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Journal

Maria Etkind Millinery is a Panamanian millinery living in New Orleans. She loves to share some of her millinery adventures in her journal. If you are a hat enthusiast or a millinery you will love to read her musings.

Anne Rice's 33rd Annual Lestat Vampire Ball 2021

Maria Etkind

The whole gang was in attendance. We are now “The Coven”.

This year was my first time attending The 33rd Annual Anne Rice Vampire Ball in New Orleans. The theme this year was Masque De La Mort Rouge.

I must say it was an amazing night. The weather was perfect for costuming and the fact that all my friends were in attendance was also a huge plus. There were so many amazing things from that night, but my favorite was the decor. My friend Belinda who owns Blue Gardenia Events knocked the decor out of the park or should I say, the cemetery. The floral arrangements she used as the center pieces were wilted beautiful red roses that were wilted to perfection! The first time I have appreciated floral decay! The Elms Mansion became the perfect venue for a faux cemetery and the stone gazebo was perfect for a display of beautiful Egyptian seated statues. The mansion was built in 1864.

All of the florals were provided by Kim Starr Wise were actually from a wedding the previous week. We saved all of them and let them do their natural decaying and then we reused all of them for the ball, which was absolutely perfect!
— Belinda

The night was filled with glamour, splendor, Goth and 80’s music and entertainment. The costumes were top notch! There were of course vampires, werewolves, demons, sun queens, women in period costumes with velvet red capes, and even the Pope came to save our damned souls! We toasted with Lestat in the ritual “blood toast” and danced the night away in our beautiful velvet gowns, crowns, wigs and fangs! I am sure we made Anne Rice proud! Her passing this year was a huge blow to the city that she loved and loved her. She will truly be missed!

I wore a a vintage 1920’s inspired black velvet dress with deco style beading. The crown I made was also 1920 Gatsby inspired. The crown was trimmed with vintage black ribbons and black feathers.

I can’t wait to go next year!

Photo Credits: Maria Etkind, Leah Blake, and Mateo & Co @mateoandcompany @themateodiaz

Venue: @elmsmansion

Hosts: Mary Dugas @marycaveaux & Shane Garner, The House of Medusa @shanegarner

Planner/Designer: Blue Gardenia Events @bluegardeniaevents

Videographer: Studio Vieux Carre @studiovieuxcarre

Florist: Kim Starr Wise @kimstarrwise

Decor, lighting, dance floor decal: Firefly Ambiance @fireflyambiance

Rentals: Element @exploreelement

Props: Shane Garner, The House of Medusa @shanegarner

Charity: Save our Cemeteries @saveourcemetaries

String Trio: Harry Hardin @harry.hardin.5

DJ: Angel @djseraph11

Band: Seven Shadows @seven_shadows_band

Performance director & BGE event producer: @realestaceynola

Actors:

  • MC: Juneaux Mayfaire @juneauxspillbox

  • Casting: Ben Fox @thebenfox

  • Emily Bagwill @emilybagwill

  • Alesondra Davis @afrosondra

  • Kirkland Green @_riffdaddy_

  • Garrin Mesa @garrinmesa

  • Emily Ricalde @emiricalde

  • Makeup Artist: Noelle LeDoux @noelleledouxx

Costuming: Mary Dugas @marycaveaux and Southern Costume Company @southerncostumecompany_nola

Sponsors: @darkgardencorsetry; @boutiqueduvampyre; @nolavampirecafe; @FreelanceSirProductions; House of Medusa @shanegarner

Mentions: @annericeauthor; @annericevampireball