A Fashion Designer's Opulent Wedding in an Enchanting Parisian Château

Theatrical couture elegance meets the moodiness of a fall French garden

Beneath the soft, misty embrace of a Parisian château, Claudia and Dimitri wove a love story as grand and poetic as the setting itself. For the bride, a Paris-based fashion designer, the wedding was more than a celebration—it was a performance, an homage to theatre and couture, where every detail whispered of drama, elegance, and intimacy. The ceremony unfolded in the timeless beauty of a Greek Orthodox tradition. As Claudia walked to the altar, she was the very embodiment of her artistic vision—a breathtaking, voluminous silk gown, handcrafted with her own hands. Adorned with delicate pearl drops on a structured corset and cascading, multi-layered sleeves and skirt, the dress was a masterpiece, balancing opulence with ethereal grace. Get ready to immerse yourself in the exquisite details of this magnificent wedding and indulge in the artistry of bespoke bridal beauty.

A Fashion Designer's Opulent Wedding in an Enchanting Parisian Château

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

We met almost a decade ago in Melbourne, Australia, at a friend’s party at the Station Hotel. I studied fashion, and Dimitri owned the university coffee shop downstairs. Arriving at university on Monday morning, I met my friends for coffee and was surprised to see Dimitri again.

^{The Proposal}

In 2023, we traveled from our apartment in Paris to Switzerland for Christmas. The day before Christmas, Dimitri had planned for us to take the chairlifts to a mountaintop, but there was an avalanche warning.

A Fashion Designer's Opulent Wedding in an Enchanting Parisian Château

On Christmas morning, we cooked lunch in our cabin and went for a walk, and after eight years, Dimitri proposed.

^{The Engagement Ring}

I not-so-discreetly had a Pinterest board of ring ideas—I knew I wanted to design something modern yet timeless. Dimitri found the board and contacted a jeweler in South Africa who had helped create his parents’ engagement ring.

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

I wanted the wedding to pay homage to theatre and fashion as a performance. We envisioned a fall wedding, hoping for a misty and moody atmosphere.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

Living and working in Paris, we wanted to incorporate as many talented creative friends as possible. Thyrse worked on the extraordinary florals, our chef Sahin (currently at Les Oeillets) crafted an unforgettable menu, and our dear friends Ilya and Gabrielle illustrated and designed the menus.

A Fashion Designer's Opulent Wedding in an Enchanting Parisian Château

Planning and natural wines were led by Sara. Everyone poured their heart into it, and by the end, there was such a sweet sense of accomplishment.

^{The Location}

Being based in Paris, our first thought was to find a French château that could accommodate our family, bridal, and grooms' party overnight. It was important that we weren’t traveling on the day or morning after the wedding.

A Fashion Designer's Opulent Wedding in an Enchanting Parisian Château

^{The Ceremony}

The ceremony opened with live violin and cello music. My sisters led the procession, followed by my bridesmaids walking down opposite staircases. When my dad and I walked out, everyone, including my husband, gasped at the dress. It was important for Dimitri’s family that the ceremony was Greek Orthodox, and the priest married us with simple silver wedding crowns.

^{The Reception}

The vision for the reception was a chic, candle-lit dinner party with an unexpected twist—we customized one-meter-tall dinner candles. The menus featured illustrations of us in our ceremony outfits. The florals for dinner were more sculptural and otherworldly, contrasting the traditional French dining room. We wanted an intimate, cozy feeling surrounded by loved ones.

^{The Special Touches}

Guests were welcomed with cosmopolitans and a dirty martini tower, a tribute to our years spent living in New York.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

Like a painting, during the traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony, the clouds opened, and the sun emerged. My husband whispering in my ear after the ceremony, “How will we fit this dress in our apartment?” and us laughing together.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

For the ceremony, reception, and party, I wore custom-designed silk gowns created by me. The dress was designed to balance the grandness and drama of the château, and every detail felt unique and bespoke.

^{The Groom Looks}

Dimitri wore a custom Prada Villains Collection Fall 2012 suit from Martin Greenfield New York, paired with a bowtie by Lindman New York, made from the same fabric as my wedding dress. He completed his look with classic opera pumps.

Our Advice

^{For The Planning Process}

Work with people who are organized and understand your aesthetic. This will give you more confidence to delegate. We wanted each element to be custom—ask for advice, check in regularly with people experienced in large events, and trust your vision. No new ideas a month before the wedding!

^{For On The Day}

Be ready to cancel ideas if they don’t work and have faith that you’ve done enough. The day is about celebrating love and enjoying special moments with friends and family—they won’t notice if the 20 strings of pearls you wanted in your hair are missing... no joke. Try to avoid traveling on the wedding day.

Having the ceremony and dinner at the same location was a blessing. We also stayed overnight at the venue, so whenever I needed something, it was upstairs in my room. On the morning of the wedding, I wore slippers and slipped down the château’s stone stairs. If something goes wrong, stay calm—you can’t plan everything. Days later, I realized I had broken my thumb. Second piece of advice: don’t wear slippers on your wedding day, they have no grip!

^{For Post-Wedding}

We hosted a recovery brunch the next day at the château, which gave us a calm environment to share stories and say our goodbyes. Days after the wedding, Dimitri and I checked out and made no commitments or plans. We stayed in our love bubble and made sure the week was just for the two of us.