Nell Nolan: Luck Be A Lady 5 debs; Christman and Goff deb | Parties/Society | nola.com

2022-07-30 18:16:29 By : Ms. Cynthia Luo

-- Luck Be A Lady Debutante party was held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Luck Be A Lady 5 Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Elizabeth Coman, Cecilia Balart, Lane Whitsell, Abby Hufft, Emma McFadden

-- Luck Be A Lady Debutante party was held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Luck Be A Lady 5 Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Paul and Louise Hogan, Liz and Dave Whitsell

-- Luck Be A Lady Debutante party was held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Luck Be A Lady 5 Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Hunter and Lauren McFadden

-- Luck Be A Lady Debutante party was held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Luck Be A Lady 5 Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Matthew and Kristin Coman, Kate and Etienne Balart

-- Luck Be A Lady Debutante party was held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Luck Be A Lady 5 Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Molly Coman, Merritt McFadden, J.D. Whitsell

-- Luck Be A Lady Debutante party was held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Luck Be A Lady 5 Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Suzy, Sarah and Patrick Hufft

-- A debutante part was held for Christman and Goff Debs at Tipitina's. Christman and Goff Debs, June 25, 2022 -- Gigi McLeod, Colleen McLeod, Phillip and Stella Gray Sykes

-- A debutante part was held for Christman and Goff Debs at Tipitina's. Christman and Goff Debs, June 25, 2022 -- Waldo and Julia Otis

-- A debutante part was held for Christman and Goff Debs at Tipitina's. Christman and Goff Debs, June 25, 2022 -- Wendy deBen, Marguerite Christman, Preston Christman

-- A debutante part was held for Christman and Goff Debs at Tipitina's. Christman and Goff Debs, June 25, 2022 -- Stacey, Margaret Ellis and Leigh Ann Goff

-- A debutante part was held for Christman and Goff Debs at Tipitina's. Christman and Goff Debs, June 25, 2022 -- Robert and Sara Brewer

-- Luck Be A Lady Debutante party was held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Luck Be A Lady 5 Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Elizabeth Coman, Cecilia Balart, Lane Whitsell, Abby Hufft, Emma McFadden

-- Luck Be A Lady Debutante party was held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Luck Be A Lady 5 Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Paul and Louise Hogan, Liz and Dave Whitsell

-- Luck Be A Lady Debutante party was held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Luck Be A Lady 5 Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Hunter and Lauren McFadden

-- Luck Be A Lady Debutante party was held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Luck Be A Lady 5 Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Matthew and Kristin Coman, Kate and Etienne Balart

-- Luck Be A Lady Debutante party was held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Luck Be A Lady 5 Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Molly Coman, Merritt McFadden, J.D. Whitsell

-- Luck Be A Lady Debutante party was held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Luck Be A Lady 5 Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Suzy, Sarah and Patrick Hufft

-- A debutante part was held for Christman and Goff Debs at Tipitina's. Christman and Goff Debs, June 25, 2022 -- Gigi McLeod, Colleen McLeod, Phillip and Stella Gray Sykes

-- A debutante part was held for Christman and Goff Debs at Tipitina's. Christman and Goff Debs, June 25, 2022 -- Waldo and Julia Otis

-- A debutante part was held for Christman and Goff Debs at Tipitina's. Christman and Goff Debs, June 25, 2022 -- Wendy deBen, Marguerite Christman, Preston Christman

-- A debutante part was held for Christman and Goff Debs at Tipitina's. Christman and Goff Debs, June 25, 2022 -- Stacey, Margaret Ellis and Leigh Ann Goff

-- A debutante part was held for Christman and Goff Debs at Tipitina's. Christman and Goff Debs, June 25, 2022 -- Robert and Sara Brewer

It was a “first” for the vessel: The Riverboat Louis Armstrong. Until the evening of the bash, it had not been the site for a private party of this sort. And for five debutantes, it was “foremost.” For months they had anticipated their “Luck Be a Lady” party and, among other features, its gaming gamut.

