France Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

A Stunning Wedding in Provence with the Most Chic Hotdog Stand

I have a thing for pale blue and subtle cerulean tones in weddings so of course this beautiful Provencal wedding has my heart today! It’s always a treat to experience Weddings of Excellence Provence weddings as they’re planned to perfection with impeccable, and totally romantic, style… and Gemma and Ben’s wedding is no different (see another epic wedding featured recently here)! From her boho beautiful gown by Grace Loves Lace, to the wipe-tears-from-your-face video by La Paire De Cerises, to, last but not least, the CUTEST hotdog stand we’ve ever seen … we are in love.

Ben & Gemma
From the Bride… We met in Italy, just south of the French Coast. We both work on Super Yachts, so our first summer together we spent taking road trips along the South of France whenever the boat was in port. With the incredible wineries, green landscape and stunning architecture, we quickly decided a few weeks after meeting that one day we would get married in Provence. I’m so elated that we followed through. Hearing my husbands vows and visiting with loved ones who had flown in from 4 continents all while showing them our favourite place in the world was incredible.

The inspiration behind our big day was a stunning table setting I found on Instagram, right after we got engaged. After every wedding discussion, I kept going back to that photograph and decided to reach out to Stephanie at WEP in Provence, the Wedding Planner behind the photograph. Immediately after our first conversation, I knew she understood why this wedding was important to us – not only was it my husband’s first wedding, it was also the first time our friends and extended family were meeting, as I’m Canadian and he’s English.

Stephanie left no detail to chance, she was patient with us when we were onboard the boat without wifi for several weeks – she even organized a bicycle with a hot dog stand to cycle into our cocktail hour after I mentioned hot dogs in our first meeting. Our Wedding Day was magical. From the gold glitter arrows on the venue driveway, to the craft cocktails that I created while we were working together on our first yacht. It could not have been a more perfect day for the two of us.

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The Shangri-La Hotel is What Paris Wedding Dreams Are Made Of

Francophiles, your heart is about to explode with all the Parisian wedding beauty coming your way. Set against the iconic Shangri-La, this affair planned by Smith + James Events, with florals by Madame Artisan Fleuriste is a true classic. Stunning gown, sparkling chandeliers, Eiffel Tower backdrop, it’s all sprinkled inside the beauty that is Sally Pinera’s photographs. Get lost in the magic right here.

From Smith & James… Jisun and Pieter’s nuptials in Paris were just as romantic and refined as all notions of wedding in the City of Love might be: a black-tie affair beneath carved gilded ceilings and crystal chandeliers. Dinner was prepared by a Michelin-star chef and enjoyed by candlelight. The couple was so very thoughtful in each choice and selection for their big day, prioritizing spoiling their guests at every turn.

From their gold-foil invitation suite by Amber Moon Design to their menu selection, they treated every decision with such care. It was a beautiful way to honor their love story and their loved ones at the same time. Jisun’s dress was a stunning piece from Ersa Atelier embellished with lace and intricate beadwork.

Her bouquet was a gathering of white peony and garden roses. Pieter met her for their first look in the garden of the Shangri La Paris. It was such a lovely and emotional moment. The ceremony in the historic Grand Salon of the Shangri La was breathtaking. Many of the couples’ friends are professional musicians, so the day was full of performances from operatic solos to duets of incredible singers and displays on the piano.

Afterward, guests mingled and enjoyed cocktails on the Salon de Famille and it’s perfectly appointed terrace as the sun went down. Dinner was accompanied by a jazz swing band. Guests dined on foie gras terrine, risotto with squid and prawns, and roasted duck.

Their first dance was to “Unforgettable” after which there was a display of sparklers and applause as the staff presented the couple with a traditional French croquembouche wedding cake. They ended the evening by stealing a kiss on a balcony overlooking the Eiffel Tower, then returning to their guests to celebrate on the terrace until late into the evening.

Simple Elegance Among the Fields of Lavender – A Wedding in Provence

Discover the magical kingdom more commonly known as Provence…. In the twinkle of the bride’s eyes, the almost tangible love surrounding the newlyweds and the infallible romance of lavender fields. In the classic imagery from Marion Heurteboust Photography and in the dramatic cinematic highlights from Chromata Film… this is where dreams do come true. Read on to hear how WEP in Provence made sure this couple’s wedding weekend was all that… and so much more…

From the Bride… As per her reputation, Stéphanie of Weddings of Excellence in Provence delivered the “prince and princess” wedding we dreamed of. With her strong character and eye for detail, she always found a way to go the extra mile with all facets of the weekend, putting on the most unforgettable event in our lives to date….

Both our guests, and we, had the best time and we owe everything to Stéphanie. She is committed and passionate about what it is that she does, and what she does is create a tailored and bespoke wedding experience for all involved. We can not recommend Stéphanie and WEP enough to all those thinking of having their wedding in Provence.

The opening frames of Clemence and Lluc’s highlight film will catch you by surprise. The aerial views of the locations throughout the three-day wedding weekend will overwhelm you and the spoken words will capture your heart. In a mere four minutes – you will be taken to another time, another place and an amazing celebration of love. From Chromata Films… Clemence and Lluc’s wedding in Luberon, France.
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A Feminine, Pastel Dream of a Wedding in Provence, France

If I had to pick my all-time favorite place on Earth, I would choose Provence, France without hesitation. I am a self-proclaimed Francophile (aren’t we all…), but it’s the countryside of Provence that has my heart. Amie and Dan’s sweet, pastel destination wedding at Chateau Talaud is what bridal dreams are made of and the incredible blush and lavender bouquets by Laetitia C. make my heart flutter!

