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French Wedding Style

A Grand Paris Celebration from the Ritz to the Palais Garnier

Vicki and Hayden's Paris wedding spanned the Ritz, a Seine cruise, and the Palais Garnier, filmed by Emma Wilson of Story of Your Day.

By Elena Moretti | Published 29 January 2018
A Grand Paris Celebration from the Ritz to the Palais Garnier

Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho transformed Paris into the stage for what Philippine Tatler called the wedding of the century, beginning at the Hotel Ritz Paris, a legendary luxury wedding hotel in the heart of Paris. Their celebration spanned the Ritz, a Seine cruise, The American Church, and a ball at the Palais Garnier, all captured on film by Emma Wilson of Story of Your Day.

Photography
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Venue
Ritz Paris / Palais Garnier
Region
Ile-de-France, France
Couple
Vicki & Hayden

Ceremony

A collage of six wedding portrait images taken at what appears to be the Palais Garnier (Paris Opera House), showcasing a couple across multiple locations within the venue. Top left: a wide shot of the bride and groom on the grand marble staircase, the bride wearing a voluminous ivory ball gown with an extended cathedral train. Top center: the couple dancing or twirling on the main staircase landing, the bride in a pale blue ball gown and the groom in a white military-style jacket, with large white floral arrangements of hydrangeas and roses flanking the space. Top right: a close portrait of the couple in a gilded room, the bride in a heavily embellished silver-grey long-sleeved gown with a long train. Bottom left: the couple sharing a kiss in front of a pipe organ backdrop decorated with cascading lavender and white floral arrangements, the bride in an ivory gown with a long veil. Bottom center: a silhouette-style portrait of the couple standing before tall arched windows with natural backlight, the bride's embellished train spread across the floor. Bottom right: a wide shot of the grand staircase lined with white floral arrangements, with a monogram crest reading 'H V' inlaid on the floor in the foreground. The overall decor palette features white blooms, gold architectural detailing, and warm chandelier lighting throughout. Potential venue feature image.
A wide-angle interior shot of the grand staircase at the Palais Garnier (Paris Opera House), decorated for a wedding reception or ceremony entrance. The marble staircase is flanked on both sides by tall dark pedestal urns filled with full white floral arrangements, likely white hydrangeas and roses, interspersed with small gold votive candle holders lining the balustrades. A monogram gobo light projection on the marble floor in the foreground displays the initials 'H' and 'V' inside an ornate shield-shaped crest design. The venue's gilded bronze candelabras, classical sculpture figures, and warm amber lighting from wall sconces illuminate the grand Beaux-Arts architecture. The decor palette is white, gold, and dark green, with a classic, formal styling theme. Potential venue feature image.
The bride and groom share their first kiss during an indoor church ceremony, standing at the altar steps in front of a large pipe organ with ornate carved wooden paneling. The bride wears a blush pink lace ball gown with an off-the-shoulder neckline, a long cathedral-length veil, and a jeweled headpiece, while the groom is dressed in a classic black tuxedo. Large arrangements of lavender and light purple delphinium-style flowers on tall black stands flank the altar on both sides, adding height and a soft purple color palette to the ceremony decor. The altar features gilded carved stonework with relief figures, and a cream upholstered stool is visible to the left. The shot is a full-length portrait taken from a slight distance, capturing the full volume of the bride's gown and veil.

The ceremony at The American Church in Paris brought together family and friends in a setting that balanced grandeur with emotional sincerity. Vicki wore custom Michael Cinco gowns while Hayden donned Tom Ford suits, setting an elegant tone from the first notes of music. Performances inspired by The Phantom of the Opera added a theatrical dimension to the vows, lifting the ceremony into the realm of spectacle.

