WEDDING BLOG

A 250-Year-Old French Château Found on Airbnb Made the Most Magical Elopement Backdrop

October 3, 2026 | justine

Ashley and Remy found their wedding venue the same way some find a place to stay on vacation: on Airbnb. Except their rental was a blush pink, 250-year-old château in the South of France, complete with sprawling lawns, olive trees, a wisteria-covered pergola, weathered stone walls, and a pool. They booked the château for three nights and brought in little more than a picnic blanket and flowers they picked up in nearby Fréjus.

Their French chateau elopement had only two vendors, no guests, and almost no decor. The couple arranged the flowers together on the morning of the wedding, exchanged handwritten vows beneath an olive tree, and ate a private French picnic on the lawn. After their photographer and chef left for the evening, they stayed by the fire drinking champagne. Can it get more romantic than that?

What We Love About This French Chateau Elopement:

A 250-year-old blush pink château they found on Airbnb
Flowers the couple bought in town and arranged together that morning
Handwritten vows exchanged beneath an olive tree
A private French picnic inspired by their very first date
Just two vendors: their photographer and a private chef

Featured Vendor:

Taylor Dawning Photography

Choosing an Elopement and Turning It Into a Trip Through France and Italy

Ashley and Remy met on a camping trip with mutual friends in 2019. There was dancing under the stars, plenty of what Ashley describes as “tomfoolery,” and an immediate connection. On their first date, Remy arrived with flowers and plans for a sushi picnic after Ashley had mentioned that she loved plants and flowers.

The years that followed included exploring western Canada while Remy, who is Australian, was there on a working holiday visa. They also got through some difficult stretches early in their relationship, including Ashley’s surgery a few months after they met and then the pandemic.

When they eventually started thinking about a wedding, the planning itself was telling them something. “Remy & I always knew we wanted to elope because every time we thought about planning a wedding, we just felt so stressed and overwhelmed!” Ashley says. “We just wanted to focus on our love and making beautiful memories together.”

They planned the elopement themselves from Canada alongside a honeymoon through France and Italy. France had been on their minds from the beginning. Remy’s father is French, so getting married there also gave them an opportunity to visit family.

Finding a 250-Year-Old Château on Airbnb

In 2024, an Airbnb search led them to Château de Vaucouleurs, an 18th-century estate in Provence near Fréjus. The château sits among two hectares of Mediterranean gardens, with olive trees, wisteria, vineyards, and plenty of room to wander.

Ashley and Remy booked the entire property for three nights. Once they had the venue, much of their original planning became unnecessary. “We didn’t feel the need to add a theme or design elements,” Ashley says. “We wanted the castle and the grounds to be the focal point.”

That meant no rented decor or elaborate installation. Aside from a picnic blanket, the existing lawns, gardens, pergola, pool, and old stone walls provided what they needed for their French chateau elopement.

It also gave them something equally important: time. They could wake up at the château on their wedding morning, spend the day there without watching the clock, and go to sleep in the same place as newlyweds. “It was a blast frolicking around and living like royals for a few days,” Ashley says.

Exchanging Handwritten Vows Beneath an Olive Tree

There was no audience waiting when Ashley and Remy walked outside for their ceremony. They stood beneath an olive tree beside the château and read vows they had spent weeks writing. Sometimes they had worked on them while sitting next to each other on the couch, each carefully preventing the other from sneaking a look.

“It felt surreal to finally be standing in the exact spot we had been daydreaming about for months, under the olive tree beside the château, and finally hearing the words the other had been keeping in secret,” Ashley says.

Without guests watching, neither worried about holding anything back. They laughed through the ceremony and took their time. “We loved that there was no reason to be shy or hold back because it was just the two of us,” she says. “We would not have done anything differently.”

Planning the Entire Elopement From Canada With Just Two Vendors

With no guest list to manage, Ashley and Remy’s vendor list was unusually short. They hired Junebug vendor Taylor Dawning and private French chef Paul, then handled everything else themselves.

They found Taylor through Instagram and connected with the emotion and whimsy in her photography. Their first Zoom call sealed the decision. Along with helping them plan photos, Taylor suggested movies they could watch for inspiration as Ashley and Remy leaned into the château’s old-world setting.

