Amelia Wong and Robin Ferret’s love story begins in San Francisco, but their paths to each other spanned continents. Both transplants—Amelia from Asia and Robin from Europe—they each journeyed across the world to pursue education in the United States, eventually settling in the Bay Area. Amelia and Robin first matched on Bumble and bonded over a shared love of traveling and golf—spending their very first date on the course.
Many adventures later, Robin planned a surprise getaway to Cordevalle, a championship golf resort in San Martin, California. “It wasn’t unusual for Robin to plan spontaneous getaways, so I didn’t suspect anything,” Amelia recalls. On their first night, they dined at Michelin-starred Plume Horse. When they returned to their suite, Amelia stepped into a room filled with roses and candlelight. “As I turned around to look at Robin, he was on his knees proposing, and I was so overwhelmed with joy I barely heard what he was saying,” she laughs. “After a few moments, I blurted out in excitement, ‘Did you ask me a question?’ He smiled and repeated, ‘Amelia, will you marry me?’ Of course, the answer was yes.”
Although the couple resides in San Francisco, they aimed to host a wedding that would feel equally reachable for guests traveling from across the globe. With Robin’s roots in France and Amelia’s global ties, they chose to host their wedding in the French countryside and fell in love with Chateau du Grand Luce near the Loire Valley. “It was the only available weekend—September 2024—and even though it gave us just six months to plan, we knew it was perfect,” Amelia says.
Matthew Oliver oversaw planning across the four-day celebration. Over The Moon The List Photographer David Bastianoni beautifully captured the weekend in photographs, while Gione da Silva was on hand to video. Guests received invitation suites from Emily & Jo.
The wedding festivities began on Thursday with a relaxed welcome barbecue in the château’s gardens. The atmosphere was relaxed and festive, with potted herbs, colorful tableware, and a guitarist playing regional music. To this, Amelia chose Galia Lahav’s Mari dress, recalling Marilyn Monroe’s iconic look.
Friday evening, the couple hosted a rehearsal dinner inspired by chinoiserie, a marriage of French and Chinese culture and aesthetics. The design featured a bold palette of deep red, gold, and navy, complemented by Chinese vases and traditional motifs—butterflies, phoenixes, and birds—woven into menus shaped like fans and hand-calligraphed place cards. Sarah Goodwin’s musical notes added to the ambiance of it all.
To this, Amelia wore a bespoke dress by Tung Xun. The look was a reinterpretation of the qipao with a nod to 1920s Shanghai glam. Robin complemented her in a custom cheongsam-inspired black silk jacquard suit, styled with a tuxedo shirt and patent dress shoes.
Ahead of the wedding ceremony, Amelia donned a traditional bridal outfit that was typical of the Qing Dynasty called “Xiu He,” with intricate beading and embroidery, for the tea service. Jane the Artist styled her hair in a traditional updo.
Amelia drew inspiration from Victorian-era fashion for her nuptials, and Kim Kassas’s Isabelle dress had the exact romantic grandeur she was searching for. For the reception, the bride changed into Galia Lahav’s Nala dress, featuring a mermaid silhouette, crystal and glass embellishment, and a tight corset. Her last look of the night was a beaded mini dress by Nadine Merabi.
Robin wore a black custom tuxedo by Knot Standard for the ceremony and later changed into a white silk tuxedo jacket for the reception and the remainder of the evening.
On the morning of September 7, 2024, skies over the château were calm with occasional drizzle. The couple had decided the night before to keep the ceremony in the garden, despite a 30-percent chance of rain. As guests began to gather, thunder rolled in, and rain followed. Everyone returned indoors, and the ceremony was put on hold.
Then, just as quickly as the storm had arrived, the rain lifted, the garden by All for Love London was reset, and guests took their seats once again. A string quartet began to play “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” as the bridal party walked down the aisle, and the bride followed to “Tale as Old as Time,” meeting both of her parents at the halfway point. “I had imagined feeling nervous, as I’m not someone who usually enjoys being the center of attention,” she shares. “But as soon as the music started and I saw my parents waiting, Robin at the end of the aisle, and all our loved ones surrounding us, I just felt enveloped in love.”
At the end of the day, Amelia looks back fondly on the rain. “They say in Chinese culture, if there are thunderstorms on your wedding day, then the power in the marriage will belong to the wife,” she smiles.
The reception took place in the château’s candlelit ballroom, where One Orchestra played, as guests gathered around long House of Furn and Dutchess & Butler tables set in Maison Margaux.
Dinner concluded with a custom dessert created by Chef Maxime of Le Luce, drawing inspiration from Pierre Hermé’s Ispahan. “If romance had a taste, that would be it,” Amelia says.
Afterward, guests were led outside for a surprise fireworks display by Pyro Fetes, timed to Beyoncé’s “Halo.” The festivities continued with the couple’s first dance—a waltz to “So This Is Love” from Cinderella that transitioned into a tango.
“Dancing is a passion of mine, and Robin went above and beyond to make this dream come true,” Amelia says. “He learned the entire routine in just three weeks.” As the evening progressed, toasts were shared, the dance floor filled alongside The Sparkle Band, and the celebrations carried on late into the evening. “Love was in the air all evening.”
