While the family took care of whipping the yard into shape, we sprang into action sorting out the tents, tables and chairs, decoration, transportation, catering, hair & makeup, photography…

Guests were welcomed with a Pimm’s punch before moving to the ceremony area for a joyful ceremony under a tent performed by one of their close friends.  Then it was on to the cocktail hour where the champagne flowed freely and dinner at long family style tables under the beautifully decorated tent.  As the sun went down and the laterns scattered all over the backyard started to glow, the couple (both excellent dancers, by the way) opened the dance floor with the song Bruises by Chairlift.  The band, accompanied by a friend of the bride and groom’s on vocals, had learned the song especially for them.  Afterwards, the party continued with a dessert buffet, more drinks and lots of dancing!

Photos courtesy of David Commenchal

Photos courtesy of Olivier Lalin

Guests arrived in bateau chic attire and were delighted as the bride and father of the bride cruised up in a Venetian water taxi.  The ceremony began and guests (and the neighboring boat) watched as Elizabeth and Nathan tied the knot.  The boat set sail and an accordion and clarinet duo added a festive tone to the cocktail – it was Fête de la Musique after all!

The reception followed and the room looked resplendant in navy and white, tall calla lily centerpieces, thematic table names (bow knot, square knot, clove hitch…) and elegant calligraphied escort cards and menus.  The meal was topped off by the presentation of a traditional French pièce montée de croquembouche and a champagne fountain poured by the couple.

The couple opened up the dance floor with their first dance to “Sailing” by Christopher Cross and as usual, the young crowd closed the place down.

Photos courtesy of Fred Marigaux

Katy and Richie had originally signed with a chateau near Blois. Due to completely unforseen circumstances they found themselves without a venue and out their deposit. A difficult situation for any bride and groom to bear, but they were troopers.

We found them another (and in our opinion much nicer) chateau – one that back in the early days of her engagement Katy had cut out a picture of for her wedding inspiration book. Another stroke of luck – the weather cooperated and they were able to hold the cocktail in the chateau’s back gardens. In the end, a very grateful and relieved bride and groom were finally able to enjoy the wedding they had spent so much effort on making happen.

Photos courtesy of David Bacher

The reception room we started with was a bare room with stone vaulted ceilings so all the decoration needed to be brought in. In keeping with the château chic theme, the tables were dressed in gold damask tablecloths with high gold candlelabra centerpieces and gold candles. Different aged gold picture frames denoted table names each named after a different Loire Valley chateau.
Lighting was essential to pulling the room together and our expert lighting technicians lit bathed the room in soft gold and rose-colored light and projected damask and leaf patterns on to the vaulted ceilings.
The bride and groom had two cakes – One a traditional American wedding cake and a Pierre Hermé macaron cake.

Have a look at some of the pictures…

Tables set up for dinner

A closeup of the very sculptural centerpiecesbud vases around centerpieces

Each table was named after a chateau in the Loire Valley

Guests found their places with a personalized menu and a favor of 'dragées' (Jordan almonds) in delicate rachetti

old family wedding photos on display during the reception

macaron cake and traditional American wedding cake

All photos courtesy of Olivier Lalin.

Paperless Post is an online invitation service that has an elegant selection of stationery and myriad ways to customize.  Clean and modern in style, it is unlike the Evites and Send-o-matics of the world, and truly has a tactile, high-end stationery feel to it.

We received a Paperless Post invite and were charmed by the paper-meets-online experience:  the email you receive has an image of an envelope (which has your name inscribed on it, natch) and when you click on it, you’re directed to the Paperless Post website where you see an animation of an envelope opening and then the invitation/note/announcement comes sliding out.

It’s not free (150 Paperless Post “stamps” go for $10) but it’s still a great deal and has many of the great qualities of stationery without the hours of stuffing envelopes.  So you can keep it posh but save on postage.

Ceremony set up with white chairs and pink rose petals

Gold, pink and ivory wedding bridal bouquet

Pale pink bridesmaids bouquets

Ivory and dusty rose wedding programs

The floral arch for the wedding ceremony

Guests found their seating assignments on a 'tree' at the entrance to the reception

Individual escort cards with gold ink calligraphy

The couple celebrating after the ceremony

All photos except top photo courtesy of Olivier Lalin.

There will definitely be more to come and we can’t wait to show you the amazing decoration and lighting that turned the reception space from “wow” into “WOW!”

Photos courtesy of Olivier Lalin

PS. His green suit fortunately was just for laughs