Paul came through Airbnb Experiences. The couple had been picturing a picnic on the château lawn that looked almost like an old French countryside oil painting. His Grande Buffets, arranged with fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables, matched what they had in mind. “We are so happy we found him because he really made our day unforgettable,” Ashley says. “We still daydream about his Pissaladière!”

Making Their Own Bouquet on the Morning of the Wedding

The day before the elopement, Ashley and Remy wandered through Fréjus buying flowers for her bouquet. The next morning, they woke up early and arranged the flowers together at the château before slowly getting ready.

Ashley also did her own hair and makeup, but that part of the DIY plan had been a year in the making. She practiced both in the months leading up to the trip and even booked a lesson with a local makeup artist before leaving Canada. “It was honestly a fun journey,” she says.

She wore her hair down in long, loose curls and kept her makeup recognizable to how she normally looks. Doing it herself also fit naturally into a morning that had no wedding party arrivals, beauty schedule, or strict ceremony call time.

Choosing Wedding Fashion Made for Running Around a Château

Ashley had one practical test for her wedding dress: she needed to be able to move in it. She chose a full-length Essense of Australia gown with a basque waist, structured corset bodice, and layers of flowing organza. When she tried it on at the bridal boutique, she ran up and down the hallway to see how the fabric moved. “I was looking for a dress that was flowy and would look epic frolicking around the castle,” she says.

Finding the right veil took longer. Ashley wanted something with a vintage shape and some height at the crown, so she eventually had one made locally by Clara Couture Bridal in Vancouver. A lace-and-pearl Watters choker completed the wedding look. Even her getting-ready outfit followed the same direction: a vintage gold-label Victoria’s Secret slip with a flowing basque waist.

Remy wore a black tuxedo and bow tie. His pocket square accidentally got left behind, so his most memorable accessory ended up being a cigar for portraits.

Revisiting Their First Date With a Picnic on the Château Lawn

The picnic they had planned with their chef wasn’t simply an idea that suited the setting. It had been part of Ashley and Remy’s relationship since the beginning. Their first date had been a sushi picnic. More picnics followed over the years until, as Ashley puts it, they became “kind of our thing.”

So they spread out their picnic blanket at the château and ate the French meal Paul had prepared for them, surrounded by the gardens they had spent months imagining from Canada. They also FaceTimed their parents during the meal. It was one of the few ways anyone else joined their French chateau elopement, and then the day went back to being just theirs.

Staying at the Château After the Wedding Was Part of the Plan

Booking the château for three nights meant the wedding didn’t end when the photographer packed up. Once Taylor and Paul left for the evening, Ashley and Remy stayed by the fire drinking champagne. There was nowhere else they needed to be and no reception timeline left to follow.

The following day was still theirs, too. They relaxed by the pool and wandered around the property, getting the kind of time at their venue that would have been difficult with a single-day rental. For Ashley, that space around the wedding was one of the best parts of the decision. “The most special touch was creating time and space to breathe and soak it all in together,” she says.

Their Advice for Couples Planning a Wedding

Ashley and Remy’s French chateau elopement didn’t follow many of the usual wedding conventions, and that’s exactly the point they hope other couples take from it.

“It’s okay to do things your way!” Ashley says. “Who cares if it’s not traditional or ‘trending’?!” Their advice is simple: “It’s your day, it’s your marriage, follow your heart and give yourself time to soak it all in.”

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Taylor Dawning
Venue – Château de Vaucouleurs
Catering – Private Chef Paul Quignon
Wedding Dress – Essense of Australia from Lisa’s Bridal
Bridal Accessories – Clara Couture + Watters from Anthropologie
Groom’s Apparel – Kings Menswear Tux

Wisteria and Moss Frame This Romantic Springtime Florida Garden Wedding

October 1, 2026 | justine

gold ivory lavender light blue sage green

Hanging wisteria stretched above the dance floor, moss cascaded from the oak trees above the ceremony, and lavender, blue, and green flowers filled gold vases throughout Sydonie Mansion. Kylie and Logan built their Florida garden wedding around a venue that already had much of what they were looking for, then spent the better part of a year adding their own details.

