Ever After In Provence Editorial

They say that the purest form of love is the one that instills in you the awareness that your waking hours are better than the ones spent dreaming, because at last, your reality is a dream awakened. Imagine a wedding day that is the actualization of a fairytale come to life, full of a passion that undeniably encourages a belief in true love and happily ever after. Such was the inspiration for a recent editorial photo shoot that the Paper & Diamond team participated in, with a team of talented creatives. 

Set in a fantasy destination inspired by Provence in the south of France, this sophisticated, private estate location creates a stage for a backdrop of French romance and history of craft. Whimsical details such as French specialty pastries and bountiful floral arrangements decorate the venue, provided by one of Los Angeles’ finest — Bottega Louie.

Paired with the cutting edge gowns of couture bridal designer Galia Lahav, the balance of tradition and innovation present speaks to the true nature of a modern wedding day. While each bride desires an individual spin as unique as her own personal love story, she also respects matrimonial customs. Galia Lahav fulfills both sides of the coin, as renowned technique and decades of success are the basis for developing glamorous new designs. Edgy and bold details combine with an overall sweetness, exactly the design that would be donned by a queen on the most important day of her life.

Creative Credits

Photography + Videography: Dmitry Shumanev // Production Design & Styling: Paper & Diamond // Floral Design: Butterfly Floral & Event Design // Hair & Makeup: Elena Shumaneva // Specialty Pastries: Bottega Louie // Cake Design: James Rosselle // Specialty Rentals: Archive Rentals // Gown Designer: Galia Lahav // Location: Private Estate // Female Model: Megan Haley via Elite Model Management // Male Model: Fabricio Zunino via Next Model Management // Featured on Strictly Weddings

Designer Spotlight With Yaki Ravid

The ideology of being an “overnight success” seems somewhat cliché, in the sense that it is maybe a romanticized thought or fictional plot sequence more often than it is actually a frequent reality. Overnight success is an attractive concept, yes, but how often do work ethic, passion and outside interest actually combine in the right environment to create a recipe for instantaneous recognition?

For Yaki Ravid, however, overnight success comprehensively sums up the tale of his beginning. The young man hails from Israel, a region not necessarily mapped as a frontrunner in terms of fashion design. Yet this did not prevent him from pursuing his passion for designing beautiful gowns, a dream from early childhood, executed as he began crafting dresses out of his home. Met with an unexpected whirlwind of demand, it was only a year before Ravid’s household designs caught on enough to warrant the opening of his own boutique in 2010. Since, the House of Yaki Ravid has grown into a big contender in the world of international bridal couture.

Interspersed, you see images from Ravi’s Spring/Summer 2016 Collection, as exhibited at New York Bridal Fashion week and available in stores now. The collection is exotic and fashion-forward without appearing fussy. It is infused with the elegance of Old Hollywood glamour, but balanced by the carefree sentiment that propels the prevailing boho-chic aesthetic of today’s brides and trendsetters. Yaki Ravid’s designs are crafted for a woman who has a strong sense of taste, yet is able to pull off her point of view effortlessly.

This elegance meets effortlessness is executed in the way fabrics and appliqués are combined to form deliberate lines across the body. Sheer and textural elements flatter the figure with notes of seduction, though not in a way that tries too hard.

Overall, this simple sophistication is made for the modern bride. As the brand itself asserts, Yaki Ravid gowns are “bridal couture for discerning trend setters…for the girl who is ready to actualize a fantasy, for the woman who knows excellence and will settle for nothing less, for the bride who cherishes the singular significance of her wedding day.” For the fantastical destination weddings, or the brides who resonate with Paper & Diamond’s mission to execute one-of-a-kind, unforgettable milestones, choosing a gown by Yaki Ravid is decisively simple.

Images and quotes provided by House of Yaki Ravid PR.

Caribbean Romance With Jennie & Armik

The clientele serviced by Paper & Diamond generally require the utmost level of discretion and privacy, particularly when it comes to the celebrations of their personal lives. However, every now and then we are able to share a rare glimpse into the beautiful story of those we cater to, as we do today with one of our favorite couples, Armik and Jennie.

It was a mutual business acquaintance that first connected Jennie, a fashion stylist, with Armik, a highly successful businessman, and doting father and mentor to his daughter and son. Falling in love felt almost immediate for the two, so it was a natural timeline for Armik to be planning a proposal just under a year later. Surprising Jennie completely, his intimate and romantic marriage proposal was met with an emphatic yes against the backdrop of the five-star Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles. This July, they solemnly swore their vows of forever to each other during a gorgeous ceremony at their private California estate, a fairytale wedding that was attended by 150 of their closest family and friends.

