Darren Criss and Mia Swier’s Wedding Was a Musical Extravaganza Under the Spanish Moss in New Orleans
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo1/27Mia’s custom wedding dress by Vera Wang—the soft white strapless crepe gown was accented with classic garter-belt details over a crinkled tulle skirt.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo2/27“Mia is a free spirit, artistic, passionate, a musician in her own right!” says designer Vera Wang. “I envisioned this dress with a bodice of vintage detail and exposed garters dripping over a bed of distressed tulle! I cannot think of a more seductive, playful, or charming look for such a unique bride.”
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo3/27The couple’s matching custom Mardi Gras rings were fun accessories designed by Kyle Chan that they wore in addition to their wedding rings.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo4/27A formal bridal portrait taken at the Ace Hotel in New Orleans.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo5/27The cathedral-length light ivory tulle veil, detailed with hand-pieced black Chantilly lace.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo6/27“Mia’s second dress was a mini and was all about legs, movement, and freedom, as she was also performing!” Wang says. “So cool . . . bride and entertainer!”
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo7/27Darren wore an off-white Giorgio Armani custom designed one-button shawl collar tuxedo trimmed in silk grosgrain. He completed the look with a white evening shirt, a silk grosgrain bow tie, and classic patent leather shoes.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo8/27“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Darren Criss, dressing him on the stage since his career started with Glee,” Mr. Armani explains. “He has a strong personality, and likes to take challenges with his wardrobe, just as he does with his singing and acting. I am happy to have worked on a bespoke suit for such an important moment in his personal life.”
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo9/27Darren straightening his silk grosgrain bow tie.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo10/27The day of the wedding began with the couple and guests gathering at the Ace Hotel for photos. Here, Darren and Mia pose in their personalized Levi’s jean jackets.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo11/27After photos, Mia and Darren drove over to the ceremony location in a friend’s vintage red Rolls-Royce convertible.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo12/27“Because I always wanted to roll up to my own wedding in some hot wheels,” Mia shares.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo13/27Once guests were seated at the ceremony, Darren appeared at the front, grabbed a guitar, and started singing a song to accompany his and Mia’s families down the aisle. When he finished, he took Mia by the arm, and they both walked up the aisle together.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo14/27From there, they hosted and officiated their own wedding, while friends and family offered words of love and wisdom, songs, poems, and stories.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo15/27The kiss!
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo16/27When the newlyweds eventually processed down the aisle, they were joined by a second line band (the Kinfolk Brass Band), and together they led guests to the cocktail reception on the front steps of the museum.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo17/27The scene inside the New Orleans Museum of Art just before the live concert portion of the evening.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo18/27At around 10:00 p.m.—right at the moment when guests likely thought things were about to wind down—there was a dramatic light change, and buckets of glow sticks poured onto the steps of the museum, signaling it was time to move into the museum.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo19/27“One of the things we looked forward to the most was something we actually hid from nearly everyone at the wedding,” Darren explains. “The idea was to take an old tradition and turn it into something a lot more fun for us as bride and groom. I quickly put on a guitar and Mia put on a bass, and we exploded into ‘The Ballroom Blitz’ by Sweet to get the party started. We had a first song together as husband and wife—it was the coolest.”
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo20/27“The whole goal of our wedding was to take traditions and turn them on their heads with our own flair,” Darren says. “And me playing a brand new Thinline Telecaster in my white tux with Mia rockin’ out on a matching white Duff McKagan P Bass in a wedding dress and combat boots—that whole moment was probably the pinnacle of that goal.”
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo21/27Darren honored his Filipino heritage by wearing a traditional barong tagalog by designer Francis Libiran while dancing with his mother. This custom-designed piece was hand-loomed from pure pineapple fabric, and the intricately embroidered design was inspired by the famous tattoo patterns of the indigenous people of Cebu.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo22/27Lea Michele performing for the crowd.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo23/27John Stamos on drums.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo24/27The newlyweds performing for guests at the reception.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo25/27“So cool,” says Vera Wang. “Bride and entertainer!”
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo26/27Lance Bass, Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Turchin, Michelle Feldman, Pamela Adlon, and Jessica Leech.
Photo: Katie Edwards Photo27/27At the end of the concert, guests were handed headphones for a silent disco with a personalized playlist of even more of the couple’s favorite songs. Darren and Mia changed into their final looks of the evening and wearing matching sequin T-shirts pose for a final kiss shot.