That included far more than a few pieces of signage. Kylie embroidered handkerchiefs for Logan and their parents, while the couple made their invitations, menus, temporary tattoos, heart-shaped sunglasses, photo backdrop, and more. Their pets got involved, too, with their golden retriever Baxter joining them for portraits and their fur babies appearing on everything from cocktail stirrers to the signature drink sign. And those weren’t the only details waiting for guests once they arrived.

What We Love About This Florida Garden Wedding:

Hanging wisteria over the reception dance floor
A first look followed by garden portraits with their golden retriever, Baxter
DIY details throughout
A parent-dance song mix-up that ended with all four of them on the dance floor

Featured Vendor:
Jennifer Holly Photography

Building the Color Palette Around Lavender, Green, and Gold

Lavender had been Kylie’s favorite color for years, and Logan had one fashion request: he wanted to wear a green suit. Those two colors became the starting point, with champagne bridesmaid dresses and light blue accents eventually joining the palette. Their mothers wore blue as the couple’s “something blue.”

The larger garden direction developed once they began looking at venues. Kylie had already seen Sydonie Mansion online and was “about 99% sold,” but they still scheduled other tours. Sydonie was only their second stop, but they “knew it was the one immediately,” she says.

They worked with the mansion’s existing romantic garden style, bringing in green, gold, blue, and lavender through the flowers and reception details. Levan’s Catering provided gold dining ware with sage napkins, while gold vases and rented Chiavari chairs continued the look. Over the dance floor, they added hanging wisteria, a unique addition that brought the garden theme to life all night.

Sharing Private Vows Before Baxter Joined Them in the Garden

Kylie and Logan went back and forth over having a first look. They worried that seeing each other beforehand might take something away from the moment Logan saw Kylie walking down the aisle.

Ultimately, they decided to meet in the garden before the ceremony, where they exchanged private vows and had a little time together before guests gathered. Kylie says it helped settle their nerves without diminishing the aisle moment later.

Then Baxter arrived. Their golden retriever joined them for portraits in the garden and, between photos, became particularly interested in watching the koi fish.

Thanking Their Parents During a Traditional Ceremony

Kylie and Logan don’t live near their families, so walking into the ceremony gave Kylie a rare view of everyone gathered in the same place. Her dad walked her down the aisle, where Logan was waiting.

The ceremony remained traditional, with one addition: the couple included a thank-you to their parents for raising them and for the examples of marriage they had given them.

Violinist Jose Rodriguez played during both the ceremony and cocktail hour, including songs Kylie had specifically requested even when they weren’t part of his regular set list.

Turning One Giant To-Do List Into a Year of DIY Projects

Kylie started planning by saving ideas from Instagram and Pinterest before building a large mood board on her iPad. Their day-of coordinator supplied to-do lists, but Kylie, who describes herself as “a very organized planner,” took things considerably further. “I actually ended up making a multi-page to-do list that incorporated every single thing we’d have to do and divided tasks by month,” she says.

That organization came in handy because wedding projects eventually took over their home. Kylie has always loved arts and crafts, and the couple made their invitations, signage, menus, temporary tattoos, L + K heart sunglasses, and a photo backdrop themselves.

Some of the smallest projects were also the most time-consuming. Kylie hand-embroidered handkerchiefs with individual notes for each of their parents as well as Logan. At the bar, their fur babies appeared on the signature drink sign and stir sticks alongside embossed cocktail napkins. A massive mirror with a vinyl welcome message greeted guests as they arrived.

Breaking everything into monthly tasks kept the final weeks surprisingly manageable. By then, they only had a few small things left to finish.

Deciding What Was Actually Worth the Wedding Budget

Kylie’s parents contributed significantly to the wedding, and the couple began by accounting for the major expenses: venue, catering, flowers, photography, cake, and DJ. Flowers were especially important because of how much color they would bring into the garden setting.

Their catering package helped elsewhere in the budget. Tablecloths, chargers, plates, and gold silverware were already included, leaving room for extras such as the gold Chiavari chairs and hanging wisteria.

When another potential expense came up, Kylie and Logan had a question they would ask each other: “Are we gonna look back and feel disappointed we didn’t have this on our wedding day?” Sometimes the answer made the decision easy.

The DIY projects also saved money, although Kylie is quick to acknowledge that the final total still grew. “We definitely ended up 10k over budget, but we had the perfect day and wouldn’t change a thing.”

