An Intimate Pastel Theme Wedding at Château de la Chèvre d’Or in Eze, France

Eva Penson and Laurent Saltiel first met several years ago in New York City. “It was a cloudy day and unfortunately, I was caught in the rain on my way to an appointment,” Eva remembers.

“Laurent saw me getting soaked in the street and, as the true gentleman that he is, he offered to share his small umbrella as it looked like we were heading in the same direction. We walked and talked for a few blocks before we realized our meetings were at the same location – the Baccarat Hotel in Midtown Manhattan.”

“As a real estate broker specializing in luxury apartments in Manhattan, I was on my way to meet a potential buyer, and Laurent was on his way to meet a friend for an after work drink,” she continues. We both walked into an elevator at The Baccarat Hotel, smiling at each other and happy to know that we were heading to the same place. After a short ride in the elevator, Laurent very politely asked me for my business card. It really didn’t cross my mind that he would be calling me for anything else but my real estate expertise.

 A few weeks later, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a call from him and an invitation for a drink at the Baccarat Hotel. Laurent had many interesting stories up his sleeve, and I was intrigued by his self-confidence, his attention to me and my reactions to his stories. He was very attentive, funny and 100% committed to our conversation. We also realized that we had a lot in common as we both grew up in old Europe and came to America many years ago to make a life for ourselves in this ‘New World.’”

After dating for a year, the couple decided to move in together. That same year, Eva decided to surprise Laurent for his birthday by inviting him to one of her favorite NYC restaurants, Bouley’s in Tribeca. At the end of dinner, Eva handed her then-boyfriend his birthday present, only for Laurent to reveal that he had something for her as well. Eva recalls, “He reached into his pocket and fished out a black leather box. He dropped on his knee in front of me, opened the box and asked me if I would marry him. Jacques, the maître d’ hotel of the restaurant, realized what just took place and sent two flutes of rose champagne to our table. It was one of the most beautiful dinners and surprises I experienced in my life.”

With Eva’s family living in Poland and Laurent hailing from the South of France, hosting a European destination wedding at La Chevre d’or Hotel in Eze was a natural choice. The décor theme was “formal pastel,” which made the venue pop even more against the sparkling Mediterranean in the background. Cascades of pastel pink orchids filled the space, and candles provided a warm touch.

“Our close friends and family members came from all over the world to share this special day with us,” says the bride. “I think what really made this event special is the time that our guests spent together – how they connected and got to know each other over those few days on the French Riviera.”

For their honeymoon, the newlyweds spent ten days at the luxurious Montage Kapalua Bay in Hawaii.