WEDDING BLOG

16 Guests in the South of France: A Simple & Elegant Dinner Wedding

July 5, 2025 | marissa

What happens when you combine the warmth of a close-knit gathering with the breathtaking beauty of Provence? For Karli and Kurt, it meant hosting a South of France wedding that felt more like a vacation with their favorite people than a traditional event. With just 16 guests and a private villa near Toulon as their backdrop, they planned a week-long celebration that was intimate, stylish, and deeply personal.

From the start, the couple envisioned something simple yet elegant—an atmosphere that felt relaxed but refined, and most of all, true to who they are. With the help of their planner and Junebug vendor Wonder Events, they brought that dream to life through thoughtful details, timeless design, and a vendor team selected with care.

What We Love About This South of France Wedding:

A courtyard ceremony where guests took turns “blessing” the couple’s rings
A thoughtfully styled dinner where every detail—from the flowers to the tableware—reflected the couple’s refined yet relaxed vision.
Personal touches like parasols for shade and a croquembouche tower for dessert
The couple’s decision to celebrate slowly, surrounded by loved ones over an entire vacation week

Featured Vendors:

Noella Wonder Events

Designing a Relaxed Yet Elegant Destination Celebration

Karli and Kurt kicked off their South of France wedding plans by securing a private villa just outside Toulon. A space that felt comfortable and private, yet still elevated enough to host such a meaningful event. “They wanted something that felt like home,” their planner shared. “The location gave them space to be present with their guests and enjoy every moment.”

With guidance from Wonder Events, the couple worked closely with a curated group of local vendors for florals, catering, beauty, and more. The planning process was designed to be stress-free, with their planner offering support from start to finish: “They simply chose the vendors they felt most connected to, both personally and financially.”

Creating Ceremony Moments That Felt Meaningful and Personal

One of the most touching moments of the day was the ceremony, held in the villa courtyard near a central stone fountain. With the sun casting soft light on the cobblestones, Karli and Kurt stood hand-in-hand as one of their best friends officiated.

In a beautiful nod to togetherness, their wedding bands were passed from guest to guest, each person silently blessing the rings before they were exchanged. It was a simple act, but one that gave their intimate guest count even deeper meaning.

Putting Dinner at the Heart of the Celebration

While every part of their South of France wedding felt intentional, the couple’s top priority was the reception. Set outdoors against the villa’s warm-toned facade, the long wooden table was styled with soft linens, taper candles, and artful clusters of seasonal flowers in pastel hues. Each place setting was layered with care—from knotted napkins and hand-painted plates to green glass goblets that added a subtle pop of color.

Shop the Tablescape:

The meal concluded with a croquembouche tower, a classic French wedding dessert of cream-filled choux pastries stacked in a cone and bound with caramel. It was a sweet ending to a day rooted in connection and joy.

Real Advice From Junebug Vendor Wonder Events

Wonder Events shared one final insight: “Karli and Kurt knew what they wanted from the beginning. It wasn’t about putting on a show—it was about curating a meaningful experience. And because of that, everything fell beautifully into place.”

The couple later left this heartfelt review:

“We cannot say enough good things about our experience with Noella. From the moment we started working with her to plan our wedding in the South of France, she made everything incredibly easy… Our expectations were high, but Noella exceeded them in every way. If you’re looking for a wedding planner who will go above and beyond to bring your vision to life, look no further. We would recommend Noella a thousand times over!”

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Intoo My Eyes
Event Planning – Noella Wonder Events
Venue – Mas des Bonnettes
Floral Design – Les Fleurs d’Alkonost
Catering + Dessert – Met Sens
Invitation Design – PS I Love You
Makeup + Hair Styling – Au Cœur d’Ambre
Rentals – Options

This Korean Wedding Wove Heritage Into a Modern New York City Backdrop

July 3, 2025 | marissa

black purple sage green white

When it came to planning their Korean wedding, Jinnie and Andrew set out to design a day that honored their roots while celebrating their shared present. With a deep sense of intention and love for both tradition and individuality, the couple seamlessly blended a Korean paebaek ceremony with a modern New York City aesthetic. Held at the minimalist Atmosfera, their wedding was an expression of culture, artistry, and connection—brought to life with the help of their community.

What We Love About This Korean Wedding:

The couple’s traditional Korean wedding attire (hanboks) and emotional paebaek ceremony
A sleek and stylish modern portrait session around New York City landmarks
The intentional use of color—green and aubergine—and organic textures throughout the decor
DIY details, from music and florals to table settings and video elements
The heartfelt moment where the groom carried the bride on his back, symbolizing their first steps as one

Featured Vendor:

Nicole Moran Photography

Blending Cultures With Meaning and Style

Jinnie and Andrew wanted their Korean wedding to be more than just beautiful. It had to reflect their story. “We started planning with a desire to pay homage to the tradition of Korean culture while incorporating the contemporary and eclectic elements of our personalities,” they shared.

Their chosen venue, Atmosfera, served as the perfect blank canvas. Its clean, all-white interior became the backdrop for a day painted with emotion, tradition, and stylish contrast. “Our friend’s love and efforts were the paint that made the canvas into art.”

Wedding Fashion That Celebrated Heritage and Modernity

The couple’s outfits told their story visually, starting with the vibrant hanboks worn during the paebaek ceremony—a Korean wedding ritual that honors elders and family. “One of the most meaningful moments was when I carried Jinnie on my back in our hanboks and walked around the stage in front of our loved ones. It symbolized our first formal steps together as one.”

Later, for their modern NYC photo session, they switched into sleek outfits that matched the urban backdrop. Jinnie had her own fashion moment, wearing three incredibly chic looks throughout the shoot–each paired with her Reformation Wilson Bow mule heels (more on that later.)

