Colin Wang vividly remembers the first time he met Emily Wang their freshman year of college. “We were organizing a conference for Wharton China Business Society, and she walked in wearing this chic, wide-brimmed hat with business formal attire—an unexpected combination that somehow worked perfectly on her,” he says. “She was overwhelmingly friendly, which I, of course, immediately misinterpreted as love at first sight. Turns out, that’s just the way she is. She makes any person she talks to feel so special.”
They only exchanged a few words that day, but Colin was lovestruck. For weeks after, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. “In an admittedly bold move, I sent her macarons and a note to make my feelings official,” he says. “Over the next six months, we became inseparable.”
They were just 18 at the time, and spent the next seven years growing up together, through college, first jobs, and a pandemic. They planned a trip to Paris when the world reopened. “Colin had explicitly told me he wouldn’t propose on that trip because it would be ‘too obvious,’” Emily remembers. “We even planned our entire itinerary together, so I thought I knew every step of the way.” He played it perfectly.
On a beautiful spring evening, they took a walk along the Seine as the sun was setting. “When we finally reached the Eiffel Tower, Colin rushed to claim a spot, and we began to take a selfie,” Emily says. “A friendly photographer approached, and casually mentioned that he was waiting for another couple but could take some photos of us. We agreed, and as he loosened us up with some fun poses, Colin suddenly turned toward me and grabbed my hands. Time stopped. The world around us—the photographer, the picnickers, everything—just disappeared. I was already sobbing by the time he got down on one knee, and of course, I said yes.”
Deciding where to get married was a no-brainer. “We chose the South of France as an extension of the love we felt in Paris during our engagement, and Château Saint-Martin captured our hearts instantly,” Emily says. “We envisioned a wedding that would remain timeless for decades to come. We sought to balance classic elegance, our story, and a deep respect for the locale.”
The wedding weekend began with a welcome party in at the hotel’s olive garden. “I drew inspiration from the handpainted chinoiserie wallpapers by De Gournay, incorporating that historic connection between French and Chinese cultures into the main bar design,” Emily says. “We worked closely with White Eden Weddings and Aucop to dress the chateau’s romantic olive garden with vibrant colors and whimsical patterns. Sisters & B Floral Design created arrangements that felt like they’d been freshly plucked from the garden—eclectic, organic, yet perfectly cohesive.”
The bride wore a custom qipao to honor her heritage. “In Chinese culture, the qipao is a traditional wedding garment, and my mom and I collaborated on a design from opposite sides of the world—she in China, and me in New York,” Emily says. “To make it my own, we selected a white-and-lavender palette for a Provençal bridal essence, along with contemporary pankou buttons and clean piping details.” Guests dined on crepes and wood-fired pizzas under the stars. Then, “in contrast to the lighthearted charm of welcome day, we pictured an ethereal and dreamy atmosphere for our ceremony, followed by a reception that felt grounded and stately.”
After thinking she might want the first, classic wedding dress she tried on, Emily ended up putting more than 60 dresses to the test. “It wasn’t until the final boutique, a Netta BenShabu pop-up, that I found the one. It was the complete opposite of what I thought I wanted. There’s no other way to describe it—I just felt like a bride in it.” She customized the strapless style to feature an embroidered tulle asymmetrical shoulder, and added Mikimoto pearls and Gianvito Rossi sling-backs.
“For the aisle, we chose an organic serpentine aisle that led toward a classic arch dressed with clusters of pink, baby blue, and ginger florals,” Emily says of her ceremony set up on May 12. Guests were seated in vintage metal garden chairs as the bride entered with her parents to “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” The couple’s best friend officiated. “Unlike the complete blackout I experienced during our proposal, I felt a heightened sense of presence during the ceremony,” Emily remembers. “At first, it was excitement mixed with a little bit of nervousness, but eventually, I settled into a deep peace, knowing I was about to marry my best friend in front of all the people I care most about in the world.”
For the reception, the couple’s design team constructed a fully custom pavilion set against the backdrop of Vence. “This architectural moment struck the perfect balance between old and new, with classical proportions, a modern steel-blue palette, and framed windows,” Emily says. Every detail was considered. “Inside, we wanted to create an intimate feeling with linen drapes, plush sofas, and shaded pendant lights. We added a border to the carpet to better frame the room, and for the tables, we chose chinoiserie-inspired blue-and-white chargers paired with custom embroidered napkins. The design language felt personal, drawing inspiration from parts of New York and London that we love.”
After taking their newlywed portraits during cocktail hour, the couple waited in a secluded area and watched as their guests entered the pavilion for the first time. “Seeing the awe and excitement on their faces was such a rewarding moment for us,” Emily shares. “Then we made our grand entrance and began our first dance with everyone gathered around.” (The dance? Tchaikovsky’s “The Waltz of the Flowers.” “It felt like the perfect reflection of us,” Emily says.)
The hotel’s Michelin-starred chef, Jean-Luc Lefrançois, served foie gras, pistachio-crusted sea bass, beef Wellington, and a cheese course before the raspberry chocolate wedding cake. “After cutting the cake, we led our guests back to the hotel bar, which had been completely transformed into a sophisticated nightclub,” Emily says. “Our amazing DJ, Thomas Dusseune, kept the energy high all night.”
The bride changed into a short, sparkly Retrofête dress to set the tone of the after-party. “When Zedd’s ‘Clarity’ blasted through the speakers, Colin jumped onstage to DJ a couple of sets himself, sending everyone into a wild frenzy,” Emily recalls. “I couldn’t help but join him onstage. The energy in the room was electric. We danced past 4 a.m., reliving some of the best moments of our college years—this time with everyone we love, all grown up.”
