their own. (That is the benefit of cupcakes, right?!) In retrospect, I should have told Southern Oaks I wanted the cupcakes left on the table so that people could choose their own, but they seemed so intuitive that I figured they would have known. At the end of the night we had LOTS of extra cupcakes, which they sent home with my parents and my husband's parents. As we were leaving, I asked for a box to take some as well. They packed a few up in a box for me, but they seemed inconvenienced. Maybe I seemed greedy, but the baker worked hard to make them taste and look so good; why waste all that effort (and money)? Plus, they freezed amazingly well :) The same thing happened with my bouquets- almost all of my bridesmaids had flights to catch the next day and left their bouquets at SO. As we were leaving, I tried to grab a few before they were throw away. I wish they would have asked me in advance what I wanted done with any extra flowers. Surely I am not the only bride who thinks it is totally ridiculous to throw out fresh flowers! We also had a shuttle disaster of sorts. It wasn't Southern Oaks fault IN ANY WAY, but it brings up something to consider: Location, location, location! The grounds of Southern Oaks are beautiful, but it is a trek from the city. Getting your guests there is an added expense and can be quite stressful! Too bad they don't have a shuttle package. Lastly, my parents (who live out of town) were so sweet and generous as to pay for the whole event. They came into town the day of our rehearsal (held several days before the wedding for just the bride and groom). My mom really, really wanted to check out the venue (she was dying for a sneak peek). Southern Oaks has a strict rule that the rehearsal is for the "bride and groom only". We get this; we know they must have rules to maximize their time and profits. But my parents paid for EVERYTHING (which Southern Oaks knew)! It seemed a bit strict that they told my mom she couldn't come with us, especially considering how pricey it is and how willing my parents were to pay in advance for all services. The only reason you must still be reading my boring, long review is because you are contemplating having your wedding here. If you grew up day-dreaming about your wedding day and want everything to go Disney World "perfect": I highly recommend Southern Oaks! You can't go wrong! However, if you are environmentally conscious (and have spent lots of time in developing countries and can't stand to see food and resources wasted), this place is probably too wasteful for you to enjoy! Although maybe if I would have been more honest about not wasting food/cupcakes/flowers I would have been less disappointed at the end of the night, because they really do bend over backwards for the bride and groom! I wanted to give them 3-stars (because that is still A-OK by Yelp standards), but the staff definitely made them 4-star worthy. read more

Ok, let's just say that this is the perfect place to have a wedding. I went here for a wedding in December '09 and let me tell you, I was amazed by the beautiful plantation and overall experience here. It was chilly, but it wasn't unbearable to sit outside to capture the beautiful bride and groom. We had a charter bus that picked us up from the hotel and drove us to the plantation. We didn't know what to expect while we were driving there since it wasn't in the best area in town. When we arrived there, my heart just stopped. The plantation is like a fairy tale come true. We walked passed the fountain and took lots of pictures...lol. It was decorated for Christmas with the beautiful poinesettas that made the theme go really well. My friend, who was the bride, was delivered on a horse carriage and I started balling. It really was a dream come true. After the wedding, we went into the plantation home and how I wish this house was ours. We went to the back and got the reception started. It wasn't your typical sit down dinner or buffet. They have appetizers and finger foods all throughout the reception and it will satisfy your hunger. The drinks from the open bar was good too. I recommend this place to anybody that is in the process of picking out a wedding venue. 10 thumbs up! :) read more

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Southern Oaks is one of the best, if not the best, places in NOLA for your dream wedding and/or reception!! This place is beautiful. Superbly decorated. The staff are all great and they serve food constantly. The food, btw, is quite awesome. I bartend at a reception hall one day a week and I've worked hundreds of weddings through the yrs and can tell you that the service is excellent here. They really pay attention to all the details. The photographer that is provided through SOP is the best wedding photographer in the country! The bride and groom will not be disappointed in choosing Southern Oaks. read more

