You’ve seen the bride + groom’s luxe Chateau welcome party, now it’s time to hear their love story and all about the wedding day itself. Find Taylor and Lexie’s wedding as photographed by Monika Frias and with design and planning by our Vendor Guide member, Matthew Oliver below!
Taylor and Lexie may have grown up in the same small town of New Albany, Ohio, but their worlds couldn’t have been more different—Taylor was forming a rock band with his history teacher, while Lexie was leading the track team and excelling academically. Despite their separate paths, they shared an undeniable passion for life.
Years later, fate—and a little matchmaking from Lexie’s late mother brought them back together in New York City. Both newly single, their moms conspired to set them up, leading to a friendship built on late-night concerts, a shared love of music, and endless adventures in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Lexie and Taylor’s wedding day unfolded like a dream, set within the 80-acre private enclave of a historic French Château. Enclosed by a medieval wall—a work of art in itself—the grounds were pure magic, featuring classic French gardens, a shimmering lake, and a lush potager garden filled with fragrant herbs, fruit trees, and vegetables. Just beyond, a centuries-old white oak forest stood adorned with statues once gifted by King Louis XV, adding yet another layer of romance to the scene. Our Vendor Guide member Matthew Oliver designed and planned an event to remember, with Monika Frias capturing it all.
No Typical Wedding Looks
When it came to wedding weekend attire, Lexie and Taylor had one rule—no typical wedding looks. Instead, their vision was pure editorial drama:
For Lexie: Volume. Tulle. Fantasy.
For Taylor: Rock & Roll. Black Tie. Texture.
Lexie’s Look:
For the Welcome Party, Lexie set the tone in a breathtaking black Carolina Herrera high-low gown—a statement piece that perfectly mirrored the Château’s grandeur. The drama of the sweeping skirt, set against the historic backdrop, was nothing short of cinematic. But when it came to the day-of, the drama and whimsy was brought by her pink wedding dress.
Shoes by Jimmy Choo, Mach and Mach lined the dresser.
This Taller Marmo pink feather dress is a dream.
A Bubblegum Pink Wedding Dress
For Lexie, every bridal look across the wedding weekend was designed to be a moment. “Volume. Tulle. Fantasy.” was the theme, and each ensemble delivered just that.
For the ceremony, she walked down the aisle in a custom bubblegum-pink Nicole & Felicia gown, an ethereal cloud of tulle that felt right at home in the French Neoclassical setting of the Château. “I always imagined wearing pink and tulle down the aisle—it was important to me to make an indelible vision.” Designed remotely from sketches to final fitting, her pink wedding dress arrived just three months before the wedding, but it was perfection. A sleek high bun with sweeping bangs, soft rose-toned makeup, and Anabela Chan pink diamond earrings completed the look.
The Venue
For Lexie and Taylor, a destination wedding was non-negotiable—they wanted a multi-day celebration where they could fully immerse themselves with loved ones. Lexie had always dreamed of a wedding inspired by Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, blending 18th-century French neoclassicism with a punk rock attitude. The perfect setting? Hôtel Château du Grand-Lucé in France’s Loire Valley, an opulent 1760s estate once favored by Louis XV’s court.
Renting out the entire 45,000-square-foot château and its 80-acre grounds, they turned the space into a weekend-long extravaganza filled with string quartets, rock bands, fireworks, feasts, pool parties, and after-after parties.
As guests took their seats, the afternoon sun cast the most golden glow over the gardens. Lexie walked down the aisle with her father and two brothers by her side, where Taylor waited, surrounded by the community that had shaped their love story. The ceremony was deeply personal, officiated by Taylor’s father, Stephen, and woven with words that reflected their life together—one built on passion, intention, and an unwavering commitment to one another.
Their vows? A promise to never settle for mediocrity, to live a life of “and” rather than “or,” and to always lead with empathy—for themselves, for each other, and for the world they’re building together.
“For us, marriage was a conscious choice to recommit in front of our closest friends and family,” Lexie shared. “We had already built such a beautiful, committed life, but in that moment, I could feel a whole new chapter unfolding.”
And for Taylor, it was nothing short of awe-inspiring. “How did someone so brilliant, beautiful, and creative choose me? Lexie’s vision brought this wedding to life, just like she brings so much beauty into every part of our life together. The feeling of that moment didn’t end at the altar—I carry it with me every day.”
After a dreamy cocktail hour in the gardens, guests were welcomed into the next chapter of the evening in the most unforgettable way—a portrait gallery featuring individual oil paintings of each guest, reimagined in playful 18th-century French attire. A moment of pure delight and surprise, setting the tone for the magic to come.
Dinner unfolded in front of the grand Château, where a breathtaking Marie Antoinette-inspired tablescape came to life. Designed by the visionary Aime Bone, the setting was dripping in candlelight, overflowing florals, and cascades of tulle—decadence at its finest. The evening began with heartfelt toasts from Lexie’s father and two brothers, a deeply personal tribute to both Lexie and Taylor’s individual journeys and their love story as a couple—one that had been intertwined since their families first met in high school.
To officially kick off the night’s celebrations, Taylor sabered a magnum of Billecart-Salmon rosé—the favorite champagne of Lexie’s late mother—using a saber engraved with her college nickname, “Vissers.” As the champagne cascaded into a coupe tower, fireworks lit up the sky, perfectly timed to Arcade Fire’s Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) and She’s a Rainbow by The Rolling Stones, a song Lexie’s mother used to sing to her. Not a dry eye in sight!
And then—Lexie shouted, “Let’s party!” and guests followed her into the Château’s transformed ballroom (once a grand stable), where the night took on a whole new energy. Inside, a world of decadence and revelry awaited: dessert towers, a custom bar, wig stations, flowing tulle installations, and two stages for back-to-back performances that lasted until 4 AM.
Venue: Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé | Design and Planning: Vendor Guide member, Matthew Oliver | Photography: Monika Frias | Florals: Amie Bone Flowers | Hair: Kasun | Makeup: Rika Bitton | Music: Anna Stromer’s String Quartet Saved by the 90s, Re-branded as “The Antoinettes” for the evening: Digitalism | Catering/Cake: Chef Maxime | Stationery: Meticulous Ink | Brand Visual Development: Cristina Robles
Ceremony Dress: Nicole Felica Custom Bubblegum Pink Wedding Dress. Similar here. | Shoes: Mach & Mach | Earrings: Anabela Chan | Dinner Dress: Sandra Mansour Custom Gown | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Earrings: Sophie Billie Brahe
Reception Dress: Monique Lhuillier Fall 2022 | Shoes: Mach & Mach | Earrings: Sophie Billie Brahe
