If you want your wedding venue to feel like:
you’ve stumbled into the most charming european estate hidden-in-plain sight–
You’ve landed in the right place.
© James Shaw Photography
Race + Religious is a wedding venue like no other;
with artfully arranged artifacts and surprising vignettes around every corner
and filled with the Spirit of New Orleans.
Even the trained eye of location scouts agree.
The quirky beauty of R+R has set the scene for: Anthropologie Catalogs, Coca-cola commercials, feature films, famous cookbooks and popular music videos.
Oddly enough, the owners of the property never intended for it to be a business, but their private residence.
That’s why it feels so inviting–
R+R was originally a HOME.
The story goes like this–
In 2003, Bille and Granville Semmes purchased the house facing Race Street so they could expand the property they currently owned next door facing Religious Street.
Yep–– that's where the name Race + Religious comes from ;)
Overtime, they extensively renovated the properties and connected them with a courtyard centered around a newly added pool.
The two curated the property with artwork by family members, went treasure hunting for vintage Chateau antiques and teamed up with a 2nd Generation antique purveyor here in the city.
As the property neared completion, their antiques dealer was searching for a wedding venue.
With the hopes of getting married surrounded by her finds on annual buying trips to Europe, she asked the owners if they could get married on the private property.
She had the very first wedding at R+R.
Her wedding images were widely featured in industry publications and interest in the property grew among couples from coast to coast. It became clear that the space was destined to be an event venue and formally began hosting weddings in 2010.
Second line with us.
© Dark Roux