Go Inside Margo & Me's Jenny Bernheim's Rehearsal Dinner in France

After a boat ride down the Seine River in Paris, Jenny Bernheim and Freddie Cipoletti's 60 guests were transported to the location of the intimate destination wedding, just outside of the big city—Château d'Esclimont in Bleury Saint-Symphorien. The bride behind the blog Margo & Me and her beau continued their weekend of celebrating with a Great Gatsby-inspired rehearsal dinner on Friday, July 24, 2015. The French baroque-style room and its deep maroon walls inspired the evening's color palette. After cocktail hour in the courtyard, everyone ventured inside for the four-course meal and a handful of speeches. Initially, just the maid-of-honor and best man were to toast the couple, but after one speech ended, another guest stood to say something, and the night was filled with heartwarming messages, concluding with the groom toasting his bride-to-be.

Jenny wore a satin Jenny Yoo dress from Bhldn. "I was drawn to the off-the-shoulder neckline and silky, luxe look," she notes. Because her wedding dresses were fuller, she wanted her silhouette for the night before to be a bit more sexy and polished. She channeled silver screen starlets from the roaring 1920s, adding a vintage pin to hear hair that she found weeks prior at an antique store in Paris, a tennis bracelet she received on her 18th birthday, a diamond bracelet that was another antique store find, and diamond studs from her grandparents. A Thale Blanc clutch and Jimmy Choo shoes completed the look.

Freddie fit the throwback style too, wearing a pin-striped Suitsupply suit and a spread collar shirt. "I really appreciate the look of a three-piece suit," Freddie says. "At dinner, I was able to take my jacket off and still feel dressy with just the vest and tie."

Though the elegant pre-wedding celebration wasn't black-tie, many guests, including a couple bridesmaids, dressed in the sophisticated hue.

"My mom has always encouraged the importance of communication in a relationship," Jenny says of the motherly advice she received. "She's always reminding us to check in on and take care of each other."

Here, Jenny and her mother, who wore a Carmen Marc Valvo dress, take a minute to snap a photo together.

The Cordoue Room of the chateau, with its dark maroon walls and gold accents and ornate details set the scene for the seated dinner.

Dahlias are Jenny's second favorite flower, and the flower happen to be in full bloom the month of the wedding. Oversized burgundy dahlias were surrounded by roses, hydrangeas, and scabiosas in the lush centerpieces.

"I woke up the morning of the wedding and all of the centerpieces from the rehearsal dinner had been place in the bathroom of the bridal suite," Jenny remembers. "I walked into a white marble bathroom that was dripping in these dark red dahlias."

The couple's crest was engraved at the top of the flat-printed menu, which outlined the evening's feast.

The meal started with lobster with vegetables and a shellfish foam and followed with a duckling filet crusted with sesame seeds and accompanied by sweet onions confit with honey and pomme anna. Inspired by the sound of Novelle Vague, a mix of French lounge music, new wave, and bossa nova played.

A cheese course of brie de maux refined with truffles followed the entrée and a chocolate-lover's dream was served for dessert.

Because in France, you celebrate weddings with a croquembouche, but because Jenny and Freddie wanted a traditional tiered cake on the big day, the solution was to serve the French confection at the rehearsal dinner.

The couple embraced while they pulled off choux pastry from the tower. Roman candles added a festive glow.

Photography, Katie Mitchell Photography

Location, Catering, and Croquembouche, Château d'Esclimont

Event design, production, and paper goods, Bash Please 

Flowers, Flowerjugs 

Menu printing, Jonathan Wright and Company

Bride's dress, Jenny Yoo 

Bride's accessories, Thale Blanc clutch; Jimmy Choo shoes

Hair and Makeup, Hello To Beauty 

Groom's suit, shirt, and tie, Suitsupply

Groom's shoes, Jimmy Choo