Felicity, a Historic Masterpiece

Bathed in Character and Charm.

Felicity, a historic venue and wedding chapel, stands tall at the corner of Felicity and Chestnut; just four blocks off of Saint Charles Avenue in New Orleans’ Lower Garden District. Her stately Gothic Revival architectural embellishments combined with her vintage brick facade leave little doubt as to Felicity’s historical significance.

Built in 1888, Felicity is bathed in history and tradition. You can feel it when you run your hands along her century old banisters, you can see it in her panes of stained glass, you can hear it as your feet pad across her heart pine floors. Felicity is an extraordinary place.

She has played host to many a celebration in her time: weekly worship services, wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions, Christenings, art gallery openings, pop-up-restaurants, movie and music video sets, executive luncheons and corporate functions.

We are proud to carry on her celebratory tradition.

The Story of Felicity:

The land on which Felicity sits was deeded to the Methodist church in 1849. The first church at this location was dedicated on Christmas Day in 1850, and known as the Steele Chapel. It was designed by architect Thomas K. Wharton who worked with James Gallier, Sr. in New Orleans and later on the US Customs House in New Orleans.

Later named the Felicity Street Methodist Church, it burned on April 17th, 1887 due to a fire started by a candle dropped by an organ repairman named Shippler.

The congregation enlisted the architects William C. Williams and Samuel Patton to design the current Gothic Revival building, which was rebuilt and opened in 1888. At one time it was the largest Methodist Church in New Orleans and was one of the first churches in the city to have electricity. The church was described at its dedication in 1888 as “one of the finest edifices in the city  in the Daily Picayune.

Its new, massive steeple stood until it was toppled—like many church steeples around the city—in The Great Hurricane of 1915. Alterations and repairs were designed by Sam Stone Jr., architect of the Maison Blanche building. Felicity’s exterior remains largely unchanged since those repairs.

With hard work and love, Felicity has survived each of her trials. She is rejuvenated by each smiling couple that passes through her doors.

As you fill Felicity with your love, may she reciprocate with the love of generations past.

The Owner’s Story

Chris Jones and Jessica Walker purchased Felicity in 2011. The building had sat vacant and in disrepair since suffering catastrophic damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Chris and Jess stabilized and sealed the building over the next few years, replacing the roof and repointing the bricks throughout the structure. They were married in 2013; the first marriage in Felicity in almost a decade.

After experiencing so much love and joy at their wedding, they decided to let others feel that same bliss and began working on bringing the sanctuary into the 21st century.

Jess, an architect specializing in historic rehabilitation, designed Felicity in an effort to retain all the authentic charm and history, but add modern necessities like A/C and Heating, an elevator, and a kitchen.

After years of planning and almost a year of rehabilitation, Felicity re-opened its doors as a nondenominational sanctuary of love and acceptance in 2016.

We invite you and your loved ones to spend your happiest days with us,
in this historic and hallowed place.