I attended a destination wedding here last week and WOW this place is absolutely stunning! This was the most beautiful wedding I have been to hands down! From the moment I pulled up in the driveway, I was in awe. The natural scenery was gorgeous! There was very little decorating needed. Just the trees and bushes were lined with lights, as this was a night wedding. There was a fountain which in combination with the music provided a very calming atmosphere. The bride arrived on a horse and carriage to walk down the aisle which was very fitting for the fairy tale wedding. Once the ceremony was over, everyone proceeded inside of the plantation home for the reception and again my jaw dropped. Everything was gorgeous! From the decorations inside to the lights around the pool that you can see through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Even the bathroom was beautiful! The food.. omg the food... from the moment I sat down at my table it just kept coming! This is not a complaint at all because everything was so delicious. There were stuffed mushrooms, etouffee, gumbo, jambalaya, sausage, fried broccoli, and so much more I just can't remember. The best I would say was at the carving station. There was some sort of crawfish sweet potato dish that was out of this world! The best part of it all is that everything is included in the price! Decorations, food, open bar, everything! You don't have to lift a finger. I definitely want something like this for my wedding, whenever that will be lol. read more

Southern Oaks - Nighttime wedding - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Photographed a wedding here today. Such a beautiful venue! From the house, to the tree out front, to the horse stable in the back. Every inch of this place is stunning. The horse carriage delivered the bride and her father, which built a very sweet time period for the groom and guests (wasn't too long or drawn out) the same carriage took the bride and groom around the corner after they tied the knot! A band followed. Shortly after, the bridal party + guests were asked inside to enjoy the reception. The food was absolutely insane! It was beyond delicious! The service was very helpful. I am extremely grateful for Whitney, thank you so so so much! (She found me batteries) The coordinators were very on top of their game and had everything going smoothly. Overall great time. Great wedding. Photos came out stunning. Hope to photograph here again. read more

My husband and I were married in February of 2013 at Southern Oaks Plantation. We are from California and so this was a destination wedding for us and all of our guests. Our guests were traveling from coast to coast and even from Europe. We very much wanted a traditional, elegant, beautiful Southern wedding. We looked at several venues in New Orleans and easily settled on SOP. We chose SOP based on the beauty of the venue, the reviews of the food, and the professionalism and hospitality of the management. The grounds and mansion at SOP are exceptionally well-kept. We looked at all the pictures online and wondered if it would look as good in person. It was better! It is an amazingly beautiful, classic venue. The management at SOP takes such pride in their venue and it definitely shows. They constantly keep changing and improving the venue so that it doesn't become stale or dated. They changed an entire room from the time we booked to the time we actually got married. SOP has many rules they strictly adhere to, which initially raised concerns. As a bride, you want to feel you have control over all the variables that go into planning your wedding. In the end, there was no reason for concern. I had complete control over all the details that made our wedding personal; and, the rules they do implement only helped create perfect flow and organization. I was incredibly impressed with how smoothly everything went. Again, their rules did not infringe on anything on our wedding day. Their rules helped create our perfectly orchestrated wedding! You are not allowed to try the food prior to the wedding. We are huge foodies, so this was a big risk for us. Reviews of the food stated that the food was outstanding and that there was a large amount of food served. Often, when many dishes are served, quality goes down. We prayed and hoped the food would be good. In the end, we were so incredibly pleased with the food. It was fresh. There were many selections, but the quality remained high. The presentation was gorgeous, and overall the food was just really, really good. Our guests are used to traditional sit-down dinners. Although we were completely on board with the cocktail style menu, we weren't sure how our guests would respond. They were ecstatic! They too thought the food was outstanding and all preferred the cocktail style reception over a traditional sit-down reception. I can't give enough compliments to the SOP staff, in particular, Shalea, Kyle, and Stacey. They were so helpful and patient with all our requests leading up to the wedding. They responded to every call and email within a day, but most often within hours . They were extremely professional, never pushy. They couldn't have been more pleasant and easy to work with. On the day of our wedding, all the staff made us and our guests feel special. They exude southern hospitality and charm! Since SOP does many, many weddings, you may be thinking that your wedding might end up feeling like a wedding mill. This crossed my mind as well. However, I can now reassure you that SOP is in fact a well-oiled machine, and it runs in this fashion in order to make your day feel like it's the only wedding they do all year. In the end, we couldn't be happier with having selected Southern Oaks Plantation. Our guests are used to attending very expensive, beautiful weddings, yet they said they have never and probably will never attend anything as amazing as our wedding. Southern Oaks Plantation exceeded our expectations and left us and our guests with unforgettable memories. read more

