A Sophisticated French Wedding at Château de Vallery, Paris
Paris, France
VENUE / château de vallery
PHOTOGRAPHY / thenewold
VIDEOGRAPHY / thenewold
PLANNER / le grand a Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding.
We wanted the three-day experience to be less about a “wedding” and more about a “celebration.” We didn’t overcomplicate things and focused on serving great food, keeping the wine cellar stocked, and playing great music – every night turned into a dance party. To have our closest friends and family travel all that way to join us for our special moment was profoundly touching, and we wanted to make the trip worth their while. We wanted them to feel dazzled but also relaxed and at home. Aside from the evening events, there was no itinerary or planned activities. This allowed guests to sleep in, rest, and explore the estate. I’m an old soul and love a period piece, and I derived so much inspiration from shows like Downton Abbey and Bridgerton for the overall vibe and look of the weekend. We had this sprawling, grandiose chateau surrounded by grounds overgrown with flowers and trees, creating a setting that felt luxurious and glamorous yet rustic and inviting at the same time. We wanted to transport our guests to an era none of us had experienced. We avoided trendy wedding themes and opted for more subtle decorative elements to create a timeless, romantic look with a healthy dose of vintage glamour. My favourite part of our sweetheart table was two place settings from my grandmother’s antique silverware set she had gifted to me last year. She wasn’t able to join us in France, and it was special to have a piece of her there with us. Her love language has always been cooking, so it was fitting.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
We could not be more different when it comes to our personal styles. Derek is new and modern, while I love vintage. Derek opted for a custom tuxedo from a boutique suit shop here in Austin. After four failed, uninspiring trips to bridal boutiques, I found what would become my wedding skirt crumpled in the corner of a thrift shop. I fell in love with the creamy fabric colour, the full, draped structure of the skirt, and the fact that it was 100% silk. I bought it and took it home to try on, and finally had the moment every bride talks about when they find “the one.” I then found a designer on Etsy who creates couture bridal corsets and who kindly express-mailed a custom piece to my home – completing my bridal look three weeks before our flight to Paris.
