Maddy Kerr and Francis Hyde’s love story goes way back. They met when they were 15 and hit it off almost immediately. “Francis is from L.A., and I’m from San Diego; we met one summer when family friends came to visit and brought Francis,” Maddy says. “We started dating right before our junior year of high school. Our parents were so nice, and perhaps a little irresponsible, to let us visit each other on the weekends two hours apart.” Or maybe their parents just saw something real. Ten years later, the duo was stronger than ever, settling in San Francisco together.
One day, on their way back to San Francisco from a visit to L.A., Francis suggested a stop. “He said he wanted to get some fresh air because it was supposed to rain all week,” Maddy says. They walked around the San Francisco Botanical Garden, where Francis got down on one knee under the redwoods. “We love nature and camping. The redwood trees always capture our attention, and the fact that he proposed under one was super special.”
There was one kink in the idea of planning a wedding. “When we got engaged, we already had plans to move to Paris to attend business school, so we knew that we would be living there when our wedding came around,” Maddy says. They turned it into something magical—a European destination wedding.
They chose the Bastide du Roy in the French Rivieria for its sophisticated feel and historic charm. “As for the aesthetic, we wanted to stay true to the venue and the region and ensure that the wedding felt warm and inviting yet sophisticated,” Maddy explains. They also didn’t shy away from color.
One of the many pros of wedding planning from Paris? Dress shopping. “My mom came to visit, and we went to Oscar de la Renta,” Maddy remembers. “My dress was the first one that caught my eye and the third I tried on, and it was an easy decision. When it comes to fashion, I tend to choose timeless and understated pieces that I can wear forever, and I felt that my wedding dress would transcend trends.” She paired it with a veil by Monique Lhuillier and beauty by Weddings by Alejandra; for the reception, she changed into a sequin dress by Retrofête.
Francis’s look was just as special. “He had his suit made in Torino, Italy, by an amazing older gentleman who has been making suits since he was 13 years old,” Maddy says. “It was such a special purchase, and we had an amazing time going to the fittings together and exploring Torino.”
The fashion was on point, but getting ready was hot: The Bastide had no air conditioning. “I knew it would be hot, so instead of giving my bridesmaids the typical robes or pajamas, we gave them silk slip dresses by my friend Danielle Snyder’s brand, Dannijo,” Maddy says. “The girls loved their slips so much that when I did my outfit change, they changed back into their slip dresses, too.”
On Aug. 13, 2022, Histoires Sauvages lined the aisle with stunning florals, and Maddy walked down it to Leon Bridges’s “River,” performed by Vogue Live Band. “My younger brother, Matthew, who is a comedy screenwriter, was the officiant,” Maddy says. “We trusted him with this task because he has been there since the beginning and knows us both really well—and because he’s a born performer. We knew if Matthew did the ceremony, it would be funny and engaging while still being personal and sweet. And that is exactly what it was! We laughed the entire time.”
The reception that followed featured a family-style meal of Provençal cuisine by Helen Traiteur. “The band played during the meal, and at one point, we even had an electric violinist playing up and down the rows of long tables,” Maddy remembers. “This was a complete surprise and made it so much fun. People were napkin twirling and dancing at their tables all through dinner; it was an unexpected party.” After that, they hit the dance floor until 2 a.m.
“The reception ended, but our friends were still ready to party,” Maddy remembers. “We spontaneously went to a club called Le Village in Juan Les Pins and danced until six in the morning. The next day, we were back at the Bastide at noon for a pool party. It’s safe to say when the weekend actually ended, Francis and I basically slept for 24 hours.”
