Fashion Editor Charlotte Bickley’s Monte Carlo Wedding was Pure Riviera Glamour

From cabana stripes to couture, step inside The Daily Front Row Editor at Large's retro Riviera vision

When a fashion editor gets married, the details are never accidental. For Charlotte Bickley, Editor-at-Large at Daily Front Row, her Monte Carlo wedding was a study in intention, effortless style, and artful detail. From the moment she began planning her wedding, she knew Monaco would be more than just a backdrop—it would embody the weekend’s style and spirit. With her editorial eye guiding every decision, she transformed the Monte Carlo Beach Club into a weekend-long homage to the Riviera’s golden era.

Every element was considered, from retro-inflected design details to a fashion lineup as meticulously planned as the setting itself. Think Grace Kelly glamour, vintage-inflected touches, and design moments that played with color, texture, and nostalgia in all the right ways. Now, Charlotte pulls back the curtain—sharing the inspirations, refined choices, and defining moments that shaped an unforgettable celebration on the Riviera.

Fashion Editor Charlotte Bickley’s Monte Carlo Wedding was Pure Riviera Glamour

The Vision

^{Moodboard to Monte Carlo}

From the beginning, I had a very clear vision for the weekend—cinematic, romantic, and infused with Riviera glamour. The Monte Carlo Beach Club’s old-world glamour and retro waterfront setting became the blueprint. Grace Kelly was my constant muse, influencing not only my wardrobe but also the mood and spirit of the celebration. I’m very detail-oriented, so the vision went beyond décor—it extended to the wardrobe, glam, invites, and more. I even made fashion mood boards for our guests, laying out the vision for each event so everyone felt inspired and excited—like I said, I really get into the little details, Fashion is such a big part of how I express myself, and I wanted my guests to feel excited and inspired, not confused!

Fashion Editor Charlotte Bickley’s Monte Carlo Wedding was Pure Riviera Glamour

The Details

^{Why Monte Carlo}

Monte Carlo hit differently for Charlie and me. Years ago, we fell hard for the Monte Carlo Beach Club—its 1929 Roger Seassal-designed terracotta-and-coral façade, private beach, and members-only club vibe felt like a Grace Kelly movie come to life. The Olympic-sized seawater pool, Michelin-starred restaurant Elsa and Larvotto nature reserve backdrop made it more than a venue—it was our kind of bold. Unlike the Hamptons, where my family has a home, or Bermuda, my dad’s homeland, Monte Carlo was a statement, a place to weave our love story into its 1920s Riviera cool for a wedding that wasn’t just another event.

^{Design Details That Shaped the Vibe}

I wanted the wedding to amplify the Monte Carlo Beach Club’s retro aesthetic, and Alice Wilkes, our designer, delivered just that. The goal was for it to feel romantic but also playful—rooted in the venue’s history while still feeling fresh. She ran every detail by us, anchoring the look in the club’s terracotta red stripes. But even with the clearest plan, surprises happen. Halfway through planning, we hit a snag: the cocktail hour bar had been painted yellow for a Jacquemus pop-up, clashing with our coral-and-brown color palette. I was rattled, but Alice turned it around with retro cabana-style lampshades hanging over the bar, nodding to the venue’s beachy roots. Decco Flame, event specialists, incorporated yellow pinstripe draping that leaned into the pop-up’s energy while keeping our vision, proving that even the unexpected could be woven seamlessly into the day.

With our incredible planner Jennifer Zabinski’s flawless logistics, Alice’s design vision, and The Millustrator’s artistry, every moment felt distinctly ours. From the yellow-bar-turned-chic cocktail hour to the cabana chuppah, vibrant dinner, and nightclub after-party, every moment was us, amplified by the Monte Carlo Beach Club’s charm.

Fashion Editor Charlotte Bickley’s Monte Carlo Wedding was Pure Riviera Glamour

^{The Seaside Ceremony}

Of all the design moments, the chuppah felt the most special. It was a personal nod to our Jewish roots but with my own creative spin; no bushy florals, which felt too expected. Alice designed a beach cabana-inspired structure with a terracotta red stripe, pastel pinks, creams, whites, greens, and pops of yellow and lime green, plus coral florals for a fresh, venue-tied look.

^{A Postcard-Worthy Reception}

The Riviera-inspired palette flowed seamlessly into dinner, where every table formation was chosen with intent. We mixed long and round tables to set the night’s rhythm. Long tables for friends were covered in custom brown-and-white striped tablecloths by illustration and calligraphy studio The Millustrator. The design was inspired by a vintage Monte Carlo postcard featuring the club’s old diving board and retro charm—brought to life by Alice’s team. Custom lampshades with diving board sketches carried the motif, while neutral round tables held brown-striped lampshades and clusters of candles in glass sleeves—cohesive without feeling matchy-matchy. Sculptural coral-toned florals added intimacy to family tables. The mix set the night’s rhythm, sparking lively friend-group toasts and quieter family moments, all against the Riviera’s glow.

^{Personal Touches That Made It Ours}

For me, it’s always been about the little things that make a big impression. Our invitations by The Millustrator were a game-changer, with a bold design that set the tone for the whole weekend. The gatefold showed Charlie and me on the Monte Carlo Beach dock (Chanel’s 2023 Cruise show runway), with a terracotta stripe tying it back to the venue. My Elie Saab wedding dress’s floral straps and his navy Cesare Attolini tuxedo were captured in sharp detail. A whimsical Monaco map and cards outlining the weekend’s festivities gave guests a playful preview—perfect for a destination wedding. To guide seating, Decco Flame created an escort card display in our signature terracotta stripe with a custom crest. Each guest’s name appeared on a postcard-style card, doubling as a space to leave us a note—a detail that tied the look together and made it personal.

