I Love Vieux (pronounced “view”) refers to the Vieux Carré, the old square we call the French Quarter. The French Quarter of New Orleans is one of the most romantic neighborhoods in the world, where so many people fall in love, propose, marry and dream. Almost all the parades I throw are in the French Quarter, where I also live.
This is the place where lovers want to celebrate and soak their senses with history, music and movement. And this is the city where they are permitted to revel right in the streets! Private parades are an unusual, only-in-New Orleans privilege and it my absolute pleasure to throw them.
Greetings. I’m Lacey Wood and they call me the “Mistress of Parades.” I have been throwing second line parades since 2013, an art I learned as the Assistant to the Captain of the Krewe of Hermes. This very fortunate six-year education in all things Carnival found me handling everything from managing the membership and the royal court to producing the ball. (I am also a full scale event planner.) Hermes, founded in 1937, throws an ambitious week leading up to its Friday night parade, including a renowned Marching Parade. The experience, along with having grown up in New Orleans attending thousands of parades, left me with a lasting hunger for parading. After Hermes, it was a natural and easy choice to start I Love Vieux.
As much fun as you are having celebrating your marriage, anniversary, birthday, meeting or New Orleans itself by sashaying along Royal Street with your favorite people and a brass band, I am thrilled to be there with you. I love my “job” and I love vieux!
The Historic Swoop-Duggins House, located in a historic three-story, three-bay, brick house with an attached two-story service wing located in New Orlean’s CBD, offers a private, second floor exclusively for events complete with private entry. For larger events, or guests wishing for a progressive event experience, you may opt to also include the courtyard as well as the entire first floor, Swoop’s dining room and bar, as part of your event.
The Historic Swoop-Duggins House’s event space can be privately accessed by both its own beautiful wooden staircase as well as the courtyard, both leading to the immaculately decorated rooms on the second floor. Rich colors and ornate fabrics complement the artwork that adorns the walls as well as the multiple fireplaces. The “gallery” (a balcony spanning the depth of an entire sidewalk and the full length of the building) allows guests to experience the sites and sounds of New Orleans during your event.
The space at The Historic Swoop-Duggins House provides your guests with a unique event experience in that not only do you have access to the second floor during your event, you have the option to utilize the courtyard as part of your event.