Proposals and weddings at The Royal Sonesta New Orleans
The Royal Sonesta New Orleans can host proposals, small ceremonies and full wedding receptions in multiple French Quarter settings — from a Bourbon Street balcony to a 5,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom or the 3,400-square-foot courtyard. The hotel offers dedicated wedding services, on-site restaurants (including Restaurant R'evolution and Desire Oyster Bar), and a range of guest rooms and suites for wedding parties and overnight guests.
In this guide
Overview: wedding and proposal settings
The Royal Sonesta New Orleans offers several distinct spaces for proposals and weddings, including indoor ballrooms, private suites with Bourbon Street views, and a tree-filled courtyard with a fountain. The hotel lists six primary event spaces used for weddings and can host celebrations from intimate gatherings up to larger receptions.
On-site wedding services and a dedicated events team can help arrange ceremony and reception details, and multiple on-site food-and-beverage outlets can cater wedding dining needs.
- Indoor: Grand Ballroom, Evangeline Suite, Fleur de Lis Suite
- Outdoor: Courtyard (private, planted courtyard with fountain)
- Bourbon Street terraces: Bourbon Balcony Hospitality Suites (several configurations)
| Space | Approx. sq. ft. / Notes |
|---|---|
| Grand Ballroom | About 5,000 sq. ft.; divisible |
| Fleur de Lis Suite and Courtyard | Combined ~5,240 sq. ft.; courtyard connects to indoor space |
| Evangeline Suite | About 2,110 sq. ft.; floor-to-ceiling windows and chandeliers |
Capacities and configurations
The property provides flexible capacity figures depending on indoor vs. outdoor and ceremony vs. reception setups. The hotel advertises maximum wedding guest totals and room-by-room capacity ranges so you can plan ceremony seating and dinner arrangements.
Because capacities change with table layouts and staging, your event manager will confirm final maximums for your chosen configuration and any local code limits.
- Maximum wedding guest total reported up to 450 guests (various pages list figures up to this maximum).
- Indoor ceremony capacity cited up to 350 guests; outdoor ceremony capacity up to 200.
- Reception capacities vary by room; Grand Ballroom reception capacity cited as up to 550–600 depending on source and configuration.
| Venue | Common capacity notes |
|---|---|
| Grand Ballroom | Seated receptions reported up to ~550 (sources list up to 600 for receptions) |
| Fleur de Lis Suite & Courtyard | Smaller receptions and courtyard ceremonies; capacity around 150–160 for outdoor events |
| Evangeline Suite | Ballroom-style space often used for 160–200 guests depending on configuration |
Proposal spots and small ceremonies
For a proposal or intimate ceremony, consider a Bourbon Balcony Hospitality Suite that overlooks Bourbon Street, a private corner balcony, or the shaded Courtyard by the fountain. These settings give a distinct French Quarter backdrop without a full ballroom booking.
The hotel's event team can often arrange private dining or a musician for small proposals and vow exchanges; mention timing and noise considerations for Bourbon Street views since you are directly on Bourbon Street.
- Bourbon Balcony Hospitality Suites (Bienville Corner, Center Bourbon, Conti Corner) — terrace space overlooking Bourbon Street
- Private Courtyard ceremony — intimate outdoor option with plants and fountain
- Small indoor private dining rooms at Restaurant R'evolution for a post-proposal celebration
| Option | Best for |
|---|---|
| Bourbon Balcony Suites | Proposals with a lively street backdrop |
| Courtyard | Quiet outdoor vow exchanges and photos |
| Private dining rooms (R'evolution) | Small receptions and intimate dinners |
Accommodations for the couple and guests
The Royal Sonesta New Orleans has 483 rooms across many room types and suites, which allows planners to block rooms for wedding guests on-property. Popular options for wedding couples include the Junior Suite (RClub), Suite, 1 Bedroom, Balcony (Bourbon Furnished) and other balcony or suite categories that reference Bourbon Street views.
When reserving room blocks, confirm check-in/check-out times and age requirements: standard check-in is 4:00 PM and check-out 11:00 AM, and the registering guest must be 21 or older.
- Room examples: Deluxe Room, Room, Furnished Balcony (Bourbon Balcony), Junior Suite (RClub), Suite, 1 Bedroom, Balcony (Bourbon Furnished)
- Confirm room allocations for early arrival or late departures; early/late may be available for a fee
- Pet-friendly policy: hotel allows dogs and cats with a non-refundable fee (check current policy when booking)
| Room type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Deluxe Room | Standard guestroom options; multiple bed configurations |
| Room, Furnished Balcony (Bourbon Balcony) | Balcony overlooks Bourbon Street — convenient for photos and street views |
| Junior Suite (RClub) | Suite-level space; good for couple getting-ready suites |
Catering, dinners and on-site dining
On-site culinary venues include Restaurant R'evolution for formal dinner service and private dining rooms, Desire Oyster Bar for casual seafood and po-boys, PJ's Coffee Café for morning beverages, and bars such as Bar R'evolution and Le Booze for cocktail events. The hotel can provide plated or buffet service through its catering team.
Restaurant R'evolution has multiple private dining rooms that can be privatized for groups (small to mid-size), and the adjoining Fleur de Lis Suite expands space for larger seated events.
- Restaurant R'evolution: dinner nightly; private dining rooms for 6–30 and access to larger adjoining space
- Desire Oyster Bar: casual option on Bourbon Street serving breakfast through late evening
- Oasis Pool Bar: seasonal poolside bar for casual cocktail or poolside events (hours vary seasonally)
| Dining outlet | Typical use for weddings |
|---|---|
| Restaurant R'evolution | Formal rehearsal dinners, private dining |
| Desire Oyster Bar | Casual post-ceremony gatherings and late-night bites |
| Oasis Pool Bar | Poolside cocktail receptions (seasonal) |
Practical planning details and fees
A mandatory Destination Fee applies to guest stays; it includes a welcome amenity, Wi‑Fi, a daily food-and-beverage credit and discount offers. Event pricing, room blocks and menu options are managed through the hotel's events team and will be quoted per event.
Confirm logistical needs — valet parking (garage under the hotel), accessibility accommodations, and any required deposits or credit card authorizations at check-in. The registering guest must present photo ID and a credit card at check-in.
- Destination Fee: mandatory daily charge included with room (check current rate at time of booking)
- Valet parking available 24 hours; overnight valet rate posted by the hotel
- The hotel provides wheelchair-accessible meeting spaces and on-site assistance for accessible events
| Item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Destination Fee | What it covers (welcome amenity, Wi‑Fi, daily F&B credit, discounts) |
| Valet & parking | Garage under the hotel; confirm overnight rate and height restrictions |
| Accessibility | Request accessible event flow and rooming as needed |
Proposal-day tips and timeline
If planning a proposal, finalize timing with the hotel (day vs. night) and consider how Bourbon Street activity or courtyard quiet will affect privacy and photos. For early-morning or late-night proposals, confirm staff availability and any access restrictions.
Ask the events or concierge team about recommended local vendors (photographer, florist, musician) and whether you can have a small musician or soloist at the courtyard or balcony — the hotel will advise on noise rules and timing specific to Bourbon Street.
- Reserve the chosen spot in advance and confirm a backup indoor location in case of weather
- Coordinate with hotel security/events for surprise arrivals or décor setup
- If proposing on a Bourbon Balcony, plan for street noise and consider a private suite for photos afterward
| Step | Suggested timing |
|---|---|
| Reserve venue / suite | Weeks to months in advance for weekends |
| Confirm vendors (photographer/florist) | 2–6 weeks ahead |
| Confirm logistics with hotel | 1–3 days before arrival |