When the Wrong Parent-Dance Song Started Playing

Most of the wedding ran exactly as planned. Then Kylie and her dad started their father-daughter dance. “As soon as the words started I looked at him and said, ‘Wait…this isn’t our song.’” The DJ had accidentally played the song intended for Logan and his mom. Logan got up to speak to the DJ while Kylie and her dad kept dancing, but the original father-daughter song couldn’t be found.

So Kylie improvised. She motioned for Logan and his mom to come out and join them. The song was extended, and what began as the only real mishap of the day ended with both parent-child pairs dancing together and photos of all four of them on the floor.

Planning Early So the Final Weeks Stay Manageable

Kylie and Logan have little they would change about their Florida garden wedding, other than avoiding that parent-dance mix-up. Their biggest planning takeaway is much less glamorous than flowers or wisteria: make one enormous list.

Dividing their tasks and DIY projects by month meant they could finish smaller jobs early and concentrate on whatever actually needed attention at each stage. “In the last few weeks before our wedding we only had a couple small tasks left to check off,” Kylie says. For a couple who spent roughly a year making everything from embroidered handkerchiefs to temporary tattoos, that might be the strongest endorsement of the spreadsheet.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Jennifer Holly Photography
Event Planning – Kristy Rapp
Venue – Sydonie Mansion
Floral Design – Stephanie Piermont
Catering – Levan’s Catering
Cake – Roberta Haupert
Officiant – Glynn Ferguson
DJ – Elegant Entertainment
Live Music – Jose Rodriguez
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Kristy’s Artistry
Wedding Dress – Theory Bridal House
Bridal Accessories – BridalbyValeria + BrilliantForever + NovaJewelsLA
Groom’s Apparel + Groomsmen’s Apparel – Suit Shop + Jos. A. Bank
Rentals – Premier Events

The Ultimate Wedding Ring Guide

September 30, 2026 | justine

*This wedding ring guide covers everything you need to know about choosing the right ring, from metals and styles to fit, pairing, care, and more. Image by Damaris Melissa Photo*

You’ll make plenty of purchases for your wedding that are meant for one day. Your wedding ring is different: chances are, it’ll become part of what you wear every day. That makes finding something you love important, but so is choosing a ring that actually works with your life.

Before getting caught up in metals, diamonds, widths, and finishes, think about how you’ll actually wear your ring. Will it sit next to an engagement ring or be worn alone? Do you work with your hands? Do you want something you rarely have to think about, or are you comfortable with a ring that needs a little more care?

This wedding ring guide covers what to consider before you buy, starting with your lifestyle and budget before getting into metals, styles, fit, engagement ring pairings, and more.

Start With How You’ll Wear Your Wedding Ring

Before choosing a metal or style, think about what your wedding ring needs to do in everyday life. If you plan to wear it next to an engagement ring, the two rings will need to sit comfortably together. If your wedding band will be worn alone, you might prefer a wider band or a design with more visual detail.

Your routine matters, too. If you work frequently with your hands, a smooth, low-profile band may be easier to wear than raised stones or intricate details that can catch. And if you exercise, work with machinery, or regularly do activities where wearing a ring could be uncomfortable or unsafe, consider whether you’re happy removing it when needed.

Starting with the practical stuff may not be as exciting as looking at rings, but it can quickly narrow down which options make sense for you.

Set Your Wedding Ring Budget

Wedding rings can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the metal, width, stones, craftsmanship, and whether the design is custom. A simple gold band will generally cost less than a platinum ring or one set with diamonds. Wider bands use more metal, while full eternity designs, larger or higher-quality stones, intricate detailing, and custom work can all increase the price.

There’s no amount you’re supposed to spend on wedding rings. Decide what you’re comfortable allocating from your overall wedding budget, then think about which features matter most to you. Having a range in mind before you start shopping can also make it easier to compare your options without getting distracted by rings well outside it.

Choose Your Wedding Ring Metal

Once you know how you’ll wear your ring and what you’re comfortable spending, you can start narrowing down your metal options.

Yellow Gold

Yellow gold has the warm appearance most associated with traditional gold jewelry. It’s commonly available in 14k and 18k gold. Of the two, 14k contains a lower percentage of pure gold and is generally more resistant to everyday wear, while 18k contains more pure gold and typically has a richer gold color.