From Katie Shuler Photography… Amie and Dan’s wedding in Provence was truly a pleasure to capture. Their wedding took place at the exclusive Chateau Talaud, a romantic 18th century Chateau surrounded by its own vineyards. Amie, (famous London blogger), and her fiancé, Dan, both live in London and wanted a warm, outdoor wedding so traveling to the South of France was the perfect destination.

Dan designed a Pergola for their special day, and with the help of his family, gathered the necessary supplies and built one the week of their wedding. Dan’s mother sewed the lovely drapes and Amie’s mother did the electrical for the lighting and chandeliers. Truly a family affair! Amie wanted a timeless feel for her wedding utilizing cream, lilac, and blush shades. The bridesmaid dresses and florals perfectly complimented the venue and Amie’s vision.

For the ceremony, rose bushes decorated the aisle and petals were strewn along the path. The lush green landscape made it feel like a garden party. For cocktail hour, there were different drink stations throughout and plenty of delicious appetizers. Amie and Dan really wanted everyone to enjoy the food so they spent a long time with their caterers perfecting all the dishes.

The reception was beautiful and intimate with plenty of heartfelt speeches during the setting sun. Amie had Macaroons as the wedding favors and lots of desserts for the guests. The party itself lasted until 3 am with everyone dancing the night away.

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Luxury Al Fresco Wedding in Provence at Hotel Du Castellet

Welcome back to the Little Black Book Blog! Yesterday we featured a wedding film from one of our beloved LBB cinematographers, Chromata Films ~ a French Riviera Wedding… an enchanting three-day weekend celebration. Today, we have a Sunday Matinee Feature from another of Chromata Film’s most recent weddings! This wedding weekend takes place in the very heart of Provence ~ it’s full of light-hearted merriment and all-out fun. And yet, when the Rabbi speaks, during the ceremony, the full significance of the occasion rings clearly thru. He says, “… the promises you’ll make today are genuinely above and beyond everything else. A declaration of faith, not only in each other but in the very purpose of human existence…. because one of the greatest purposes of human existence, is to bring yourself to another person… and share that faith with them.“

From Kevin & Laura Lopez from Chromata Films… Some days you wake up and you just realize how lucky you are and because of that… how grateful you must be. When we got to know Mikela and Alan and knew we were going to shoot their incredible Jewish Wedding in Provence, we knew that the time to be grateful was here again.

Spending two entire days with them and their lovely family was such a great experience ~ on so many levels. Mikela and Alan’s wedding weekend is unforgettable and will be etched in our minds forever.

Between the wedding venue, the surroundings, the bride and groom, the incredible wedding dress designed by Elie Saab, the jewelry, the guests and the beautiful wedding decor, it was breathtaking, to say the least. When you watch their wedding film you will understand how unique and incredible their days were. We hope you will enjoy watching this wedding film as much as we enjoyed creating it! Mazal Tov!

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Liz from White Label Events not only did a fantastic job of making the couple’s dream wedding a reality, she also made sure that we had everything we could possibly need to shoot in the best conditions. Also working with Sebastien Boudot, the main photographer, was a breeze and our collaboration went extremely well.

If you missed Tracy and Thomas’s Luxury French Riviera Wedding featured on Style Me Pretty yesterday, you can view it right here: French Riviera Wedding at Cap Estel

And… here are a couple more of our lates films:

Fairytale Wedding at Villa Ephrussi Rotschild

Wedding in Provence at Chateau Valmousse

You can see more of our cinematic-style wedding films on our website, blog and Instagram … we’d love to hear from you!

Wedding Cinema: chromata Films | Wedding Planner: white label events | Wedding Dress: Elie Saab | Ceremony Venue: hotel du castelet

A French Backdrop, an Oscar de La Renta Gown and Peonies for Days…

If I had a wedding wish list, or a wedding bucket list of some kind, I’m pretty sure that this gorgeous celebration would far exceed anything I could ever imagine. Let’s just look at the basics: An Oscar de la Renta Gown to die for, a French backdrop complete with an Eiffle Tower and white peonies as far as the eye can see by the renowned floral designer Esther La Marche. Now, let’s add in a couple so clearly in love, a ridiuclously adorable flower girl and ring bearer, the most aesthetically stunning design pulled off by planners Vannessa & Caroline you’ve ever seen, oh and a handful (or a hundred) of the most lovely images from Oliver Fly. Just make sure to scroll to the end to watch the absolutely mesmerizing video from HD Moments. This, my loves, is definitely one for the books.

What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning? Why did you choose this wedding venue?

We spent most of our lives in Australia, but currently live in Hong Kong, so we had friends scattered all over the globe. We always knew we wanted a small wedding, with our nearest and dearest in attendance. As there was no real majority of guests from any particular country, we decided a destination wedding would be the perfect excuse for us to have our dream wedding and for our guests to have a European holiday!

We started off by looking at wedding venues in Italy, as we had just gotten engaged in Lake Como. The conversation then drifted to France, and we chose Paris for its accessibility and irresistible French boudoir architecture. The Pavillon de Musique de la Comtesse du Barry (situated just half an hour from Paris) exuded French boudoir in abundance, with salons more beautiful than some chateaus we had seen and a beautiful garden to match.

What was your color palette and your style vision? What unique elements or details did you include?

I knew I wanted soft, muted tones for the wedding, and settled on a colour palette of light dusty blue, gold (to match the beautiful interiors of the Pavillon) and white (to match my feature flowers, peonies). I had always envisioned that I would illustrate and design my own wedding invites, and that it would come in a box! Tapestry Invitation were so wonderful in helping me put this vision to reality. We also wanted something a little different for our guestbook, so I had guests write their messages on acrylic plates (which had our monogram etched on them).

What was your favorite moment? Your favorite detail?

