Christina Hendricks has officially tied the knot! The 48-year-old actress celebrated her wedding to George Bianchini at the historic Napoleon House in New Orleans on Saturday, April 20. The guest list was star-studded, including “Mad Men” creator Matt Weiner, designer Christian Siriano, and actresses Mae Whitman and Retta.
Speaking to PEOPLE, Hendricks shared that both she and Bianchini, a camera operator for various films and TV shows, have a deep connection to New Orleans. “New Orleans is a place that I always loved to go before I met George, and a place that he always loved to go before he met me. And then when we first started dating or meeting up, because we lived across the country from one another, it was the place in the middle,” she said. “It just feels like our city together, even though we both loved it individually.”
The couple chose the Napoleon House for its historical significance and eclectic grandeur. Hendricks was drawn to its “rustic Cuban, Spanish, European textured, high-low feeling,” which she felt mirrored their own styles. “It’s got the most gorgeous walls with paint peeling off, and then you walk upstairs and there’s these grand dining rooms with the beautiful ceilings.”
The wedding, which was attended by 76 guests, struck the perfect balance between intimacy and grandeur. “It seemed like the right amount for us to be able to embrace and visit with everyone and not feel overwhelmed. But it’s certainly not a tiny, intimate wedding. No, [we wanted] a celebration — a grand celebration,” Hendricks explained.
In charge of the wedding details, Hendricks leaned into the old-world charm of New Orleans to guide her planning. Despite the challenges of planning from afar while filming in Ireland, she remained focused on the joy of the occasion. “I really felt like I had to be able to bob and weave in a situation where you’re planning a party in a city that you don’t live in,” she said. “I just kept saying to myself, ‘At the end of the day, if all of our friends and family together being happy and celebrating… If all else fails, I’ll order pizza, and we’re going to have a great time.'”
The festivities began with a welcome cocktail party and included a ghost tour in the French Quarter. For the ceremony itself, Hendricks went “full floral,” working with a local floral designer to create a Southern Gothic theme with lush arrangements. “I’ve always loved flowers. It’s something so special to me, and I’ve never really indulged in just having an event and just letting it be a festival of flora and fauna,” she said.
The ceremony was officiated by Shirley Manson, lead singer of the rock band Garbage, adding a personal touch as Manson is a close friend and an inspiration for the couple. “It was super exciting for us because I really think [Manson] is one of the most extraordinary writers and poets. We just look at her and her marriage to her husband Billy [Bush], and they are couple goals for us,” Hendricks remarked.
After the ceremony, the couple led a traditional New Orleans second line parade. The weekend concluded with a brunch on Sunday, April 21, celebrating their union in style.
Reflecting on the decision to marry, Hendricks highlighted the significance of the commitment. “We’re both romantic, and I think it’s easy to say when you’ve been married before and it’s been so hard and it didn’t work, and you feel like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is very scary. We don’t have to do this. We could just love each other and not do this.’ But I think there’s something to be said about really making that commitment and saying it out loud with some of your friends and family,” she told PEOPLE.
“There is a romance to it, there’s a celebration about it, and there is also just something that makes you feel different. There’s something that says, ‘You’re not going anywhere and I’m not going anywhere.’ ” For Hendricks and Bianchini, the wedding was more than just a ceremony; it was a momentous occasion to cherish and remember forever.
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