Ansley and Joseph built their relationship on boarding passes and long-haul flights, Greece, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Kenya, Japan, collecting cities the way other couples collect date nights. But Paris was different. “Staying on the grounds at Versailles, wandering through the gardens and statues, something really clicked for both of us,” says the bride. That arc led straight to France for the proposal and the wedding itself, a multi-day celebration at a medieval chateau just outside Paris. Florals by Be One Paris traced the stone facade in sculptural greens and soft whites, turning their travel era into a fully immersive, Renaissance-coded weekend.
Location: Vallery, France
Style: Renaissance-Inspired, Immersive, Romantic
Time of planning: 1 уear
Number of guests: 60
Setting: Chateau
Season: Summer
A random night in the East Village, one booth seat, one “can I squeeze in?” and suddenly a conversation that didn’t know how to end. One more drink turned into long-haul flights, new cities, and eventually a life built in motion.
Joe proposed in the gardens of Versailles, then the two of them walked straight into Fêtes Galantes in full costume, powdered-wig energy and all, celebrating under chandeliers like characters who wandered out of a period film. Joe designed Ansley’s custom ring with Susie Saltzman, a gold oval split-shank that reads more couture than bridal, and that detail sealed the chapter. “From then on, France became part of our story,” she says.
Welcome Day
Welcome Night began with a candlelit wine tasting in the chateau’s historic cellars, once stocked with the help of King Henry II. Serpentine tables wound through artichokes, herbs, vegetables, and loose florals styled like a living Dutch still life. With all 28 rooms of Château de Vallery reserved, the night naturally spilled toward the pool, shifting from curated to carefree without breaking the atmosphere.
Joe set the tone in a green linen suit lined with Monet-inspired artwork, ivory shirt crisp against the warm light, braided tassel loafers grounding the whole look. Ansley wore a Seline Meisler corset and French lace skirt inspired by her mother’s wedding dress, anchoring the look with her grandmother’s pearls. She added Magda Butrym pearl heels to the look. The Elodie egg bag by ALEXIS, wrapped in pearls, added a sharp, almost surreal detail.
That first night framed the entire concept. “We wanted historic meets whimsical,” Ansley says, rooted in the chateau’s 13th-century history but layered with warmth and a touch of magic. Guests weren’t just attending events; they were moving through chapters. Even the menus carried François Boucher’s The Love Letter, turning fine art into part of the narrative.
Bride's Morning & Fashion
Ansley approached fashion the way she approaches travel: all in. For the ceremony, she chose Netta BenShabu’s strapless Renaissance corset gown, a cat-eye neckline, basque waist, A-line silhouette, and lace threaded with falling pearls. The name alone felt aligned with Château de Vallery’s Renaissance wing, but the construction did the real work. Structured bodice, elongated waist, dramatic train that moved like it belonged in a Caravaggio scene. “I’m always overdressed,” she says.
On the wedding morning, she got ready in silk and lace by Bocan Couture, then shifted into a half-up style for the ceremony, pairing a graduated Susie Saltzman tennis necklace with marquise-and-pearl earrings. Pearl-toned Christian Louboutins matched Joe’s red-bottom moment, chosen during a champagne date in New York. Custom Jo Malone fragrances turned scent into another shared ritual. Bouquet by Be One Paris sealed the look: oversized sculptural anthuriums threaded with tiny pearls and cascading amaranthus, heavy in hand and impossible to ignore.
Groom’s Fashion
For the wedding day, Joe leaned into precision. An all-black tuxedo from Michael Andrews Bespoke, cut sharp and clean, with a shirt monogrammed in their wedding date. Patent leather Christian Louboutin oxfords gave him the same red-bottom flash as Ansley. His fragrance was the custom Jo Malone cologne they created together during one of their “planning dates,” turning even scent into part of the narrative.
The fittings at Michael Andrews became their own ritual, drinks at the in-house bar, private appointments that felt more like date nights than tailoring sessions. “This was the most fashionable Joe has ever felt,” Ansley says, and it read that way. The detail that carried the most weight stayed small: cuff links from her late father’s collection, worn both days.
Ceremony
Planning a chateau wedding from New York requires range. Ansley and Joe brought in French-speaking planner Katerina Meyvial early on, locking in local fluency, logistics, and a level of precision that allowed the design to breathe. The palette followed the architecture: greens, whites, soft neutrals, and restrained gold, a nod to Versailles without turning the estate into a replica.
The ceremony unfolded directly in front of the chateau on a stretch of manicured grass. Florals on columns echoed the statue garden, reading like an outdoor installation. A close friend officiated, keeping the tone warm and relaxed. Joe entered to Love Me Like You Do, bridesmaids processed to Lana Del Rey’s Young and Beautiful, and Ansley walked to La Vie en Rose, all arranged by a live string trio that carried both romance and edge. The recessional flipped the mood with “Give Me Everything,” turning stone and symmetry into instant celebration.
