A tender moment underneath the chuppah | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, by Gillian Teboul
There are Jewish destination weddings… and then there are Jewish destination weddings in France and Monaco.
A chuppah set against the glimmering Mediterranean. A black-tie celebration in a grand château that ends with fireworks. A long Shabbat table beneath the cypress trees in Provence, candles flickering as the cicadas sing. An alpine wedding in the French Alps to the sound of crackling log fires.
A Parisian garden venue | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, by Gillian Teboul
But as dreamy as a Jewish destination wedding in France or Monaco can be, planning one from abroad is rarely simple.
That’s why we sat down with Gillian Teboul, founder of Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner – a Paris-based studio dedicated exclusively to weddings in France and Monaco, founded by a Jewish bride.
“In Jewish tradition, the wedding day is the holiest day of a couple’s life: a day of renewal, of beginning, of profound meaning,” Gillian says. “As a Jewish bride myself, I understand that from the inside. Everything at Histoire d’Amour begins from there.”
Here’s her guide to planning the Jewish destination wedding of your dreams in France or Monaco.
Where Should You Get Married in France?
The most enchanting thing about a wedding in France is that every region tells a different love story.
“France set the standards in the art of hosting, gastronomy, and hospitality,” Gillian says. “And it is on top of that a deeply romantic country. The two together make it the most beautiful place in the world to marry.”
“Every setting in France has its own soul. The work is matching the place and the décor to the moment and to the couple.”
Paris: For Old-World Romance & Quiet Luxury
A Parisian palace hotel room | Venue curation by Gillian Teboul, Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner
“In Paris, you have grand historic synagogues and the most iconic palace hotels in the world : the Ritz, the Bristol with their pretty French gardens and courtyard ideal for an outdoor chuppah right in the heart of the city,” Gillian says. “Beyond them lie hidden hôtels particuliers with private French gardens, secret courtyards, and gilded salons that can be hired exclusively. These are the addresses I keep closest for my couples.”
A private wedding celebration in Paris at night | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner
Versailles and the French Châteaux: For Fairytale & Historical Romance
The gardens of Château de Versailles | Exclusive wedding hire arranged by Gillian Teboul, Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner
“France is also home to the most beautiful châteaux in the world. Château de Versailles is the grandest venue of all. The energy there is incredible, it truly gives me goosebumps. Within Versailles itself, there are several extraordinary spaces that can be hired exclusively for a wedding, which is something I arrange directly for my couples.” Beyond Versailles, Gillian’s address book holds private family châteaux across France.
Venue sourcing by Gillian Teboul, Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, France & Monaco
Provence: For Intimate Romance & Warm Evenings
A Jewish wedding celebration in France | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, France & Monaco
“Provence takes it further, with a sense of being entirely cut off from the world. Just you and your guests, the song of crickets in the warm night air, lavender on the breeze, candles flickering in stone courtyards and the moment you throw a linen scarf around your shoulders as the evening cools.”
The South of France: For Glamorous Romance & Relaxed Elegance
A luxury Riviera château at twilight in Saint-Tropez | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, France & Monaco
“The Riviera is endlessly glamorous, with the stunning Mediterranean as the chuppah backdrop. The magnificent pine trees that meet the beautiful coastline and sandy beaches, the sophisticated cuisine, the long warm evenings. It is the definition of relaxed elegance.”
French Alps: For Cosy Romance & Crisp Mountain Air
A cosy fire in a palace hotel in France | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, France & Monaco
“For an alpine wedding, the French Alps are extraordinary. Megève and Courchevel with the dramatic mountains from sunrise to sunset, the special energy of the crisp air. In summer, a wedding against wooden chalets and wildflowers. In winter, a true snowy wonderland of log fires and candlelight.”
“Finding the right region for each couple is where every Histoire d’Amour wedding begins.”
Is Monaco a Good Place for a Jewish Wedding?
Just married! | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, Paris
Absolutely, says Gillian: “One of my favourite synagogues to get married in is in Monaco. It is a true jewel, a replica of an Upper East Side synagogue from New York, built using stones from Jerusalem.”
“So you have the exact look and feel of a polished New York synagogue and then you step outside into the glamour of Monaco and the air smells of jasmine and sea salt. The Mediterranean glimmers in front of you. Fireworks light up as the night begins. It is a combination you will not find anywhere else in the world.”
Wedding fireworks over the Mediterranean | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, by Gillian Teboul
How Do You Plan a French Shabbat Dinner?
The kiddush cup at a wedding celebration | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, by Gillian Teboul
“It is one of the most exciting moments of the wedding weekend,” Gillian says. “The first time everyone is gathered: the families, the oldest friends and the energy is already beginning to lift.”
