Sophia + Alexandre by Sam & Larissa

The ceremony took place beneath a centuries-old oak tree on the lawn at the Château.

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

SB: Alex and I live in Los Angeles, California, in the Silverlake neighbourhood, which we love dearly. I have worked in fashion since 2017, and am currently the Brand Manager at Clare V. (the LA-based, French-inspired fashion brand founded in 2008 by my aunt Clare Vivier). Alex is Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Joon Pistachios, a California-based CPG brand bringing a 300-year-old Iranian family recipe to the US. We have many shared loves, including listening to live music, cooking and sharing great food (and French wine), fashion and mid-century modern design, and exploring our favourite cities.

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

SB: We first met in NYC in July of 2019 at the Trader Joe’s in the Lower East Side, as Alexandre says: “right by the cucumbers. I’d been in the city for two years and was with my best friend, who’d gone to college with Alex. Before Alex asked me out, we became friends from seeing each other out and about (Alex, a native New Yorker, seemed to know everyone and had stories about every inch of the city – which impressed me as a transplanted Midwesterner!) Our first date, almost exactly two years later, was at Le French Diner on Orchard Street.

AB: In my mind, our love story started earlier than it did for Sophia. I genuinely fell in love with her at first sight at Trader Joe’s with our mutual friend. I don’t remember meeting too many people in my life with such specificity the first time. From the moment we shared our first kiss to the moment I proposed, our story has continued to grow in ways that have been unimaginable and incredibly gratifying.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

SB: The vision behind our wedding began when we decided that we would host our wedding abroad and found the beautiful venue that is Château de la Huberdière—a restored castle in the heart of the Loire Valley—which served as the perfect backdrop to our French celebration. It was important to me that the wedding did not feel overdesigned, and that each detail was intentional and a reflection of Alex and me—classic yet with a distinct point of view. One of the most important things to Alex and I was making sure the dinner felt intimate and welcoming—which is why we decided to create one long table for all 150 guests to sit at underneath the tree-lined path. Between the candlelight and the monochromatic red florals undulating down the centre of the table, it was exactly as I had envisioned.

In addition to the red florals, we decorated with antique linens and candelabras to preserve the romantic charm. The reception took place inside the venue’s ancient greenhouse, where guests danced until the early hours of the morning.

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).

SB: I think that playing into the landscape and existing design of the venue is what made the visuals feel so impactful. The ceremony took place beneath a centuries-old oak tree on the lawn at the Château; our “aisle” was a beautiful stone staircase leading down to the grass. At the altar, pedestals of monochrome red florals of local blooms captured the season’s turn to fall, while our guests sat in a semi-circle around us. Choosing the right venue was so important in bringing this vision to life.

We also kept the table and bar set-up quite simple, with white linens and complimentary ivory signage, clear crystal glassware, silver cutlery and serving trays, so that the florals stood out. Each wine bottle was also custom-made with an “S & A” label (for Sophia & Alexandre) and matched perfectly with the red florals.

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

SB: After a decade of working in the fashion industry—including being involved in several NYFW shows—I felt confident we did not need to hire a wedding planner and could handle it ourselves, even while living thousands of miles away in LA. We were engaged for a year and a half, which helped, and I truly enjoyed researching vendors, gathering inspiration, and ensuring each creative detail had meaning and intention. I visited the venue only two times before our wedding week, but worked with local vendors who knew the area well. I also have family that lives in the area who served as our translators when we needed them!

We did, however, decide to hire a “month-of” wedding coordinator to ensure all the final details were fully executed. Maryne Olive Marchesi of Marchesi Weddings worked tirelessly in the weeks leading up to the wedding, ensuring I stepped out of the production role during the wedding week. If not for her (and Alex!) stepping up, their support allowed me to be present and enjoy every single moment.

My first piece of advice is to plan early and stay organised—whatever that means to you. I dedicated time each week to check items off my to-do list and created spreadsheets to keep track of each task. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions! There are so many incredible people who have gone through this before, and many are willing to help.

My second (and arguably more important) piece of advice is to remember that this is a celebration of you and your love—hold that close to your heart.

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

SB: All the vendors we chose were incredible. I felt completely heard during the planning process and was confident that each vendor would deliver. Patrick and Lodo from Château de la Huberdière [our venue] allowed us to dream big and took care of our entire family during our wedding weekend. Larissa, of Sam + Larissa [our photographer], was truly one of the reasons why we look back on the weekend so fondly. She captured so many incredible moments and has allowed us to revisit the emotional moments in such an epic way. I have already recommended them to friends having their weddings abroad!

