French Riviera Wedding at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild :: Mathilde & Maurice

There are times we come across a wedding where it is impossible to choose one favorite image. Mathilde and Maurice’s wedding, held in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferra, left us daydreaming about the turquoise sea, lush gardens, and relaxed paradise of the French Riviera. An timelessly chic bride, their jaw dropping venue, and a beautiful dinner in the garden are just some of the details of their celebration. Never underestimate the magic of baby’s breath!

Flower girls wore wreaths of baby’s breath in their hair, hinting at the beautiful reception decor to come.

The Ceremony

“Living in Monte Carlo, Saint-Charles Church was our first choice. This Roman Catholic church is magnificent and located right in the city center which made it easy to find for all of our guests coming from different continents. And the icing on the cake: our son’s name is Charles.”

Your ceremony in three words.  Religious, traditional, touching

Who officiated your ceremony?  Father Marc Gherardi officiated the ceremony and took care to bless our 2 month old son.

What was your ceremony music?  We had the chance to listen the organist play traditional wedding music and he was accompanied by a chorister. The church organ is a masterpiece dating from 1639.

“We live in Monaco and decided to have our wedding in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Located between Nice and Monaco, this small peninsula is all about summer laziness, it’s turquoise sea, and the easy breezy lifestyle.”

Mathilde looked like a dream in her romantic lace Celestina Agostino gown and cathedral veil.

The bride’s petite bouquet included pale pink roses and fragrant philadelphus (also known as sweet mock orange).

The Reception

“Once we visited the fabulous and historical Ephrussi de Rothschild Villa & Gardens, we couldn’t choose any other location. This sumptuous palace on the Cap Ferrat promontory is a masterpiece of elegance. The building, dating from 1905, is really one of the finest palaces on the French Riviera, commanding spectacular views over the Mediterranean with Beaulieu Bay to the east and the Bay of Villefranche sur Mer to the west.”

“Guests enjoyed a cocktail in the gardens of the Villa while a jazz band was playing. The dinner was set outdoor in the gardens, with the majestic floral design by Wayne Riley Flowers.”

How would you describe your reception?  Elegant, magical, a real dream come true.

What was your wedding menu?  Being French and Italian, we wanted a menu representing our two countries: risotto arborio with asparagus and parmesan // sea bass with girolle mushrooms and artichokes // raspberry caramelized puff pastry, light vanilla cream

Are there any special details you’d like to tell us about?  We gave white lily of the valley perfumed candles with our initials on them as gifts to guests. On top of the box was the handwritten table number and name of the guest in a traditional English calligraphy. Also, the fountains can be illuminated and choreographed to the music of your choice – the villa patio became our own personal nightclub!”

Did you have any special music at your reception? 
Entrance song: “Yesterday” by Jason Ames
Cake cutting: “Love never felt so good” by Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake
First Dance: “A te” by Jovanotti

What type of cake or dessert did you serve?  Entirely white wedding cake with fresh strawberry filling.

What was the best advice you received as a bride?  Enjoy every minute of the day because time flies.

If you had it to do over again, is there anything you would do differently?  Not a thing. It was my dream wedding.