^{Club Char 'til Close}

“Club Char,” our after-party, was infused with personal touches at every turn. It was a Riviera nightclub come to life, complete with custom accents from The Go-To: ashtrays, scallop-finish napkins, and a bespoke Monopoly board I designed to tell Charlie and my story. Your Dream Band shifted from classic hits to Ibiza-style beats, keeping the energy fun and far from the stuffy wedding vibe. Two neon signs—“Club Char” and “Non, je ne regrette rien,” inspired by the classic song meaning “I regret nothing”—lit up the bar. These details made the night ours, a love letter to Monaco’s retro edge. As guests danced under the Riviera stars, Charlie and I knew we’d pulled off something iconic.

The Fashion Edit

^{Grace Kelly Inspired Glamour}

As a fashion editor, I approached my wedding wardrobe like curating an editorial—every choice intentional, every detail considered. I wanted my wedding wardrobe to feel very romantic with a touch of glam—because we were in Monaco. Every piece I chose was rooted in timelessness, but had a hint of sequins or beading to amplify that glamorous edge. It’s cliché to say, but I was definitely channeling Grace Kelly. I pulled so much inspiration from her—right down to hair and makeup, which we'll get into. If I had done my wedding somewhere else, I think a lot of my wardrobe choices wouldn’t have worked. But in Monaco, it all just made sense.

Every look was thought-through and tied to the feeling I wanted for each moment of the weekend. For the day party at Anjuna—set against macramé and blue beads—I wore a Markarian dress that felt like it was made for the venue. One of my biggest creative risks came with my second look for that same event: the hooded Chanel runway SS25 swimsuit. It’s essentially a hooded wetsuit, and at first I wasn’t sure if it was the vibe, but I’m so glad I took the risk. The photos are some of my favorites from the weekend. Our photographer's Danilo and Sharon captured them perfectly.

^{Vintage Rehearsal Dinner Finds}

For the rehearsal dinner, I wore a vintage ’90s Versace dress from Happy Isles—you truly can’t find it anywhere. My friends at Jewels Aficionado loaned me over 100 carats in yellow diamonds, and the choker completely made the outfit. I also found a vintage Judith Leiber clam bag on The RealReal that tied the whole look together. It might have been my favorite look of the entire weekend.

^{Waking Up on Wedding Day}

The wedding day began with over-the-top glamour. I worked with Seline Meisler to create a custom getting-ready look—a dramatic corset paired with a sweeping chiffon robe. I’d fallen in love with her corset work the moment she reached out— she's so talented. I paired it with some serious neck candy from Jewels Aficionado to top it all off. It felt like such a glam, special way to start the day.

^{Timeless Elegance for the Ceremony}

For the ceremony, I wore an Elie Saab Spring 2022 gown, reworked from its original beige to a pure, romantic white, with a smaller belt to enhance its delicate silhouette. Beaded floral details cascaded across the bodice, catching the light as I walked down the aisle, evoking Grace Kelly’s ethereal femininity. To ground the look, I chose sleek and understated Jimmy Choo heels, while Jewels Aficionado’s bold stud earrings and a delicate pearl bracelet added a modern yet timeless touch.

^{The Wedding Party Palette}

I had a clear vision for my bridesmaids from the beginning: no matchy-matchy dresses, just a color palette that reflected the wedding’s vibe. I had 10 girls, and I split them into color pairings: two wore pink, two green, two blue, and two yellow. My sister wore a custom white Markarian that tied the group together, while my mom stunned in a custom Lee Anderson gown in vibrant orange with a floral design—she looked like the queen, exactly as I hoped. The bridesmaid diving board shot (a favorite in my album) was planned from the moment I saw the venue, and it did not disappoint.

^{When Couture Hits the Dance Floor}

The night closed with the ultimate Monaco glamour moment: a gold Oscar de la Renta dress, fully hand-beaded and adorned with floral appliqués. Four different tailors turned me down because the beading was too tricky to alter, but the one who finally said, “I can do it!” made my week. I started in gold René Caovilla heels and ended in Chanel Coco Beach flats once the dance floor took over—a finale look that balanced elegance and ease, perfectly wrapping up the celebration.

Glam Notes

Just as Grace Kelly influenced my wardrobe throughout the weekend, she was just as present in my glam. For the rehearsal dinner, my hairstylist Jaime Alcivar and I recreated the iconic side-swept Hollywood hairstyle Grace Kelly wore so often—it felt so true to that era. The next day, we kept that retro spirit, but switched up the style. We actually came up with the look the morning of the wedding! I had been trialing different buns with Jaime for months, but that morning I wasn’t feeling it. Last minute, we decided to go with this retro-inspired half-up, half-down look that felt fresh and romantic. One small but meaningful decision I made last minute was to go with short, natural nails instead of the long claws I usually love—and I’m so happy I did!

The Art of Capturing It All

Editorial Style Snaps

About a month into wedding planning, I knew I wanted to work with photographers Danilo and Sharon. Their wedding photography felt so editorial and timeless—I was obsessed with two weddings in particular that they had shot—Jamie Grimstad’s and Lauren Burke’s. My vision was very clear from the start for how I wanted my wedding weekend captured, and over the course of the year we had several Zooms to align on everything. At one point I even sent them an 88-page slideshow to get the mood just right—ha! They delivered beyond anything I could have imagined. They’re so effortlessly talented, and captured the weekend in a way that felt both elevated and deeply personal.

Cinematic Captures

As for video, I wasn’t planning on hiring a videographer—until I came across Pietro Bernalli’s work from a Bahamas wedding. I was instantly hooked. His films feel like cinema, and he made our wedding look and feel like a movie. One of my favorite compliments from him was, “You were the star of my movie.” I truly love being on camera—there’s a side of my personality that comes alive in that setting, and I’m so grateful he was able to capture it.