There’s something so romantic about saying your vows in Paris. The city of love has witnessed thousands of proposals & weddings against the backdrop of Eiffel Tower. Ioana and Andrei’s Parisian story is one of them.
The wedding weekend embodied who they really are as a couple. Every element held special meaning- from Friday night’s venue to the bride’s hand-embroidered gown. The couple chose a destination civil wedding in order to celebrate the magical year they spent together in Paris a few years back.
How They Met & The Proposal
Ioana was studying to become a Pastry Chef and Andrei worked in diplomacy. They fell in love with the city of lights and more so with each other. Andrei’s proposal took place in 2019, in a horse-drawn carriage in the midst of Central Park. The New York City proposal inspired the theme for their engagement party, held in an abandoned warehouse dressed in projections of the city’s skyline. Thus, celebrating their union in the French capital that helped them write their love story was a decision that came about with ease, and the beautifully planned event was filled with the couple’s personal touches.
The Civil Ceremony & Bride’s Meaningful Dress
The event brought together the couple’s intimate circle, with friends flying in from all over the world just to witness their love. The Civil Ceremony took place in the Mairie de 7eme, Paris, and included a champagne-and-canape surprise for the guests. The bride wore a baby blue gown, hand-embroidered with the elements that tell the story of their love. The front of the dress displayed an embroidery of their first photo in Paris, while the back spelled out the essence of their relationship, “J’entends ta voix dans tous les bruits du monde” (I hear your voice amidst all of the noise in this world). The entire wedding party left city hall in 2CVs and vintage sidecars. Even though it started raining, guests refused to take notice of their soaked shoes and messy dresses. The drive around the city was magical and culminated in a breathtaking rainbow from the top of the Eiffel Tower to the Champ de Mars.
The Dinners
Friday night’s dinner was held at the couple’s neighborhood joint – a quintessential French restaurant that cooks everything in farm-sourced yellow butter. The food was delicious, the wine impeccable and Cedric Grolet’s Tarte Framboise XXL crowned the gastronomic event a success.
Saturday’s event was held at Hotel Le Marois, a beautiful venue in the 8th Arrondissement of Paris. The chandelier adorned ceilings reflected beautifully in the white and gold decor of the room. Together with MOF Gilles Pothier, wedding planner Heather Jerue of Rendez-Vous in Paris constructed a dream-like event space that could be described in three simple words: classic, sumptuous and decadent. The wedding cake, a salted caramel Croquembouche by famous French patisserie Angelina, sat on a flower-dressed gheridon and acted as a centerpiece for the venue’s decor. Guestboxes were also provided by Angelina and entailed a mixture of Ioana’s favorite desserts!
The Dance
The evening’s dancing began with the help of Manko Loko Paris’ head mixologist, preparing delicious drinks in an assortment of crystal glasses. The event’s DJ got everybody on their feet in preparation for the arrival of the fun live band!
The Collaboration
The weekend was the highlight of Romania’s wedding season, inspiring new couples to look into destination weddings in the future. The local interest in Ioana and Andrei’s wedding also inspired a beautiful collaboration between Rendez-Vous in Paris and the bride, looking to launch a luxury destination wedding company in Romania in early 2022. We look forward to seeing some amazing weddings coming up this year!
Vendors:
Event Planning + Design: Rendez-vous in Paris
Florals: Gilles Pothier Fleuriste
Locations: Hôtel Le Marois
Videography: Lana Laralus – Video in Paris
Cakes: Angelina’s Paris
