For Suzanne Katherine and Max Mednik, sparks flew immediately when they met at a football game attended by a group of mutual friends. “We had so much in common and so much we wanted to talk about and do together,” shares Max of that first meeting. Just under two years later, Max proposed to Suzanne while they were vacationing in Paris. The day began with breakfast at the Louvre and a tour of the city, followed by a romantic boat ride down the Seine. Max timed the moment perfectly, asking Suzanne to be his wife just as they passed beneath the Lover’s Bridge. Spectators caught up in the moment showered the couple with rose petals from the bridge, and the remarkable day ended with dinner at the Eiffel Tower.

Due to Suzanne’s recent enrollment in medical school, Max took the primary role in planning the celebration with the help of a wedding consultant. With the couple’s beautiful Parisian engagement in mind, Max incorporated French influences into the wedding theme and selected lavender – the couple’s favorite color – as the main element in the décor scheme. When it came to wedding professionals, Max chose vendors based on their professionalism, portfolio, and overall ability to deliver. “Beware of prospective vendors that are too proud, or even slightly rude,” warns the groom, who recognized the importance of selecting professionals whose personalities meshed well with his. In an effort to make the day as special as possible, Max worked diligently to include romantic surprises and personalized touches from beginning to end. A custom save-the-date suite included a “passport to love” and an Air France “ticket,” while a unique invitation suite consisted of scrolled invites delivered in lavender Eiffel Tower-shaped boxes.

The stage for the ceremony was set at a beautiful resort, where a pristine lawn on the property was decorated with hundreds of fresh florals. “Suzanne loves flowers and wanted tons of them,” Max explains. The ceremony aisle boasted French-style hedging perfectly paired with large arrangements of lavender and purple roses. Lavender rose petals covered the aisle that led to a striking domed pavilion, where a traditional Jewish chuppah was incorporated for the service. Suzanne fondly remembers the moment that Max saw her for the first time on their wedding day. “My bridesmaids blindfolded Max and led him to where I stood waiting,” describes the bride. “It was awesome to see the shock on his face when he saw me.” Suzanne wore an immaculate custom gown with a train nearly six feet long, and her bouquet of roses featured a dazzling crystal-encrusted handle. A customary Jewish ceremony commenced, highlighted by the couple’s personalized vows while an artist painted the romantic scene as it unfolded.

An inviting cocktail hour was set up on the lawn for guests to enjoy before transitioning to the reception. A beautiful boxed arrangement of mixed florals held a wish tree, where guests could write sweet sentiments on note cards and hang them on the branches. Round tables draped in lavender linens held towering centerpieces of roses and soft candlelight, while dreamy lighting and beautiful chairs dressed in satin overlays completed the room’s fairy-tale appearance. Guests were gifted with boxes of French macarons before enjoying a sit-down dinner service with a choice of either fresh sea bass or scrumptious filet mignon. Max was delighted to surprise Suzanne with a wedding cake created in the likeness of the Eiffel Tower. The all white confection displayed intricate sugar beading, crystals, and fresh floral embellishments.

A full night of dancing to the sounds of a live band from Israel concluded the festivities of the day, and the couple and their guests couldn’t have been happier with the outcome. “Don’t get caught up in the tiny details – decide in advance what really matters to you,” says the bride. “The day is about celebrating love, family, and friends.” Max was elated that everything turned out as he had imagined. “Overall, the attention to detail and care for our guests was very important to us, and the day reflected just that,” shares the groom. “It was perfect.”