The Bride's Dress Inspired Her Bohemian Rehearsal Dinner at a French Château

Angela Capezza and Ketan Ganase first crossed paths as students in 2016. "A law school peer, Cullen, invited me over to his apartment for dinner and a night on the town with friends," remembers Angela. "When I arrived, I was introduced to Cullen’s new roommate, Ketan. There was an instant connection, and we spent the entire night sharing stories and laughing. After some flirtatious banter back and forth, numbers were exchanged and a first date took place at Komodo in Miami on August 4, 2016."

After years of many more meals and adventures together, Katan popped the question on a boardwalk while the couple were on vacation in Cancun for New Year's Eve. "Ketan lured me onto the pier with the promise of a Mexican tequila tasting," says Angela. "To my surprise, there was no tequila at all—only happy ever after."

When it came to their wedding, both the bride and groom imagined tying the knot at a French château. "Ketan, who was born in France, always knew that he wanted to get married there, and I always dreamed of a fairytale castle wedding," shares Angela. "We came across Château Challain and determined it to be the perfect venue to make our dream wedding come true."

The couple brought guests together from around the globe to celebrate their nuptials at a two-day affair, beginning with a bohemian-inspired rehearsal dinner on an outdoor terrace overlooking the château gardens. See all the details from the lovely event on August 20, 2021, planned by Cynthia Nicolson and photographed by Catherine Chuang Photo.

The rehearsal dinner took its neutral and natural aesthetic from Angela's dreamy lace dress from French designer Rue de Seine. "The design inspiration came directly from the boho dress," explains planner Cynthia Nicolson. Ketan also donned a neutral linen jacket for the event.

The dreamy tablescapes were covered with linen tablecloths with pops of texture and color. "Beautiful lights hung from the trees and handcrafted flower arrangements decorated the tables," remembers the bride.

Organic arrangements in vintage vessels of various hues and heights decorated the table. "We had pampas grass and white florals to connect to her wedding next day," adds the planner.

Each guest had their meal served on an elegant cream plate adorned with a linen napkin tied with a sweet succulent.

In addition to florals, the tables also were styled with vintage lanterns to add a dreamy glow as the sun went down.

Caterers from Les Saveurs Dupré created a menu of incredible fresh salads, grains, and even a whole roasted pig for the evening.

No French dinner is complete without a cheese course. Guests could select nibbles from a beautifully arranged spread.

The couple share that bringing inspiration boards to their planner and floral designers was key to curating the lovely night. "The process was fantastic working with Cynthia," they say. "She put our vision to life."

Bringing together their loved ones for their celebration in another part of the world was truly a joy for both Angela and Katan "The overall ambience of finally getting to see family and friends again after a long pandemic was absolutely magnificent," they reflect.