Jessica Madamba had always dreamed of a proposal in France; her boyfriend, Alistair Aaronson, did not disappoint. He got on bended knee and presented a stunning diamond ring to his beloved on the balcony of their hotel room, which overlooked the water, sunset, and the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival.

Wedding planning ensued, quite seamlessly, in fact. The bride credits her wedding planner Maryam Forutan. “She took care of every detail to give us total peace of mind! Working with [vendors] that you understand and that understand you is probably the most important aspect of the process,” Jessica asserts.

The first venue the couple visited was The Beverly Hills Hotel. They immediately fell in love with the luxurious property and its ambience that exudes class and romance. “The customer service was fabulous, with everyone we interacted with going above and beyond to treat us like royalty before we had even decided to secure the venue,” explains Alistair. “This made us feel that our guests would also be treated with the same amazing service during our wedding.”

Desiring a blend of classic luxury and timeless elegance, the couple was inspired by the 17th-century baroque palaces, such as Catherine Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. A palette of white, ivory, soft pastel colors, blush, and gold was settled upon to complement the baroque style.

Since Alistair is British and Jewish and Jessica is Filipino and Catholic, it was important for them to have their customs represented, and a multicultural and interfaith ceremony was planned. “Our officiant incorporated elements of both traditions in a powerful, heartfelt service that highlighted common history, themes, and insights,” explains the bride. The couple exchanged vows beneath a beautiful floral chuppah in shades of blush and vanilla. A sparkling, lighted crystal chandelier was suspended above their heads to complete the sophisticated design. “It completely blew us away and was better than we could have ever imagined!” shares Jessica.

Jessica looked gorgeous in an off-the-shoulder gown of floral lace, whilst her bridesmaids wore long flowing dresses in a pretty shade of pink. Alistair and his groomsmen looked handsome in classic black tuxedos.

Dinner tables, which were arranged around the periphery of the white dance floor, all had grand floral displays in ivory and blush tones, along with candles and crystal candelabras. Each table had a mirrored top with gold accents, which perfectly reflected the colors from the flowers and the shimmering of the candlelight.

The couple was delighted to see their wedding dreams finally come to fruition. “From the dazzling array of flowers, gorgeous venue, and nine-piece live band, the most unique feature of our wedding was definitely the food!” describes the bride. “For the main meal, our guests were offered a selection of starters followed by either chateaubriand or lavender-infused sea bass,” details Alistair. After dinner, a stunning dessert station of cakes, orange blossom crème brûlée, tarts, and petit fours were presented along with generous slices of the couple’s grand seven-tier wedding confection. 

After months of agonizing over what their first dance song would be, the bride and groom finally chose “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” the evening before the wedding – and had not rehearsed at all! “We just went with it, had fun, and danced in the moment!” remembers Jessica. “By the middle of the song, our guests were so energized that they surrounded us on the dance floor and began throwing what seemed like endless petals on us, cheering and dancing until we finished the dance with a spontaneous dip and a kiss!”

After a full night of dancing, guests were offered more treats, such as bite-sized mini cheeseburger sliders and chicken and waffles with hot sauce and warm maple syrup. “There was so much delicious food being offered all night long, and this was definitely the most memorable and unique feature of our wedding,” says Jessica. “Our highest priority was for our loved ones to enjoy a wonderful venue and to have a delicious meal with outstanding service, and I’m so glad we accomplished that.”