Making the Day Their Own With DIY Touches

Jinnie and Andrew poured themselves into the details. “We nearly exclusively incorporated bespoke DIY elements to our wedding—from art pieces to videos, music, florals, and table settings. Our personalities were infused in everything.”

They leaned on their community to help bring their vision to life. “We knew we needed to lean on our friends and their understanding of our journey. We trusted our community implicitly.” Even with a few last-minute vendor delays and family-related stress, their loved ones stepped in and kept the day on track.

Couple Portraits Around NYC

For portraits by Jane’s Carousel at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Jinnie sported an Aje Ursula midi dress with sheer embellished, white gloves. She followed it with the elegant, off-the-shoulder Samara dress by Line & Dot, styled with white flower earrings that perfectly complemented the park’s cherry blossoms. Her final look–also worn for the reception–was Marjorelle’s striking and sleek black and white Avori gown.

Shop Jinnie’s Looks:

Wedding Day Advice From the Couple

Reflecting on the day, the couple emphasized how important it was to stay grounded in the “why” of the celebration. “Plan your wedding always keeping in mind who the wedding is for. Don’t let the small stuff—logistics, stress, or expectations—detract from the joy of celebrating your love.”

Their only wish? “More time to dance and properly let loose with our friends and family!”

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Nicole Moran Photography
Venue – Atmosfera

Past Meets Present in This Stylish Wedding at Monterrey’s Gran Hotel Ancira

June 30, 2025 | justine

ivory kelly green sage green

Some weddings feel like a perfect fusion of personal style, cultural significance, and timeless celebration. Daniela and Nacho’s day at the historic Gran Hotel Ancira was exactly that. From their thoughtful design choices to their emotional ceremony and dance-filled reception, their wedding was a heartfelt blend of past and present, set against the grandeur of a 1912 hotel in the heart of Monterrey.

Both architects of the experience in their own way—Nacho through music and Daniela through aesthetics—they poured their energy into making the day intentional, beautiful, and undeniably fun.

“We wanted to balance both our personalities,” Daniela shared. “Nacho’s top priority was the music, and for me, it was the design and decoration. We met in the middle and created something that felt like us.”

What We Love About This Gran Hotel Ancira Wedding:

The historic elegance of Gran Hotel Ancira contrasted with modern furniture and rich green tones
A stunning sequin Monique Lhuillier gown that channeled vintage glam
A creative lazo made by the bride herself, filled with handwritten messages from friends
A live artist sketching guests during cocktail hour
Late-night tacos and chilaquiles to keep the party going
A magical first dance moment after descending the grand staircase

Featured Vendor:

No Ordinary Love

Wedding Fashion That Felt Effortless and Meaningful

From the fashion to the getting-ready experience, every moment felt intentional. The night before the wedding, Daniela and her mom checked into The Habita Hotel for a quiet night of face masks and room-service breakfast. The next morning, close friends joined her for mimosas and glam—courtesy of one of her best friends, a longtime makeup artist.

“I wore a Monique Lhuillier dress covered in sequins that fit the venue perfectly,” she said. “And Nacho’s tailored suit from Gallo Azul was this dark greenish-gray color that just looked so good.”

A Ceremony Rooted in Family, Friendship, and Tradition

The Gran Hotel Ancira also held deep personal meaning. It’s where Nacho’s parents and sister had also been married. So it only felt right to continue the tradition.

During the ceremony, Daniela and Nacho used a custom-made lazo she had crafted by hand, featuring knotted notes of love and support from their friends. A few hiccups added to the day’s story, including a last-minute dash by Daniela’s dad to retrieve the forgotten wedding bands through Monterrey’s traffic and rain—just in time.

Designing a Look That Complimented the Venue’s Vintage Charm

For Daniela, the venue’s iconic black-and-cream checkered floors were more than just a detail. They inspired the entire color palette. She envisioned a look that celebrated the Gran Hotel Ancira’s old-world charm while layering in her love for greenery and contemporary design.

“I really wanted to include more foliage than flowers,” she explained. “I created photomontages to help our team visualize it, even down to the tableware.”

The couple built a dream team of creatives and worked collaboratively throughout the planning process. “It was very important for me to enjoy the process,” Daniela said. “We chose cool, creative people and stayed involved so everything aligned with our vision.”

Building a Team They Could Trust for Their Big Day

While they had both a planner and decorators, Daniela stayed closely involved, ensuring everything—from linens to layout—reflected their style. Keeping the guest list small made it easier to focus on the details and create a warm, intimate environment.

One standout idea? A live sketch artist who created keepsake illustrations of their guests during cocktail hour. Guests were also encouraged to snap candid shots using film cameras placed throughout the venue.

A Party to Remember at the Gran Hotel Ancira

The couple’s grand entrance down the hotel’s sweeping staircase set the tone for an unforgettable reception. “We practiced our dance beforehand, which made it even more special,” Daniela shared. “After that, we just danced all night.”

Late-night snacks of tacos and chilaquiles kept the energy high and the vibe relaxed, closing the celebration on the most delicious note.

Looking Back and Sharing Real Advice

While every moment of the day brought joy, Daniela offered one practical piece of advice for future couples:

“I waited until the last two months to do a lot of things, and even though I work well under pressure, it definitely added stress,” she said. “If I could do it again, I’d start earlier and space things out more.”

Still, when asked to choose a favorite memory, Daniela couldn’t pick just one.

“I truly enjoyed every single moment. Feeling everyone’s love and happiness as they celebrated us—that was the most special thing of all.”