-- A debutante party was held for Kristina Bickham and Cecelia Zimermann at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Bickham & Zimermann Debs Party, July 9, 2022 -- Paul, Cecelia and Louise Zimmermann

-- A debutante party was held for Kristina Bickham and Cecelia Zimermann at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Bickham & Zimermann Debs Party, July 9, 2022 -- Catherine Zimmermann, Joseph Zimermann

-- A debutante party was held for Kristina Bickham and Cecelia Zimermann at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Bickham & Zimermann Debs Party, July 9, 2022 -- Edna DeLucca, Katherine Bickham

-- A debutante party was held for Kristina Bickham and Cecelia Zimermann at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Bickham & Zimermann Debs Party, July 9, 2022 -- Melissa, Kristina and Mark Bickham

-- A debutante party was held for Kristina Bickham and Cecelia Zimermann at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Bickham & Zimermann Debs Party, July 9, 2022 -- Joseph and Cecelia Browning, Barbara and Leon Cornay

-- A debutante party was held for Hixon, Stauss and Redfearn Debs. Hixon, Stauss, Redfearn Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Heather Duncan, Olivia Falk

-- A debutante party was held for Hixon, Stauss and Redfearn Debs. Hixon, Stauss, Redfearn Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Charles, Caitlyn and Dede Refearn

-- A debutante party was held for Hixon, Stauss and Redfearn Debs. Hixon, Stauss, Redfearn Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Tom Hixon, Megan Stauss, Madeline Stauss, Charles Redfearn

-- A debutante party was held for Hixon, Stauss and Redfearn Debs. Hixon, Stauss, Redfearn Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Edward, Jenny and Jennifer Stauss

-- A debutante party was held for Hixon, Stauss and Redfearn Debs. Hixon, Stauss, Redfearn Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Paul McKee, Kathleen Hixon, Lee McKee

-- A debutante party was held for Kristina Bickham and Cecelia Zimermann at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Bickham & Zimermann Debs Party, July 9, 2022 -- Paul, Cecelia and Louise Zimmermann

-- A debutante party was held for Kristina Bickham and Cecelia Zimermann at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Bickham & Zimermann Debs Party, July 9, 2022 -- Catherine Zimmermann, Joseph Zimermann

-- A debutante party was held for Kristina Bickham and Cecelia Zimermann at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Bickham & Zimermann Debs Party, July 9, 2022 -- Edna DeLucca, Katherine Bickham

-- A debutante party was held for Kristina Bickham and Cecelia Zimermann at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Bickham & Zimermann Debs Party, July 9, 2022 -- Melissa, Kristina and Mark Bickham

-- A debutante party was held for Kristina Bickham and Cecelia Zimermann at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Bickham & Zimermann Debs Party, July 9, 2022 -- Joseph and Cecelia Browning, Barbara and Leon Cornay

-- A debutante party was held for Hixon, Stauss and Redfearn Debs. Hixon, Stauss, Redfearn Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Heather Duncan, Olivia Falk

-- A debutante party was held for Hixon, Stauss and Redfearn Debs. Hixon, Stauss, Redfearn Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Charles, Caitlyn and Dede Refearn

-- A debutante party was held for Hixon, Stauss and Redfearn Debs. Hixon, Stauss, Redfearn Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Tom Hixon, Megan Stauss, Madeline Stauss, Charles Redfearn

-- A debutante party was held for Hixon, Stauss and Redfearn Debs. Hixon, Stauss, Redfearn Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Edward, Jenny and Jennifer Stauss

-- A debutante party was held for Hixon, Stauss and Redfearn Debs. Hixon, Stauss, Redfearn Debs, June 24, 2022 -- Paul McKee, Kathleen Hixon, Lee McKee

“J’aime le Vieux Carré” headed the invitation that featured a French Quarter balcony scene with a “rue Bourbon” sign and a Bevolo-type street lamp. The party honored Kristina Bickham and Cecelia Zimmermann, whose respective parents are Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Bickham, Mark and Melissa, and Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Zimmermann, Paul and Louise, the party’s hosts. To let the good times roll — and to show that we all “love the French Quarter” – the deb set and others headed to the vital venue, the New Orleans Lakefront Airport.

The Art Déco accents within the airport terminal were given party enhancement with white feather centerpieces; silver and crystal candelabras with New Orleans street signs; and locally-inspired table accents arranged with street lamps, Carnival masks, oysters with pearls, and trumpets with musical notes. The floral complements were arrangements in all sizes of white roses, and purple-colored tulips and lilies.

A magenta-hued design by Yvonne LaFleur outfitted Cecelia, who also goes by Cece, while mom Louise Zimmermann chose a sky blue cocktail dress. Kristina Bickham made her merry rounds in a jumpsuit, champagne in color, by Skies Are Blue Designs. Her mother, Melissa, turned out in a cocktail dress by Alexis’s Designs. Both fathers wore traditional white dinner jackets with black ties.

