Location: Marrakesh, Morocco
Setting: Private estate
Season: Summer
How long did the couple plan the event: 1 year
The number of guests: 180
Wedding theme/style: Earthy, mystical and elegant.
Yann moved to London in 2009, and Lena in 2011. They first met in 2012 in East London. Lena recalls their first conversation, stating that 30 minutes into it, Yann surprised her by asking if she was the German Lena who had worked at UBS. She was taken aback since she had no idea that Yann’s friend, who she had worked with at UBS, had told him about her. The friend had planned to introduce them, but Lena had never gone to the party he had invited her to. Lena felt it was fate that they had met and had this connection.
Since Lena traveled a lot, their first few dates were spread across several months. In an attempt to get to know each other without preconceived notions, they agreed not to add each other on social media. It was like an old-school way of dating. On their third date, they discovered that both would go to Barcelona for the Sonar festival. After that weekend, they became a couple and have been together ever since.
Yann decided to propose to Lena at midnight in Moscow, in the middle of the famous Red Square, after reading that this was a Russian tradition. It was very original and more romantic than one expected. The fun part was that Lena bought her wedding dress before Yann even proposed! “When you know, you know!’ she says.
Beatrice, the photographer, and Jeremie, the filmmaker, from the Quirky perfectly captured Lena and Yann’s entire wedding weekend. “We were lucky to have found such a great duo who created beautiful images and video footage that we will cherish forever. It’s important to find a style that fits both the wedding and your personal style, as these memories will be part of every intimate moment, from getting ready to exchanging vows and documenting all the smiles and tears. You need to trust your photographers and feel comfortable in their surroundings,” says the couple.
The wedding vision was based on the couple’s aesthetic and personality: Mystical, Elegant, and Earthy. Marrakesh, a destination that beautifully blended their French and Arabic heritages, was the perfect location for their celebration. The event was held at Dar el Sadaka, a private estate designed by the French artist Jean-François Fourtou, a unique place with life-sized animal sculptures around the house and garden, an upside-down house, and a giant pool. For Lena, Dar el Sadaka felt like home: the olive trees, reminiscent of her grandfather’s farm in Syria, and the golden retriever, a mirror image of their beloved family dog, all added a touch of personal nostalgia to the venue.
Lena and Yann decided to skip some traditional wedding aspects. They also chose not to have bridesmaids, party favors, or long speeches. The most important thing for them was to have fun and stay true to themselves. As the couple wanted to celebrate all night, they held their ceremony late in the evening, during sunset.
Opting for an elegant look, Yann wore a grey jacket paired with a crisp white shirt and black trousers. The addition of classic loafers completed his look with a touch of understated luxury.
Lena had struggled to find a suitable hair and makeup artist, disappointed by the overdone looks created during the trials. Believing in looking like the best version of herself, she took matters into her own hands. The bride opted for a makeup style that subtly enhanced her features. She chose sparkling eyes and neutral lips to complement her usual base makeup and effortless waves for her hair, avoiding overly polished styles.
Her beautiful, seductive dress was adorned with lace, floral applique, and beading. Instead of a traditional veil on the head, Lena had two custom-made pieces of veil fabric attached to the shoulders and cascaded down the back of the dress. Her so-called “wings” were also a fun addition to dance with and take pictures in the wind.
The ceremony was held in front of the infamous upside-down house, which was already a spectacular sight. The podium was minimalistic and rustic, adorned with large terracotta vases filled with pampas grass and white roses. Everything blended well with the surrounding wheat grass fields, creating a very organic and earthy atmosphere.
The friend who wanted to introduce Lena to Yann officiated their wedding as confident speakers fluent in French and English. The couple shares, “It had real meaning to have him marry us. He took the job very seriously, interviewed us several times before the wedding, and did an amazing job.”
In the soft glow of the setting sun, Beatrice captured tender moments between the newlyweds. The venue was incredibly eclectic, with the stunning palm trees of the Palmeraie creating a beautiful backdrop. It featured many different areas that were perfect for taking photos. Additionally, the ambiance throughout the night was constantly changing, which kept the guests excited and engaged.
Perfect timing allowed dinner to begin after sundown. Lena always loved the mysticism and magic of tales like 1001 Nights. When Dar el Sadaka showed the couple where they could host the dinner—under beautiful old trees that had 1001 real candles in them—the bride knew she wanted to embrace this. She opted for mirrored dining tables to reflect all the lights and minimal floral arrangements that would not detract from the beauty around them.
The lovebirds also wanted to welcome the beauty of Moroccan culture and craftsmanship, with beautiful Moroccan lamps lighting up the property everywhere at night, their magic carpets and puffs spread around for guests to rest and lounge from all the dancing.
Lena didn’t plan for an outfit change but ended up wearing a short white dress she wore the night before to a small dinner with friends! “I threw on the dress, switched into flat sandals, pulled my hair up into a ponytail, and entered the dancefloor carried by 4 Moroccan men in a wedding box- a huge wedding tradition in Morocco. Everyone loved it and thought it was planned- thankfully, it all worked out.” – the bride says.
An entertaining band from the UK flew out for the wedding to kick off the night of dancing. They played music that pleased all generations and danced with the crowd. Their energy was a great way to start the party, and as the couple had wished, the dance floor was lit up until 6 AM. “Music is so important at a wedding–make sure you spend a lot of time with this one. People will remember this more than what flowers you had on the table or the canapes. Spend more energy and, if necessary, money on this one–it really makes or breaks the party vibe,” the bride recommends.
The couple didn’t have a wedding cake or a cake-cutting ceremony. “We always found that a bit old school, so instead, we just had a dessert buffet by the dance floor so people could spend less time eating and more time dancing,” Lena shares.
For the next day couple booked the villa next door to host a Sunday pool party for their families and close friends. Everyone relaxed, enjoying the wedding’s emotions in a laid-back atmosphere.
Advice from the couple:
• Refrain from feeling pressured to do what others think you should. Focus on what matters most to you and prioritize those things in your budget. It will ensure your wedding reflects your unique personality as a couple and doesn’t feel cookie-cutter. We skipped many traditional wedding elements, which helped us stay true to ourselves.
• Timing is important. If a cocktail hour, dinner, or speech drags on too long, it can kill the vibe and cause the event to lose momentum. Keep this in mind and guide your speechgivers to make it short and sweet.
• Most importantly, ensure you have fun – your energy during the day will be contagious. Things will go wrong. Always do the hook for the dress train breaks, the DJ gets sick at the last minute, guests will complain about something, improvise, and don’t sweat the small stuff that no one will notice. If you are both in love and having the time of your lives, so will everyone else – that’s all that matters.
PHOTOGRAPHY Beatrice from the Quirky | VIDEOGRAPHER Jérémie from the Quirky | VENUE Dar El Sadaka | WEDDING DRESS Lee Petra Grebenau | BRIDAL SHOES Jimmy Choo | GROOM’S SUIT Suitsupply
