Sam and Alex are a Franco-American couple based in New York, and their celebration needed to feel like both sides of that story. A weekend where two families from two countries could come together, with nothing lost in translation.

Finding the right venue took time. We needed a property that could accommodate 120 guests with generous on-site accommodation, and we searched across Bordeaux and the Dordogne before landing at Château de Sannes. Having toured several venues with Sam previously and spoken extensively throughout the scouting process, Samantha visited the property on the couple's behalf and knew immediately it was right. They trusted her judgement and committed without seeing it in person.

The weekend unfolded across four events: an off-site welcome reception, a rehearsal dinner at the château, the wedding day, and a poolside farewell the morning after. The ceremony was conducted by loved ones in both French and English, because that is who this family is.

On the evening of the rehearsal dinner, unforecast rain arrived after everything had been laid up outside. The entire vendor team moved as one: tables covered, sound system protected, and the moment the shower passed, every element was reset exactly as planned. Guests arrived to the evening we had designed for them, with no idea it had been tented under plastic sheeting an hour earlier.