Two Weddings and a Birthday
Saturday five days ago, on Summer Solstice, my sister Cyrille got married. The day prior, my brother-in-law Stern got married. The day after, my god-daughter Jade turned 8. Needless to say, last weekend was one of many celebrations.
Two of these celebrations took place in the idyllic place of Chateau de Roussan in St. Remy de Provence, a small town in the Rhone region of Southern France, not far from Avignon. I learned while there that the city’s two claims to fame (other than the amazing countryside, kind residents, excellent produce, and overall beauty) is that St. Remy is the birthplace of Nostradamus (I saw the house where he was born), and where Caroline de Monaco lived for a few years with her two children after the death of her second husband, Stefano Casiraghi.
The entire weekend was spent in the Chateau, which was fully occupied by the wedding party and guests – in effect, we felt like we lived there for three days. I felt like I got a glimpse of what it would have been like to live in the French equivalent of Downton Abbey. I definitely could have gotten used to it, including the part where my husband and I played a game of chess in the Chateau’s library …
The rehearsal dinner consisted of a gathering of 30-some Swiss guests, and one French guest, cheering for opposite sides of a World Cup game this past Friday. The wedding celebration was held in the garden, on a gloriously sunny Saturday afternoon, a perfect setting for a perfect couple and my nephew Leonardo. A picnic apero in the grass was followed by an outdoor dinner, and then dancing until 3 am. Apparently, my sisters and I can dance!
My sister, the most beautiful and generous bride, shared the “morning after brunch” with my god-daughter Jade, who turned 8 that day.
Jade and I the morning after, on her 8th birthday
The entire weekend was filled with love, laughter, some tears, hugs, kisses, and champagne. The best part? The people. I was reminded of the best reason to have a wedding – the opportunity to bring together all of the people you love in one place, at one time. Thank you Cyrille and Marin! And we get to do it all again this fall, when another of my sister is getting married … in Bordeaux! Stay tuned …