There were a few, but it was probably saying our personalised vows to each other in front of all our closest friends and family. A good friend of ours, who had been there since the beginning of our relationship and spent a lot of time together with us as a couple, also officiated our wedding, so that was really meaningful. Another friend, Karim, was the best emcee we could’ve asked for and really lifted the dinner atmosphere (and dance floor!) in the evening.

Oh, and the fact that our first dance came together without us falling all over each other was a huge relief! Dancing the Vienesse waltz to Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé’s duet of “Perfect” really couldn’t have been more perfect in that beautiful ballroom setting at the Pavillon.

Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors, your cake, all of the good stuff.

I ended up changing my mind so many times about my wedding gown. I never thought I would go for a mermaid/trumpet style gown, but the long train and multiple layers of intricate lace on my Oscar de la Renta instantly sold me.

I love peonies, and was lucky enough that it was peony season in May! I also loved dahlias and ranunculus, and knew I wanted a destructured look for our florals. Esther executed our vision beautifully.

The guests took home marble coasters with their names hand lettered by myself, and a luggage tag with our monogram etched in the back (following the destination wedding theme). We also had flats out on the dance floor at night in case our guests got tired.

What is one piece of advice that you would give brides-to-be?

Work out your priorities and invest in them! It wasn’t an easy feat planning a wedding in a foreign country, but our talented Wedding Planner, Vanessa, guided us along the way. She knew I placed a lot of importance on photography, stationery and details, and she could not have recommended a better photographer for our big day.

I’ve told Oliver many times that, short of marrying my husband, he was the best decision I made with regards to the wedding. We liked Oliver so much that we decided to fly him to Santorini during our honeymoon for another shoot! His passion and love for what he does, his creativity and his attention to detail really made a huge difference to our day.

I am a bit of a perfectionist, but I fully trusted Oliver’s aesthetic judgement and knew he would always somehow exceed my expectations. After receiving our wedding photos, I can definitely say that he did! Our videographers, HD Moments, were also great and we loved their unique storytelling style. They combine the perfect amount of cinematography with personal elements, so the video was like a beautiful movie yet so personalised at the same time. So many of our guests commented on how professional and fantastic our team of photographers and videographers were on the day.

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Elope to Provence! There’s So Much More Than Lavender Fields

Dreaming of a wedding among the lavender fields of Provence? Well… wait one sec. We have some other ideas for you today! There is SO much more to Provence than lavender fields ~ equally lovely in all it’s raw natural beauty. Searching for lavender fields should now just be one of the checkmarks on your destination wedding planning checklist! Tamara Gruner with WEP in Provence (plus so many other amazing wedding pro’s) explored the region in their last workshop (April ’18 Workshop). We’re sharing some of the images from those days that are going to blow you away! The concept for this three-day conference centered around contrasting the Past and the Future ~ and oh what an enchanting contradiction in style it was….

From Tamara Gruner Photography and WEP in Provence …
Provence – it’s the dream of everyone! But did you know that Provence has more to offer than lavender fields, vineyards and olive trees? There are so many places only the locals know about! Do you know that there are still Roman ruins in Provence? And do you know how beautiful they are when nature around them blooms? Come with us and let us take you away to a journey of the past …

The Past…

Inspired by the beauty of Provence and it’s historical landmarks we wanted to create an elopement in the middle of the Roman ruins of Glanum. What could be more romantic than eloping in the middle of Provence at such an epic landmark?

Our floral designer, Celine from Un Jardin En Ville, created a flower dream around a cherry blossom tree to set the ceremony mood for our eloping couple. Musat Bridal, who is known for her romantic dresses, designed a stunning tulle dress with a lace top to it.

Our bride wore curls, which flew in the wind. Bridal beauty services for the workshop were provided by Agnes Caneri (Hair) and Ylva Langenskiold (Makeup). The handsome groom was wearing a classic black tuxedo from Rayne. Michaela Roemer added the finishing touch to our couple with her breathtaking jewelry. And what would a wedding be without the pretty shoes from Bella Belle?

In addition, Creme de Papier designed beautiful paper goods for the couple with a Glanum sketch to cherish for their lives!

The Future…
After their elopement our couple went straight to their honeymoon. And where would they go for their honeymoon? They went to the modern, breathtaking Domaine de Manville, a 5-star hotel with golf course in the heart of Provence.

Our bride was wearing a modern romantic lace dress from the up and coming new French designer ‘Manon Gontero‘. Her dresses are delicate and modern just like our couple is!

Our two lovebirds roamed the streets of Provence, enjoying the rustic romance as newlyweds before heading back for the night.

Get inspired by the beauty of Provence! Cheers to a beautiful future …

If you’re not already mesmerized by these images… hold on. There is an incredibly awesome one minute video from the talented Alex Chevalier Films that will stop you in your tracks and hit replay. Seriously, it is truly unique.

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And because we’re not quite ready to stop reveling in the beauty of these days in Provence, we have a few more links to share with you from the April 2018 Workshop:

Wedding Reception at Domaine de Manville in Provence

Honeymoon in Provence – published in the Hochzeits Guide

If you’d like to learn more about Tamara Gruener’s Workshops and WEP in Provence (and who wouldn’t…?) Head on over to Tamara’s Workshop page [right here]

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La Bastide de Toursainte ~ Historic Charm for a South of France Wedding

Romanticism is a perception. A dance which mingles love and beauty. For us, beauty is the light; soft, warm and may be wistful. Love is a bright pink color, acidulous like a last kiss of summer. This is our wedding definition, a pinch of light on a lover’s heart. The result is the alliance of elegance and a soft design… Photography by Marinella de Castro / Event Planning + Design by White Eden Weddings

A loving soul needs a body to exist. We chose La Bastide de Toursainte in the South of France to create this meeting. It’s an historical venue with a secular charm. Some leaves on the floor which testify to the passing of time, some cracks on typical Provence walls, proof that love can resist everything.

