Alexandra and William first met on a blind date at a French restaurant in the West Village. Just 16 months later, as the sun dipped below the water in the Bahamas, William got down on one knee in the sand.
“As an architect, I was eager to find a venue which excelled in traditional French Regency design, making the interiors of the space just as important and beautiful as the exterior,” Alexandra says. The moment she spied the French Château du Grand-Lucé, she knew it was the one. She quickly brought on Bertie of Matthew Oliver Weddings to refine the details and Over The Moon Editor’s Pick Photographer Jessa Schifilliti to capture it all. Guests received custom invitation suites courtesy of Linden Illustration.
With the help of her mother, mother-in-law, and sister, Alexandra found the dress at Mark Ingram Atelier in New York—just the sixth one she tried on. “We all knew it was the one immediately,” she recalls. The lace design featured a high-neck look with long sleeves that felt suited to the tradition of the venue. “I never felt more myself than in my dress.” The bridal designer, Ines Di Santo, shares Italian-Canadian heritage with the groom, which made wearing one of her designs even more special. On the day of, Margot Priolet applied Alexandra’s natural makeup look, while Ciara Constenoble styled her updo.
As for the groom’s wedding wardrobe, he kept it classic in a black tuxedo, finishing the look with Christian Louboutin smoking shoes. Bridesmaids wore a mix of pastel dresses, inspired by French summer gardens. Alexandra’s sister and maid of honor added a touch of something blue in a strapless tulle Vera Wang gown.
On June 22, 2024, Alexandra and William exchanged vows inside Église du Grand-Lucé, a local church just steps from the château. “I felt as if we were the only two in the room,” Alexandra recalls. As they stepped outside, guests tossed dried rose petals into the air before they slipped into their getaway car—a vintage Porsche 356.
As the sun set, guests gathered in the gardens for an alfresco reception, seated at one long candlelit table, boasting sprawling Armelle Atelier florals. “We wanted dinner to feel like one large dinner party, surrounded by everyone we love, with classical French music filling the background,” the bride shares. A three-course French dinner was paired with Loire Valley wines, served white-glove style.
After heartfelt toasts, Alexandra and William took to the patio for their first dance to Louis Armstrong’s “La Vie En Rose,” overlooking the pond and kitchen gardens. Just as William dipped Alexandra for the final note, fireworks burst into the sky. The celebration continued as guests sang along to “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole and finally, Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.”
The festivities moved into the ballroom. Alexandra changed into a custom after-party dress by Undone by Kate, inspired by the 1920s. The couple made their grand entrance to the “La Vie en Rose”–themed fête with by sparklers, before cutting into their cake.
Salut Band—complete with saxophonists and vocalists—kept the dance floor packed. Late-night bites included an elevated take on steak frites—burgers and fries served fresh to keep the energy alive. Alexandra concludes, “The late night ended with a surreal full moon rising across the valley, illuminating the sky.”
