We pulled a lot of inspiration from the natural, quiet beauty of the venue
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
We are Gillian and Alvah, 2025 newlyweds living in Washington, D.C., US. We are lovers of long walks around the city with our dog, quiet morning coffees, and a drink in the sunshine with our dearest friends. We are the perfect balance to one another, with Alvah providing a brightness and a sense of adventure, and Gillian providing a grounding presence and a wry sense of humour.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
Our love story begins with a tale as old as time, matching on a dating app. We met on Hinge in October 2020, just as COVID was starting to surge again in the United States. Because of the restrictions, we had our first date on the rooftop of Alvah’s apartment building. My first impression of Alvah was “thank goodness he didn’t lie about his height on the app”. My first impression of Gill was “that can’t be the girl that’s here to meet me, she’s too gorgeous to be here for me”. Once we got past the initial butterflies of our first encounter, we spent the rest of the evening learning everything we possibly could about one another, both clearly smitten. At the end of that date, we both knew that this was going to be something really special.
What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).
We pulled a lot of inspiration from the natural, quiet beauty of the venue, and lucky for us, the venue provided endless inspiration to pull from. We didn’t want any of the decor to detract from all of the unique details of the chateau or the vast beauty of the sea. Much of our decor and florals were in harmony with the colour palette of the venue, bright whites, soft blues and greens. Other decor took inspiration from the traditional French Riviera style of the chateau, the ornamental moulding on the terraces, the large windows, and the bright and airy feel. We felt that a natural, minimal frills, and understated, elegant atmosphere was most representative of who we are as a couple.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
We really enjoyed having the opportunity to craft an event that was entirely, authentically ours. It was fun pulling inspiration from pinterest and other social media sites and finding ways to incorporate those in a way that was 100% “us”. For couples beginning their wedding planning, I would say utilise social media as much as you can! We had far better results finding vendors and inspiration that matched our vibes when searching on Instagram, rather than just googling. Also, prioritise creating an event that feels 100% true to you, rather than a wedding based solely on trends or others’ opinions. The most beautiful weddings are the ones where the couple’s personality and love for each other shine through. Do what feels authentic to you; it’s your wedding!
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mentions of?
Each one of our vendors went above and beyond to make our day absolutely perfect. We wanted to prioritize small business owners and we are SO glad we did. Every vendor cared deeply about our wedding and was so attentive to our desires.
Our food and cake were delectable, the drinks were unique and refreshing, the bridal hair and makeup were exquisite, our flowers and decor provided the most perfect special details, and our photos are a breathtaking reminder of all the love and care that went into our wedding. None of this, however, would have been possible without our wedding coordinator, Hélène Boissay from Sparkling Days wedding planning. We hired Hélène for just “day of” coordination, but she went far above our expectations; assisting with planning, vendor communication and translation, and making sure every detail was in place so that we did not have to worry about a single thing on our wedding day.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
Gillian: I had quite a journey finding my wedding dress. I went to over 12 appointments and tried over 80 dresses! I am quite particular and couldn’t seem to find something that felt just right. After trying nearly every dress in a 50-mile radius, I came across the Antigoni dress by Jessica Couture. The dress was perfect; it had everything I envisioned in my dream dress. However, it was not available at any of the bridal boutiques near me. I reached out to the team at Jessica Couture, who expedited the shipping of a sample dress to Bridal Beginnings in Pittsburgh, PA, about 4 hours away from me. I made the drive up, tried on that single dress, and knew it was the one. Had Jessica Couture not been so responsive and quick with their customer service, I don’t know that I would have been able to purchase the dress in time. I am endlessly grateful to both the brand and the bridal boutique for making everything possible!
Alvah: My vision for the outfit was to combine a sharp look with the light and easy world of the French Rivera. The contrast of the olive green suit with our other wedding colours and the blue sea in the background was perfect. I combined this suit with a white shirt and brown shoes to give a summer-like feel blended with timeless elegance.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
Gillian’s engagement ring is from Frank Darling and was custom-designed with both Gillian’s and Alvah’s input. The ring is a radiant cut diamond on a split shank band. Something modern and timeless, but with some unique elements. Gillian’s wedding band is a 2mm gold band. Alvah’s wedding band is the Bevel Edge Band, also purchased from Frank Darling.