Limelighted as the fab five were Cecilia Balart, daughter and stepdaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Luis Etienne Balart and stepdaughter and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Andrew Hogan; Elizabeth Coman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew McKay Coman; Abby Hufft, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Hillary Hufft; Emma McFadden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Beall McFadden Jr.; and Lane Whitsell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Morris Whitsell.

The multicolored invitation riveted attention with its depiction of a shapely singer, the games to be played (cards, roulette, dice) and the four party hours, with the last two reserved for a sail. (This was the “first voyage down the Mississippi since the boat was renovated and moved to New Orleans in 2019.” It “was built in 1995 as an Indiana gambling boat.)

Vintage Vegas décor and ambiance also riveted every eye, thanks to the showgirls at the entrance, fuchsia feather chandeliers, a pink and white floral bank with the debs’ names and “Luck Be a Lady” in pink neon, and wall fabric with black and white photos of “classic” Hollywood stars. In addition to the roulette, blackjack and craps gaming tables with dealers, two towers of illuminated dice flanked the stage, which was backed with the Las Vegas skyline. Crystal chandeliers topped with multicolored, feathered globes hung over the tables. Adding the floral fillip were lavender roses, pink peonies and white hydrangeas. Credit for the decorative wizardry tapped Fancy Faces Décor and Crystal Clear Imaging.

Several designers garbed the moms and debs, with, among others, Abby and Suzy Hufft, respectively in Marchesa and Kay Unger; Emma and Lauren McFadden in Yvonne Counce and Mac Duggal; and Elizabeth Coman in Alice and Olivia. The dads sported white linen suits with pink ties.

Getting admiring glances from the Hogan/Balart families were Cecilia’s siblings, Isabel, Merrill Lucy and William Balart, and deb grandmothers Muffin Balart and Aline Walshe. Also, Elise and Bill Brundige, Pat McCausland, Michael Walshe III, Katie Grace Walshe, Margaret Hogan, Conrad Skinner, Amy and Chris Casbarian, Nina and Justin Fitch, Logan Howcott, Angelique Manne, Wendy Kerrigan, Adrienne and Archie Casbarian, and Karen and Robert Weinmann.

Deb sister Molly Coman, along with grandmothers Kathryn Roux and Ann Coman, partied with Elizabeth, as did Logan and Stephen Huber, Linda and Alan Brackett, Phoebe and John Cook, Charlotte and Dean Nicoladis, Sarah Martin, Kathleen Robert, Stuart Baker, Charles “Chuck” Walsten and Yvette Monju, and Alli Engfer.

Pigeon Catering provided the abundant eat treats, such as Creole crab cakes, barbeque shrimp and grits shooters, pork tacos, garlic-stuffed roast, lump crabmeat, large displays of charcuterie and cheese, and a mac and cheese/mashed potato bar. Later, hamburger sliders and grilled cheese sandwiches hit the spot. “A Lucky Lady” was the specialty libation

Hufft hobnobbers savoring the spread were deb sister Sarah Hufft, Carolyn and Tommy Hayne, Trisha and George Clay, Micheline and Fred Vandenburgh, Allison and Skye Durant, Katie and Tom Shlosman, Charlie Lavis, John Lavis, William Lavis, Kathy and Dan Housey, Hailey Housey, Jennifer Holmes, Patty and Charlie Justice, Diane Jones, Kathy Connor, Colleen Hufft, and Gail Pittman.

Four grandparents, Sherry and Hunter McFadden and Janet and Frank Courtenay, and a brace of brothers, Hayden and Merritt McFadden, joined Emma, along with Sara and Ryan Gootee, Elizabeth and John Schwing, Beth and Trip Edwards, Therese and John Kessels, John Davidson, and Tara and Lenny Labiche. The welcomed Whitsells were deb sisters Brittany and Anne, brother John David "J.D." Whitsell, and grandparents Rita and Walter Case. Three generations mingled at the invitation of the hosting families.