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

SB: I always knew I wanted to incorporate as much vintage as possible into my wedding wardrobe. Working in the fashion industry is a gift because it introduces you to incredible designers and endless inspiration, but it can also bring a certain decision fatigue. Vintage sourcing, on the other hand, has always been second nature to me.

I’d heard wonderful things about Shop Gossamer, a vintage and bridal curator based in Atlanta, and decided to work with her. After months of searching, I found my dress: a silk, drop-waist gown with a pleated skirt and long train. Once it arrived, I brought it to a tailor in Los Angeles—and together we reimagined the skirt with soft, romantic gathers while perfecting the fit. The result, while simple and classic, truly felt made for me and exceeded anything I could have dreamed of.

I crafted the veil I’d envisioned for the dress myself from vintage deadstock lace and floral embroidered trim sourced from two of my favourite fabric shops—Mood in New York and Michael Levine in Los Angeles.

My purse was a custom Clare V. piece created as a gift by my aunt. A simple, chic frame bag made from smooth, milk-colored goat leather that Clare lined with fabric from her mother’s (my maternal grandmother’s) wedding dress — now my forever-cherished heirloom.

My shoes were Manolo Blahnik, a gift from Alex’s mom, Abbey, who spent 30 years as the shoe house’s beloved sales director in New York. It felt incredibly meaningful to carry a piece of her history with me as well on such a special day.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

SB: My engagement ring is an east-west bezel solitaire ring, designed and crafted by Los Angeles jewellery designer Grace Lee. Alexandre worked closely with Grace to dream up the design, all without me knowing ANYTHING. I was truly caught off guard during the engagement and couldn’t stop staring at it all night (or rather, since that day!).

I have two wedding bands, one simple gold band and the other an eternity ring, both made by Grace Lee, made up of baguette diamonds, gifted to me by Alexandre’s mother, Abbey.

Alex decided on a beautiful white gold band, also designed by Grace Lee.

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?).

SB: The first vendor after the venue that we decided on was our photographer. Many of my friends noted that this was the item to splurge on, and we wanted to ensure that we found someone whom we trusted and whose work we admired. We ended up deciding it was more than worth it, as they included both photography and videography into their services, and were incredible with communication and organisation on our wedding day and afterwards.

Additionally, we decided to prioritise the budget for our caterer. It was important to us to feature locally sourced fresh ingredients, which was easier to accomplish in France than it would have been in the US! Quentin from Cuisen’ Ensemble crafted a beautiful menu, and our guests were raving about the food for days. He also crafted a traditional French croquembouche—a towering cone of cream-filled choux pastry puffs—for dessert.

I put a lot of trust into the vendors I chose, and all of them delivered. I researched heavily, looked at reviews, and paid attention to the details, all of which paid off in the end.

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

SB: Our favourite moment by far was the ceremony. Alex walked the aisle with his mom to David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”; my mother and I followed to Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed”. My dad, a Minnesota state judge (and one of my favourite people on earth), officiated our ceremony through moments of laughter and tears. My brother read a poem by Pablo Neruda, and our friend Kurt read an excerpt from The Alchemist. Alex and I had written our own vows, and reading them to each other in front of 150 of our loved ones is a moment I will treasure forever, and I don’t think there was a dry eye in sight.

Thoughtfully, a friend had suggested giving out vintage handkerchiefs to use during the ceremony. We closed the ceremony with a tearful kiss as “There She Goes” by The La’s carried us out.

After so much anticipation, I could hardly believe the moment had finally arrived. Standing there with the person who brings me all the joy in the world, it felt like the best decision of my life and like the world was standing still.

We were overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who had travelled—from Los Angeles, New York, and Minnesota to across France and as far as Iran—to be there with us. Neither of us could stop smiling. Just after our vows, a soft rain began to fall, and we felt it was our loved ones in spirit, showering us with tears of joy.

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

SB: Being married means being able to share all moments of life together, the good and the bad. Very early on in our relationship, Alex’s father unexpectedly passed away, and a few months later, I had to deal with a serious medical emergency. When we look back on those moments of extreme hardship, what we remember most is that each one of us showed up for one another. It was then that we knew this was the person we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with. Since then, we have continued to prioritise our relationship, constant communication, and showing up for each other with absolute, unedited love. We are so grateful to have family in one another and make it a point to express that every single day.