Readings from Roy Croft and Robert Fulghum layered in reflection, referencing their travels, their dog Henry, Central Park mornings, and a life built in motion. Traditional vows honored Ansley’s father, a pastor, weaving family history into a ceremony that felt grounded and current. Clear blue skies sealed it. The atmosphere moved from tears to laughter in minutes, the kind of emotional range that makes a moment land fully.
Moments Together
Cocktail hour unfolded in the statue garden, turning the chateau grounds into an open-air gallery with movement. A live jamon carving station drew a small crowd, a parmesan ravioli wheel added theatrical flair, and passed bites circulated between marble figures and clipped hedges. The bar carried their custom crest, a New York–inspired monogram stamped across cocktails and menus, anchoring the French setting with a sharp personal signature.
Every event across the weekend shifted location, guiding guests from cellars to lawn to hall so the experience kept evolving rather than repeating. Interactive details ran throughout: curated wines, monogrammed drinks, the ravioli wheel, a gelato cart waiting for the next morning, and fireworks held in reserve as the ultimate punctuation mark.
In the middle of the motion, Ansley and Joe slipped away. Their photographer, Matteo Coltro, followed at a distance, camera in hand, ready to capture whatever unfolded. Then the couple kicked off their shoes, laid down right on the big lawn, and just… breathed. It felt like something out of a movie, the château in the background, the sounds of their wedding drifting over from the garden, but really it was just them taking a quiet moment to absorb everything.
“We talked about how surreal it felt that people had flown across the world to be with us. That moment, more than anything, made the day feel profoundly real and unbelievably special.”
Reception
Dinner moved into the Grand Galerie. Two long banquet tables stretched beneath stone arches, layered with large candelabras, mini statues, white florals, and bows tied to champagne stems with each guest’s name. Be One Paris kept the arrangements organic and sculptural, weaving greenery and soft blooms through the tables. Gold-rimmed glassware and gilded place settings added a restrained Versailles reference, and once the torchlights outside flickered on, the hall shifted into a warm, cinematic glow.
After dinner, Ansley changed into a Danielle Frankel demi-strapless bustier with a fluid jersey skirt, paired with Jimmy Choo crystal net slingbacks. Their first dance to Vienna by Billy Joel slowed the tempo for a moment, rooted in reflection, before the dessert banquet opened: a Ladurée macaron tower, the ceremonial croquembouche, and trays of sweets arranged like a royal spread.
Guests were then guided back onto the lawn for the champagne tower. The courtyard quieted, glasses were raised, and just as the final pour settled, fireworks erupted overhead. New York, New York scored the sky, lighting the torch-lit park and the chateau’s wings in flashes of gold and red.
Back inside, the DJ and saxophonist shifted the hall into full Euro club mode. Lighting sharpened, the bass took over, and guests drifted between lawn and dance floor until shoes came off and the night dissolved into pure movement. They closed the evening carrying heels across the grass, buzzing, exhausted, and fully aware that the scale of it all had landed exactly as intended.
One surprise favorite came in the form of curated welcome totes, filled in Paris with Bonne Maman Petits Chocos, Brets Camembert chips, mini champagne bottles, and gilded weekend itineraries. The watercolor portraits became another standout, each guest leaving with a personal piece of art. Yet among the spectacle, the moment that cut deepest arrived during the maid of honor’s toast, when Ansley’s sister read words from her late father.
Pool Party
The morning after, guests gathered by the pool for one final chapter, complete with a gelato cart and the kind of easy energy that only comes after a night like that. Ansley shifted into a green-and-white Oscar de la Renta set with rose appliques. Hair down, makeup done herself, wedges, a straw bag tucked with flowers, and white sunglasses completed the look. She described it simply: feeling like an Italian movie star eating gelato, sunlit, relaxed, and entirely in her element.
Throughout the celebration, Ansley and Joe built experiences into every corner of the chateau, from cellars to lawns to galleries, so wandering always led to something unexpected. A touch of Versailles grandeur layered over the estate’s natural charm created a world that felt cohesive and unmistakably theirs.
Advice from the couple:
• Treat every appointment like a date and enjoy planning together. You’ll never have another time in your life where the two of you are this focused on each other, making decisions side by side, and dreaming up something together. Lean into it, have fun with it, and let the process become part of the memories — not just the destination!
FLOWERS Be.One Paris Florist | PLANNING Katerina Meyvial | VENUE Château de Vallery | PHOTOGRAPHER Matteo Coltro Weddings | VIDEOGRAPHER The New Old Weddings | CONTENT CREATOR Candid & Co | MUAH Alesia Solo | STYLING THE BRIDE A Curated Affair | DRESS Netta BenShabu | BRIDAL SHOP Jaxon James Couture Bridal | JEWELRY Susie Saltzman | TUX Michael Andrews Bespoke | CATERING (DAY 1) 48 Heures Traiteur | CATERING (DAY 2) MG Réception | BAR Homy Bartenders | LIVE PAINTING Takeno Event | RENTALS Vendôme Locations | FIREWORKS Nuit Féérique | JAZZ BAND Whisper Note Music | STRINGS Euterpe Paris | DJ Martin Beatz | SAXOPHONE Baz Music
