A Destination Wedding at a French Château

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bride and groom looking at each other next to black vintage car — Julia Kaptelova

The beauty of the south of France needs little enhancement, and Eva Marcus and Loïc Hamdi made excellent use of the legendary splendor on their big day. "We wanted the wedding to feel very fitting with the region—chic, effortless, enchanting, and classic, but still modern and with a touch of midsummer-night dreaminess to it," says Eva. With this vision in mind, the pair selected a site that reflected all the above: Provence's celebrated Château de Tourreau.

"As someone who is also an event designer, it was important to me to choose a location where the space was already part of the décor and would work with the overall theme and aesthetic," says Eva, "and this château was absolutely that. We also wanted a place that felt truly special and spacious, but offered an intimate, private atmosphere." The breathtaking grounds and beautiful layout of the estate were among the couple's favorite aspects, offering a scenic backdrop for an outdoor wedding. A sense of warmth was infused through thoughtful lighting design. "Lighting really was important, because we wanted the reception to be under a canopy of fairy lights and greenery while remaining elegant," explains Eva. A chandelier elevated the scene even more, while a neon sign added a modern touch.

Planning an international wedding is always a challenge, but planning during a pandemic "is really next level," admits the bride. The original date of September 12, 2020, was pushed to June 2021—but with restrictions and concerns changing daily, the couple moved it again to August. Luckily, they'd had the forethought to tap event company White Eden Weddings despite the bride's professional level of experience. "The wedding was all possible and exactly as we wanted it to be and more because of the amazing team we had to bring it all together," Eva shares. "As a bride or groom, it's your day and you should be mentally present every moment of it because it will go by quickly. Having a team of people that you trust will make all the difference and allow you to enjoy your day, which is really what it's all about."

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Paper Trail

vine illustration covered wedding invitation suite — Julia Kaptelova

Eva and Loïc's exquisite save-the-dates by Silent Word Studio featured a bespoke crest that was threaded throughout the wedding. Their change-the-dates pulled the lovely vines from the crest and matched the ink color and paper of the original stationery suite.

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Going to the Chapel

bride and groom standing on doorway stairs — Julia Kaptelova

The quaint house of worship on the grounds of Château de Tourreau housed an intimate vow exchange the pair took part in one day before the grand outdoor event. Eva accented her chic, two-piece ensemble for the chapel with a matching white headband, floral earrings, and a designer clutch. Loïc skipped a tie in favor of an open collar; his classic blue suit made a subtle statement.

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Practice Makes Perfect

Château de Tourreau rehearsal dinner — Julia Kaptelova

The stunning grounds of the property also served as the site of the rehearsal dinner. The front of the château and the natural beauty of the estate made gorgeous backdrops for two rows of tables that accommodated guests.

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Sweet Details

wooden rehearsal dinner table with fruit filled basket — Julia Kaptelova

Baskets of fresh fruit dressed up the tabletops; they were placed alongside floral arrangements paired with potted plants with berries.

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Beautifully Bare

long wooden tables with matching chairs rehearsal dinner — Julia Kaptelova

Uncovered wood furnishings gave the scene a rustic-elegant vibe.

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Dress to Impress

bride holding floral bouquet wearing a-line wedding dress — Julia Kaptelova

Eva's strapless Monique Lhuillier wedding dress featured a statement pattern of flowers and leaves; the embroidery boasted just a touch of shine. "It matched the event's design and venue perfectly and I felt beautiful in it," she says of her choice. Her asymmetric bouquet—created by Miss Rose by Perrine—featured a lovely combination of all the floral varieties used throughout the wedding, from softly colored garden roses to neutral dahlias, carnations, and lisianthus blossoms.

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Handsome Men

groom with nine groomsmen in classic black suits and bowties — Julia Kaptelova

Loïc, center, added the final touches to his timeless Hugo Boss tuxedo, accessorizing the navy ensemble with a family crest ring and his grandfather's cuff links.

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Pink 'Maids

bridesmaids holding blush toned floral bouquets — Julia Kaptelova

Bridesmaids, dressed in light pink Amsale gowns, held bouquets similar to the bride's.

