• Real Weddings

When people hear the term "destination wedding" they automatically think skyrocketing wedding budgets. However, when it comes to vendors in certain countries like France, there is no markup price on weddings like we have here in the States. So Jimmy and Vanessa's big day was remarkably reasonable, and beautiful to boot! 

Trust us when we say, you won't want to miss a single moment of this couples stunning wedding day. Keep scrolling for more and don't forget to stop by the full gallery. we have lots more to see in there thanks to Anne Letournel. 

Love is in the air

Jimmy, the groom, is originally from the South of France. He moved to Las Vegas at the age of 22. Vanessa is from Las Vegas. The two met at work at a hotel and fast forward 6 years later and the couple plans a wedding with a budget of $20k. 

Vanessa comes from a big family and Jimmy's family still reside in France. The two felt that the best idea to stretch their budget was to hold the wedding in France for a small and intimate wedding with close friends and immediate family members. With 29 guests, including the bride and groom, the wedding of their dreams was made real with the $0 price tag of the landscape of France itself. Not to mention, the bride and groom got married in the oldest church in Cannes, the same church Jimmy's parents got married in 40 years ago. 

Having the ceremony in a Catholic Church and in the same church his parent's got married in 40 years ago, was a small but meaningful nod to both sets of parents. Vanessa walked down to a violin and piano duet of the couple's song "La Vie en Rose." 

Bride and Planner

Vanessa planned the whole wedding herself and coordinated different vendors, with the help of her husband's translations, Google translate and the patient vendors that spoke English. We were lucky in the fact that France doesn't mark up their wedding prices the way that America does. With Jimmy being an executive chef for the most high-regarded chefs in the world, we were able to host a 5-course dinner with cheese, coffee and a full wine pairing for $110 per person - with food that would make any epicurean satisfied. The reception was hosted on a terrace that overlooked a beautiful view of Cannes' provincial buildings and facade. The restaurant hires a DJ every Friday and threw in his services for free. It seemed as if everything fell into place and the vendors were willing to offer whatever they could to assist us. 

Vanessa designed and hand made the dinner menus, ceremony booklets and escort cards and brought them with her on a carryon from Las Vegas. The centerpiece was a row of eucalyptus and roses that matched the couple's romantic and understated style. The photographer is from Nantes, France and flew down specifically to shoot a wedding in the church and town the couple got married in. Since the dinner reception was an intimate dinner, the couple and their guests finished off the night at Baoli Nightclub to carry on the festivities.

Budget Breakdown

Photographer: $2100
Venue: $2300
Cake, Cocktail Hour, Bottomless Ruinart and 5-Course Dinner and Wine Pairing: $7000
Flowers: $2000
Violin & Piano: $350
Accommodation for 4 nights in a suite: $1500
Paper Goods, Escort Cards, Menus: $400
Makeup and Hair: $300
Dress: Gifted from Parents
Tux: $1000
Shoes for Bride and Groom: $1600
Travel: $2000

• Accessories & Lingerie: Christian Dior
• Bridal Boutiques: Panache Costa Mesa
• Cakes & Catering: Wedding cakes by Pamela
• Flowers: Laly Rose
• Groom & His Men: Suit Supply
• Groom & His Men: Louis Vuitton
• Hair, Makeup & Beauty: Zuza Makeup
• Lighting, Entertainment & Photo Booth: Ladys Orchestra
• Lighting, Entertainment & Photo Booth: Jalmain
• Photographers: Anne Letournel
• Venues: The Five Seas Hotel
• Wedding Films: Kristian Barit