Influencer Xiayan Guo's Cinematic Abbey Wedding in Southern France

Rooted in minimalism yet rich with Mongolian tradition, the style influencer's French abbey wedding wove architectural grandeur with poetic cultural symbolism

Some weddings feel like stories unfolding in real time – immersive, intentional, and impossible to forget. Xiayan and Rod’s celebration at the Abbaye de Valmagne in the South of France was exactly that: a poetic union of raw minimalism, mystical beauty, and cinematic atmosphere. The nearly thousand-year-old abbey, with its soaring arches and candlelit cloisters, became both stage and sanctuary. The couple envisioned a stripped-back celebration – no screens, no microphones, no excess – allowing architecture, light, and ritual to guide the experience. Their ceremony began with cloaked, monk-like figures who later revealed breathtaking Mongolian garments and performed traditional throat-singing, a moving tribute to Xiayan’s heritage that set the tone for the evening. Design and detail carried the same quiet intensity. A single 30-meter-long table, draped in sculptural white fabric and lined with hundreds of handmade candles, became the centerpiece of a champagne dinner that ended with a one-meter-wide blueberry tart. A wedding not just witnessed, but lived.

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

We met at a party during Paris Fashion Week in 2021. Nothing too surprising—we both work in the fashion world, after all. But what followed was far more unexpected… it took seven dates and three whole months before Xiayan agreed to our first kiss. Four years later, we got married.

^{The Proposal}

The proposal happened in China, during a trip to visit my family, who still live there. We were in Beijing, staying at one of our favorite hotels (The PuXuan), lying on the bed and talking, when he suddenly asked me to look under the pillow. That’s where I found the ring. We both value discretion, so it made perfect sense for him to propose in the intimacy of a hotel room—a quiet and romantic moment, just for us.

^{The Engagement Ring}

The engagement ring is from Graff. Rod bought it in 2024 at the Place Vendôme boutique, and he was completely mesmerized by the brilliance of the diamonds—so was I!

Influencer Xiayan Guo's Cinematic Abbey Wedding in Southern France

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

We wanted a minimalist wedding, with a mystical edge and a strong cinematic visual. That vision guided the entire creative direction: no visible tech, no screens, no microphones, no speeches… and only candlelight for illumination.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

We worked with very few vendors, as we handled most of the wedding ourselves. But one name must be mentioned: Helen Traiteur, who was absolutely exceptional, both in terms of the food and the styling of the table. They beautifully staged every single element we had sourced, and the result was stunning.

^{The Location}

The venue was a cornerstone of the wedding’s success. It was the most time-consuming part of the planning (six months), because the entire story was meant to unfold from the space. At first, we imagined a ceremony and dinner inside the ruins of a historical building. But the risk of unpredictable weather made us reconsider. We then looked for a Cistercian abbey, since they’re often stripped of all ornamentation and offer the kind of raw minimalism we love. After a little tour of France, we visited the Abbaye de Valmagne, in the South of France near Montpellier. And it was love at first sight: nestled in the countryside among vineyards, an ancient church with 25-meter-high ceilings, a cloister still pulsing with spiritual energy in every stone… and most importantly, the possibility of holding the entire wedding in one place, protected from the rain, open yet covered. It was perfect.

^{The Ceremony}

We wanted the ceremony to be highly visual, unexpected, and graphic—conceived almost like a mini-show with a precise lineup. We had timed the walk from the church entrance to the altar: approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds. Long enough to make the entrance feel powerful and emotionally charged. Once the guests were gathered around the altar with the priest, a solemn piece of music began: Stabat Mater, Fons Amorisby Vivaldi. Two figures were the first to walk down the aisle, dressed entirely in black, monk-like robes with hoods covering their faces, making them completely unrecognizable.

They positioned themselves silently on either side of the altar. No one knew who they were, what they symbolized, or what role they might play. Then came Rod, my future husband, walking in with his mother, Evelyne. Next, my own mother, Lia, entered the church accompanied by two of our witnesses. Finally, I made my entrance with my father, the sound of my gown’s train brushing against the stone floor echoing softly through the space.

Influencer Xiayan Guo's Cinematic Abbey Wedding in Southern France

The ceremony was led by Brother David, a wise monk and theologian, who centered his words on the extraordinary union of two people who grew up over 10,000 kilometers apart—between Brittany and Inner Mongolia—and yet somehow found each other. We also chose to include a quote by Lao Tzu on kindness, which holds deep meaning for us. Then came the moment of the first kiss, the climax of the ceremony, but also its turning point. As our lips touched, the two mysterious monk-like figures removed their cloaks… revealing breathtaking traditional Mongolian garments underneath. They then retrieved string instruments hidden behind the altar and began to play khöömei, the ancient art of Mongolian throat singing. A complete surprise, and the moment that shifted the mood into something more relaxed, joyful, and unexpected.

