Melody & Michael | Winter Wedding in Paris
Featured on Carats & Cake.
Melody and Michael's winter wedding in Paris was the perfect New Years’ celebration for their guests. Their ceremony and reception were held at Hôtel Le Marois in the 8th Arrondissement, a few blocks from Pont Alexander III along the Seine. They both live in San Francisco, so this was a destination wedding for them and all their guests.
Melody started her day by getting ready at Hôtel Alfred Sommier in one of their suites. Harold James did her hair and makeup and created a sophisticated and elegant look that perfectly complemented her sleek Pronovias gown. Her cathedral veil had hand embroidered lace appliques and she paired her look with simple pearl studs and a classic tennis bracelet. Melody created and hand-calligraphed each and every invitation suite herself. Once her hair and makeup were done, we went to the venue so she could put on her dress in the Grand Red Salon, which featured red brocade-inspired designs from floor to ceiling and gold moldings throughout. Her Maid of Honor wore an ox-blood red velvet gown and helped her get dressed. This room was the perfect spot for Bridal Portraits. The grandiosity of the salon was the perfect contrast to the simplicity and elegance of her bridal look.
Melody and Michael did their First Look in the Bolivar Salon in front of an antique water-gilded, gold leaf framed mirror, with a crystal chandelier overhead. From here, we walked down the Grand Staircase to exit the building and go to Pont Alexandre III. We took portraits on the bridge and the Eiffel Tower was the perfect backdrop. Since it was winter and it was chilly outside, Melody paired her look with a white feathered stole. Michael wore a black velvet tuxedo.
Their ceremony took place on the Grand Staircase of Hôtel Le Marois, lit by candlelight. The altar was halfway up the staircase and her cathedral veil draped beautifully as she walked up the aisle. On their way to Paris, Michael's suitcase got lost, and their wedding rings were inside! With only days to find stand-in wedding bands, they opted for miniature handcuffs instead. When they put on their "rings", they handcuffed their fingers to each other and celebrated by raising them high above their heads with glasses of champagne.
The cocktail hour was in the grand lobby of the venue. They had an assortment of hors-de-oeuvres, including cubed salt pork topped with caramelized grapes and black and white polka-dot feathers. They also had a live pianist playing in the center of the room to set the mood. In lieu of official bridesmaids, Melody's closest friends chose their own gowns and all dressed in jewel tones.
Their reception took place in the Washington Salon. This room is the most lavish of them all at Hôtel Le Marois. This room was adorned with floor to ceiling gold moldings and a ceiling painted blue with scenes from the sky. In the center of the room was an oversized crystal chandelier. Instead of having typical centerpieces, Melody and Michael chose to have glass domes in the middle of each table, inside of each was a combination of delicate white florals and coral - reminiscent of their home by the sea back in California. Melody hand-calligraphed the table numbers and escort cards atop each table, which they placed within a glass and gold frame that was a perfect match to the gold moldings that decorated the room. Dinner was a 3-course meal that started with Poached Lobster Ravioli with Coconut Kaffir Lime Broth. The entrée was Truffle Roasted Beef Tournedos with Seared Foie Gras. The servers poured au jus for each guest. For dessert, each guest received their own "chocolate caviar box" with crème brûlée ice cream served on a 6x6 block of ice.
For their First Dance, they danced to Beyond by Leon Bridges, their favorite artist. On the day of their Civil Ceremony in San Francisco, they saw him perform live at a private show at The Battery.
