A Romantic Rehearsal Dinner and Wedding at a Chateau in France

Let's Rehearse

long rehearsal dinner table with blue and white printed linens — Rémi Dupac

The pair's rehearsal dinner took place at Le Pigonnet, the hotel where the couple stayed at when they visited France for the first time together. On a scenic stretch of grounds, one long table was set up underneath a pergola, which was covered with string lights and adorned with hanging lanterns.

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Thoughtful Details

warm toned floral rehearsal dinner centerpieces with blue and white place settings — Rémi Dupac

Neely and her mother had planned to use the same table runners for the rehearsal dinner and reception, but when they ran out of time, they decided to buy sheets and have them trimmed to fit (genius!). The blue-and-white printed Matouk x Schumacher sheets set the stage for vibrant centerpieces and an elegant place setting featuring, which was anchored by a vintage-inspired plate. "We also brought along the napkins from our small wedding celebration in Philadelphia, which felt very special," Neely says. "We didn't pack light!"

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Dashing Couple

bride and groom smiling wearing white and light blue rehearsal dinner outfits — Rémi Dupac

For the pre-wedding party, Neely donned a white one-shoulder dress from Bernadette, which she paired with blue Asha earrings and vintage Monolo Blahnik shoes. Rob wore white pants, a button-down shirt, and a blue jacket from Alton Lane.

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Printed Dream

bride walking down stairs wearing floral print off-the-shoulder wedding dress — Rémi Dupac

On the big day, Neely slipped into an off-the-shoulder Monique Lhullier wedding dress with a floral print, sweetheart neckline, and billowing sleeves. She purchased the gown through Mark Ingram Atelier. "Mark is a close family friend—he is the ultimate guide for the wedding-dress hunt," Neely says. "The little dusty velvet bow was all Mark's idea. It was the best finishing touch."

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Pastels Abound

bride standing with family holding floral wedding bouquet — Rémi Dupac

Neely's bridal bouquet by Florésie consisted of white, cream, and light blue flowers; it was tied with a blue silk ribbon. "We wanted to bring out the touches of blue in her gown featured in the butterfly print," says Kerry, one of the couple's planners from Lavender & Rose. The bride's mother, sister, and flower girl dressed in shades that complemented the dress' florals, which resulted in a cohesive pastel palette.

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All in the Details

off-white and light blue wedding accessories — Rémi Dupac

She accessorized her look with Manolo Blahnik slingback sandals and vintage Chanel drop earrings borrowed from her mom. "No veil—the dress did all the work!" Neely says.

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The Groom's Look

groom wearing white tux and watch — Rémi Dupac

Rob wore a white dinner jacket paired with black tuxedo pants and black smoking slippers, all from Alton Lane. Neely's wedding gift to Rob was a classic wristwatch, which he wore on the big day.

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Black-Tie Wedding Party

groomsmen relaxing on wedding ceremony seating wearing black and white suits — Rémi Dupac

Neely and Rob asked their wedding party to meet the black-tie dress code and choose their own looks. "We all talk a lot, so I knew we'd be in touch as they decided," Neely says. "Although it's possible my sister and partner in crime, Chloe, did a little coordinating when I wasn't looking."

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Get Comfortable

blue and tan wedding ceremony lounge outdoor furniture seating — Rémi Dupac

The pair had a unique vision for their ceremony seating as their wedding weekend approached. "The setting was so incredible—it would have been so easy to lean formal," Neely says, "but we wanted to find a way to signal to all our guests to relax and enjoy." Instead of traditional chair rows, the couple put together groupings of couches, lounge chairs, and picnic blankets. Umbrellas were set up to provide some shade and guests were offered parasols.

"Once we had finalized the furniture and how we were going to layout the seating vignettes, we worked with our florist to create coherent floral décor that kept with the relaxed seating style," notes Kerry. Each seating cluster was dressed up with lush greens and blooms; stone urns held natural compositions of blue-and-white florals at the altar.

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Pretty Programs

blue and white wedding ceremony program — Rémi Dupac

Wedding programs featured the same dusty blue shade and an illustration of an olive leaf which, when pulled to the side, revealed the service details.

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Here Comes the Bride

bride during wedding processional in outdoor garden space — Rémi Dupac

Neely made a dramatic solo entrance; she cut through the property's symmetrical shrub garden to meet her father, who escorted her the rest of the way.

