Although their work in and around the hotel business (Jennifer Isicoff is a hotel publicist and Peter Flexner works in hotel real estate) has found them literally crossing paths in lobbies on more than one occasion, the New York City-based couple met in 2018 “the old-fashioned way,” on a dating app. The professional overlap was just one of the many ways they discovered they were compatible. “One of the things that unites us is our love of seeing the world and seeing it through really interesting properties,” Jennifer says.
After Peter proposed in 2023 on a ski trip to Canada, the couple quickly knew they wanted a destination wedding. Aside from their passion for travel, Jennifer and Peter’s siblings had hosted destination weddings and their families had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. “How many times in your adult life can you take a trip with so many family and friends? It was really very special,” says Peter. But which region would be right and how could they plan a celebration that would allow the location to shine? Below, the couple shares how they planned a lavender-scented wedding near Cannes, France, in July 2024.
Follow your fixation
At the time of their engagement, Jennifer had been working with a hotel group in Monte Carlo. During several business trips to Monaco, he became more familiar with the French Riviera and began to develop his favorite places. “Peter was kind of envious of this beautiful place he was exploring through work, so we made our own trip there,” says Jennifer. On their visit, the couple couldn’t help but fantasize about getting married there, and it soon became a fixation.
They started looking for locations and brainstormed all the fun excursions guests could have on extra days in Monte Carlo, Nice, and of course, Paris. “I felt like I could help people have a good time there,” Jennifer says, “and it was a destination where I could be an informed host.”
Don’t be afraid to change location
After a work trip to the area, Jennifer visited a potential venue she had found online, a beach club near Monaco. “It was right on the water and had a spectacular view of the mountain, located near a rock formation,” he recalls. “It was a very rustic club, but charming and intimate. I thought I could make it look nice.”
The bride’s mother expressed some apprehension that perhaps the club was too rough and ready, but the couple still contacted some wedding planners who had planned events there. But the one they finally hired, Chloé Atlan in Weddings in AavaIn fact, he drove them away from the place. “You could do better,” was Chloé’s unfiltered advice. She shared a platform with some suggested venues that most clearly aligned with her vision and ones she had worked with in the past.
Trust your butterflies
Looking at the list of places, Jennifer and Peter narrowed it down to their two favorites and then made another trip to the area to visit each of them. When they entered Château de la Napoulethey knew it. “Immediately when we walked in, there was just no competition,” he says. “We were slapping ourselves in the face. ‘Wow, this is the most beautiful place we’ve ever seen.’ How could we consider anywhere else?”
There were many details about the castle that I loved, from its Gothic architecture and medieval charm to the sea views. There were spaces throughout the estate where they could host each of their wedding events without having to erect a tent or other structure, allowing them to completely immerse guests in the French landscape. It was the best of the ornate and majestic French castle culture with the benefits of the seaside party she had initially envisioned. “It had beautiful views, but it was a suitable space for dining where it was not necessary to put the tables in the sand,” explains the bride.
