A five-meter veil, a centuries-old Gothic abbey, and a late-night speakeasy serving burgers and fries aren’t the most obvious combination. For Léanne Ansar and Louis Terme, though, the combination made sense. Their wedding brought together Léanne’s love of French history with the years she spent living in the United States.
They chose a secluded abbey in Burgundy, kept the florals understated, and worked with local vendors to showcase the region’s food and craftsmanship. But there were plenty of surprises, too. The couple’s friends arranged for choir singers to perform “Happy Days” and “Amazing Grace” during the ceremony, Léanne changed into three different looks throughout the day, and the evening ended inside a hidden bar with cigars, personalized matchboxes, and American comfort food. It was far from ordinary, but undoubtedly made to remember.
What We Love About Léanne Ansar’s Wedding
- A hidden Gothic abbey surrounded by the Burgundy countryside
- Friends surprising the couple with a choir performance
- Léanne’s five-meter ceremony veil and two outfit changes
- Delicate lace waterlilies made especially for the wedding
- An outdoor concert before the first dance
- A hidden speakeasy with burgers, fries, cigars, and personalized matchboxes
Finding the Venue Before Making Any Design Decisions
Léanne’s connection to the abbey goes much further than simply liking the architecture. She grew up near the Loire Valley, surrounded by medieval castles, and later studied French history and literature through a Bac+5 level. Gothic architecture has always fascinated her. “It brings me a sense of calm and serenity, almost as if I were returning to a familiar place, somewhere that feels like home,” she says.
Instead of looking to France’s better-known wedding destinations, Léanne and Louis wanted somewhere quieter and full of character. They found it at the Abbey of Reigny in the Burgundy countryside. “When we discovered this hidden abbey nestled in the heart of Burgundy, surrounded by its river and peaceful landscape, we immediately felt a unique connection with it.”
That decision also made the rest of the planning easier. Junebug planner Solenne Vervisch of VIPR Agency had advised Léanne not to settle on an aesthetic until they had found their venue. Once they chose the abbey, its Gothic architecture and surrounding gardens gave them a clear direction.
How Léanne and Louis Infused Their French-American Story Into the Wedding
Years before the wedding, Léanne had been living in the United States. She had just returned to Paris when she met Louis at a small café in Montmartre. Their first date began with a charming misunderstanding. Louis invited her to a chess night––Léanne heard cheese night. “We played, laughed endlessly, and shared such a wonderful time,” she says. “That evening, I fell for him completely, and before the night was over, we shared our very first kiss.”
For the wedding, Léanne wanted to bring together the parts of French and American culture she loved most. “I wanted to create a harmonious balance between the timeless elegance and rich French heritage that have always been close to my heart, and the joyful, spontaneous spirit that is so characteristic of American culture,” she says.
One of those moments came during the ceremony, when friends surprised Léanne and Louis with choir singers performing “Happy Days” and “Amazing Grace.” “It felt like we were sharing a little piece of America with France!”
Remaining Simple and Working With Local Burgundy Vendors
With a venue that already had so much character, Léanne and Louis didn’t want to cover it in decorations. The flowers remained understated and were inspired by the gardens surrounding the abbey. Lace appeared throughout the decor, including delicate waterlilies made especially for the wedding.
Their approach to the budget was similarly selective. “We approached our budget by focusing on the elements that mattered most to us rather than trying to do everything,” Léanne says.
The venue and planner were priorities, along with local vendors and producers. Food was particularly important, giving the couple an opportunity to introduce their guests to Burgundy’s gastronomy while supporting businesses from the region.
For Léanne and Louis, it came down to quality over quantity and choosing details they genuinely loved instead of following current trends.
From a Five-Meter Veil to a “Party Girl” Dress
For her wedding fashion, Léanne wanted looks she could still imagine loving decades later.
Her ceremony look was a fitted mermaid gown by Justin Alexander, with tulle added along the sides for volume and movement. A dramatic five-meter veil completed the look.
For the outdoor concert and first dance, she changed into an all-lace gown personalized by her aunt with a plunging V-neckline. The second dress also gave her more freedom to move.
Then came the “party girl” dress.
For the speakeasy, she switched into a short Montsand dress with a lace side veil that echoed her ceremony veil. The bridesmaids and flower girls also wore Montsand, while Louis’ groomsmen wore classic SuitSupply suits.
Getting ready was much simpler. She wanted to look like herself and spent some time alone before the ceremony using Lancôme products and styling her hair with Olaplex.
Burgers, Fries, and a Hidden Late-Night Speakeasy
After an outdoor concert and the couple’s first dance, the evening shifted gears.
Léanne and Louis had created a hidden speakeasy for the reception, bringing another piece of the bride’s American life into the wedding. Burgers and fries were served during the party, while cigars and personalized matchboxes waited on the tables.
By then, Léanne had traded her fitted gown and five-meter veil for her short Montsand party look..
It was quite the progression: Gothic abbey, outdoor concert, first dance, then burgers and fries in a hidden bar.
Why Léanne Says a Good Wedding Planner Is Essential
For all the thought Léanne put into the wedding, she admits that the number of decisions sometimes got the better of her.
“I may have been too much of a perfectionist and I had a hard time making decisions,” she says.
That’s where Solenne and VIPR Agency came in. Beyond helping Léanne and Louis balance the French and American sides of the wedding, Solenne kept the planning process moving and made sure decisions were made when they needed to be.
Léanne’s advice to other couples is simple: “Make sure that you have a good wedding planner that keeps you on track. Our wedding planner really made sure we hit specific goals on specific dates!”
The Wedding Team:
Bride – Léanne Ansar
Photography – Nick Zharkov + Irena Balashko + Gabriela Tyrka
Event Planning – VIPR Agency
Venue – Abbey of Reigny
Floral Design – Tonight Creative Studio
Catering – Festins de Bourgogne
Live Music – Roman et Les Draxters
Videography – Fabio Luca Weddings
Wedding Dress – Justin Alexander + Montsand + Milla Nova
Bridal Accessories – Jennifer Behr + Manolo Blahnik + Rene Caovilla
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Montsand
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