A Classical Chateau Wedding in Provence

A classical chateau in the Provençal countryside made for a poetic backdrop for Sophie and David’s Les Alpilles wedding. The ceremony was held in the chateau’s grand garden surrounded by olive groves and the melodic summer sound of cicadas in the background. Simple wooden benches were set out for guests and local flowers sprouted from the grass along the aisle leading to a white floral draped altar.

The al fresco reception dinner was designed to feel like a relaxed family Sunday lunch in the courtyard. Greenery climbed the castle walls above the long tables with informal timber chairs. The tables were styled with freshly pressed white linen, ornate candles, and floral arrangements to accompany the porcelain plates and honey-colored water glasses.

This Provençal wedding was artfully captured by Stefano Santucci.

Classical Chateau Wedding in Provence

Our Story

Names / Sophie Davin & David Adler

Location / Château d’Estoublon, Les Alpilles, France

Wedding Date / July 2nd, 2022

Guest Numbers / 125

How We Met

It was winter 2014 and I was finishing my law degree in Paris. David was on exchange from his law school in New York. Although he didn’t speak French at the time, I sensed there was potential. Towards the end of the semester, a few of our classmates decided to go out together one night and I invited David to come with me to a friend’s birthday party later that evening. It was at that party that we had our first kiss and the rest is history.

Our Engagement Story

New York was always a special place for us. David was born there and we lived there together for two years before deciding to move together to Paris. During our time in New York City, we spent endless hours on the rooftop of our apartment building in the West Village. We would spend hours contemplating the views of old Greenwich Village, the two rivers and up 8th avenue into the heart of the city. During the holiday season in 2019, we decided to take a trip to New York and, one day, David asked me to meet him on the roof of our old building after I went to see an art exhibit at the Whitney. When I arrived, David dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him.

What we love most about each other…

David: Sophie has unmatched energy and enthusiasm. She is interested in anything and everything, and passes this all along to the people she loves. I really think I am the luckiest person in the world to be able to share this journey with her. The journey itself is more interesting, adventurous, and exciting every day.

Sophie: I love David’s sense of adventure and curiosity. He’s always willing to try new things (especially foods) and he wants me to share it all with him. On top of it all, he’s not too bad to look at.

Sophie & David Wedding

The Setting

Aesthetic

I am myself from the South of France and David has spent many summers there (also most of our Covid-19 lockdown). We both love the atmosphere, the food, the landscape and the people, so we wanted our wedding to include the Mediterranean aesthetics and echo our regular Sunday family lunches in the Provençal country, surrounded by the olive trees and the sound of cicadas.

Preparation

We had lunch with the wedding party in the gardens. Afterwards, David went to get ready with his groomsmen while I had a nice swim in the pool (my go-to activity when I need a quick relaxing moment) before going into hair and makeup with my bridesmaids.

Photography

Our wedding photographer was Stefano Santucci. We wanted someone who would be able to capture the candid moments, rather than taking classic wedding pictures.

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

The ceremony took place just outside the classical chateau in Provence. Vintage wooden benches were set up and the aisle consisted of two rows of local flowers leading to the chuppah.

Reception Décor

We wanted a typical al fresco dinner that felt more like an intimate family and friends dinner, rather than a formal event. To enhance that feeling, we set up king tables paired with classic crossback chairs in the courtyard under the plane trees. The table were covered with white linen table clothes and ornamented with flower arrangements and candles. We went for traditional porcelain plates and yellow-tinted water glasses.

We also had traditional string lights installed over the dinner tables. The lighting was very important to us, and Be Lounge was very keen to assist us in making our wishes happen.

A Classical Chateau Wedding in Provence

Sophie & David Wedding

Wedding Planner & Stylist

We worked with wedding planner Marelles Wedding who coordinated the three-day celebration at the Cercle des Nageurs, in Marseille, and Château d’Estoublon, near les Baux-de-Provence.

