Melanie and Bob always dreamed of a wedding that was romantic, elegant, and mostly outdoors, with a focus on fun and personal touches. Given their shared passion for history and travel, choosing France as their wedding destination felt like a natural decision. The inspiration came effortlessly—the charming French countryside, rich in history and rustic beauty, provided the perfect backdrop for their celebration.
Several years ago the couple took a cross-country vacation in France and fell in love with the Saint-Emilion region. The incredible food, exquisite wine, and stunning landscapes left a lasting impression. It was also in Saint-Emilion where they had their first serious conversation about marriage, which made the region all the more meaningful to them.
When they later began planning the wedding and faced the high costs of a one-day celebration in New York, they thought it would be fun to explore venues in Bordeaux. “The idea of returning to a place that already meant so much to us, and where our love had grown, felt perfect. Bordeaux not only captured the elegance we envisioned but also provided a personal connection, making it the ideal location for our dream wedding.“
To our delight, not only were there countless stunning options, but most of them allowed us to plan a multi-day celebration within our budget. Any remaining doubts about a destination wedding disappeared when we discovered CHÂTEAU RIGAUD in Mouliets-et-Villemartin. It was a dream come true. This medieval castle, with origins dating back to the Templar Knights, has been beautifully restored into an all-inclusive event venue and boutique vacation rental.
Captured by PATTIE FELLOWS, the ceremony took place on the lawn beneath a majestic tree, followed by cocktails on the covered terrace and an outdoor reception dinner beside the barn. “As incredible as the venue was, the true magic came from the team working behind the scenes. From the moment we booked until the tearful goodbyes at the end of the weekend, they went above and beyond to ensure everything was flawless. Planning from California was initially nerve-wracking, but the staff quelled all our fears and exceeded our expectations. Our guests were absolutely floored, and we couldn’t be more grateful.“
HOW DID YOU MEET? We met on the dating app Hinge. Our first date went really well, and it was clear that we had a strong connection. But the biggest surprise came at the end of the night, when we were calling our cabs and realized that we had actually been neighbors for over a year!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL: Bob proposed to me at an escape room, one of my favorite activities. He invited a few of our friends and coordinated everything with the venue in advance. After we “escaped” they agreed to let us have the room to ourselves for a few minutes so he could propose. I had no idea what was coming, and since we were leaving early the next morning for a trip, I was eager to get home and pack. The room was Jumanji-themed, filled with jungle puzzles and the sounds of wildlife in the background. After we finished, Bob got down on one knee and started to say, “Will you marry…” but just then a voice from the soundtrack, which they forgot to turn off, boomed, “THIS IS MY JUNGLE”; I completely missed the question! He had to ask me again, and of course, I said yes! The whole experience was hilarious, and we still laugh about it to this day.
TELL US ABOUT FINDING YOUR WEDDING DRESS/ATTIRE: Finding my wedding dress was surprisingly easy after trying on 3-4 others and figuring out what I liked—though, interestingly, it was nothing like my original vision! After browsing several bridal shops, I found the perfect gown by Aesling at Love & Lace Bridal in Irvine, CA. I worked with my seamstress to create a custom overskirt that complemented the crimped tulle of the removable sleeves that came with the dress, making it feel even more personal.
However, about a month before the wedding, I started worrying about the weather and decided I wanted a shorter dress to change into after dinner, in case it got too hot. I almost gave up on this idea until I found a pre-owned Ambrosia dress by Watters, a few sizes too big, just three days before I was supposed to leave for the wedding. Thankfully, my local tailor worked a miracle and altered it to fit like a glove. I’m so glad I had that second dress—it was perfect for switching into later in the night when I wanted something more comfortable for dancing!
DID YOU HAVE ANY DIY ELEMENTS? Yes! Design and crafting are personal hobbies of mine, so we incorporated plenty of DIY elements throughout the wedding weekend. We designed almost all of the stationery ourselves, including the save-the-dates, invitations (with invaluable help from Etsy vendor SweetDatesPrints), welcome packets, menus, and even a giant crossword puzzle about us that was displayed during the cocktail hour.
As game lovers, we also created personalized decks of playing cards as thank-you gifts for our guests. The cards featured watercolor illustrations of our favorite hobbies, our home states, and even our cats. It was a fun, personal touch that added an extra layer of meaning to our celebration.
DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS: Our wedding flowers featured a beautiful mix of summer whites and soft pinks, wit
h subtle pops of pastel blue to match the bridesmaids dresses. We chose blooms like delphiniums, peonies, and delicate wildflowers that captured the essence of both the venue and the French countryside. The venue’s on-site florist was incredibly talented and delightful to work with, helping bring our vision to life with floral arrangements that perfectly complemented the romantic setting.
FAVOURITE DETAIL OF THE DAY: It’s hard to pick just one favorite detail, but something that really stood out—and was a hit with our guests—was the espresso martinis the staff brought out as dinner was ending. They were absolutely delicious and gave everyone the perfect energy boost to hit the dance floor, keeping the party going all night long!
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? Originally, we planned to write our own vows for the ceremony, but about a month beforehand we decided to read them privately instead. On the morning of the wedding, we found a quiet moment together in one of the beautiful rooms of the château and shared our vows in an intimate setting before the day got busy. It was such a peaceful and personal moment, and it ended up being one of the most special memories of the entire day.
WHAT ASPECT OF THE WEDDING WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU BOTH? Throughout the planning process, so many couples advised us that the wedding day would fly by, and to make sure we didn’t let it pass us by. This really resonated with us, and it was one of the main reasons we opted for a multi-day celebration abroad. Instead of a single day that might feel rushed, we turned it into a four-day vacation with our closest family and friends. This decision allowed us to truly be in the moment on our wedding day, as the extended time took the pressure off.
Being able to fully enjoy ourselves and soak in everything happening around us was the most important aspect of the wedding for us. It made the entire experience feel more relaxed and meaningful.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR HONEYMOON: Since we had already traveled 5,700 miles from Los Angeles for our wedding in France, we decided to stay nearby and spend our honeymoon in Mallorca. It was the perfect place to unwind after the festivities. We spent most of our time exploring the charming coastal towns and beaches, while indulging in delicious Spanish cuisine. Honestly, we didn’t have enough time there—though I’m not sure any amount of time would have been enough! Moving forward, we plan to treat every vacation like an extended honeymoon.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD CHANGE OR DO DIFFERENTLY? We were fortunate to visit France about a year before the wedding, which allowed our family to see the venue and for me to do early hair and makeup tests. However, if possible, I would have liked to visit closer to the wedding date. The venue offers “planning weekends” several months before the big day, where couples can stay on the property, select décor, do food and wine tastings, and experience the flow of the day. Unfortunately, we couldn’t attend, and while the venue team made it easy to manage everything from abroad and everything turned out perfectly, the stress of not being hands-on was challenging at times. So, if I could change anything, it would be being able to take more regular trips to France—a regret, I imagine, that most people share!