What would love be without candlesticks and crystal glasses ? We wanted something chic and simple for the table, but always with this bright pink color touch. Flowers by Mademoiselle Jules deliver an intoxicating perfume and the color hides lover’s eyes while flames dance at the rhythm of hearts.

Beautiful stationery and calligraphy created by Silent Word Studio comes perfectly to the table. To immortalize every moment of this autumnal session, we chose Marinella De Castro, who knew, by her photographic talent, how to bring out the beauty of the accessories, flowers and the lovely bride. Her luminous stare through the lens of her film camera to sublimate love in every detail as with the dress by La Sposa.

The light caresses the bride’s sweet face, thanks to the artistry of the simple makeup of Karine Brossard, who also did the elegant hairdressing.

Finally, the light of sunset comes… to conclude this sweet session setting hearts ablaze like the passion of a new life for two.

Paris Engagement Experience From the Other Side

From the Bride-to-Be …. I’m a wedding photographer based in Paris. It is difficult for me to tell you what it’s like to go to the other side of the camera for my own engagement shoot! I met our photographer, Tamara Gruner, during her workshop in Provence. I must thank her and the wonderful Stephanie de Wep for their advice for our engagement session. As the founder of Studio Ohlala, a collective of 40 artists from the world of fashion, hair, makeup and nail stylists, I know that fine art brings a timeless experience to all editorial photo shoots…

Tamara suggested that we start our shoot in the most iconic places in Paris. With her encouragement, we were able to feel natural and comfortable during the shoot. The day became a series of moments of intimacy, with my love, during a morning walk in Paris!

Tamara told us, “It’s a once in a lifetime experience. Enjoy it!”

Chateau de Varennes Inspiration that Takes Beauty to a New Level

Sylvie Gil‘s annual workshop is something dreams are made of. Set against the backdrop of the French countryside, Sylvie brings together the best in the wedding industry to build out a shoot meant to teach her students the nuances and art behind photographing a wedding. And this year, Sylvie & Shannon Leahy built their inspiration shoot into a stunning look at how Fine Art can influence everything from the gown she chooses to the modest boudoir photographs that she will always look back on with love. Click here to see even more.

From Shannon Leahy, Event Stylist…For Sylvie Gil’s 2018 workshop, we were really inspired by the idea of bringing fine art into a wedding, specifically French fine art from the Renaissance period. In our research, we became very interested in the work of Primavera by Botteceili. Primavera means Spring, and being that the workshop is in April, we thought this was very fitting. There is something about Primavera that also feels bridal, which we loved. For the color palette, we chose to work with a lot of variety – from lavender to deep burgundy, mustard, sage green and golden tones. We knew we could spread this palette through out days of the workshop for different looks.

For the welcome dinner, we chose a tonal look of reds and yellows, we affectionally called it the “ketchup and mustard” palette. We wanted to bring in spring bulbs and trays of pears and fresh fruits, along with flowing arrangements by Moon Canyon, to echo the bounty of an outdoor seasonal dinner at the chateau. We found a beautiful setting behind a classically-inspired statue that we thought was very fitting to our theme; and even adorned the statue with florals to tie it into the story.

The boudoir look was one of my favorites. Inspired by Renaissance nude portraiture, we simply chose to drape fabrics in a dark corner of the chateaux that was lit only by natural light, Our beautiful bride in a simple robe from Girl And a Serious Dream was adorned with an epic floral crown by Moon Canyon. I love the nod to the Roman god, Bacchus, with the grapes in her hand.

Alexandra from Aerialist Press really took all our inspiration and tied it into a beautiful invitation suite that I think perfectly tells our story and gave our attendees, as Sylvie put it, “flat lays for days!”

The ceremony was a stroke of genius by Kristen of Moon Canyon. I loved her idea of placing the ceremony in the center of the church to create a ceremony in the round with flowers and greenery adorning the space. The vibe of this church felt very medieval to us, leading into the Renaissance. The inspiration came from the color of the writing that was etched into the stone walls of the church and the stunning Naeem Khan dress. The bridal look was completed by a modern interpretation of Botteceili’s Primavera in the hair and makeup style from Ava Belle.

Finally, the reception dinner we set in the foyer of the chateaux. We incorporated a Classic bust that we found on-site at Chateau Varennes. The table was lined with long candlesticks and another beautiful arrangement that incorporated our entire palette. We wanted this on a backdrop of tone on tone sage with nude chair covers to create a draped classical look that tied in the rest of the wedding . Overall, we wanted this workshop to feel moody, a little dark and different from the light and bright weddings we are used to seeing in California; we wanted this to stand out.

Working in France with such a wonderful team of creatives was truly inspiring; it was so much fun to be pushed creatively in a new direction. I particularly loved working with Kristen of Moon Canyon, her stylist prowess is unmatched.

A BRIDE AND GROOM PORTRAIT SESSION

For Sylvie’s workshop we were lucky enough to have not just one but two couples for the attendees to practice shooting with. Ivandra was the second model and we wanted to give her a completely different look. I love how the top of the Naeem Khan dress has the look of chain mail that reminds me of the renaissance but still feels very modern and fresh.

We decided to shoot the portrait session in my bedroom at the chateau because of the gorgeous natural light and the stunning red velvet couch that matched our palette. That couch is an antique and one of two in the world ( the second is on display at the louvre! ). I love the strong contrast in these portraits between Ivandra in the dress and the sofa in the room. This was the last thing we styled at the workshop and it felt like the grand finale!

