Tiana + Andrews by Meggy Mac Photography

The venue brought that grand Parisian vibe we wanted.

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

Tiana – I am an English teacher. Outside of that, I like to paint and eat really good food. We are always checking out new restaurants. Travelling is really important to me and something that we took pretty seriously after graduating from university. We’ve been to almost every continent, but Australia and Antarctica are a lot harder to get to, so we haven’t checked them off the list yet. Each place we’ve visited has stayed with me in some way, but Iceland and Portugal hold special places in my heart.

Andrews – I work as a project manager in tech. As for hobbies, I enjoy gaming, biking, and exploring the local food scene with Tiana. Our favourite date night activity is trying out new restaurants and pretending to be serious food critics. We have a lot of fun taking the menu way too seriously, just between the two of us; the Michelin Guide should hire us.

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

Tiana – We met at university in the stairwell of our dorm when Andrews was bringing a ping pong table up to the lounge, and I was sitting there on the phone. He asked me to move out of the way, and I left, not really thinking anything of it. A few months later, we became friends, and a year later, we got together. I think Nietzsche said that marriage is a long conversation, so you have to find someone that you could talk to for a very, very long time, and I think that’s why we work. We can talk about anything and everything, even the ridiculous stuff, just for the fun of it. And somehow, all these years later, the conversation still hasn’t gotten old.

Andrews – Tiana and I first met freshman year of college while I was moving a ping pong table into our dorm’s community space. My friend and I had convinced the university to pay for it, but they didn’t hire movers. So late at night, we were hauling this table up the stairs, and Tiana was blocking the way, busy chatting on the phone. I just told her to move. A month later, we ended up in the same friend group. We found ourselves constantly talking and spending time together, mostly because we both loved having deep philosophical discussions about pretty much everything. After getting to know each other on that level, we started dating and have been together ever since.

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).

Tiana – The florals were amazing. We used Le Fancy Deco, and they did an amazing job. I planned everything from the US, so when I finally got to the venue in the morning, the florist told me I was the first bride she had met before the day of. It was easy, though. I saw the team’s work and knew they could do whatever I wanted, so I sent over a mood board, and she executed it. Other than that, the venue did so much of the heavy lifting. The exterior and interior were exactly the vibe we were going for, and it was close enough to Paris that it was easy for guests to get there. The weather also happened to cooperate with us. At the beginning of the week, every weather app told us that our wedding day would be the only day that week with rain, and every other day that week was so hot in Paris. I figured it would rain, or it would be scorching, but I couldn’t accept it, so I told my husband that we were having the ceremony outside because there was no way it’s gonna rain. It wasn’t until nighttime that everyone had started leaving, but the threat of rain had cooled the heat down. It was more perfect than I could have imagined.

Andrews – The venue and the florals worked together in perfect harmony. The venue brought that grand Parisian vibe we wanted, while the florals were what truly made it feel like a wedding. It was the combination of those two elements that really defined the look.

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

Tiana – Creating the invitations was so fun, and all the stuff that goes with dress shopping. Finding vendors and vetting them is probably the most stressful part. For couples starting their planning, decide how much stress you actually want to take on because that will determine whether you hire a planner or not. If you don’t, book the big stuff first: Venue, caterer, florist, etc. Good vendors have a full schedule, so get in there early.

Andrews – My favourite part was definitely sending out the invitations. Tiana designed them herself, and I think she did a phenomenal job.

As for advice, give yourselves ample time to figure out the big pillars like location, time of year, style, and budget. It took us a full year of planning, but it easily could have taken longer. My biggest tip is to stay consistent. Don’t lose steam just because you booked the venue or sent the invites. Try to dedicate each month to securing a new vendor or taking the next step. You want to make sure you have enough buffer to pivot if something unexpected pops up.

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

Tiana – We hired a caterer, florists, bartenders, a photographer, an officiant, and furniture rentals. Our florist, Le Fancy Deco, did an amazing job. I cannot give enough props to that team. Our photographer, Megan McEachern, did a great job; we were so happy with the photos! All of our vendors are located in France, except Megan, but she is in Europe!

Andrews – The standout vendor for me was definitely our florist, Le Fancy Deco. I was at the chateau early in the morning and got to watch them set up. The efficiency and professionalism with which they operated were truly incredible to witness. They took every single detail into consideration, and the final result was more beautiful than we ever imagined possible.