The main reason for our first visit was to attend a wedding at this location. Simply put this venue is beautiful and worth every penny spent by the bride's family. Everything from the plantation style mansion to the dim lights that create an ambiance to enhance the magical wedding moments every married couple hopes for! The staff was quite attentive with passing around all kinds of hors d'oeuvres. The New Orleans cuisine offered at the reception in the main lobby was exactly what I had hoped for. The venue may have been to small for the amount of people in attendance, but overall I had an amazing time. read more

How have I never thought to write a review about Southern Oaks?! My husband and I married here in December of 2010. Southern Oaks was-hands down- the absolute best wedding decision we made! Even though it's been over five years since our wedding people still bring it up and talk about how beautiful the event was and how much they enjoyed the food. Honestly, they do! We held both our ceremony and reception here and even with the December cold I would still have it the same way with the outdoor ceremony. The landscaping was immaculate and the candles surrounding the large fountain gave such a romantic feeling. The reception was beyond what I could have hoped for and the staff was on top of EVERYTHING. You honestly will not have to do a lick of work at your reception here-your only job is to celebrate and have a great time with your guests. From decor, to cake table, setting out your wedding favors, clean up, flower arrangements-they do all of the work and execute it flawlessly. They even packed up a lot of leftover food for us to take home when we left. We actually made a special request for a particular beer that they did not usually serve (but our dads and many close friends drink this beer exclusively) and come that night the beer was there! If the price has you put off you have to consider a few things- the venue is FULLY decorated (we did not buy a singe thing, the only thing we added were some rose petals because the florist gave them to us for free), it includes high quality tables and chairs, certain areas like the bar and wall behind the cake table have special lighting that can be changed to various colors to suit your needs, the staff is highly trained, you are getting a DJ. There is so much more that should probably be mentioned for the price, but I think I have rambled on enough. My point is that you are not just paying for a location! Our experience was phenomenal and we would do it all again in a heart beat! read more

Went to a wedding here this past weekend. The wait staff was absolutely incredible. They were all so fun, we were offered so many food options. Even though they were wearing masks, they made us all feel like there was no COVID. Dylan in particular was amazing. In getting back to a normal world, this event was one to remember read more

Came here for a friends wedding. It was quite beautiful. The wedding was outdoors on the lawn in front of the plantation house. The bride pulled up in a vintage rolls Royce. The reception was inside. Tons of food. Some very good some okay. But lots of passed plates so there was a lot to choose from. The outdoor area is lovely with a stable and a pool. Not large but we strolled around. read more

Absolutely perfect! They know how to make you feel so wonderful and special! Nicest staff and extremely helpful every step of the way! I think it made wedding planning a breeze! read more

I'm writing this review as a guest and as a vendor. A few years ago, I was a guest here for a wedding and remember thinking how truly "together" this place seemed to be. Everything was on point and so beautiful. Fast forward 3 years later to Sat 2/28/15 and I'm still in awe. My daughter was the photographer and I was assisting. We were immediately sought out by Lauren, who motioned us to come through the back where we were able to scope out the dining and dance area. She made us feel completely welcomed as if we were her guests and she was expecting us. Normally we have to find a secure place to store extra equipment but this time we didn't even have to ask. She pointed to a closet that was easy to get to. We never had to ask for anything, they thought of it all. Once the bride and her party arrived and placed in a semi private room, the photographer and videographer was able to do their thing while Lauren gave me and the other assistant the complete schedule of events. One of which included that she'd let us know when it was time for us to eat.... what? We get to eat? Imagine working an event such as a wedding for 4-6hrs and never being able to sit down or stuff a granola bar in your mouth or chase it down with a sip of lukewarm water. I mean, I shamelessly accepted Grandma's chicken salad sandwiches from the bridal suite knowing we'd have to rush from there to the venue with no time for a drive thru McDonald's. This is huuuuge people! They truly treated us like we were as important as their paying guests. Aside from that, we were always kept updated on what was coming up next. Every employee looked happy to be there on a Sat afternoon and was probably working another wedding right after. Amazing staff! Just know that if you're planning a wedding here, you're getting the best behind-the-scenes care. I love knowing that about a place. read more

I could not have asked for a better reception than the one that we just had at Southern Oaks this past Saturday. Every person [at Southern Oaks] that my husband and I spoke with during the planning and at the actual event was positive, professional, and an absolute joy to work with. All of my guests were taken care of during the reception, and we have received countless compliments [from our guests] on everything from the food and decor to the staff and flawlessly coordinated flow of events. Having our reception at Southern Oaks Plantation was truly an amazing experience and I highly recommend selecting this venue if you are planning a New Orleans wedding. You will not be disappointed!! read more