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Summer French Riviera Wedding at Villa Ephrussi

I had the pleasure of meeting Greg Finck nearly four years ago and to this day, I can spot one of his weddings from a mile away. In a handful of words, his imagery is dreamy, thoughtful, soft and real—and today’s wedding, planned by Lavender & Rose is every single one of those descriptives. It warms the soul and makes you want to bookmark each and every pretty-in-pink detail. Hop on over to the gallery to do just that!

From Greg Finck… It’s not everyday that your bride is a professional model. Crystal is a model in Hong Kong and when you meet her, you get instantly hit by her effortless beauty. They got married on the French Riviera last summer, at the stunning Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. The day was magnificently planned and designed by Lavender&Rose, with touch of pinks, relating to the venue’s facade and Crystal’s favorite color. The invitation suite was stunning, designed by The Calligraphy girls, and Crystal had planned every single detail that make my job as a photographer so easy.

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Paris Enchantment For This Stylish Bride and Groom

Mia and Sean’s destination wedding took place in an elegant and airy loft space located facing the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris! It was a dream come true fo Mia and Sean who loved weekending in Paris. The day of the wedding included visiting the original Ladurée, Mia’s favorite sweets bakery, as well as Coco Chanel’s original atelier. A stroll through les jardins and plaza du Palais Royal led to more emotional hugs and tears, before arriving at their venue. Le Pavilion Etoile. An intimate group of family and friends welcomed Mia and Sean with cheers and clinking cocktails! ~Karen Wise Photography

More from Karen Wise Photography… Having both grown up in the Midwest, living and working in the same areas of Chicago and New York City, their paths had crossed many times over the years. But it wasn’t until a mutual friend introduced them that they finally happened to meet—at Sean’s Lower East Side apartment. That day, Mia brought him a get-well-soon care package to get him over that season’s flu. The two became close friends.

Their friendship blossomed into love when Mia flew across the Atlantic and visited Sean in London, while he was there for work. Months later, Sean would fly the opposite direction from New York City to visit Mia at her new home in Laguna Beach, CA. He extended his few-day stay into a week of laughter and sunshine, where true love began its years-long journey to the big day.

They dated only a short time, being engaged to be married in the late summer of 2016, visiting the Court House in New York City in January 2017 to finalize their official paperwork in preparation for an October 2017 ceremony and celebration in the City of Lights. When asked why the couple chose France for the celebration, they continue to joyfully quote Hemingway. For “Paris is a moveable feast.”

Adventure, travel, and their shared love of learning and literature became the theme of their Paris fête. Their vision was written in stone from the moment planning began, with Dreams in Paris helping to coordinate the day-of details. (Note: Dreams in Paris, Day of Wedding Coordinator)

Mia also knew, from the beginning, that Karen Wise was the perfect photographer for the journey. Having worked together in New York City, Mia’s appreciation for Karen’s attentive and artistic shooting style was unmatched.

A most charming experience awaited guests throughout the evening. Opting for a journey, rather than a traditional meal, a twenty-eight course tasting menu was passed; the loft’s french doors remained opened for guests to admire the setting sun over the Arc de Triomphe; champagne poured and poured.

Today, the couple’s journey keeps them traveling across multiple time zones with their mini Aussie, Booker Dean. While it’s hard to predict where they’ll put the next pin on the map, the one certainty is that their love will carry them across a lifetime of adventures.

*See more of Mia & Sean’s stroll through the streets of Paris in the full gallery!

When an Interior Designer + Architect Get Hitched, It’s Bound to be Gorgeous

After meeting in Paris and traveling across the globe to start an Interior Design and Architecture firm in Hong Kong, this wickedly talented duo returned to the land where it all began for their dream wedding. Dream being a key word here. Planned by Et Voila Weddings, with florals by Laetitia C., get lost in the easy breezy beauty of Provence through the lens of Sylvie Gil. Plus a film by Pascal Dele too!

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From Sylvie Gil Photography… Lorène & Kenny met in Paris nearly 10 years ago. Before getting engaged, Lorene and Kenny moved across the world to Hong Kong together to set up an architectural and interior design studio together. They have been living/working/spending every waking minute together for the last 4 years, and still decided to get married! While it took Kenny 9 years to ask Lorene for her hand in marriage, he did it beautifully and naturally, while they were spending some time in the Lake District (England’s largest national park). He proposed with a gorgeous ring of sapphire (for the blue colour which is Lorene’s favourite) and diamonds.

Lorene and Kenny are a very cross cultural couple. Lorene is French but grew up in London and Kenny is half Japanese/Chinese, and a British citizen who has lived over 20 years in the UK. They both now live in Hong Kong.

Lorene has very fond memories of her childhood and special holidays spent in Provence and Provence was an easy choice when it came to deciding where the wedding would take place. Their wedding was a unique chance to gather everyone in France, close to where Lorene’s family is settled in Provence, and to make all their friends and families from abroad discover this unique part of the world, with its delicious foods and beautiful landscapes.

Also, Bastide de Gordes is a very well known luxury hotel in the Luberon, but it is not a venue that hosts many weddings, so the couple felt that holding their wedding there would be even more special as it is not something that has been seen and done plenty of times before them. The venue is so gorgeous in itself that it did not need much to make it beautiful for the wedding, in fact we made sure to not over decorate it and to keep it natural for everyone to enjoy its beauty.

Lorene and Kenny are architect and interior designers so materials are important to them. Lorene wanted to use some material from Provence in some of the décor elements of the wedding, so we used stone from Gordes for the table names, which we had calligraphy on. For the ceremony arch, we used a hothouse arch, as there are many of these in the area and they provide an interesting width compared to traditional garden arches, which worked great with the space.

The ceremony was a very peaceful moment, punctuated by readings from close family members and an olive tree ceremony, the olive tree symbolizing wisdom & peace, hope, light, fertility, health & wealth in Provence.