White Gold

White gold offers a bright white-metal look and typically costs less than platinum. Most white gold jewelry is rhodium plated to create that bright finish, which means it may need to be replated periodically as the surface wears.

Rose Gold

Rose gold gets its pink or blush tone from the metals alloyed with gold, particularly copper. It’s a good option if you prefer warmer jewelry but want something a little different from traditional yellow gold.

Platinum

Platinum is naturally white, dense, and durable. It generally comes at a higher price than gold and can develop a patina with wear. Some people like that softer, lived-in finish, while others choose to have their rings professionally polished.

Alternative Metals

Titanium, tungsten, tantalum, and other alternative metals are also used for wedding bands and can offer different combinations of weight, durability, appearance, and price. One thing to check before buying is whether the particular metal can be resized, as some alternative-metal rings can’t be resized conventionally.

Find Your Wedding Ring Style

With your metal narrowed down, you can get into the fun part: deciding what you actually want your ring to look like. Wedding bands come in plenty of variations, but these are some of the styles you’ll see most often.

Classic bands are simple metal rings without stones, with the width, profile, and finish defining the look. They can be polished for more shine or given a brushed, matte, hammered, or other textured finish.

Diamond bands add stones across part or all of the ring. The look can vary considerably depending on the setting, from delicate pavé diamonds to channel-set or shared-prong designs.

Eternity bands feature diamonds or gemstones around the band. Full eternity rings have stones around the entire circumference, while partial or half-eternity styles cover only part of it. Full eternity designs can be more difficult to resize because there isn’t a plain section of metal to work with.

Gemstone bands bring in color with sapphires, rubies, or other stones, either on their own or paired with diamonds. If you plan to wear yours every day, consider the durability and care requirements of the particular stone.

Vintage-inspired bands use details such as milgrain, engraving, or distinctive stone shapes to create an antique-influenced look.

Curved or contoured bands have a shaped profile that accommodates an engagement ring’s center setting. They’re an option if you want the two rings to sit closer together rather than leaving the gap a straight band sometimes creates.

Consider Width, Stones, and Fit

Once you know the general style you want, the smaller details can make a surprisingly big difference in how the ring looks and feels on your hand.

Wedding Ring Width

Wedding band widths are measured in millimeters. As a general visual guide, a 2–3mm band tends to look slim and understated, while 3–4mm offers a little more presence. Bands around 5–6mm have a more substantial look, while 7mm and wider create a noticeably bolder profile.

Those aren’t rules for women’s or men’s wedding rings. Anyone can choose any width. Finger proportions, other jewelry, personal style, and what feels comfortable on your hand matter more than the category a ring is marketed under.

Diamonds and Gemstones

If you want stones in your wedding ring, consider their setting as well as how much sparkle you want.

A low-profile setting may be more practical for everyday wear, particularly if you use your hands a lot. If you’ll be stacking your wedding band with another ring, check whether exposed stones or settings could rub against it.

Also think about future sizing. A band with stones only across part of the ring may offer more resizing flexibility than a full eternity band.

Wedding Ring Fit

A wedding ring should feel secure at the base of your finger while still sliding over your knuckle with gentle resistance. It shouldn’t feel as though it could easily slip off, but it shouldn’t pinch either.

Because finger size can fluctuate with temperature and other factors, having your finger professionally measured is worth doing before ordering. Keep the width of your chosen ring in mind, too—a wide band can feel tighter than a narrow one in the same nominal size.

For wider designs in particular, you may also want to try a comfort-fit band, which has a slightly rounded interior rather than a flatter inner surface.

Pair Your Wedding Ring With Your Engagement Ring

If you plan to wear your engagement and wedding rings together, try them as a pair rather than choosing your wedding band entirely on its own. The two rings don’t have to match. Choosing the same metal and similar design details can create a cohesive look, but mixed metals, contrasting textures, and different styles can work beautifully together too. What matters practically is how they sit.

Some engagement ring settings leave enough space underneath the center stone for a straight wedding band to sit flush beside them. Others naturally create a small gap. If you like the gap, there’s no reason to avoid it. If you prefer the rings to sit closely together, a curved or contoured wedding band can follow the shape of your engagement ring.