I was a Southern Oaks bride, and the Southern Oaks Plantation crew was amazing to work with, from start to finish. I like working through emails (always have my smartphone on me!), and the Southern Oaks staff was so incredibly responsive and thorough in their reply emails to me throughout the entire year I was engaged. As a busy professional, this was essential to me. I mention this because WAY TOO MANY wedding vendors that I've dealt with are horrible with emails, but at Southern Oaks, I could always count on my messages to be read and replied to within 24 hours. Anyway...I heard so much about this venue being one of the best places to have your wedding in New Orleans, and on my wedding day, I understood why this was all true. You'll have several personal attendants for the bride, groom, wedding party, and family throughout the day, catering to your EVERY need. The staff keeps things running incredibly efficiently so you don't have to worry about a thing. The food is AMAZING, the grounds are gorgeous, and the extra add-ons you can spring for (sushi, carriage, jazz band) are all terrific. The best decision I made for my NOLA wedding was booking this place - and I looked at tons of venues! read more

If there is a better place to get hitched, it must be heaven itself! Bobby and his team work their butts off to make sure the entire wedding process, from planning to execution, are done painlessly and flawlessly. They anticipated our needs before us and went out of their way to put on a perfect day! Oh yeah, and the food is quite spectacular! read more

This review is not to take away from the great services provided by Southern Oaks, BUT they should do something about providing adequate parking for ALL guest. There is NOT enough parking. read more

My wife and I attended a wedding here. This place is beautiful with such an historic feel. If your ever able to attend a wedding here don't miss it. The food was excellent, we had about 15 different dishes offered to us and all that we tasted were great. read more

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I found Southern Oaks via a web search and was struck by its beauty on the outside. I live in CA so when I was home in MS for a holiday, we decided to drive over and I did not expect to find such a contemporary interior to match the exquisite exterior. I love the traditional exterior and ever-evolving contemporary interior. So many of the homes are traditional both inside and out which includes dark wood making for a much different, less romantic ambiance. We booked immediately, on the spot, without considering anywhere else. The staff is so kind and inviting as well as patient with answering questions. The planning process was easy. It was easy to communicate with staff via email and responses were prompt (within a 24 hour period). They provide you with an extensive booklet with detailed information about the venue, ceremony/reception, and suggestions for vendors. This place runs like clockwork. This is their business and they do it well. I had no worries about the day at all due to their consistent attention to detail. Parking was adequate for my small party and many had carpooled anyway. For larger parties, coordinate a van service or carpool to ensure enough parking as the lot is small in comparison to some other venues. We arrived a bit early so we waited outside the gate (as we knew we would). I had a small wedding party (only 1 attendant per bride/groom). I know only the wedding party is able to come in but I felt that in our case, the rules were too strict. The family member who drove my grandmother was unable to come inside. I understand the rules and asked family/friends to abide by them but I felt that older adults could be allowed to sit inside as it was hot at 12:30 outside. My brother was asked to wait outside and we had to explain that he was the usher so he would be allowed inside. Our whole wedding party and family was smaller than average. My parents were upset about this as we had only a few family members present. The entire wedding with guests was less than 50 people. The attendants (Anne/Anna, Rachel & Kim) were overwhelmingly attentive and sweet. Each time I turned, there was someone asking me what I needed and sometimes just handing me something I didn't realize I needed because they knew best. The service here is truly impeccable. It truly makes the difference in the whirlwind of the wedding day! Our wedding was in April 2014. Guests raved over the beauty of the venue, amazing taste and variety of food, and hospitality from staff. The only complaint that I had during the ceremony/reception was the DJ and it is minor. We gave a list of songs that guests wanted played. I missed one of my favorites and the only one I added to the list while we ate our dinner in seclusion. When I asked him to play it, he said that he had already played it. I asked him again to play it as I had not heard it. He was patient and did play it again. Overall, unbelievable location, service, taste, hospitality, and venue inside/out!! I highly recommend SOP for a stress-free, easy to plan wedding whether from a distance or local. I would choose SOP if I had to make the choice again. For that reason, I'm giving 5 stars! read more