Chris and I both love Halloween and Mardi Gras, but didn't want to have the wedding on either day due to the inflated airfares and hotel rates for our out of town guests. Not to mention the general craziness of those seasons and how busy we are during them. 12th Night was the perfect compromize! I've always loved carnival balls and now we get to throw our own to celebrate our wedding! See What is 12th Night for more info on Carnival Balls To carry out the theme of a Masquerade Ball Wedding, WE ASK THAT YOU WEAR ONE OF TWO TYPES OF COSTUME: 1. Formal wear (long dresses or tux) with a carnival mask. or 2. A full costume, ex: Queen Elizabeth, Frankfurter from Rocky Horror, a nun, a southern bell, a harem girl, Napoleon, an 18th century gentelman, the Pope, etc... PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE WEAR A COSTUME!!!! We cannot have a Masqueade Ball without Maskers!! PLEASE WEAR THE COSTUME TO BOTH THE WEDDING CERIMONY AND THE RECEPTION Our ceremony is NOT in an actual church. St. Elizabeth's Chapel was "deconcecrated" after being sold from the Catholic Church to the aurther Anne Rice, and God knows she won't be offended. A local costume shop right up the street from the wedding has agreed to give discounts to anyone in our wedding party. They have two floors of costumes of every type you can imagine and then some.... They are called : MGM Costume Rental 1617 St. Charles Avenue Tel: 504-581-3999 To buy a carnival mask to complement formal wear from a local New Orleans Shop visit these: The Little Shop of Fantasy http://littleshopoffantasy.com/ 523 Rue Dumaine New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 529-4243 BEAUTIFUL MASKS!!!!!!!!! To buy a carnival mask to complement formal wear see these WEBSITES: Florentine Masks: www.maskart.com Great Prices on Venetian Masks!! I've seen these same masks for hundreds of dollars!! Perfect for a masquerade!! Paradiso: http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~paradiso/ Handmade Paper Maché Carnival Masks. Great Prices! Great Masks!! Charlotte's Web of Illusion http://www.illusionmasks.com/ Beautiful Masks!! Great Prices!! Angel-Mask, Toys for the Face http://www.angel-mask.com/movindex.htm Beautiful Fantasy Ball Masks!! This site will give you a good idea of a masquerade ball!! Rovoletto http://www.ruvoletto.com/ Beautiful Paper Maché Masks!! Good to Expensive Prices!! Morgana http://www.morgana.ve.it/Default.htm REAL VENETIAN Masks from venice!! Does anybody know the exchange rate? Italian Source http://www.italysource.com/venetianmask.html Beautiful, but pricey. Venice Cybermall http://venicecybermall.hypermart.net/index2.html Beautiful, but pricey. Mardi Gras Beads and More http://mardigrasbeadsandmore.com/home.hmx Good Masks, REALLY, REALLY CHEAP!! Gariarte http://www.duck.it/gariarte/maschere/main.html Beautiful Venetian Masks!! Great Prices!! Maskerville http://www.maskerville.com/ Beautiful, but pricey. Accent Annex http://www.accentannex.com/ Local New Orleans supplier of Mardi Gras Masks, Beads, etc....REALLY CHEAP!! Party Lounge http://www.partylounge.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv Mardi Gras Masks, Halloween Costumes, etc... REALLY CHEAP!! Mardi Gras Zone http://mardigraszone.safeshopper.com Good Masks, REALLY, REALLY CHEAP!!	Too See MGM's costumes click here MGM Costume Rental 1617 St. Charles Avenue Tel: 504-581-3999 Green Feline Half Mask http://www.illusionmasks.com/ www.angel-mask.com Great Costume Ideas!! "Mask" of Comedy" www.maskart.com "Feather" Stick Mask www.maskart.com