This stunning destination wedding in Paris is a garden fairytale brought to life

It was love at first sight. An all too familiar cliche, but a statement that certainly rings true for Michelle Putri Liman and Brendan Yuxiao Shi. He saw her around his neighbourhood in Los Angeles and was instantly captivated by her striking eyes. A simple ‘yes’ was all it took for a first date, and the rest was history.

With Michelle hailing from Jakarta, Indonesia and Brendan, born and raised in America, one might say it was a serendipitous encounter. The successful first date led to an inseparable next two weeks, before Michelle headed back to Edinburgh where she was studying business. Nevertheless, the connection was magnetic and the next year was a whirlwind of long-distance. “We wanted to see if we could get through distance, but we really felt like this was something very special. And we made it work,” Brendan explains.

“It never felt like I needed another opinion,” he recounts the moment he knew she was the one. The decision was refreshingly simple. Despite being miles apart, it was clear for the both of them that this was how they wanted to spend the rest of their lives—together. “As soon as I met her, I knew that I wanted to be with her forever,” Brendan says. Their 2nd anniversary was the fateful day he got down on one knee, quietly tucked away in the gardens of the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat in the South of France.

Then came the wedding. A culmination of two years of meticulous planning, it was a grand Parisian affair befitting a romance like theirs. Michelle worked closely with wedding planner Poetyque and wedding stylist Dimitri Events to bring her vision to life. The bride’s mother, Ihsan Mulia Putri, was by their side every step of the way. “As a little girl, Michelle grew up loving weddings. This was extremely important to her so we made sure every decision was deliberate,” she notes. Every moment and detail was thoughtfully considered, from the ornate invitations and welcome gifts to the bride’s five curated bridal looks.

For the traditional tea ceremony, Michelle worked with Indonesian designer Stella Lunardy to create a bespoke cheongsam inspired by a blend of the couple’s Singaporean, Indonesian and Chinese heritage. “I was inspired by the colour scheme of the Nyonya kebaya, where the white blends with bright intricate florals of pinks and greens at the end,” she notes. The intimate ritual of serving tea as an act of gratitude to their parents and elders commenced the wedding weekend with a tone of tenderness and reverence.

In contrast, the welcome dinner at Shangri-La Paris kickstarted the convivial celebrations in vibrant colour, textures and silhouettes as their guests aptly followed the ‘Parisian Chic’ dress code. It was only fitting for Michelle to arrive in similar fashion. Inspired by Kaia Gerber’s red carpet Gucci dress, her vision was brought to life by bridal designer Yefta Gunawan. The result was a structured hand-beaded number in a darling pistachio green. “When I think of Paris, the shade of green from Ladurèe’s shopfront immediately comes to mind,” Michelle explains. Family and friends were warmly welcomed with champagne, canapés and a charming Eiffel Tower view before stepping into Le Grand Salon for a welcome dinner. The night ended with a grand gesture—a performance with Brendan on the piano, playing a piece he personally composed just for Michelle. “I wanted the piece to be soft, melodic and airy, like you were entering a dream state,” Brendan elaborates.

Michelle and Brendan held an intimate garden ceremony on French château grounds PPF Photography

Michelle had always dreamed of a garden wedding. The vision for the venue? Intimate garden grounds filled with trees, a lake, and a grand ballroom just the right size for their 150 guests. Château de Ferrières, nestled in the outskirts of Paris, was just that. The bride walked down the aisle in a romantic Monique Lhuillier ballgown, accompanied with lace sleeves and a long veil. “It had a great balance of elegance without being too conservative,” she adds. The couple exchanged vows in a pavilion built on the château grounds, beneath a dreamy floral arch designed by Jean-Charles Vaneck in hues of blush, beige and bright pink.

The newlywed couple moments before the reception, where Michelle is dressed in Oscar de la Renta. PPF Photography

But the revelry was far from over. The château’s grand ballroom set the stage for larger-than-life celebrations that were in order for the bride and groom. Tall red rose towers soared from each table, illuminated in the dazzling light of the crystal chandeliers that hung above. Michelle made an entrance in a rose-cut Oscar de la Renta number, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd as family members raised a toast to the newlyweds.

Michelle and Brendan shared their first dance under the pale moonlight before heading back into the château, where the ballroom transformed into a buzzy discotheque. Bright lights flooded the dance floor, the live band was swapped with a DJ and Michelle dazzled in her final look: a sparkling scalloped mini dress by Yogie Pratama, one of her favourite homegrown designers. It was the perfect ending to the high-octane weekend, and the beginning of the rest of their lives. Below, the couple share a closer look of their big day.

PPF Photography

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Our wedding invitations. The mood board was a combination of the wedding day itself: blending the opulence and bold red of the ballroom with the lightness of the matrimony PPF Photography

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The welcome gift for every guest! This was inspired by Ladurée’s colours and included a blanket, a hangover kit and snacks from Sugarfina, La Sablésienne and of course, Ladurée PPF Photography

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Our tea ceremony at Shangri-La ParisOur tea ceremony at Shangri-La Paris. Vibrant pink and yellow blooms brightened up the regal French interiors PPF Photography

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My bespoke cheongsam by Stella Lunardy. The front features pandas with bamboo, Brendan’s favourite animal PPF Photography

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The back displays a flying dragon and phoenix intertwining, representing our zodiac animals: dragon and rooster PPF Photography

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I loved our welcome dinner tablescape. Vibrant pink and yellow blooms brightened up the regal French interiors PPF Photography

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Brendan wore a champagne three-piece suit and I wore a custom piece by Yefta Gunawan, also in Ladurée green! PPF Photography

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Brendan surprising me with a piano piece he composed in secret, just for me PPF Photography

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A calm and easygoing Parisian morning. Taking it all in before the big day PPF Photography

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My trusty glam squad adding the finishing touches PPF Photography

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Every bride needs the perfect pair PPF Photography

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While we got ready, the boys had their own moment PPF Photography

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My final look! Natural and dewy with a hint of pink. The earrings were a gift from my father PPF Photography

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I always had a clear vision for my dress: romantic, timeless and full of lace. When I tried this on, I knew it was the one PPF Photography

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Sharing the first look with my best friends, my siblings PPF Photography

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Two families becoming one PPF Photography

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Having my parents close my veil on my wedding day in front of the Eiffel Tower felt like a dream. I will always remember this moment PPF Photography

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I had to close my eyes to prepare for the first look but when I saw her, all the nerves melted away PPF Photography

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This long, dramatic veil was one of my favourite things I wore all day PPF Photography

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Bespoke vow cards hand-painted and calligraphed by an Indonesian artist PPF Photography

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Violinists welcomed guests along the entrance, posed like sculptures come to life PPF Photography

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Brendan teared up as he saw me come down the aisle PPF Photography

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It couldn’t have been scripted more perfectly. When Michelle walked down the aisle with her father, the clouds parted and sunlight shone down PPF Photography