Every wedding vendor team is created a little differently. In this series we explore how and why each couple selected the right wedding vendor team for their wedding day.
When Canadian-based Duc was offered a position in the United States and Sorhaya had to stay behind, he proposed before he departed, and promised to return in two years when they would get married. She knew some people would have thought that getting engaged right before your significant other moved to another country was risky, but they both knew their relationship was strong enough to endure the long distance. And they were right.
A few weeks after their May 2018 engagement, she started wedding planning. Always wanting to get married in the South of France–and with much of Duc’s Belgian family living in Paris—it was not only a dreamy location but a purposeful one.
To capitalize on the magic of that region of France, the search was on for a venue with lush but immaculate Provençal gardens and breathtaking views of the French Riviera. Because of the pandemic, the couple couldn’t visit venues themselves, but thankfully Duc’s sister (who lives in Paris) was able to check out the options on their behalf. They chose the Château Saint-Martin & Spa for their pre-wedding brunch because of its beautiful grounds, and Château Saint Georges for the big day, because of its jaw-dropping views of the city of Grasse and its picturesque surroundings. That it felt like a mini Versailles was an added bonus.
With the venue secured, Sorhaya and Duc then reached out to a France-based planning team, Lifevents. Initially planning for a July 2020 wedding, it was time to start building their wedding vendor team, and having a knowledgeable professional with feet on the ground and a finger on the pulse of what was happening as the pandemic began (and continued) was imperative. Lifevents began proposing vendors who suited the couple’s style and needs, and handled all of the shifts that came with postponing to August 2021—the rescheduled wedding date once guests could be vaccinated and gather more safely.
Food was an important aspect of the wedding for Duc, who was in search of a caterer who not only served great food, but a varied menu (which included sliders and pasta cooked in a Parmesan wheel). The château recommended several caterers, and Virginie Rona and Anais Carlino from Lifevents guided them in making a choice. After a tasting with De Bouche en Bouche, Sorhaya and Duc knew that they were the one. Very soon after that they selected Made in Cake, a baker/designer based in Provence known for more American-style wedding cakes. Flair Evolution rounded out the food and beverage team–serving drinks that looked as good as they tasted and tasted as good as they looked, and of course, Champagne.
“Duc was indeed more involved with anything related to food. He likes the whole family gathering experience when he eats and wanted to recreate that at the wedding. He wanted to make sure that the quantity and quality of the food were up to his standards—which were happily met when we went to (and almost fell into a food coma at) our tasting. The bar was really important for me. We had a mojito bar for the cocktail hour and signature drinks for the after party.” —Sorhaya, bride
Flowers played a big part in the design of the day, as the bride and groom wanted an elegant and refined aesthetic, with a lot of florals. Sorhaya came across Emily Alarcon’s site, and after reviewing her portfolio and Instagram account, reached out and quickly discovered that Emily understood her entire vision perfectly. The full design of a classic and timeless affair in a palette that echoed the colors of the chateau took form. As the other visual elements were discussed, skilled vendors who could execute them were hired: Rental pieces were selected from Maison Options and Vaisselle Vintage, and Une Pincée de Provence got to work on the welcome baskets (which celebrated the local flavors and fragrances).
Creme de Papier designed the custom stationery suite using handmade paper and a crest that was gold- foiled on the top of the invitation. The stationery included a watercolor of the chateau and another of a symbolic map showing where the guests came from and where the ceremony would transpire (the Temple of Love at the Château Saint Georges). On the map, an outline of North America with a maple leaf on one side symbolized Canada (where the bride comes from), and on the other side an outline of Europe with a beer represented the groom’s Belgian heritage.
At the same time, the couple considered photographers. Sorhaya was looking at weddings online and came across the work of Anya Kernes Photography. Loving her aesthetic, she reached out.
“When Anya and I had our first phone call we had a connection immediately. It was like I knew her! Picking her was the obvious choice for me. The personality of your photographer is super important. Anya was a joy to be around, and even my husband who is impatient and hates taking pictures had fun with her and was grateful she was our photographer.” —Sorhaya, bride
A natural next move after selecting a photographer, was to decide on a wedding videographer. The bride and groom wanted all of their guests and every aspect of the celebration documented. Airsnap proposed a team of three videographers and a drone, and that was that.
A DJ who would adapt his playlist to suit the crowd and keep the party going was a must. Mix and Light did just that, even playing Kompa and zouk music—dance hall genres associated with Haiti, where Soryaha’s parents are from.
Sorhaya found Harold James on Instagram, and flew him in from Paris to do her hair and makeup (and the makeup of her bridesmaids). She also liked the work of Julien Matha Coiffeur, who styled her bridal party’s hair.
“My hair and makeup team made me look and feel like a total celebrity! I have curly/coily hair and a darker complexion. I knew finding a hair and makeup artist was not going to be easy in the South of France, especially a hair stylist. Very few stylists in the area knew how to do Black hair and the majority of stylists that are able to do it are in Paris. I loved Harold and his team’s attention to detail and how patient they are. They also stayed with me until the end of the ceremony and did a touch-up—something I highly recommend for any bride.” –Sorhaya, bride
