Draguignan · Var (83) · 75 guests · Full planning · May 2025
When Laurent, a Var native, and Michelle, based in Los Angeles, decided it was finally time to celebrate their union the way they had always imagined, they chose Château Saint-Esprit in Draguignan, the place Michelle had fallen in love with during her first holidays in the south of France. Planned entirely from across the Atlantic in just seven months, this weekend brought together an intimate vow renewal ceremony, a dinner under a nomadic tent, and a family brunch the following morning, set against the vineyards and stone walls of Provence.
Who are Michelle & Laurent?
Laurent grew up in the Var. Michelle is Canadian, now living in Los Angeles. They had married a few years earlier, quietly, without the celebration they had dreamed of. When they finally decided to make it happen, the choice of location was clear: the south of France, Laurent’s home and the place Michelle returns to every year with joy. The idea was simple and ambitious at once: a full weekend with their closest family and friends, starting with a vow renewal ceremony and ending with a relaxed brunch the next day.
The vision: a warm Provençal celebration, planned from 9,000 km away
Château Saint-Esprit was the natural choice: its vineyard setting and stone architecture captured exactly the atmosphere they were after, genuine, elegant, deeply rooted in Provence. For their 75 guests, Michelle and Laurent wanted quality local vendors, a warm and convivial atmosphere, and a seamlessly coordinated weekend, without having to manage a single detail from Los Angeles.
This is precisely where having a wedding planner on the ground in Provence makes all the difference. Cécilia is bilingual in English and French, which meant Michelle could follow every contract, every vendor negotiation, without anything getting lost in translation. Meetings were scheduled around time zones, and communication stayed clear and direct throughout.
The challenge: 7 months, a weather call, and a last-minute tent
Michelle and Laurent reached out to L&J Wedding Planner at the end of October 2024: the venue was booked, the date set for May 24, 2025. Seven months to plan a full weekend from Los Angeles: a tight timeline, entirely manageable with the right structure in place from day one.
Cécilia built a comprehensive planning timeline with every task and deadline mapped out, a shared tool that gave the couple full visibility on progress without needing to chase anything. Vendors were sourced from the local network: a Provençal caterer, a floral designer and decorator, a DJ, hair and make-up artists, all selected to fit both the budget and the aesthetic.
A few days before the wedding, the weather forecast looked uncertain. The call was made quickly: install a nomadic tent for the dinner. Last-minute logistics, vendors to mobilise, floor plan to rework. All of it handled behind the scenes, so the couple didn’t have to think about it for a second. On the day, the celebration unfolded exactly as planned: relaxed, beautiful, and entirely stress-free.
The L&J touch: from the planning timeline to the printed vows
This wedding is a clear illustration of what full planning actually means. Cécilia didn’t just coordinate vendors. She helped Michelle and Laurent build their ceremony structure, suggested ice-breaker activities for their guests, proofread Michelle’s French translations, and on the morning of the ceremony, printed their vows so nothing was left to chance. Present on-site for the entire weekend, she managed every detail in the background so the couple could focus entirely on the people around them.
What they said
“We had an amazing experience working with Cécilia. We were planning our wedding weekend (vow renewals and a brunch) in the south of France where my husband is from, but at a distance from Los Angeles, and there is no way we could’ve organized such a beautiful celebration without her! Elle parle anglais et français, ce qui m’a beaucoup aidé à bien comprendre toutes les détailles avec les contrats et les prestataires. She was so flexible to meet around our schedules and has this cool, calm, friendly “no stress” demeanor that made planning fun and enjoyable. She made a comprehensive plan with all the tasks and dates which was so helpful, she found awesome vendors we really enjoyed working with and within our budget for decor, hair, makeup, etc. to bring our charming vineyard celebration to life, and kept me calm and focused 🙂 She not only does all the major things to plan such a big event, she went above and beyond: she helped provide a ceremony structure that helped us personalize to what we wanted, proofread my French translations, had great ideas for ice breaker activities, even printed our vows the morning of! She was just amazing the whole weekend on-site coordinating vendors and details that we didn’t worry about anything, just peace of mind to enjoy the time with family and friends. We highly recommend working with Cécilia, she’s the best! Merci mille fois Cécilia, you’re the best 🤗”
— Michelle Murray, Google review
The vendors
| Role | Vendor |
|---|---|
| Wedding Planner | L&J Wedding Planner |
| Venue | Château Saint-Esprit |
| Photographer | Lively Stories |
| Videographer | N/A |
| Tent & furniture rental | Projets Events — Yoann |
| Catering | Les Filles du Sud |
| Brunch | La Mezcla Group |
| DJ | DJ Xav Nice |
| Flowers, Décor & Stationery | Alice MD Floral Design |
| Linen sign | Rather Delicate |
| Guest gifts | La Beille de l’Estérel (lavender honey) |
| Make-up | Wedding by Dermalines |
| Hair | Wedding Diogo Marques |
| Wedding dress | Newhite Bridal |
| Suit | ASIT Bridal |
| Rings | Garnish Jewellery |
| Earrings | Eden B Studio |
| Dance lessons | Lindsay Benay & Your First Dance LA |
Frequently asked questions
Can you plan a wedding in Provence if we’re based abroad?
Absolutely, and it’s one of L&J Wedding Planner’s core specialities. Cécilia regularly works with international couples, particularly Franco-American and Franco-Canadian pairs who want to celebrate in Provence. All coordination happens remotely (video calls scheduled around time zones, shared planning tools), and being bilingual in English and French makes every vendor interaction seamless for non-French-speaking clients. [INTERNAL LINK: /services “explore our planning packages for international couples”]
How much lead time do we need to plan a wedding in the Var?
Ideally 12 to 18 months for a peak-season wedding. That said, Michelle and Laurent’s weekend shows that 7 months is entirely doable with a tight structure and the right vendor network. The key: lock in the venue first, then start planning immediately.
What does full planning with L&J Wedding Planner include?
Full planning covers everything from vendor sourcing and contract negotiation to building your planning timeline, managing logistics on the day (and across the full weekend if needed), and handling any last-minute surprises behind the scenes. You show up and we take care of the rest.
