Emily first spotted Octave at a party and decided then and there that he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. Though he was already dating someone else, she kept her distance but kept him in mind. Years later, she mentioned his name to a new friend from a statistics class, who turned out to be one of his closest friends and made the introduction. The two clicked instantly, and after six years together, a house, and a big dog, Octave proposed at Alpine Lake in the Sawtooth Mountains near Stanley, Idaho, during a coast-to-coast road trip with their two dogs.
Location: Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
Style: Timeless, Natural, Bright & Airy
Time of planning: 1,5 years
Number of guests: 75
Setting: Domaine du Mont Leuze
Season: Summer
Emily had always wanted a wedding in France, and Octave, being French himself, wanted it somewhere that actually meant something to him. His grandmother had lived in Villefranche-sur-Mer since the 1930s, so when Emily found Domaine du Mont Leuze in the same town, the whole vision clicked into place. The two wanted something beautiful, emotional, and fun, true to who they are, blending American traditions with French style, and Pierre et Julie Films captured every bit of it.
Welcome Party
Their wedding was planned by CC Weddings & Events and took place in the hills overlooking Nice, in a setting that did most of the work on its own. Spending two full days with them gave Pierre et Julie Films and Juli Etta plenty of room to capture, including a couple’s photo session held before the welcome dinner, which let them vary the shots and the moods throughout the weekend. The welcome party itself was held in a space at the top, overlooking the sea. “As a result, we were able to create a wedding film that truly reflects who they are: unique and profound,” the filmmakers say. “We are infinitely grateful to them for their trust and hospitality.”
Fashion
Emily’s bridal look had drama built in from the start. She wore a Renaissance-style gown by Netta BenShabu, drawn to the Basque waist and the way the corset pulled everything into shape. “Loved the Basque waist and being snatched by the corset,” she says. She finished the look with Naturalizer Joy heels, Loewe white flower sunglasses, and Versace Eros, the women’s eau de parfum, chosen to match Octave’s own scent.
The most personal touch came that morning, when Octave gave Emily a pearl bracelet from Aurate New York, along with a stack of printed photos of the two of them and a handwritten note about how much he loved her and how he couldn’t wait to marry her. The bracelet stayed with her for the rest of the day. As for the dress itself, the brief was simple: it had to be timeless, and it had to be a “wow.”
Octave’s wedding look was every bit as considered as Emily’s. A custom Balani tux in Loro Piana fabric, cream white over a white shirt with a black bow, designed so the groom would have just as much of a moment as the bride. He finished the look with Amberjack black suede dress shoes, comfortable, breathable, and surprisingly affordable for how well they worked with the tux, along with Versace sunglasses he bought for the wedding and now wears constantly. A pastel-colored boutonniere tied his look back to Emily’s bouquet, and his cologne, Versace Eros for men, matched hers.
Ceremony
The ceremony took place on the terrazita at Domaine du Mont Leuze. Octave had braced himself for nerves, expecting the whole thing to feel stressful and a little awkward standing in front of everyone. Instead, it felt natural. “It was so magical and beautiful to share our vows with each other,” he says. “After the ceremony I thought: so good, now time to party.”
The couple chose a secular ceremony led by their most spiritual friend, Neel, wanting something that reflected the version of love and marriage that actually resonated with them. Several details were deliberately non-traditional: both Emily and Octave were walked down the aisle by both of their parents, and instead of “you may now kiss the bride,” Neel pronounced them with “you may now share your first kiss as a married couple.” Emily’s nieces and nephews rounded things out as flower girls and ring bearers, the kind of detail that made the whole thing feel exactly as personal as the couple had hoped.
Reception
The reception unfolded across the main event spaces of Domaine du Mont Leuze, with four signature cocktails named after the bride, the groom, and their two dogs setting a fittingly playful tone. La Blonde et Le Barbu brought the florals to life, flowy and natural with white blooms touched by pastel orange and pink. Toasts came from the father of the bride, the bride’s sisters, and the groom’s brother, and instead of a traditional cake, the couple opted for a pièce montée alongside a spread of little desserts.
The first dance was a waltz to “Je te laisserai des mots” by Patrick Watson, slow and deliberate before the night picked up speed. As for the most memorable moment, Emily and Octave struggle to single one out. “Honestly, the whole wedding day was most memorable,” they say, though the fiery sunset on the horizon comes close. Later that night, the party moved indoors and turned into a full-on rave that ran until the early morning. Guests still bring it up, and more than a few have already borrowed the idea for their own weddings.
Advice from the couple:
• Follow your intuition about what will be fun, beautiful, and representative of your relationship.
• Both partners should contribute equally in effort and planning and have an equal say in decisions.
• Eat whatever you can when you can on your wedding day because you will be pulled away from your food.
• Prepare everything before the wedding, so that on the day itself, you just enjoy it! It’s the most special day.
• The wedding day itself is extremely hectic, but make sure to take time just you and your new spouse to appreciate each other, be in the moment, and bask in the love!
VIDEOGRAPHY Pierre et Julie Films | WEDDING PLANNER CC Weddings and Events | SECOND CAMERAS The Line Films Saperlipopette Films | PHOTOGRAPHY Julietta Wedding Photography | WELCOME DINNER VENUE Le Plongeoir | D-DAY VENUE Mont Leuze | FLORALS La Blonde et le Barbu Design | MAKEUP & HAIR JM Honeyz | STATIONERY Designed by the C | WEDDING DRESS Netta BenShabu | CATERING The Gusto Family | LIVE BAND Sounds of Riviera | DJ Wildfire DJs