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

Tiana – My dress was the second dress I tried on, and I went to like five appointments. When I put it on, I couldn’t stop smiling. I sat down in it, I walked in it, I twirled. I didn’t want to take it off, and even though I tried on a lot of nice dresses, I compared them all to that second dress. It just felt right.

Andrews – Funny story, I have a very hard time making decisions unless I know everything there is to know about the subject. So I spent months researching the right attire for the venue, learning about fabrics, debating patent leather versus natural leather for the shoes, and the list goes on. Eventually, with just six weeks to spare, I found an excellent tailor in New York City. Since I was raised there, I wanted a piece of the city with me on the wedding day.

The tuxedo was custom and wasn’t ready until the very day of our flight, which turned into total chaos. Our driver cancelled, our train was delayed, and I had to scramble to get a friend to pick it up before the shop closed. Once I finally got into the city, I jumped on a rental bike to meet him before rushing to catch our flight. Somehow, despite all the delays and the stress, it fit like a glove, and I couldn’t be happier.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Andrews – Years ago, I began looking at rings with Tiana to get a sense of her taste. We naturally gravitated toward whimsical, nature-inspired designs. I eventually discovered Ken & Dana Design, a jeweller who specialises in that exact aesthetic. They helped me create a custom piece using a diamond I provided, and it turned out beautiful.

I planned a trip to Japan, a country Tiana had always dreamed of visiting. On a perfect, cloud-free spring day, I proposed by the shore of Lake Kawaguchi overlooking Mt. Fuji. For our wedding bands, Tiana’s is another piece from the same jeweller, while mine is from Eden Garden Jewellery in Spain. All the rings share that earthy, nature-inspired look we were aiming for from the very start.

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?).

Tiana – I really cared about the venue, the flowers, and the photos. We almost had our wedding in Portugal, but Andrews really wanted fireworks, and they are really hard to do there, so we started looking at France. We are really particular people, so we looked at everything really closely, but these are the things we really wanted to get right.

Andrews – For me, I knew going into the wedding that the photos are the one thing you really keep forever. So naturally, the photographer was our biggest priority. That decision also meant investing in the venue and the florist, since those are the elements that actually create the atmosphere in the images. We were happy to spend a little more on those three things to make sure the memories were captured perfectly.

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

Tiana – I can’t believe how much I cried. I usually laugh in serious situations, but as soon as I was up there, I just couldn’t stop. It felt so special, and things had turned out so beautifully. I never really thought about what my wedding would be like until I met my husband. I will always remember getting ready. We all got ready in the same place, so I sat in front of the mirror in the living room of the cottage, doing my makeup while my friend did my hair and my husband helped my brother with his bowtie. It was chaotic but perfect for us.

Andrews – For me, there were two specific moments. The first was standing in front of our flower arch, holding hands as our officiant delivered the ceremony. The atmosphere was perfect, and Tiana looked heavenly, even though I was a complete nervous wreck on the inside. The other standout was our firework finish. It felt like the ultimate crescendo, the perfect climactic conclusion to a beautiful day.

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

Tiana – Being married to me feels less like a big shift and more like an evolution. We’ve been together since we were nineteen, so our relationship has grown up with us. Not much changed day-to-day after the wedding, but marriage felt like the natural next step.

I know everyone says this, but I really do feel like we’re the real deal. When you have something that solid and that loving, it feels right to honour it with something beautiful. Our ceremony wasn’t just an event; it felt like a reflection of who we are and what we’ve built together. I’m grateful every day that it turned out the way it did. Honestly, the whole experience has felt like a dream.

We have been together for a while. We were 19 when we got together, so not much changed, but marriage was the natural next step for us. I’m sure everyone feels like this, but I think we are the real deal, so the only way to honour a beautiful love is with a beautiful ceremony. I’m happy things turned out so well. It really has been a dream.

Andrews – Tiana and I have been together for almost our entire adult lives. From the moment we started dating, I knew I would marry her, so in my heart, she has always been my wife. I’ve always treated her that way. The only thing that has really changed is my inner dialogue. I used to think, “Hmm, what would my beautiful girlfriend like to do today?” and now I think, “Hmm, what would my beautiful wife like to do today?”