French weddings just have a certain je ne sais quoi about them, don’t they? There always seems to be a filter of romance and effortlessness that makes them extra beautiful. When Nicholas Purcell Studio sent over this stunning inspiration shoot at Chateau la Durantie, we couldn’t help but notice how much it embodies the best parts of a French wedding: breathtaking light, a soft color palette, beautifully manicured lawns, and a grand chateau in the background.
We’ve never met an exposed brick wall we didn’t like, so it’s no surprise that we’re head-over-heels for The Diamond in Vancouver where Melissa and Andrew tied the knot. The ceremony took place in front of a window adorned with a garland of greenery. Sweetheart Events brilliantly decorated the antique setting with lush natural elements and a touch of 1920s elegance with Mercury glass and vintage embellishments.
Our favourite moment was the ceremony itself, which was full of laughter and tears. The officiant is both Family and a friend and he did an amazing job adding in humour and personalizing the ceremony for us. We also had a close friend sing an acoustic song with the guitarist during the signing, which was an amazing and unforgettable moment.
The Couple Recommends:
Sachin Khona is both a great person and fantastic photographer. We really love his ability to tell stories through his images. When we look through our photos we love how we are instantly transported back to our day with his beautifully quirky images.
We booked Stephanie Reitsma for her ‘Day of Wedding’ planning, but she helped us for the entire year prior to the Wedding. We had multiple meetings to keep the planning in check along with many emails and progress updates. Her organization was amazing and worked closely with all the vendors to make sure everything went smoothly. On the day she set up the venue before the Ceremony and turned the room around for the reception, she coordinated all aspects of the day as well as the tear down at the end of the night. Although she claims she is not a decorator, we gave her multiple boxes of various decor pieces and told her to work her magic, and she did! She decorated the Diamond better than we could have imagined. She is such a gem and a pleasure to work with. We couldn’t have done it without her.
We love how Sachin Khona Photographer captured the carefully curated details, sweet candid moments, and the incredible beauty of Vancouver’s architecture all while staying true to Melissa and Andrew’s vision for their day. For more of his stunning work, check out Nadia and Colin’s lavender wedding in Burnaby, BC.
From one of the most elegant ceremonies we’ve ever seen to the wildest party Piazzale delle Sagre could imagine, Iaia and Stefano’s Italian wedding was a celebration with a capital C. As soon as the newlyweds said “I do,” they hopped in a banana-yellow VW bus and went for a ride around Cervo, Liguria. When they arrived at their reception, they were lucky enough to see the looks of awe on their guests’ faces as everyone watched the acrobats, men on stilts, and dancers perform. As if that weren’t enough, Iaia got up and performed at her own reception, stealing back the spotlight.
Our marriage took place in the magical atmosphere of a royal church overlooking the sea in Cervo, Ligure. Musicians in the square and thousands of balloons greeted our first kiss as husband and wife in the main square of the coral. The celebrations were characterized by Sagrimonio: a celebration of the countryside with 300 guests, typical food, large tables and wooden benches; bohemian atmosphere with dusty colors, vintage fabrics, ribbons and more than 1,500 lanterns made with jam jars; illuminations with threads of vintage lamps, over 2000 meters of tulle and festoons of flags. Then, terrariums as placeholders, wood logs to act as centerpieces, homemade wine and favors with fruit from the garden Iaia’s father.
Iaia wore a vintage French lace dress designed by her. The very special cut and deep neckline on the back made it a unique garment. Six meters of veil to complete a masterpiece of Haute Couture. I wore an impeccable suit in an unusual blue indigo color, in style with the atmosphere of celebration and ceremony.
The Moments:
Surely the thing that we never forget is the totally startled faces of the guests in front of the performing arts that we had planned for them: jugglers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers and balls floating on the water and even two mermaids who performed in a tub of water colored by incredible light games. And then the Flash Mob surprise with listed among the guests for a bursting effect that involved and moved the attendance as a whole.
The Couple Recommends:
Alessandro Panizzolo made a 40 kg naked cake exclusively for us, only to satisfy Iaia’s wishes. Officina delle Fate made an incredible and unusual dress, designed by Iaia herself. Signoroni Band offered an incredible live show entertainment for 3 hours. And obiouvsly Julian Kanz; an amazing professional that, with discretion and complicity, knows how to give the bride and groom the best day.
No one could have captured this extraordinary party like Julian Kanz, who documented Iaia and Stefano’s romantic love as well as their sense of humor. Be sure to check out more of his work in Ashley and Ryan’s intimate Tuscan wedding at Villa le Mura.
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