Hera + Dali by Bernadeta Kupiec

Each gathering drew inspiration from a different facet of French culture and landscape.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

Dali and I are both creators in different forms, but at the heart of our lives is the shared belief that beauty, nourishment, and experience can be a form of devotion. I’m an interior designer and creative director, working across spaces, events, and storytelling—designing environments that feel immersive, emotional, and alive. Dali is a chef whose philosophy is deeply rooted in food as medicine. His background weaves together classical training, regenerative agriculture, and a reverence for ingredients that come directly from the earth.

Our relationship is really an intersection of these worlds. Where I think about atmosphere, ritual, and aesthetics, Dali thinks about flavour, nourishment, and the alchemy of food. Together we’re always dreaming up ways those elements can come together—whether that’s through intimate gatherings with friends, long dinners that stretch into the night, or future projects that combine design, hospitality, and regenerative land stewardship.

We’re both deeply curious people who love travel, nature, and the feeling of discovering a place that carries history and soul. Much of our life together has been shaped by following that curiosity—exploring new landscapes, learning from different cultures, and imagining how to create spaces where people feel both inspired and deeply at home.

Ultimately, what we love most is building a life that feels intentional. One where creativity, love, food, beauty, and community are all woven together.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

Dali and I met two and a half years ago through mutual friends at a festival in Las Vegas. Ironically, I almost didn’t go. I was deep in a work chapter in Tennessee and felt completely uninterested in travelling or partying—I had done a lot of that in previous years and was in a quieter season of life. After declining the invitation a few times, something unusual happened during a workout. I was running on the treadmill feeling unusually foggy when a clear inner knowing pushed me to go faster… and faster. At the height of the sprint, the heaviness suddenly lifted, and the next thing I heard internally was: You’re going to the festival in Vegas, you’re going to meet your husband.

Moments later, and still a little in shock, I walked out to my car. My friend who had invited me had left a voice note saying she had seen in her meditation that I was meant to be there—she had even rearranged sleeping spaces in her already full house so it was easier for me to join… It felt too aligned to ignore.

I arrived late, threw on a slightly wild festival outfit and on my way out of the house, I came across Dali in the kitchen while he was cooking. He looked like a beautiful enigma—long curls tied back, tattoos and piercings hinting at a wild spirit—yet there was an unmistakable softness in the way he moved. We caught each other’s eyes, and both paused for a moment, as if something unspoken had just passed between us.

Later, he told me he had dreamt about his future partner many times. When he saw me that night, the recognition came with a little shock. After seeing me in his dreams so many times, he couldn’t quite believe I was suddenly standing right in front of him.

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).

Rather than designing a single day, we approached the wedding as a multi-day celebration unfolding across the château and the surrounding countryside. Each gathering drew inspiration from a different facet of French culture and landscape, allowing the natural beauty of the place to guide the visual story.

We began with a relaxed welcome evening at the château, where long tables, candlelight, and flowing wine set the tone for the days ahead. The following afternoon, we hosted a Marie Antoinette–inspired garden fête in the rose garden beneath the cherry trees. Guests arrived in elaborate period-inspired costumes—powdered wigs, corsets, silk waistcoats, lace parasols, and ribbons—while a live quartet played Bridgerton-style hits. Vintage trinkets hidden throughout the garden revealed playful roles for a theatrical social game, adding a sense of scandal and intrigue to the afternoon.

Another day, we ventured onto the Dordogne River, kayaking through the valley and drifting past medieval villages along the way. Midway through the journey, we stopped along the riverbank where a long, leisurely lunch celebrating the culinary treasures of the region awaited us—boards of local cheeses, fresh baguettes, pâtés, seasonal fruits, and chilled rosé. A guitarist and violinist played softly beside the table while the river moved slowly past us, creating one of those simple yet unforgettable moments that felt quintessentially French.

The wedding itself moved gently through the grounds. The ceremony took place in the rose garden, where Dali and I walked toward one another and met in the centre of a circle of our friends. After exchanging vows, we continued into the chapel for a deeply somatic ritual. By sunset, guests gathered on the overlook, sipping wine with oysters and escargot as hot air balloons drifted across the valley, followed by dinner beneath the trees.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

Planning a multi-day wedding in another country certainly had its complexities, but it was also an incredibly creative and joyful process. As an experience designer, the part I loved most was imagining how each moment of the week would feel. My advice to couples beginning the journey is to start there—before colours, flowers, or décor, ask yourselves what you want to feel and what you want your guests to feel as the celebration unfolds.

For us, each gathering was shaped by a particular atmosphere. I wanted our garden party to feel like stepping through a portal into another era—playful, indulgent, and slightly theatrical—so that vision guided everything from the costumes to the music and menu. For the week as a whole, we imagined the feeling of a summer house in the French countryside where everyone we loved was living together under one roof, sharing long meals, laughter, and late nights.

Holding onto those feelings made every decision clearer. Even when searching for our venue, we let that vision guide us. France is a very popular wedding destination, and many of the well-known venues are booked years in advance, so I began exploring the Instagram pages of local planners and the places they worked with. That’s how we discovered our château—a privately owned family estate that allowed us to create a celebration that felt intimate, personal, and entirely our own.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

Without question, Jen from Our Fabulous Things and her extraordinary team were at the heart of the entire celebration. We often called her our fairy godmother, because so much of the magic of the week came through her hands. Jen designed the rentals, styling, and florals for nearly every moment—from our welcome evening and Marie Antoinette–inspired garden fête to the riverside lunch, ceremony, cocktail hour, and candlelit dinner beneath the trees.