Committed to making any dream come true, Paper & Diamond rose to the occasion of planning Jennie and Armik’s honeymoon on short notice — just three weeks, that is! Their stipulations involved a desire to avoid extensively long flights (i.e. Bali or South Africa), as well as something “easy, special and unique.” Our perfect solution was a trip split with five nights each in Anguilla and St. Bart’s, with a private yachting charter to transport them between these two Caribbean islands.

In Anguilla, Jennie and Armik enjoyed the likes of the Viceroy Hotel and CuisinArt, which is heaven on Earth for a wine connoisseur such as Armik. From Anguilla, the couple set sail on a private yacht, complete with every available activity, highlights of which included paddle-boarding, kayaking and fishing. The private chef on board created delectable cuisine featuring their catch of the day. The last stop on this romantic journey was St. Bart’s.

As St. Barth’s was first colonized by the French, this property is essentially a mini French Riviera in the Caribbean, with the influence felt throughout. Cozy French romance and upscale sophistication are perfect for honeymoon travelers, with luxurious villas, award winning restaurants (think La Guerite and Tamarin), and elegant hotel and shopping options. The Parisian designed oceanfront hotel and spa Le Sereno was the ideal final destination for the couple, a resort that is known for being dedicated to a “laid-back luxury experience.” 

Overall, the honeymoon seemed to be the perfect balance of adventurous activities for a new husband and wife to bond over together, coupled with low key relaxation intermittently woven throughout. We are over the moon for the love that Jennie and Armik have found, and are especially thankful that they allowed us a peek into their wonderful honeymoon. Cheers to the happy couple and a lifetime of marital bliss.

For further information on Paper & Diamond’s unique approach to highly customized honeymoon services and other unforgettable, personalized event opportunities, click here.

A Retreat For Change In Bali

I went to Bali hoping for a spiritual makeover. Instead, I discovered my spine was stiff, my doshas needed rebalancing and my whole body tilted to the left. It obviously was not just my spirit in need of help. Luckily, I had come to the right place: The COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali, Indonesia.

Set in 23 acres of lush, tropical landscape a few miles from Ubud, The COMO Shambhala Estate calls itself a “Retreat for Change.” COMO is a well-known hotel brand, with luxury resorts all over the world. Sure, some guests come to the Bali property purely for the beautiful location, the five-star service, the delicious food, and the luxurious suites and villas. But most are here – with partners, friends or on their own – to improve their wellbeing and, like me, had signed up for one of the resort’s array of dedicated programs.

I had opted for a four-night Wellness Escape. First, I had a consultation with Dr. Deepak Deginal, the resort’s dedicated Ayurvedic doctor, who customized my program. We decided – or rather, I decided – against a detox (I was determined not to miss out on the resort’s famously delicious healthy cuisine). Instead, Dr. Deepak put me on a “diet” that would balance those doshas and help heal the damage stress had done to my body. Coffee was permitted as long as I had it with a little bit of dairy. Who knew that the macchiato was Ayurvedic?

Dr. Deepak also prescribed two sessions of osteopathy, massage, yoga, Pilates, t’ai chi and meditation. I already practiced yoga and Pilates but had never attempted t’ai chi before.  To my surprise, I found I loved it. And, the classes – which took place in a breeze-cooled bale – turned out to be the highlight of my stay, not least because our slow, inexpert movements let to a lot of giggling in the ranks.

Accommodation at the Shambhala Estate is a mix of rooms, suites, a pool, private villas and residences dotted about the resort. I had a garden room with a secluded terrace big enough to practice my head stands on, though I spent most of what little down time I had lying on a sun lounger drinking ginger tea and listening to the birds. One morning I took the half-hour guided estate walk, without which I might not have discovered the delightful, sun-dappled natural pool that lies directly below the resort.

The atmosphere at the Shambhala Estate is relaxed and low key; guests are here to heal and revitalize, not to show off their designer resort wear. To begin with, I changed out of my exercise kit for breakfast and lunch but soon realized that nobody else did. A physiotherapist from Sydney and a lawyer from New York and I were soon swapping life experiences and email addresses. And we all had nothing but praise for the army of therapists, teachers and coaches who were valiantly coaxing us down our individual roads to wellness.

Did I feel the benefit? Most definitely, though the truth is, it would be hard to find anywhere more likely to promote wellness than here. Bali itself has a long tradition of healing, with a philosophy based on maintaining harmony between the gods, the environment and the community, while the estate’s location, just above a river where three sacred springs converge, is particularly auspicious.

And a funny thing – while I was concentrating on my physical wellbeing, I noticed a lightness of spirit and a feeling of contentment that I hadn’t experienced in years. Alas, I still tilt slightly to the left!

Words by Maggie O’Sullivan

Maggie O’Sullivan is a freelance journalist based in the UK, specializing in luxury travel.