Check where the two rings touch as well. Exposed stones, prongs, or other details can rub against the neighboring ring over time. If you already know you want a coordinated look, a bridal set is another option. These typically pair an engagement ring with a wedding band specifically designed to fit alongside it.

Choosing Men’s Wedding Rings

Men’s wedding rings involve the same core considerations: how you’ll wear the ring, budget, metal, style, width, and fit. While plain, wider metal bands have traditionally been associated with men’s wedding rings, they’re only one option. Slimmer profiles, diamonds, mixed metals, engraving, and brushed, hammered, or other textured finishes can all work.

If you prefer a wider band, pay particular attention to fit since the extra width can change how a ring feels on your finger. Trying a few different widths and profiles in person is often the easiest way to find what feels natural.

Your rings as a couple don’t need to match, either. If you want a connection between them without choosing identical designs, you could share one detail, such as the metal, finish, or engraving.

Protect Your Wedding Ring

Once you’ve chosen a ring you intend to wear for years, it’s worth considering how you would repair or replace it if it were lost, stolen, or damaged.

Depending on the ring and your policy, jewelry coverage may be available through homeowners or renters insurance, an additional endorsement for valuable jewelry, or a standalone jewelry insurance policy. Coverage and exclusions vary, so keep your receipt and any appraisal documentation and check exactly what a policy includes before choosing one.

If you’re protecting both rings, our guide to engagement ring insurance goes deeper into how jewelry insurance works and what to consider when deciding on coverage.

Wedding Ring FAQs

What Hand Does a Wedding Ring Go On?

In the United States, a wedding ring is traditionally worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, commonly called the ring finger. Wedding ring traditions vary around the world, though, and the right hand is customary in some countries and cultures.

What Is the Correct Order for Wedding Rings?

When a wedding ring and engagement ring are worn on the same finger, tradition places the wedding band first, with the engagement ring above it. That’s a tradition rather than a requirement, so you can wear your rings in whichever order feels and looks best to you.

Are Wedding Rings and Wedding Bands the Same Thing?

Generally, yes. “Wedding ring” and “wedding band” are commonly used interchangeably for the ring exchanged during a wedding ceremony. “Wedding band” is sometimes used more specifically for band-style designs, while “wedding ring” can encompass a broader range of styles.

Do You Need Both an Engagement Ring and a Wedding Ring?

No. An engagement ring traditionally marks the intention to marry, while wedding rings are exchanged during the wedding ceremony. You can wear both together, wear only a wedding ring, or choose one ring to serve both purposes.

Do Couples’ Wedding Rings Have to Match?

No. You can choose matching wedding rings, completely different designs, or rings that share a single element, such as the metal, finish, or engraving.

Can Wedding Rings Be Resized?

Many gold and platinum wedding rings can be resized, but it depends on the metal and design. Full eternity bands and some alternative-metal rings can be difficult or impossible to resize conventionally, so ask before purchasing if future resizing is important to you.

When Should You Buy Wedding Rings?

Start shopping for wedding rings a few months before your wedding to leave time to compare styles, confirm sizing, place your order, and make any necessary adjustments. Give yourself additional time for custom designs, engraving, unusual sizes, or a band being made specifically to fit an engagement ring, and always confirm the production timeline with your jeweler.

How Often Should You Have Your Wedding Ring Professionally Cleaned?

Having a wedding ring that’s worn every day professionally cleaned and inspected about once a year is a useful starting point, although your jeweler may recommend more frequent visits depending on the ring and how you wear it. A professional inspection is particularly useful for stone-set bands because a jeweler can check for loose stones, worn prongs, and other signs of wear while cleaning the ring.

Between professional visits, many wedding rings can also be cleaned at home. A jewelry cleaning solution, pen, or soft brush can make regular upkeep easier, but always check that the product is suitable for your ring’s specific metal and stones before using it.

There are plenty of traditions surrounding wedding rings, but very few rules about what yours has to look like. Your rings as a couple don’t have to match, your wedding band doesn’t have to perfectly match your engagement ring, and there’s no particular metal, width, or amount you’re supposed to choose.

Use this wedding ring guide as a starting point, then let your lifestyle, budget, personal style, and what feels comfortable on your hand guide the final decision. After all, the goal isn’t just to find a ring that looks good on your wedding day. It’s to find one you’ll be happy to keep wearing long after it.