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Florals Everywhere

wedding ceremony floral decor — Julia Kaptelova

A backdrop of flowers in shades of white, cream, dusty pink, and caramel marked the altar area for the ceremony and contributed to the enchanting aesthetic.

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Grand Standing

large garden event space outdoor wedding ceremony space — Julia Kaptelova

The aisle border echoed the altar's design with an organic feel and coordinating blooms, while a white carpet running from the steps of the château to the podium smoothed the way for Eva's walk down the aisle.

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A Real First

bride and groom kiss outside during first look — Julia Kaptelova

Excited and nervous—but mostly excited—the bride and groom met on the balcony off the primary suite for their first look. "I wanted him to see this dress for so long that I couldn't believe it was finally happening," remembers Eva. "When he turned around, he was speechless and just kept saying how incredible I looked. I felt lucky and grateful to be with a man who loves me and tells me I'm beautiful just as much when I'm in sweats as he does when I'm dressed up."

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Son Shine

bride and groom son sitting in vintage care — Julia Kaptelova

The couple's toddler eschewed his tiny tuxedo jacket but kept his Vans footwear on to pose with his parents.

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Aisle Excitement

bride smiling walking down processional with father — Julia Kaptelova

Eva surprised herself by becoming emotional at the start of the ceremony. "I can truly say that as soon as I saw my dad waiting to walk me down the aisle and Loïc standing there with a big smile on his face, I was overcome with emotion and joy," she shares. "That moment alone made all the time we had waited, rebooking with COVID, worth every minute of it."

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A Sincere Service

aerial view of Château de Tourreau — Julia Kaptelova

The pair exchanged promises they composed themselves at a ceremony that put the concept of love front and center. "It was the first time all of our close friends and family would be together at once, and the first time they would get to see us (the two of us with our son) as a family," Eva explains. "For this reason, we had a close friend officiate the wedding and wrote personal vows."

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Sealed with a Kiss

bride and groom kissing in front of floral decor — Julia Kaptelova

The bride and groom lingered at the altar post-ceremony for an extra-long embrace.

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In the Drink

white outdoor wedding bar with large floral decor — Julia Kaptelova

Rosé and Champagne—perfect options for a wedding in Provence—were among the offerings at the bespoke bar. White and red wines, a selection of beers, vodka, and tequila rounded out the offerings.

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Find Your Seat

escort cards on wooden display table outside — Julia Kaptelova

Escort cards were placed on a romantic table decorated with florals below and on top.

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Lovely Lounges

outdoor cream colored wedding lounge — Julia Kaptelova

Chic seating areas were set up so guests could gather while sipping their drinks.

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All Together

white and cream themed reception set up — Julia Kaptelova

The grounds where the reception took place were vast, so a wooden structure was erected with the goal of framing the dinner area. The structure supported a ceiling of fairy lights and a central chandelier, the combination of which provided a cozy atmosphere.

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Turned-Out Tables

round linen draped reception tables — Julia Kaptelova

Reception tables alternated between round and rectangular, the former swathed in textured linens embroidered with flowers and the latter in velvet. Pretty floral centerpieces and taper candles added hints of caramel hues.

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Perfectly in Place

white and cream colored place settings — Julia Kaptelova

Place settings included linen napkins embroidered with the couple's crest, flatware tipped with mother of pearl, and gold-rimmed crystal stemware.

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Timeless Style

three tiered white frosted wedding cake with floral accents — Julia Kaptelova

Made in Cake cloaked layers of carrot cake with white buttercream and topped off the confection with fresh flowers.

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Outfit Change

bride and groom second look reception venue — Julia Kaptelova

For the latter half of the evening, Eva changed into a white slip dress with an open back by A La Robe, which she sourced at SPINA Bride in New York City.

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First Dance

The pair chose Kina Grannis' cover of "Can't Help Falling in Love" for their first spin. "It's a song we love, but also have felt is very true to our love story," says Eva. "We knew within a couple weeks, maybe sooner, of meeting that we wanted to marry one another and some people thought we were crazy. But then, as soon as they saw us together, they understood. It was meant to be."

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