Influencer Xiayan Guo's Cinematic Abbey Wedding in Southern France

^{The Cocktail Hour}

We envisioned the entire event as rich and continuous, without any downtime. So we decided to host a welcome cocktail before the ceremony, giving guests time to gather and settle in. It took place in the main courtyard of the abbey. Once the ceremony in the church had concluded, we moved into the cloister. After a few photos with our guests, it was time to begin the dinner.

^{The Reception}

The dinner was, for us, the true climax of the entire celebration—the part we spent the most time preparing, with the goal of making it unforgettable and unlike anything else. A single, uninterrupted 30-meter-long table, draped in crinkled white fabric that we had personally sourced and purchased. Lined with hundreds of candles, each one handmade by a traditional candle-maker in Florence, Italy. Dinner was champagne-only, served in three stages, and concluded with an extraordinary dessert: a one-meter-wide organic blueberry tart, as delicious as it was photogenic. The atmosphere was nothing short of magical. A nearly thousand-year-old cloister lit only by candlelight, and a playlist we had curated together one quiet Sunday afternoon in June.

^{The Special Touches}

Several special touches were thoughtfully woven into the ceremony. One of the most meaningful for us was the surprise appearance of Mongolian singers, a way to honor Xiayan’s Chinese heritage with a traditional and emotional gesture. We also chose to go all in with fully draped furniture, as seen on the dinner table, creating a soft, sculptural aesthetic throughout. A particularly special detail: we were fortunate to receive a donation from fashion designer Rick Owens—whom Rod collaborates with regularly—who gifted us the fabric used in his Women’s Fall/Winter 25 runway show. This fabric was used to dress the altar where the ceremony took place, as well as the bar structure during the cocktail hour. And instead of the classic French pièce montée, we wanted something different for dessert. Helen Traiteur created a breathtaking one-meter-wide organic blueberry tart, both delicious and visually unforgettable.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

Our favorite moment, for both of us, was the dinner. Not only because we had spent so much time imagining and designing it (it truly was the heart of the entire wedding), but also because it was the first moment we felt completely relaxed, with the ceremony behind us, and fully present to enjoy it. And most of all, we were just so happy to be surrounded by our closest friends—we felt deeply supported, loved, and held in their presence.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

I wore three different looks throughout the wedding, thanks to the support and collaboration of my wonderful partners. The first was a breathtaking custom-made gown by Lihi Hod, entirely tailored to my body; it took an hour and a half to take every measurement down to the millimeter! The second look, worn for dinner, was a stunning, figure-hugging dress by The New Arrivals. And finally, for the more festive part of the evening, I changed into a piece by SAU LEE—a look that beautifully blended traditional Chinese elements with a modern silhouette, embellished with delicate pink sequins.

^{The Groom’s Looks}

As for Rod, he wore a made-to-measure Prada suit for all three moments—Prada being one of his clients—paired with the “Apparat” shirt by Bourrienne, known for its high collar and distinctive cuffs.

^{Our Bridesmaid’s Look}

My only witness and dearest friend, Meng, wore a semi-sheer and strikingly elegant look by Helsa Studio.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

First piece of advice: start early! Beyond the essentials—like the venue, catering, guest list, and outfits—there are a thousand little details that shouldn’t be overlooked. The sooner you begin planning, the more space you’ll have at the end to focus on those final touches. Secondly, if you’re planning the wedding as a couple, just the two of you, it’s key that each person focuses on what they do best—what they actually enjoy doing—even if the workload isn’t perfectly balanced. And finally (though this might be something unique to us), we found it much more enjoyable and reassuring to work with people from our inner circle, people we trust and feel comfortable with, whether it’s the ceremony officiant, the DJ, or anyone else involved.

Influencer Xiayan Guo's Cinematic Abbey Wedding in Southern France

^{For On The Day}

On the wedding day, it’s essential to have a few “helping hands” who are well briefed—ideally even a dedicated production team—so the couple doesn’t have to deal with logistics throughout the day and evening! And as the saying goes… the bride and groom are often the most exhausted people at their own wedding! So make sure to get a good night’s sleep beforehand, and stock up on energizing drinks for the big day.

^{For Post-Wedding}

For the post-wedding comedown, our advice would be: don’t rush off on a long trip right away, and definitely don’t dive straight back into work or a new project! We chose to rent a house for about ten days, staying in one place, where friends and family could come and go. It allowed us to spend more quality time with everyone, to truly rest… and to start sorting through the thousands of photos we received after the wedding!