Fine Wedding & Portrait Photography
For destination weddings I often cover the night before and day after events too. When Renata and Johnny married on the French Riviera, Johnny’s mother hosted a beautiful brunch the day after the wedding at the Grand Hotel du Cap in Cap Ferrat. Family and friends mingled in the sunshine over a beautiful brunch, tables laden with French cheeses, fresh breads, fruit and exquisite desserts, to the sounds of a jazz saxophonist.
You can see the couple’s wedding photographs here on my blog.
Delighted to see this utterly beautiful wedding featured on the wonderful US Wedding Blog Style Me Pretty today.
Check out the feature here, and my own blog post on the wedding here.
Enjoy!
Cassie and Benjie met through work and had a whirlwind romance. They have a great sense of fun and absolutely love each others company, partying together as well as building a life together and supporting each other. Benjie used to be a ski instructor and this sense of fun and adventure is at the heart of their relationship, and it’s a joy to witness. True to their adventurous spirit the couple even went heli-skiing in Santiago on their honeymoon.
“When Benjie and I first talked about what we wanted our wedding to be like the answer was always “it’s got to be one huge party with the people we love most in the world.”
The couple fell in love with Chateau La Durantie in Lanouaille in the Dordogne region of France. It offered them the opportunity to host a house party style wedding, with their close friends and family staying in the Chateau or nearby for the whole weekend. A traditional ceremony took place in the local church in the village before a drive through the beautiful countryside to the Chateau, with summer cocktails served on the terrace and lawns accompanied by a local jazz band. Rumour has it the night before the wedding was *almost* as much fun as the wedding itself!
“Looking back through Polly’s photos never fails make me smile. I can almost hear the jazz band playing as we sipped cocktails on the lawn and feel the warmth of the sun as it started to set across the rolling French landscape. We are blessed to have had the happiest day of our lives captured so perfectly, I hope you enjoy looking!”
To Cassie & Benjie: I wish you both a very Happy 1st Anniversary and a long and fun life together, full of adventures!
You can read more about Cassie and Benjie’s celebration on Style Me Pretty where it was featured this week. Credits: Brides Dress by Lazaro Perez; Ceremony: St Pierre es Liens; Reception Venue: Chateau la Durantie; Florist: Liza Gatenby at French Flower Style; Band: Chris Southgate
I’m delighted to share this beautiful wedding, one of my 2013 highlights, with you today to mark the launch of my new redesigned blog. Renata & Johnny’s love story involves 2 jetskis, 2 cities, 1 sea urchin, 40 spikes and a hospital. You can read more about their story, and see their Ibiza pre-wedding shoot here on the blog.
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is one of the most beautiful villas on the Cote d’Azur. It overlooks the Bay of Villefranche and the Bay of Beaulieu and is in one of my favourite areas of the South if France; such gorgeous coastline, so romantic; it’s a perfect choice for your wedding.
Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild was a strong, intellectual woman who built a dream villa and put together an exceptional collection of art and antiques.When she discovered this plot of land in 1906, Béatrice fell in love with the beauty of the spot. However, back then, it was no more than an arid rock crossed by a mule track. When she learnt that the land was for sale, she bought it immediately. It took 5 years to build the villa and when finished she used it to home her incredible collection of porcelains, paintings by the masters and furniture. She made this her winter residence from 1912 onwards and came here regularly for over ten years, during which she split her time between Paris, Monaco and Deauville. The villa is now owned by The Academie des Beaux Arts, and open to the public, as well for private hire.
Renata and Johnny got ready at the Grand Hotel du Cap, and had a private first look in their gardens, before travelling together to the Villa Ephrussi for some pre-ceremony photographs in the gardens. A beautiful and moving Jewish ceremony followed under a glamorous huppah in the centre of the gardens, and as Renata and Johnny walked down the aisle together as husband and wife, the music started and the fountains shot high into the air in celebration. Guests explored the gardens over a cocktail reception and then were seated for a beautiful outdoor dinner in the gardens. Speeches followed, live music and then a wild party to the sounds of an awesome band from Marseille, a dessert table, macaroon pyramid, lively hora dancing and yet more dancing late into the night. As you can see from the photos, the day just got more and more fun as it went on!