The wedding venue is hung on a cliff and on the other side of that is a small popular view point. During ceremony we could see a family of locals watching the event from afar and we heard them clap when the bride and groom kissed!

After dinner the party moved indoors for the dancing party. All the guests gathered each side of the hallway leading to the ballroom with large sparklers for the couple to walk through. The effect was magical.

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

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Saturday Morning Movie: Elegant + Intimate Wedding in Paris

This love story is so good, we have to start a bit before this film even begins to get the full picture. Our Groom bought his future Bride the ring of her dreams at Tiffany & Co., right then and there, and got down on one knee in Central Park immediately after said ring purchase. Crazy romantic, right!? Flash forward to this film by Zen Film Works, capturing their intimate wedding in Paris, surrounded by love and light and even more romance. When you start your happily ever after with an epic proposal, your wedding has a lot to live up to… and this one sure delivers!

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From Zen Film Works… Shaun and Angie’s dream Paris wedding took place during Paris’s busy fashion week. First look was on the gorgeous roof top terrace of their very own private suite. The view from the roof top was sensational, with the famous Arc De Triomphe and all Paris’s magnificence just a stone throw away.

We escaped the crowded city by way of their beautiful outdoor ceremony that took place at the Pavillon de Musique de la Comtesse du Barry, surrounded by an intimate group of family and friends. This venue is only a 30 minute drive out of the city and it feels like you are at a Chateau in another village somewhere in France. It’s such a perfect venue for a wedding ceremony in Paris.

For the portraits in Paris we were limited to the locations because of fashion week taking over areas at all the famous monuments. We didn’t let that stop us finding some remarkable locations to get some dazzling shots.

After some gorgeous portraits around Paris we headed to the reception which was beautifully styled by Billy at Luxe Paris Events at the luxurious La Maison de Centraliens, the hotel had been redecorated by famous fashion designer Martin Margiela, which was a perfect nod to fashion week.

From the Groom… Paris, it’s historic, beautiful, and comes with that ‘city of love’ moniker that fits with a wedding more than another other location in the world seems to. There’s a prestige to it that makes the idea of a marriage there an alluring idea even before you add any details to it.

The idea fits well with the proposal. On a wintertime trip to New York we entered the 5th Avenue Tiffany & Co under the guise of window shopping, whereas I knew we’d be walking out with a ring in hand. It was always important to me to surprise her with the proposal. We’d been together for years and knew our lives would stay that way but I still wanted to be able to pop the question in an unexpected way. Sure enough, when we found the ring she wanted it surprised her to hear me tell the salesperson we’d take it.

Things became a very memorable blur of excitement after that. Central Park across the street was the perfect place to have the proposal and we went there with hands tightly together, my other one on the box in my pocket. We found a spot by the pond there and I went to one knee, the world fading away except for Angie in front of me as I received the answer to the most important question I ever asked.

Pantone’s Color of the Year Shines at this Romantic French Chateau Celebration

When Pantone announced that their color of the year was ultra violet, I was curious; how would this play out in weddings? But one look through this gorgeous gallery by Oliver Fly and any worries went out the window. From the bridesmaids’ dresses to the florals and decor, this stunning shade takes center stage, with only the beautiful Bride and her Groom garnering more attention. And rightly so, because this French chateau wedding they planned deserves a round of applause. It’s picture perfect to say the least – see it all right this way!

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From the Bride…

We first met in university close to a decade ago at a student event. I was a freshman and he was an upperclassman. Being from two different cultures on two different continents, we could not have been more different from each other. However, as we spent more time together throughout university and after, we realized that we had a lot more in common than we thought. We easily bonded over our love for travelling, good food and good wine. We had both learned how to speak French in our youth and also appreciated French food and culture.

When we were planning our wedding, we had a few unusual requirements. First was location: Our friends and families are strewn all over the globe. Regardless of where the wedding were to be, two thirds of our guests would be flying for a very long time. Thus we wanted an unforgettable wedding venue that is well-worth the journey for all of our guests. The location also had to be easily accessible and not far from a major international airport hub. Lastly, we wanted to accommodate all of our guests on site with a luxurious, 5 star experience. Le Domaine des Etangs checked all of our boxes. Located in the Charente region of France, close to where Cognac is from, it is surrounded by natural beauty, history and character. An 11th century castle that’s been recently restored and transformed into a luxury hotel with contemporary amenities and art was the perfect setting to share our special moment with our guests.

Our other requirement was food: We both love good food and wine and as such we wanted to share that passion with our guests at the wedding. Fabien Beaufour, who previously was chef at Eleven Madison Park in New York, understood how to deliver the best possible food for our wedding. His menu focused on celebrating local ingredients, including a salad where all the ingredients are from the vegetable garden at the Domaine, beef from the nearby Limoges region, and melons from Charente. The Domaine also makes a large variety of their own local cheeses, which we got to enjoy in between courses.

All of this combined created an absolutely stunning and unforgettable setting for our wedding. When we decided to look for a photographer to capture it, we wanted to make sure that he has both an eye for the little, but oh-so-important details as well as the aesthetic sense to capture such a fantastical setting. When I found Oliver I knew I had found a perfect combination of the two. He fell in love with the location as much as we had and went above and beyond capturing the perfect romantic shots, from scouting out the perfect spot for our first look to rowing a boat onto the lake and taking photos from there.

I was determined to not look for my wedding dress until we had found our dream venue. I wanted a wedding dress that was fit for the venue we chose. With a medieval Chateau in the French countryside as the backdrop of the wedding ceremony, I chose a Pronovias ball-gown dress with detailed floral embroidery on the bodice as an ode to the surrounding natural beauty. An intricate matching veil with an extensive train that would stand up to the occasion. Given such setting, black tie wasn’t optional.