Flowers

I worked with Julie of Sisters & Blush and really insisted to get fresh flowers native of the region and season. Throughout the wedding, our flower arrangements looked very natural, as if they were already part of the décor. The color palette was also typically provençal: yellow, white and lavender.

Sophie & David Wedding

A Classical Chateau Wedding in Provence

Stationery

I worked with Christelle of Crème de Papier, who is based in Aix-en-Provence, for all of our stationery and invitations. She was incredibly patient with me. Our formal invitations were lovely and gave a foretaste of the wedding aesthetics. They were printed on beautiful natural paper and consisted of a watercolor illustrated invitation and a map depicting all points of interest in Provence, as well as a smaller RSVP card. I was very happy to collaborate with Christelle, with whom I spent countless hours editing every detail.

Cake

Minoofi made us the most beautiful naked lemon layer cake. David saved and froze a slice to be eaten on our first anniversary, as required by American tradition.

Classical Chateau Wedding in Provence

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

I got my dress from Oscar de la Renta, and all I can say is that it was love at first sight. I first tried it on at the Paris store where I went with some of my bridesmaids, and ended up purchasing it from the New York flagship and had it altered there. It is made of the most beautiful lace and was exactly the style I was going for; a raw, Mediterranean-inspired look. I wore it with a traditional embroidered veil, also from Oscar de la Renta, and a pair of white sandals from The Row. I changed for a sleek “Greek vestal” style dress for dinner. Then, I had planned to wear a shorter dress from Zimmerman for the after-party, but time flew and I ended up staying in my dinner outfit!

Wedding Rings, Jewelry & Accessories

Our rings were by Cartier. We chose matching gold wedding bands with no gemstones.

The Details

Transport

Our wedding rehearsal was at the Cercle des Nageurs in Marseille the night before, so we drove from Marseille to the venue on the morning of the wedding.

Honeymoon

We haven’t taken our honeymoon yet but we did travel to the Amalfi coast and Ischia a couple of weeks after our wedding. We are currently planning a honeymoon.

Classical Chateau Wedding in Provence

Wedding Songs

Ceremony Song: “Entre Dos Aguas” by Paco de Lucia, “Con te partirò” by Andrea Bocelli

After Ceremony Song: “J’irai où tu iras” by Céline Dion and Jean-Jacques Goldman

Entertainment

During the cocktail hour, a string trio from Jazz Mood played classic New York jazz music while guests were sipping on spritz and pastis. The jazz music continued during the dinner between speeches given by the wedding party. After dinner, we danced under the stars until (very) late to a live band.

Celebrant

Rabbi Misha Shulman of the New Shul – based in the West Village, where we used to live – flew in from New York to perform our ceremony.

Readings

Each of the seven blessing was written by David and read twice, in French and in English, by each of our seven bridesmaids/groomsmen. We thought it was a fun and meaningful way to include both French and English-speakers in the ceremony. Following this, and as we both love poetry, Sophie’s stepfather read a poem from Sicilian poet Theocritus. Rabbi Misha presided over the ceremony highlighting a connection to David’s family, and our time spent together in New York.

Sophie & David Wedding

Classical Chateau Wedding in Provence

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

Dinner began just as dusk settled. The sky retained it’s early-evening blue glow and the stars peaked out above the trees. David gave the first speech of the night, welcoming all our friends and family, seated together for the first time. He switched back and forth from French and English, both for the benefit of the guests but also to pay homage to our crazy multi-cultural life and our unique love story – tying everything and everyone together and explaining why and how we arrived in such a beautiful place.

One thing I wish I knew before I started my wedding plans…

We planned a full Euro-American wedding. This was fun but also a lot of work, including in trying to mix both standards and traditions, and making sure everyone felt included. So, if you are planning on having a multicultural wedding, make sure you budget the additional time in your wedding prep!

Sources of inspiration…

Our main inspiration was my childhood in Marseille including the weekends in the Provençal countryside and showing David around. Also, our summer holidays in Sicily and Southern Italy, and David’s time living in Andalusia. All of that with a New York touch!