Time to sail! At 9 p.m., guests headed to the upper deck for a leisurely trek down the river, jazzy music making, and a specialty cocktail. All the winsome while, Rouge Krewe from Lafayette made dancing dominant, with “My Girl” as a favorite. Whereas the hailed fivesome of Cecilia, Elizabeth, Abby, Emma and Lane were the cynosures, two others were subtle stars. Frank Sinatra and his smash hit “Luck be a Lady” titled the revelry, and the boat’s namesake, Louis Armstrong, would have Satchmo-smiled, saying “What a wonderful whirl.”

A home-delivered invitation encased in a black tube tied with a tuft of black tulle was sure to intrigue. Once unfurled, the message enticed. With the wording “Tipitina’s” at the top, in in colors of black and yellow, the poster invitation stated “Please join Wendy deBen and Preston Christman and Leigh Ann and Stacey Goff ‘For a Night of Music’ to celebrate their daughters Marguerite Christman and Margaret Ellis Goff.” The debs’ first names intertwined as “M & M." In fact, the party logo of criss-crossed double M’s in hot pink LED lighting flanked the stage, which had a black-sequined backdrop and zebra-motif rugs.

More decorative touches for the “Thank You for the Music NOLA” theme were the table flowers from Fancy Faces Décor in Covington that flowed out of brass musical instruments. The light-up base was of hot pink neon. Furthering the pink idea was pervasive lighting in the color, as well as the gloved “live” hands that gave guests bubbly through the Champagne Hedge Wall by Gwendolyn Events. The invitation posters were placed all over Tipitina’s alongside the regular concert ones; above the stage, the late Professor Longhair reigned in his special Jazz Fest “Mardi Gras Indian” headpiece; and high up, festive lights in the rafters suggested “M & M” in their formation.

The honorees sported dresses of Tipitina’s signature yellow with Marguerite wearing an Aje mode and Margaret Ellis, Charo Ruiz Ibiza. The hot pink-clad moms turned out in Sue Sartor for Wendy, and SWF for Leigh Ann.

“Let’s have a good time with M&M” announced event emcee Dr. Brice Miller, who dedicated one of the first songs, “You Are My Sunshine,” to the twosome. Already, the dancing and general gyrating started. The lineup – presented Jazz Fest style –included Ecirb Muller’s Twisted Dixie, a high-energy jazz band; Al “Little Fats” Jackson, singing Domino's “Blue Monday”; Vegas Cola Band; Big Sam (Big Sam’s Funky Nation); Pell; and our town’s Tonya Boyd-Canon, “The Voice” winner. Fans whirred overhead, while live ones danced up a storm.

Noted were Maria and Andy Wisdom, Leah and Sandy Whann, Tee and John Zimmerman, Marguerite and Jimmy Kock, Stacey and Jeremy Head, Joey and Buzzy Brown, Parker LeCorgne, Debbie and Bobby Patrick, Bobby Monsted, Deirdre and Hal Moffett, Courtney and Spencer Murphy, and as a threesome (with wives out of town), James Reiss, Noel Johnson and Storey Charbonnet. Also, Erika and Michael Cook, Kelly and Bill Ellis, Martha and Jack Charbonnet, Mary Lucy and David Lane, Helen and Tim Young, Elizabeth and John Schwing, Machelle and John Payne, Boo and Sid Charbonnet, Janie and John Boling, and Lauren and Hunter McFadden. For starters.

They and dozens more praised the palate pleasures, delicious passed small bites from Fleur De Lis Event Caterer, along with wines curated by James Moises, and “The Spicy Meguerita.” Musical spice occurred during the grand finale with The Wild Tchoupitoulas Indians in full regalia, who made their way to the stage with the debs, and then, and joining the Indians, two brass bands, All For One and Mahogany, for a super-size second line. All agreed that M&M’s musical bash at Tip’s was the tops.

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