Taking it slow is an understatement for Elaine Chen and Eric Tang, who talked for a year-and-a-half before meeting in person—despite only living 15 minutes away from each other. “We finally met in person, when Eric learned that I was trying to get tickets to a Matisse exhibit and volunteered to get them for me and my friend. I suggested getting coffee as a thank you,” Elaine smiles. Eric adds, “I thought it was cute. She was like ‘Shopgirl’ from You’ve Got Mail, and I was Tom Hanks, and we finally meet!”
After seven years together, Eric proposed during a private sunset cruise in Positano. “I was so nervous about the ring and the proposal,” he remembers. “Fortunately she said yes!”
Once engaged, the pair knew they always wanted a small destination wedding with their nearest and dearest. “I entrusted Eric with the task of selecting the perfect venue with a few criteria in mind: a picturesque garden, a serene water element, and a touch of architectural symmetry,” Elaine shares. After a vast search across multiple countries, they decided on hosting their nuptials at Château de Villette in Condécourt, France. Wanderlust Wedding brought their timeless vision to life, while Julia Kaptelova was behind the lens all weekend. And Crème de Papier and Sound of Script set the tone with a romantic invitation suite.
For the summer ceremony, Elaine chose a Vera Wang dress, paired with a floral-embellished veil by Andrew Kwon. On the day-of, she got ready with makeup artist Jiyoung Yang and further styled her look with a diamond necklace and earrings from De Beers and Manolo Blahniks.
On August 3, 2023, the wedding ceremony was moved indoors due to rare inclement weather, and the bride walked down the aisle to “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift. The couple exchanged vows under florals arches by Sisters & B Floral Design. “I thought I would be more nervous, but during the ceremony, it just felt so surreal!” Elaine recalls.
When it was time for the reception, the weather behaved enough for a seated dinner by Grand Chemin Traiteur under the pergola with a canopy of flowers and crystal chandeliers. The newlyweds had their first dace to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Kina Grannis, from the Crazy Rich Asians soundtrack.
The fireworks finale was the bride’s favorite part of the night. “I provided the vendor with precise music cues, preferred shapes, and a color palette, so that the show would complement our wedding aesthetic,” she states. The after-party commenced with crêpe stations—a late night snack with a French twist and a sweet ending to the wedding day.