Reception

Wide shot of a wedding reception setup inside an ornate Baroque-style grand hall, identifiable as the Grand Foyer of the Palais Garnier in Paris. The room features floor-to-ceiling gilded architectural details, large painted ceiling murals, and rows of elaborate gold candelabra chandeliers casting warm amber light throughout the space. Round guest tables are dressed in white or ivory linens and set with gold Chiavari chairs, crystal glassware, and gold charger plates. Tall centerpieces of white roses and white hydrangeas on slim clear or gold pedestals are placed at regular intervals across the room, creating a consistent all-white floral scheme against the gold backdrop. No guests are present, indicating this is a pre-reception setup shot. The decor palette is white and gold with a classic formal theme. Potential venue feature image.
First dance at Palais Garnier staircase bride in blue tea-length gown groom in white jacket white hydrangea urns flanking
A couple shares a first dance inside a grand indoor venue featuring ornate stone balustrades, tall marble columns, and multiple candelabra-style chandeliers providing warm amber lighting. The bride wears a strapless, crystal-embellished blush gown with a fitted bodice and full skirt, while the groom is dressed in a white dinner jacket with black trousers and a black bow tie. Both are laughing and appear mid-movement on a white dance floor, with large arrangements of white hydrangeas and gypsophila flanking them on either side. The composition is a full-length portrait shot, and the architectural backdrop suggests a prestigious Parisian venue such as the Palais Garnier opera house. Potential venue feature image.
The groom, wearing a white dinner jacket with a black bow tie, leans in to kiss the bride during what appears to be a reception speech moment, as he holds a microphone in one hand. The bride is wearing a blush/champagne sequined or beaded strapless gown. In the background, a man in a black tuxedo and bow tie watches the moment, holding a champagne flute and bottle, likely a wedding host or MC. The setting is an ornate indoor reception hall with warm ambient lighting, gold drapery, and an elaborate decorative fountain or sculptural piece visible in the background, suggesting a classic French chateau or palace-style venue. The shot is a medium close-up portrait capturing the candid kiss.

The lavish ball at the Palais Garnier became the centrepiece of the celebration, its gilded interiors matching the scale of the occasion. Vicki and Hayden's first dance, set to their own recording of Take Me As I Am from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, combined cinematic flair with genuine emotion. Candlelit dinner, heartfelt speeches, and performances by opera singers and television personalities filled the evening with warmth and wonder.

More from the Day

Two wedding guests arrive at what appears to be a formal indoor venue, walking on a red carpet at the entrance. The woman wears a blush pink beaded gown with a mermaid silhouette and a white satin wrap jacket, carrying a small embellished clutch, while the man wears a white dress shirt with a black bow tie and black trousers in a classic tuxedo style. The man has his arm around the woman and they are both smiling. The shot is a medium portrait taken at the venue entrance, with ornate dark architectural details visible in the background.
A couple shares an intimate portrait moment indoors, standing close together with foreheads nearly touching and hands held. The bride wears a silver-grey heavily embroidered gown with gold floral detailing, a fitted bodice, and a full train spread across the floor; the groom wears a black tuxedo with a black bow tie. They are positioned in front of ornate cream-and-gold double doors with carved decorative panels, characteristic of French classical interior architecture, with a gold wall sconce visible to the right and sheer white drapes framing a tall window to the left. The decor palette is cream, ivory, and gold with a patterned carpet underfoot, reflecting a formal classic French interior style. Medium full-length portrait shot.
A couple portrait taken indoors in a grand Parisian hotel suite, with the bride and groom standing together facing open French doors that lead to a wrought-iron balcony overlooking a Haussmann-style cityscape. The groom wears a classic black tuxedo, while the bride wears a heavily embroidered silver and ivory long-sleeved gown with an extended cathedral train featuring intricate metallic scrollwork detail. The room features sage green draped curtains with swag valances, gold-accented moldings, a white marble fireplace, wall sconces, and a patterned cream carpet, reflecting a formal classic Parisian interior style. The image is a full-length wide shot, backlit by natural light flooding through the open doors, creating a silhouetted effect against the bright city view beyond. Potential venue feature image.
A couple shares a kiss on the grand marble staircase of the Palais Garnier (Paris Opera House), captured in a wide portrait shot from behind. The bride wears a voluminous ball gown with an extensively embroidered blush-ivory skirt and a long cathedral train that spreads dramatically across the steps, featuring off-the-shoulder detailing. The groom is dressed in a classic black tuxedo with a bow tie. The staircase is decorated with large arrangements of white flowers — likely white hydrangeas and roses — placed at intervals along the balustrades, alongside gold candle holders lining the steps. The venue's ornate gilded candelabras, arched doorways, carved stone detailing, and warm amber candlelight fill the background across multiple levels of the interior. The overall decor palette is white, gold, and ivory against the warm-toned marble architecture. Potential venue feature image.
Aesthetic
Luxury
Guest Count
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Budget Range
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Bride's Dress
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