Provençal Lavender and Citrus Tones at Château D’Alphéran in Aix-En-Provence

Fun, colorful, lively. Alex is American, and I left France when I was 10 to live in the US. The mix of French/American culture is a big part of not only my life, but also our life as a couple. It was important to us that traditions on both sides be incorporated for that reason.  We picked Chateau d’Alpheran in Aix-en-Provence. I’m French and my whole family is from Marseille nearby. I spent summers as a kid going to my grandparents’ summer home in Aix, so the location was very meaningful for me. Chateau d’Alpheran was recommended to us by a few family friends and it ended up being the perfect venue!

Alex and I met in 2016 through mutual friends. We both went to school on the east coast, and it just so happens that one of his best friends from college ended up dating and later marrying one of my best friends from my school! Alex proposed on the beach in LA (where we currently live). He commissioned an artist to make two custom illustrations - each one representing big moments in our relationship. He printed them on poster paper and gave them to me on the beach. He knows how much I love art and illustration (I’m a graphic designer/illustrator myself) so it was really touching. After the proposal, he had planned a whole surprise engagement party at his parents' house, with all of our friends and my family who flew in from the east coast. It was the best day!

The dress I picked was Sarah Seven. It’s one of the first I tried on, and the one I kept going back to in my mind! My after party dress was an ALC strapless mini and I added my mom’s vintage Chanel camellia brooch to it.

Bridesmaids picked their own floral dresses in a yellow/orange/lavender color palette. 

Alex had a tailor made navy tuxedo from Purple Label by Ralph Lauren and groomsmen were in navy suits.

The food was incredible! The catering was by La Truffe Noir and everything tasted amazing, we got so many compliments. We picked a mix of passed hors d’oeuvres and food stations during the cocktail hour. Dinner was a gazpacho starter with a choice of fish or guinea fowl.

I told the florist I wanted color, showed them a few inspo photos and let them handle the rest!

We didn’t do a wedding cake. Instead, we chose a traditional French croquembouche along with a buffet of mini assorted desserts. 

Our officiant read an excerpt from Kalil Gibran’s the Prophet, and I walked out to a piano version of Power of Love by Celine Dion.  Our first dance was one of our favorite songs - Don’t Be Cruel by Billy Swan!

Exchanging our vows privately before the ceremony. Hearing beautiful speeches from our parents and siblings. The welcome reception the day before the wedding, when we rented out a restaurant with an outdoor space right in the middle of Aix on a gorgeous little “place”.

We rented out a bastide for the weekend with the bridal party. It was so special for us to stay in the same place as our closest friends in such a beautiful place in the French countryside. Also, I designed all of our wedding stationery :)

We’re off to Thailand in February!