I’m thinking 2013 is going to be the year of romance, largely because we are starting it out on such a lovely note. A couple of art buffs, tying the knot in a super gorgeous French wedding from Rendez-Vous in Paris. Romance, romance, everywhere. Pouring out of every image from One and Only Paris Photography. It’s romance embodied and I, how you say, adore. Don’t you dare skip the full gallery – it is an absolute beauty.
Jason and I met in New York City, where he was an artist and I was an art history graduate student. We both loved Paris, and I lived there for several years researching seventeenth and eighteenth century French art and writing a dissertation. With some inside knowledge, and a bit of pleading, I was able to arrange our marriage in an extraordinary venue: The Pavillon de Musique in Louveciennes, France, which Louis XV constructed for his mistress, Madame du Barry. We knew that the gorgeous grounds, panoramic views of Paris, and neoclassical architecture would be a special treat for our guests.
We selected colors for the flowers and ribbons that would match the paintings and silk wallpaper of the pavilion. We wanted a soft, elegant, and natural look that would meld with the building and its beautiful interior decoration.
While the wedding was “Parisian” in location, we both wanted “American” touches–like a carrot cake with cream cheese icing (beautifully designed by Sugar Plum Bakery) and a Philadelphia jazz trio for the cocktail hour. The wedding day was seamlessly coordinated by Heather Jerue of Rendez-Vous in Paris.
The day of the wedding there was not a cloud in the sky and the sun set at 10 p.m. The champagne was crisp, and the traditional French meal was spectacular (foie gras in a beetroot emulsion, volaille de bresse stuffed with langoustine, and a cheese course–all before the wedding cake). It was a joy to share a personally selected assortment of French wines and champagne with our family and friends, along with an “up close and personal” view of the eighteenth-century art and architecture. And, best of all, to share our exchange of vows beneath a canopy of hydrangea, roses, and sweet pea.
Photography: One and Only Paris Photography and Le Secret d’Audrey / Planner: Rendez-Vous in Paris / Gown: Rivini / Venue: Pavillon de Musique de la Comtesse du Barry / Cake: SugarPlum in Paris / Make Up and Hair: James / Florist: Frédéric Bertin