“The alignment between French and Jewish traditions at the table is extraordinary. The French reverence for eating beautifully meets the Jewish spirit of hospitality perfectly.”
French art de table | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, by Gillian Teboul
“France is the worldwide reference for the art de la table, the elegant and attentive service à la française, the attention to every detail is part of the culture. For my couples, I select only the highest quality in everything, chosen with care: beautiful flowers, soft lighting, exquisite silverware, a menu built around the season and the region. France also has a sophisticated kosher catering community producing food of the highest gastronomic standard.”
French pastries in French palace hotel | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, by Gillian Teboul
“A table that is warm and elegant against a festive atmosphere. Because the whole point in the end is for the bride and groom to find themselves at the end of the night surrounded by their loved ones, barefoot on the dancefloor celebrating the beginning of the greatest love story. It is a once-in-a-lifetime moment!”
French Beauty & Well-being: How Do You Arrive Radiant on Your Wedding Day?
A bride at the Ritz Paris | Beauty and wellness curation by Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner
Planning a wedding should not only go smoothly, but it should be the most inspiring, beautiful, elevated experience of your life. This is the philosophy at the heart of Histoire d’Amour.
“Alongside the planning itself, every couple is accompanied by a dedicated well-being advisor, my dear Fleur Leventhal,” explains Gillian. “It is like having a loving sister looking after you through the entire wedding.”
A Parisian palace hotel spa | Pre-wedding wellness rituals curated by Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner
“For the bride, we offer access during her time in France to a network of specialists the average visitor would never know about. Beauty and wellness experts that only a true French girl or local would know.”
“We don’t forget the groom either. He holds a lot on his shoulders too with his mother, his siblings, the finances, the speech. For the groom we like to recommend a traditional hammam or sauna followed by a cold plunge and a massage to release the tension, clear the mind and boost his energy. And we encourage him to head outside on his own at one point; to walk or run along France’s most beautiful paths as a moment to take it all in.”
Why Is the Mikvah So Important to the Wellness Wedding?
A quiet moment at The Ritz Paris | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, by Gillian Teboul
“One of my favourite rituals for the Jewish bride is the mikvah before the wedding,” Gillian says. “It is the mikvah ritual in part that inspired me to launch Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner. Like the mikvah itself, it is a moment of well-being, self-care and of profound spirituality.”
Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner helps brides access Gillian’s favourite mikvahs in France and Monaco, and organises the experience around it ensuring it becomes a beautiful and meaningful moment of the wedding journey.
What Should You Wear for a French Wedding Weekend?
A couture bridal gown in a Parisian palace hotel suite | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, by Gillian Teboul
“The Histoire d’Amour bride is radiant because she has been cared for and looked after through the planning and the days leading up to her wedding,” Gillian says. “Glowing skin, naturally tousled hair tied up in a soft bun, blushing cheeks, a beauty that glows from within. An effortlessly elegant look.”
For the dress itself, “France is the capital of fashion, and the great houses are all here: Chanel, Dior, Giambattista Valli, Lanvin, Chloé, alongside smaller French ateliers and rare vintage finds. All part of the address book I keep for my couples.”
For the finishing touches: Roger Vivier shoes, a Chopard necklace, a delicate Charles Oudin wristwatch are all beautiful French references, each with their own history.
What Should Couples Do in the Days Around the Wedding?
A couple enjoying a day of simple pleasures in the most romantic city in the world | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, Paris
“Throw on a pair of Chanel ballerinas or your The Row mules, and experience the very best of France through the curated cultural experiences I organise together with an insider: private visits to art galleries and fashion houses, meetings with renowned designers and artists, tours of the oldest champagne houses normally closed to the public.”
A romantic evening watching a ballet at Opera Garnier | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, Paris
“Sometimes the best thing a couple can do before their wedding is to take their mind off it entirely,” Gillian adds. “These are the moments: between the planning, the family, and the celebration itself that the two of you will carry with you for the rest of your lives.”
Dinner for two overlooking romantic gardens | Histoire d’Amour: The Wellness Wedding Planner, Paris
Why Do You Need a Planner Who Knows France Intimately?
“The best venues, caterers, and artisans in France are not found through a search engine,” Gillian says. “They are found through living here, loving this country, and building the right relationships. That is what I bring to every one of my couples.”
And when you are planning from abroad, that kind of knowledge is priceless.
To begin your conversation with Gillian Teboul and Histoire d’Amour : The Wellness Wedding Planner, visit wellnessweddingplanner.com or follow on Instagram @wellness.wedding.planner
Leave a Reply