What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).
The most important element to us was our venue. We came across Château De Mar Vivo in our venue search and instantly fell in love. We wanted to prioritise a venue whose natural beauty would speak for itself. The château is so stunning, and the nature surrounding it provided a backdrop that didn’t need much pomp and circumstance. The Mediterranean Sea in the backyard was the biggest selling point, providing a serene and picturesque atmosphere.
The second most important element, unsurprisingly, was the photographer. Gillian searched the internet, social media, pinterest, and any other medium available to find Laurine. Her photos immediately spoke to us in a multitude of ways. It was clear her art blended the couple’s personalities with a documentary and editorial style that was exactly the scene we were looking to create. Her day of presence was a joy, with her incorporating so many fun and spontaneous ideas that made both of us feel like true models. The elation, warmth, and emotion is evident in every one of the photos taken. She is a true artist, and we are so fortunate to have had her present on our wedding day.
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
The moment we treasure most is dinner with our guests. Both of us value our friends and family above all else, so having the opportunity to spend quality time with all of our guests was a main priority of ours. We wanted nothing more than for our loved ones to feel like the celebration was not just for us, but for everyone who had brought so much love and joy to our lives. All of our guests seated at one table, laughing and joking with us and with one another, was music to our ears. We gave speeches, recounted stories about one another, and laughed until we cried. We are the most fortunate people in the world to have such incredible, thoughtful, and hilarious friends and family who love us so dearly.
Our second favourite moment was a quieter, more tender moment at the end of the night. After our guests had departed, giddy on love and champagne, and still in our suits and dresses, we sat by the pool overlooking the sea and ate leftover wedding cake. We reminisced on the day’s events, expressed our desires for our future, and relished in the knowledge that we get to spend the rest of our lives with one another. Basking in the still of the night with nothing but the sounds of the crashing waves and our own voices was the most romantic way to end the best day of our lives.
What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?
Many people say marriage is difficult. To us, marriage is as easy as breathing. Life can be difficult, but your love and your marriage should give you the strength to keep going. We are each other’s priority above all else. We live by the rule that we will always give 100% in our marriage, though the split may not always be even. Sometimes it may be 50/50, other times one of us will be experiencing a hard time and only has 20% to give. The other will give 80% to ensure that we are always whole. Having each other’s unwavering love and support allows us to be our best selves not only in our marriage, but in every other aspect of our lives. As long as we are committed to our health, happiness, and well-being, everything else is an added bonus.
LOCATION Château de Mar Vivo, La Seyne sur Mer, French Riviera, France, @chateau_de_mar_vivo BRIDE Gillian, @gilltrommer GROOM Alvah PHOTOGRAPHER Laurine Bailly, @laurineblly COORDINATOR Sparkling Days, @sparklingdays_event FLORIST Maison Velvet Fleurs, @maison_velvet_fleurs PRIVATE CHEF LeFoodista, @lefoodista COCKTAIL Mountain Mixology Co., @mountainmixologyco HAIR & MAKEUP Mandy Dorian, @mandydorian.beauty CONTENT CREATOR La Fairy Creative, @lafairycreative HIRE Furniture – Jolibazaar, @jolibazaar BRIDE’S WEDDING DRESS Jessica Couture, @jessicacouture.akl BRIDE’S CEREMONY SHOES Allue satin slingback – Anne Barge, @annebarge BRIDE’S PARTY DRESS Emma Dress – Rosie Etienne, @rosieetiennebridal BRIDE’S PARTY SHOES Pandora Heels – Dolce Vita, @dolcevita BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Gorjana, @gorjana BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Valaya – Parfums De Marly, @parfumsdemarly GROOM’S SUIT Olive Custom Suit – Indochino, @indochino GROOM’S SHOES Johnston & Murphy, @johnstonmurphy GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Eau Fraiche – Versace, @versace GROOM’S ACCESSORIES PRX Watch – Tissot, @tissot_official; Italian Silver Cuban Chain – Van Xander, @vanxander; Silver ID – Family heirloom bracelet passed down 5 generations of Alvah W. Bickner BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES Anais Gown – Azazie, @azaziebridal; Lorelie Halter Gown – AMUR, @amurofficial; Rent The Runway, @renttherunway; Giselle Gown – Abercrombie, @abercrombie