I picked a color palette of white, blush pink and purple for an understated kind of elegance and romance to the occasion. The peonies and roses in my bouquet were chosen as a nod to the floral embroidery on my dress.

From Loli Events… One of the best perks of being a wedding is planner is discovering incredible venues and as we all know, France is overflowing when it comes to spectacular gems. Le Domaine des Etangs is definitely one of them.

Janice and Sergei came all the way from California to find the perfect venue for their France destination wedding. They were looking for a beautiful place, which could accommodate all their guests but also offer an exquisite experience. By that, they sought: beautiful landscape, great food and amazing wines! Le Domaine des Etangs, a 5-Star Luxury Hotel checked all these boxes and this is how this fairytale wedding came to life.

Another fun part of the planning process was to find great local vendors. Kerrie Langfield did an amazing job pampering the bride and her bridal party while Lisa Gatenby created the perfect bouquets and compositions that perfectly matched the couple’s vision.

Beautifully captured by the talented Oliver Fly, the wedding vibe was about adding sophistication and simplicity to this natural environment. The bride went with some touches of purple and soft palette to create a timeless decoration.

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Pronovias

ATELIER PRONOVIAS

PRONOVIAS

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This Outdoor Ceremony Shoot Take Romance To A Whole New Level

It may have been the very first L’Artisan Workshop gathering but they knew what they were doing when they created this ceremony inspiration shoot. We’re absolutely in love with the beautiful pergola, complete with never-ending vines and florals… and a bride-to-be that’s beaming, a dapper groom and a flower girl that’s just too cute for words. Maru Photography captured everything that French Grey Events planned out and styled creating this gorgeous gallery – see it all here!
P.S. For more info on the next installment of the L’Artisan Workshop, see below for info!

From French Grey Events… This stylish French-inspired intimate wedding editorial was created for the inaugural edition of L’Artisan Workshop, a fine art wedding workshop that caters specifically to destination photographers and stylists wishing to immerse themselves in the romantic and adventurous world of of intimate destination weddings and elopements. Workshop co-founders Kasia of French Grey Events, a Paris-based stylist and wedding planner and Kim-Maru of Maru Photography, a Vancouver, Canada based destination wedding and travel photographer, created this editorial with the modern destination bride in mind – a woman who longs to combine her taste for bold adventure with her nostalgia for old world romance. Et voila! What better way to combine adventure with old world romance than to have an intimate autumn wedding ceremony in an authentic French Chateau?!

Shot on the grounds of beautiful Chateau Barthelemy, an authentic 18th century French Chateau, located just outside of Paris, we appealed to the adventurous side of our bride by bringing in design elements of the wild in the winding vines, foraged forest botanicals and wild roses and set them against the romance and historic charm provided by the marble pillars and wrought iron of the Chateau’s beautiful forest pergola. Following a romantic sunset ceremony, the newly wed couple (and all of our workshop attendees!) retreated to the cozy warmth of the Chateau, to sip champagne, eat cake and cuddle up by a crackling fire, of course!

Join Kasia and Kim-Maru this October 8 – 11, 2018 for the second instalment of L’Artisan Workshop with a talented team of destination wedding creatives for four days filled with inspiration, education, artistry and connection! This year’s workshop will be held at the iconic hotel Ritz Paris and charming Chateau de la Bucherie – the perfect combination of chic modern romance and nostalgic French charm! Doors open for early bird registration on March 1, 2018. Visit L’Artisan Workshop for more details on how to join this year’s adventure in Paris!

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Emmy London

The Bridal Story

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Elise Hameau

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From the Eiffel Tower to the Chicest, Coziest of Homes, This Parisian Anniversary Shoot Makes Us Melt

I’m all for going out and doing something special for Valentine’s Day but you know what the best part is usually? Coming back home. Even if you happen to be in the paradise (aka Paris) and have the opportunity to have an absolutely beautiful photo op by the Eiffel Tower like this couple here, it’s still just as magical, if not more, to come home and toast to each other in the comfort of your Parisian apartment. And it couldn’t look at chicer amid the comforts of home than in these pics by Greg Finck. Complete w champagne and macarons, this gallery is giving us all sorts of new Valentine-style dreams for next year.

From Greg Finck… Cici and Matt both live in Singapore and had come all the way to France to celebrate their wedding anniversary. For the shoot, we organized a session in the pure Parisian quintessence. We started the session with Cici and Matt cozying up on the sofa of their Parisian apartment, and sipping some of the finest Champagne while eating macarons. Then, we went for a stroll in the streets of the 7th district, sat on a terrace in a cafe, and ended below the Eiffel Tower with the beautiful Parisian backlight.

Photography: Greg Finck Photography | Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Embracing the Beauty (and the Rose) of Provence

After vacationing in the Luberon Valley and falling in love with the charm and rosé of the area, it was clear where this London based couple would be holding their destination wedding. Mas de la Rose provided all the beauty of a Provencal backdrop they could dream of and was made even more so with florals by Big Day Studio and stationery by Beautifully Lost Studio. Pore through image after stunning image of this blushing affair captured by Oliver Fly.

From the Bride… Thomas and I had been together for a year and half before he asked me to marry him on the very beautiful island of Koh Lanta, Thailand. Unbeknown to myself, Thomas had asked my father for permission and I was completely blindsided by his very thoughtful and traditional proposal. After popping the question on a remote part of the island, he arranged the most romantic evening dinner on the beach. There were huge love hearts engraved into the sand which were covered in pretty flower petals and candles, it was truly the most romantic gesture and I knew I was lucky to be marrying Thomas.