Taste treats were numerous, thanks to Messina’s Catering & Events and its spread of crawfish pasta, corn and crab bisque, roast beef, crab cakes, and bacon-wrapped chicken. Sweets capped the grazing, with beignets, pralines, petits-fours, local sites-inspired cookies by Joan Farrell-Mathis, and Roman candy.

Family from the hosting forces included Zimmermann deb siblings Catherine Marie and Joseph Warren; and grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Browning and Donald Jeff Zimmermann. Also, Kristina’s sister, Dr. Katherine Michelle Bickham, and their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leon F. Cornay III. Friends, and there were numerous Zimmermann-Bickham overlaps, included the Eric C., Brad J. and William “Bill” Zimmermanns, the W. Lee Lowes, the junior Charles Childresses, Mara and Jack Coiron and son George, Dr. W. Kenneth Mann (Naomi was traveling), the Drs. David and Kristi DeGenova, Susie and Marvin Russell, Allison and Ryan Waldron, Edna Klein, Linda and Alan Brackett, Dr. Alan and Joan Sheen, Shannon Walgamotte and Lynda Moreau, the Glen Carters, the Daniel Busses, the George Whites, the Jerry Ploughs, the Joseph P. Childresses, and the Rene Navarres. Quite a few were with adult children for multi-generational fun.

The party tempo was at a constant upbeat with the band, Category 6, a local favorite, providing a gamut from the 70s to the musical present. “Sweet Caroline” was a highlighted number, enjoyed by Eliza Nieset, Eugenie Philipson and a host of others. Fluorescent lighting in several colors, especially royal blue, bathed the band members, who got the party pack to the floor to wave light-up batons and don glowing wreaths, leis and bracelets. The lively fusion of music, color, lights and a fun-loving deb duo in Cece and Kristina was duly captured in the glee of the hit, “Don’t Stop Believing.”

“Bubbly & Brunch” was the midday beckoning hosted by Ed and Jennifer Stauss, Charles and Dede Redfearn, and Paul and Lee McKee in honor of their respective daughters, Jenny, Cailtyn, and Kathleen Hixon. The Audubon Tea Room was the site and Contessa & Co., which is owned by former debutante Tessa Martinez, served as the party planner. On the back of the invitation, a watercolor depiction of the three honorees, all in white frocks, showed them walking through a botanical garden. Fittingly, the Audubon Tea Room itself and its immediate environs lent itself to the garden-theme atmosphere.

Some of the extensive decorative features were framed photos of Jenny, Caitlyn and Kathleen; an abundance of fresh flowers in artful arrangements; and ivory tablecloths and chair covers, which were sashed in springtime blue, a favorite color of the threesome. Caitlyn and Jenny sported the color in combinations, while Kathleen wore all white. The six parents turned out in estival attire.

Early on, guests headed to the buffet array of Caesar salad, grits and grillades, shrimp etouffée, three-cheese tortellini, pork tenderloin, and a suite of sweets. The dessert table was embellished with two large vintage bird cages, as well as a huge champagne glass filled with iridescent bubbles and gold Mylar tissue paper to give the effect of poured Champagne. Meanwhile, the edibles were thematically shaped sugar cookies, petits fours and brownies, king cake, and gold-dusted macaroons in pastel pink and lavender.

Within the “Bubbly” brigade were Kathleen Hixon’s mom and stepdad, Lee and Paul McKee, along with the deb’s brother, Tom Hixon, and, as kin and kith, Heather Duncan, Brittany Pearson, Kelly Boyd, Leslie Jacobs, Lynn Hoffman, Jeanie Rosenblum, Susan Dickerson, Catherine Provosty, Olivia Falk, and Caroline Carazo.

Stauss sisters Madeline Meriwether and Megan Renee joined deb sister, Jenny, for the midday revels, as did their grandmother Ursula Kotissek Williams. Still others were Mary Celeste Williams Kerry, Kelly Ann Patrick Williams, Lori Frances Williams Marascalco, and Angela Lea Dartez Williams.

Caitlyn’s grandfather, Robert L. “Bob” Redfearn, was not officially invited because it was a “ladies-only” event. The honorees’ dads showed up for the beginning and the end of the party, along with deb brothers Tom Hixon and Charles James Redfearn. Mingling, too, were Angelle Lyman, Katie Lyman, Lynn Alexandra “Alex” Redfearn, and Beverly Redfearn.

Scores more within the debutante coterie were invited (and attended), as were their mothers.

Outfitted in seersucker suits and ties, the musicians of the three-piece combo caught the eye. The ear, too, as they served up rhythm and revelry to showcase Jenny, Caitlyn and Kathleen, whose natural effervescence “bubbled” to the social surface.

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