Want to continue dreaming?! You can see more images of Cap Ferrat here on my blog. The couple’s post wedding brunch will be coming up soon on here too…love the extended celebration that a destination wedding affords…..more time with your family and friends and a chance to really anchor in your time together.
To Mr & Mrs C: a huge congratulations to you both, wishing you all the love and happiness and shared adventures in the world. Happy 1st Anniversary! xx
Credits: Ceremony & Reception Venue: Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild; Preparation Location: Grand Hotel Cap Ferrat; Bride’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier; Evening Reception Dress: Femmes Fatales by Ella Tatarinova; Hair: Fabrice at the Grand Hotel St Jean Cap Ferrat; Groom’s Suit: Tom Ford; Florist: Ronni Fleurs; Cake: Potel et Chabot; Wedding Planner: Lavender and Rose Weddings; Stationary Suite: Louise Richardson; Videography: Allora Visuals; Wedding Story: The Wedding Reporter
Where do I start to tell the love story of Julie & Zak? I may only have met the couple for the first time the night before their wedding, but it was evident immediately on meeting them what a brilliant couple they make, and the strong connection they share. From the moment the night before cruise down the Seine began, to moment I left the couple dancing the night away, I don’t think Julie stopped smiling. Her happiness was infectious and a reflection of the great love and connection Julie & Zak share together. After a sweet first look….we strolled around Paris: a trip to the Eiffel Tower, a quick visit to the lovers lock bridge where they attracted a crowd of paparazzi, a stroll around the Louvre, ‘un petit cafe a deux’ to keep warm…. I mean really, could there be anywhere more quintessentially romantic for photographs of love?! It was so wonderfully elegant and atmospheric….
Julie & Zak met at work in Washington, and still work in the same office today, albeit thousands of miles away from their original meeting place. Their weekend celebrations kicked off with a sunset champagne cruise down the Seine. They gave beautiful little goodie bags to guests filled with gifts that reflected the the past, the present and the future – America, Paris & Jordan – a Eiffel tower soap handmade by Julie’s mother, heart shaped glasses, some city of love shower gel, American gum & lip balm, and Dead Sea products from their new home. Attached to these was a custom map of Paris showing the locations of their celebrations made by the bride’s brother’s girlfriend Kaitlin Manning and all presented in a pretty muslin bag. Julie told me it’s a tradition amongst their friends to see how late they can party the night before their wedding….and whilst I won’t be revealing what time they eventually made it to bed, let’s just say Julie & Zak are the current record holders……!
The couple have an incredibly busy schedule, which was made even more so by a move from Washington DC to the Middle East in the middle of the wedding planning. This brought some great benefits….. they went from being 6 hours behind to 1 hour ahead, and Julie’s work brought her through Paris – a great opportunity to get her beautiful Vera Wang dress tailored to fit, and to pick up some peacock-blue Louboutins. Julie & Zak truly were a wedding planner’s dream: they gave great direction but were flexible, and trusted Fete in France to create a beautiful wedding day for them and their guests. They were delighted with the results and enjoyed all of the details they created: Ladurée macaroons as favors, an accordionist playing classic French songs, and a lovely gold & pink decor, including gilded ferns and gold glitter candles… Above all however, they enjoyed being surrounded by their precious family and friends on such a happy occasion.
In terms of photography, the couple took on board my advice to schedule their bride & groom portraits for during the afternoon to catch the best light. As the wedding took place in late November, it was a little chilly, but they strolled the streets of Paris, hand in hand, kissing, laughing and enjoying every moment. Once the portraits were done it was back in the warm, to sign the kettubah (which I had the huge of honour of doing as a witnesss, so thank you Zak & Julie for that beautiful gesture) and then for a heartfelt civil ceremony under a cream and gold canopy. From then on the celebrations began, and knowing this couple, I expect they went on long into the night!
Wishing you both all the very best for a bright and exciting future together…xxx
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Maison des Polytechniciens; Wedding Planner: Fete in France; Bride’s Dress by Vera Wang; Hair & Make Up: Laure Baruch; Florist: Sol Y Flor; Cake: Laduree