We couldn’t wait to start planning our big day and we both knew deep down that we wanted a destination wedding. Unfortunately London, our home, is famed for its greys skies so getting far away from this was, in our minds, a done deal. Thomas’ parents have a small cottage in the idyllic Luberon Valley, in Provence, and our first holiday together was there. I had been to France quite a few times but never to Provence and, I do not say this lightly when I say, I was blown away by its charm and breath-taking beauty (not to mention the delicious Provencal rose!). So for all these reasons we decided to have a Provencal wedding.

After a short time of looking we came across Mas de la Rose and we knew straight away that we wanted to have our wedding there, the venue is stunning and Veronique, the hotel manager, made everyone feel so special. With the wedding venue chosen we needed to find a photographer that would capture our special day and we were blown away by Oliver Fly’s beautiful pictures. It was clear to us from the onset that he takes great pride in his work and we really valued his very personal approach. We spent several skype sessions getting to know Oliver and this helped us to feel at ease with him ahead of the big day and, after seeing our photos, we could not be happier with his work!

We were so incredibly lucky to have the most amazing team of people who take such pride and pleasure from their jobs : Ylva and Agnes were so sweet and helped me and bridesmaids to get ready; Thomas Dusseune, the DJ, was just so attentive and professional and he clearly has an incredible grasp of his art and Big Day Design created the dreamiest floral arrangements that complimented my colour scheme the venue to perfection. Thanks to our amazing friends and family, a dreamy venue and team of highly qualified vendors we ended up having a wedding weekend that exceeded our imagination in every possible way. Everyone who shared this with us and who contributed to the success of our day will be forever in our hearts.

A Magical Vow Renewal In the South of France… With An Extra Special Ending

When Julie Paisley and Lauren Fair joined up together to create a vow renewal shoot for their workshop in the South of France they knew exactly what they wanted. A gorgeous open-air chapel, never-ending greenery and florals, and a dress that we can’t stop dreaming of wearing. But what they couldn’t plan for was the weather… but Mother Nature surpassed all hopes and then some. Not only did she hold back raindrops until the al fresco ceremony could be completed but she delivered a double rainbow to end this magical day. Does it get any better than this!?

From Lauren Fair… A romantic chateau in the south of France in the summer was the perfect backdrop for this sweet vow renewal. Le Domaine de Sarson’s beautifully ruined open-air chapel set the scene for the vows, while Oleander Curated created a living greenery installation up the stone walls. Guests tossed lavender seeds as Julie and Shane recessed back down the aisle, just avoiding the first raindrops! We all took shelter under the covered porches at Domaine de Sarson, keeping an eye on the sky – and we were rewarded with the most stunning double rainbow any of us had ever seen!!

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Lauren Fair Photography

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Claire La Faye

Castles Made of Sand S/S 2015

A Love Less Ordinary S/S 2014

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Wrap a Tree With Gorg Blooms + We’ll Love You Forever

Where do I even begin with these two – everything about them makes me smile. From their impeccable wedding-day style to their ceremony beneath the tree wrapped in blooms by Big Day Event Design + Styling to the tender moments between just the two of them so beautifully captured by Cecelina Photography, this is one for the books.

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From the bride…Damian and I met just over six years ago, whilst I was visiting a good friend in Brighton. After two years long distance, I made the move and relocated from Newcastle Upon Tyne to Brighton on the South Coast. We truly have not looked back. Damian proposed on the May 3, 2015, on a beautiful private terrace overlooking Regent Street, at the Hotel Café Royal London over my favourite thing – afternoon tea! Our engagement was long because we really wanted to enjoy the moment and have lots of time to plan our most special day.

From the offset, we knew that we wanted a destination wedding in a location that was not too far for guests to travel. Whilst holidaying on the Cote D’Azur, we decided to visit a few potential locations. From the minute we stepped foot into the Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, we knew that we had found the one. Although a hotel, it feels more like a palace. We immediately fell in love with its fresh and contemporary yet classic style. I had dreamed of a garden wedding yet Damian hoped for sea views, and this beauty ticked off all of our boxes whilst oozing a whole lot of old school French Rivera glamour. We knew our guests would love the glass funicular down to the Club Dauphin, too!

We agreed that our day should be intimate and meaningful, inviting just 35 of our immediate family and dearest friends. It was a priority for us that each and every guest felt incredibly important and special. Sundari, The Wedding Stylist, helped enormously with this. Each guest was welcomed to their hotel room with a beautiful welcome box full of French treats, curated to perfection by Sundari. She designed our crest and used this to make our day more personalised than I could have dreamed of, from stationery and gold foil napkins to water bottle labels and tissue pockets for our guests during the ceremony.

The luscious and pristinely manicured gardens provided the perfect ceremony backdrop. I had envisaged the ceremony under a beautiful tree decorated with florals. Big Day Design and Sundari certainly brought this vision to life – the florals truly took my breath away throughout the day. We had our friend, Becky, act as celebrant, since she was the reason we had met. We worked together to ensure that the ceremony was meaningful and special, and our guests were seated to almost encircle us, helping to create the intimate vibe.

The speeches were hilarious and warm-hearted, and followed the cocktail hour and music by the incredibly talented acoustic duo, Becky and Belha. We then lead our guests down to the Club Dauphin via the funicular. The table setting was beyond beautiful and made my heart skip a beat! As we sat down for dinner, each guest opened a personalised, hand-calligraphed letter from us – cue the tears! Dinner was superb, and the staff at the hotel were outstanding throughout our day. We then danced the night away under the stars, to the fabulous beats of Thomas Dusseune. Our day could not have been more perfect.

During the planning, I regretted not hiring a wedding planner; however I now feel immensely proud that I organised such a detailed and incredible day. I spent countless hours researching every single, tiny aspect, but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. We are so very grateful that Cecelina Photography captured our day so perfectly to give us such precious memories.