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The Personal Ceremony

bride and groom outside for wedding ceremony — Rémi Dupac

Neely and Rob were married by a reverend in an Episcopalian ceremony during their 2020 wedding, so they wanted their wedding in France to feel more personal; they asked their mother's best friend to be their celebrant. "It was the perfect combination of positivity, love, and gravitas," Neely says. "I was in tears the whole time."

The couple wrote their vows together and recited them to one another during the ceremony. Rob's brother and Neely's sister each shared a reading and Neely's youngest brother read the prayers.

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Getting the Party Started

wedding band playing with guests walking behind — Rémi Dupac

The couple hired a string quartet for the ceremony—and then majorly surprised guests during the recessional. As the couple exited the ceremony space, the Jazz Alpes Orchestra appeared from the side of the gardens and picked up the beat of Joe Garland's "In The Mood." "As our guests followed us out of the ceremony, the brass band led us up to the cocktail hour, winding our way through the terraces and gardens of the chateau," Neely says. "It really kicked off the party atmosphere!

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Grazing Station

various food display appetizers for wedding cocktail hour — Rémi Dupac

Neely and Rob stepped away to snap some portraits, but quickly returned to the cocktail hour to socialize with their loved ones. When Neely traveled to France with her father for a planning visit, the highlight of their trip was creating a signature cocktail with the venue. They offered a Provençal lavender spritz (Neely's French version of a Pimm's cup), and an old fashioned with a playful twist, which was Rob's choice. In addition to passed appetizers, guests helped themselves to a buffet of charcuterie and cheese grazing boards.

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Secret Garden Seating Chart

blue and white floral arrangements surrounding escort cards — Rémi Dupac

The couple and their planner teamed up with their florist to create a secret garden seating chart display; they encircled a tree with antique white iron benches and hung gold framed seating assignments from cast iron hooks.

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Custom Print

long reception tables with blue runners under string lights outside — Rémi Dupac

Dinner took place outside, nestled between the buildings of Chateau de la Gaude, where long tables were placed underneath string lights. "We went for warm festoon lighting to bring the French village square feel to the dinner space," Kerry says. The bride used one of Neely & Chloe's custom prints for the table runners.

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Textural Settings

blue and white place setting color scheme — Rémi Dupac

Each place setting included simple white plates, wooden-handled flatware, and dinner menus printed dusty blue cardstock; they matched the welcome booklets that were given to guests upon their arrival. Menus were finished with a white wax seal.

Centerpieces featured seasonal blooms including asters, delphiniums, oxypetalum, alstroemeria, campanulas, Queen Ann's lace, and garden roses—all of which complemented the French garden in the distance.

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French-Forward Dinner

bride and groom smiling during wedding dinner toasts — Rémi Dupac

Neely and Rob wanted the event's dinner and dancing portions to feel like distinct moments on the big-day timeline. "Dinner was meant to feel like a fabulous dinner party under the stars," Neely says. They offered three French wines, including a rosé from the venue; dinner began with lobster with a citrus verbena, followed by a choice of rack of lamb smoked with herbs and potato mille-feuille or sea bream with olive oil, carrots, and fennel.

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The Millefeuille Cake

strawberry millefeuille wedding cake alternative — Rémi Dupac

The couple served a strawberry millefeuille, a layered puff pastry dessert with whipped cream or custard filling. "I'm still dreaming about it," the bride says. "More than one person was late to the dance floor because they needed seconds of dessert!"

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Let's Dance

guests dancing during wedding reception under outdoor string lights — Rémi Dupac

Neely and Rob shared their first dance to Sammy Davis Jr.'s "Something's Gotta Give." After, "the dance floor didn't slow down for a moment—more than a few guests took the stage with the band to show off their moves," Neely says. Once the band wound down for the night, the couple and their guests made their way to the after-party at the chateau's bar and restaurant, where they served classic Croque Monsieur sandwiches, fries, and crepes as late-night snacks.

The couple soaked in the rest of their wedding weekend before heading on their honeymoon in Mallorca, Spain. "Our wedding was smaller than we expected due to all the COVID-19 challenges, but in retrospect, I can't imagine it larger," Neely says. "Rob and I were able to float leisurely from table to table, stealing moments with pals and family at every turn."

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