What made working with Jen so special was the incredible collection she has curated over the years. She has gathered the most unique and romantic inventory—antique furnishings, bespoke pieces, and beautifully collected details that feel truly one of a kind. But she didn’t simply rent these pieces to us; she thoughtfully arranged and styled each space herself, transforming every setting into something layered, immersive, and entirely personal. Many vendors we encountered felt somewhat cookie-cutter, but Jen’s approach created a celebration that felt deeply customised. And somehow, alongside this extraordinary styling collection, she also runs an even more beautiful floral studio, which meant the flowers felt just as artful and intentional as the objects surrounding them.

Our photographer, Bernadeta, and videographer, Alfie, were equally important to us. Bernadeta’s style is romantic, artful, and deeply candid—her photographs capture the emotion of a moment rather than forcing it. Alfie brought that same sensitivity to film, creating daily cinematic edits that genuinely felt like watching a beautiful short film of the day. The most remarkable part is that Bernadeta and Alfie had never met before the wedding, yet they worked together so seamlessly that many guests assumed they were an established team we had hired together. Now that the celebration is over, their work is what allows us to revisit the magic—and we know those memories will only become more precious with time.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

My main dress was by Kim Kassas, and one of the things I loved most about it was how versatile it became once we customised it. Instead of having multiple separate dresses, I designed it to transform throughout the day—almost like four dresses in one.

At its core, the piece began as a structured mini-dress, which was then layered with a removable lace overlay and a corset bodice, along with a dramatic overskirt and train. For the ceremony, I wore the full look: the corseted silhouette with the sweeping overskirt and a cathedral veil, which created that classic, romantic aisle moment in the rose garden.

As the celebration moved into the evening, the dress slowly transformed. The overskirt came off first, revealing a more fitted lace silhouette for cocktail hour and dinner. Later, I removed the lace overlay to reveal the mini-dress beneath, which felt perfect for dancing and the more playful moments of the night. Eventually, even the corset came off, leaving the simplest version of the dress for the late-night festivities.

I loved that the dress evolved with the energy of the celebration—it allowed the look to feel both dramatic and effortless at different moments of the day.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

My engagement ring is a vintage piece from the 1950s that we sourced through EraGem. I’ve always loved antique jewellery, so finding something with history already woven into it felt incredibly meaningful. The stone is just over four carats and has a bold, sculptural presence that feels almost Art Deco in spirit—striking, timeless, and full of character.

I love imagining the life the ring had before it found its way to us. There’s something romantic about wearing a piece that has already lived through another era and now continues its story with ours. I also appreciated the idea that, by choosing a vintage diamond, we weren’t contributing to the modern diamond supply chain. In a way, it felt similar to collecting antique pieces or vintage furs—you’re honouring something that already exists rather than creating new demand.

We actually chose not to exchange wedding bands during the celebration in France. Instead, we’re saving that moment for a future private ceremony with our families. It felt meaningful to leave space for another intimate chapter in the story of our marriage.

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 château itself was probably the most important decision we made. Having the entire property for the week created the foundation for everything else—it allowed all forty of our friends to live together under one roof, share meals, explore the grounds, and truly settle into the rhythm of the celebration. Without that sense of place and time together, the experience wouldn’t have carried the same magic.

Beyond the venue, we were very intentional about choosing vendors whose work we deeply loved. Each of them represented the very best within their craft, and we felt strongly about investing in people who could bring artistry and care to every moment of the week.

At the same time, we found creative ways to make parts of the celebration more personal. For the welcome night, my husband taught a cooking class for the men that became the meal we all shared that evening, while I taught a floral arranging class for our guests. With the help of our stylist, Jen from Our Fabulous Things, we were able to order wholesale flowers—something that typically requires a professional vendor in France—and together everyone created the arrangements that filled the tables that night. It turned the welcome dinner into something interactive, joyful, and deeply communal.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

One of my favourite moments happened during our Marie Antoinette–inspired garden day. We had created a playful social deduction game set in the era of the French Revolution, where several guests were secretly “revolutionaries” trying to overthrow the queen, and everyone else had to debate, defend themselves, and figure out who among them was plotting the rebellion. Watching the entire group fully commit to the roles—standing up to passionately defend themselves, accuse their friends, and unravel the mystery—was incredibly entertaining. It was the first full day we were all together, and it immediately set the tone for the week: playful, immersive, and deeply present. No phones, no distractions—just forty people laughing, scheming, and completely in the moment together.

The other moment I will treasure forever happened on the final night. After dinner, my husband quietly gathered the candles and flowers from the wedding and arranged them inside the chapel. Without me knowing, he surprised everyone by serenading me with a slow, beautiful rendition of Wonderwall—a song he first sang to me during karaoke on one of our earliest dates. I later learned he had been secretly practising for weeks with the help of a few close friends, who even gave him a bit of vocal coaching so he could get it just right. It was completely unexpected, deeply romantic, and the most perfect way to close the week.

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?

For us, marriage feels less like a single moment and more like a conscious decision to keep walking a path together. It’s a commitment to grow, evolve, and support one another through every season of life. We both believe deeply that a relationship is something living—something you nurture with presence, curiosity, and devotion.

One of the beautiful things about our relationship is how many of the same things bring us joy. We love the simple rituals of everyday life—taking long baths together, practising yoga, cooking meals, or even something playful like going bowling. At the same time, we are both drawn to experiences that challenge us and expand who we are. From sitting Vipassana meditation retreats to diving into creative projects that stretch us to the edge of our capacity, we’re always encouraging one another to grow.

In many ways, those shared experiences have become our rituals. Whether it’s lighting candles for a quiet evening at home or embarking on something that asks more of us spiritually or creatively, it’s all part of the same intention—to keep evolving side by side and continually choosing one another along the way.