This fairy tale French Riviera destination wedding will take your breath away!

It’s always such a pleasure to get to know my brides and grooms. It’s also an important part of the planning process, as it allows me to translate their personalities into the wedding design and details in a special way. Since most of my clients live outside France, we Skype regularly. This was the case with Pepper and Alejandro, a beautiful couple from San Francisco, California. Their wedding was filled with personal touches that made it extra romantic and intimate. We also incorporated several Mexican traditions to honor the groom’s heritage.

Pepper wanted their wedding celebration to be a shared experience for their loved ones in the South of France. We planned multiple gatherings for their closest family and friends over the days before the wedding. These included a dinner under the stars in Montecarlo, a yacht trip to Cannes, and a luncheon at the legendary La Colombe d’Or. By the time the wedding day came around, the guests were mingling as if they had known each other forever!

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On a previous visit, the couple had fallen in love with the adorable church in Eze village.

They had always said that if they got married, it would be there. The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat was perfectly situated nearby as a venue. It is a spectacular property, a rose-colored villa overlooking the Mediterranean sea, filled with antique furniture and surrounded by magnificent gardens.

As a historical monument and museum, Villa Ephrussi is open to the public during the day. Our team arrived at 6am for light and sound and then had to wait until 5pm to complete set up. With the guests set to arrive just two hours later, we needed an extended fleet of staff to get the job done quickly!

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Our superb creative partner, Wayne Riley Flowers, embraced this romantic backdrop with soft blush toned florals to reflect the pink façade. The lush centerpieces were interspersed with 2-meter-high Italian candelabras and pink linens. It looked magical! Unfortunately, with a Mistral wind in full force on the wedding day, we weren’t able to keep the candles lit. However, we always plan for a backup! LED tea lights ensured a dreamy candlelight ambience instead.

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We wanted to create an ‘Instagrammable moment’ for guests as they entered the cocktail area after the ceremony.

They were greeted by a live floral installation in the form of a model dressed in flowers with a ball of blooms for her head. The colors and opulence of the florals reflected the magnificence of the gardens in a fun and memorable way.

One of the couple’s favorite features in the villa was the artworks of graceful ballerinas in the dining salon. So we hired six ballerinas to perform a live mini show as the guests took their seats for dinner. Later, they also led them inside for the dancing. The bride and groom opened the floor with an incredible first dance that they performed flawlessly. They had practiced for several months, enjoying each other’s company and creating incredible memories!

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I absolutely loved the sweet surprises Pepper and Alejandro planned for one another! For example, the gold cufflinks with the family crest that the bride gifted her groom, or the way Alejandro asked me to decorate the bridal suite. Pepper even learned her vows in Spanish as a surprise. There were also special surprises for the guests, including welcome baskets with a touch of the South of France, including lavender L’Occitane products, ‘la tropezienne’ pastries, and of course, the essential phone chargers!

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Putting this event together was such a joy! We’re already planning the couple’s five year anniversary celebration in Italy with the same guests, and I can’t wait!

Wedding Professionals: Wedding Planner: Alejandra Poupel Events, Venue: Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Catering: Helen Traiteur, Floral: Wayne Riley Flowers, Rentals: Options, Light, Sound and Linens: Gala Organisation, Entertainment: Scarlet Entertainment, Wedding Cake: Les Gâteaux créatifs de Val

Tuesday March 24th, 2020

Magical Wedding in a Private Villa in South of France

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