French Garden-Inspired Celebrations With An Intimate Guest List
We never dreamed of having a big wedding. Instead, we were drawn to the intimacy of a small elopement, where we could celebrate our love and friendship with our closest friends over the course of a few days. With a guest list of just twelve of our best friends, we wanted our wedding to be as much about them as it was about us, and needed to find a fabulous venue to match. What we found in our Provencal Villa was more than we could have hoped for. The house was a beautiful treasure box set amongst the most vibrant and lush gardens. It was a perfect mix of cozy and opulence, and frankly, we didn’t need to do much to make this place look and feel special. The design, then, became about allowing its natural beauty to shine. We kept the florals and tablescape simple, opting for lavender and peach hues that mimicked the surrounding gardens of Provence.
We got engaged within six months of dating; as cliché as it sounds when you know, you know. A month into dating, Stephen tore his Achilles, and our whirlwind romantic courtship abruptly came to an end, but what came out of it was even better. With a torn Achilles and limited mobility, I decided to move in with Stephen to help him heal. We became very close, and our bond grew very deep very quickly. A few weeks later, he contacted Material Good to start designing my engagement ring. Six months after that, he proposed in our home in Rhinebeck, NY, and while I wasn't shocked, I was completely surprised!
I wanted the dress to be elegant and timeless. I had been looking for a while, and nothing felt quite right. A bit dejected, I wondered if I would ever find what I was looking for. My best friend, however, was convinced she had found the one for me. She booked an appointment for me at Sarah Seven, and with an admitted bit of skepticism, I agreed to go. But I guess best friends really do know best because I fell in love with the Agatha gown the moment I laid eyes on her. She was feminine without being frilly, structured yet flowy, sexy yet classic. She was perfect!
Dinner was provided by the talented Chef Djellab Youcef, who prepared a masterful 3-course meal consisting of a seasonal avocado tartare starter, followed by a line-caught sea bass appetizer, and then a cooked filet of beef for the main. The sweet finale was our red velvet cake, of course!
I had a heart-shaped cake saved on my Pinterest board for YEARS, and Les délices de Gladys was able to bring this dream into a reality, complete with fresh cherries (red velvet flavor, of course!).
