Ivana & Gabriel | La Paris | January 2026

When Ivana and Gabriel first reached out to us, they described themselves as a couple who are "just as happy exploring somewhere new as they are staying in with good friends" — and that same easy balance of adventure and warmth became the heartbeat of their wedding day. Ivana, based in New York, and Gabriel brought together a beautifully layered celebration: a traditional Jewish ceremony, a guest list spanning Israel, New York and Johannesburg, and a shared love for Franschhoek's rolling vineyard views as the backdrop to it all. Over 200 loved ones travelled from across the globe to witness their badekken, their vows beneath the mountains, and a night of dancing that carried on well past midnight — toasted cheese and granadilla lollies included.

Design Concept: 

Ivana's brief was simple in words but rich in feeling: a day that felt "immersive, textural and elegant — both organic and sculptural." We built the design language around a warm, sun-drenched palette of burnt terracotta and soft ivory, letting each element speak to that fusion of nature and artistry. Bolts of burnt-orange silk were draped and knotted to form the ceremony backdrop, scattered with delicate white anthuriums and trailing greenery — an arrangement that felt sculptural against the openness of the Franschhoek valley beyond. As the sun began to set, guests were welcomed to pre-reception drinks beneath the open sky, where clusters of pom-pom dahlias in burnt orange and blush spilled from terracotta vessels, echoing the tones of the ceremony space and grounding the evening ahead.

Inside, the reception ballroom was transformed with soft, billowing fabric draped across the ceiling, catching the candlelight and giving the whole room a sense of movement and warmth. Long banquet tables were dressed simply and beautifully, with clusters of white cosmos, blush dahlias and flickering taper candles running the length of each one — an intentional shift from the boldness of the ceremony into something quieter and more romantic for the evening. It was a day designed to feel both grounded in tradition and completely their own: organic, glowing, and full of life until the very last dance.

Let's Create Your Signature Wedding

If Ivana and Gabriel's celebration has left you dreaming of your own tailor-made wedding day, we'd love to hear from you. Whatever your vision — an intimate gathering or a destination celebration bringing loved ones together from across the world — get in touch with the I Do Box team to begin the journey.