Vrai mariage
This swimwear designer wore an Oscar de la Renta mini wedding dress for her wedding in Mauritius
BEATA ALBERT
Alicia and Arnaud flew to Mauritius to organize their heavenly wedding on November 11, 2021. The result was a high fashion event!
It was love at first sight. Two years after their meeting, Alicia Rountree and Arnaud Zannier organized their ultra-romantic wedding in Mauritius on November 11, 2021. On one side of the couple, the committed wellness expert and sustainable swimwear designer of Alicia Swim , and on the other, the founder of the Zannier Hotels chain with 5 hotels scattered in exceptional places.
Saying "I do" on the beach in Mauritius
After a first marriage proposal in London, during the heart of lockdown, then during a trip to Italy, the couple invited their relatives to the Mauritian property where the bride-to-be grew up for three heavenly days, far from the stress of the pandemic. Facing the Indian Ocean, Alicia and Arnaud let their love express itself in the heart of this wild nature which was an integral part of their marriage. In terms of fashion, the designer with the impeccable silhouette chose a short asymmetrical Oscar de la Renta wedding dress paired with a grand veil: "I wanted something unconventional, contemporary but timeless."
"Variations of the local heart of palm," "frit de mine", a local noodle dish, Roti - a flour-based flatbread with dishes of lentils, vegetables and rice" ... The party was just as much in the plate as it was on the dancefloor of their wedding party which was held Alicia Rountree's parents. "We wanted our guests to have a magical time. A celebration of our pure love. I think our guests enjoyed a unique getaway away from reality, the constant smiles on their faces speaks volumes! " See how it was done with the images below.
Translated by Anissa Agrama
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Alicia and Arnaud's heavenly wedding in Mauritius
Can you tell us about how you first met?
Alicia. Arnaud and I met via WhatsApp! A family friend introduced us as she thought my bikini line ALICIA SWIM would sell well in Arnaud's hotels (ZANNIER hotels). She later told me that when she saw Arnaud for the first time, she saw us being married. From there the rest is history. It felt right, like nothing else before and it was just so obviously meant to be.
Can you tell us how the proposal took place?
During the London lockdown we decided to dress up and have a delicious meal at home. I had received a beautiful evening dress by Saint Laurent before lockdown, which I had not had a chance to wear. We were drinking Champagne and Arnaud surprised me by tying the engagement ring to our dog Scott's collar! It was really special and unexpected! The ring had to be resized and then we traveled to the Amalfi coast, somewhere I had dreamt of visiting for years, and he surprised me by proposing yet again. This time with a Bellini and amazing views over the hills, after telling me the ring wasn't ready yet!
Do your engagement ring and wedding band have a special story?
My engagement ring is from Arnaud's mum. It holds a very special meaning as she is unfortunately no longer with us. It's setting is very original yet simple- a gorgeous round diamond set in a contemporary way, on a white gold band. Together, we designed our wedding bands.
What atmosphere did you want to give your wedding?
We wanted to give our wedding an elegant and effortless island style atmosphere, keeping it simple yet chic because the surroundings and nature of where I grew up are so lush and dreamy we wanted that to stand out. Our ceremony was held in the garden where I spent my childhood running around, and dinner was served close to the cliffs where guests enjoyed a sensational view of the crashing waves framed by ponds and lavish sub tropical nature. Table settings were kept natural and elegant. We did not want to distract from such a magnificent view!
Tell us a little about the location you chose.
Our wedding was held in Mauritius, my beautiful birthplace where I spent my idyllic childhood. All three days took place on the island because we wanted to show our guests the diversity of this special exotic place! The first night, our reception cocktail, took place at Warwyck House in Phoenix in the center of the island. The second day, the ceremony was held in the garden of the house I grew up in under the trees. After the ceremony, we drove a few minutes to the cliffs overlooking the ocean where the dinner and party was held. The last day, we took our guests to a private island called Ile des Deux Cocos where we celebrated our good-bye party.
Did you select a particular floral decoration?
We decided to keep it white with some green leafy accents for a more natural look which blends beautifully with the surroundings. Our stunning tropical location was the highlight therefore we just worked around it to create an intimate atmosphere embracing the place itself with elegant and natural flowers.
The meal?
Mauritius has such an array of amazing cuisines due to the rich blend of diverse cultures. We focused on Indian, Creole and Chinese influences. We served meals buffet style, with variations of the local heart of palm, 'mine frit', a local noodle dish, Roti – a flour flatbread with lentil, vegetable and rice dishes to mention a few. The wedding cake was not traditional in style. Instead we served a large 70cm x 70cm one layer coconut genoise cake which was surrounded by white flowers– very light but delicious!
What vibe did you have for the party ?
Music is very important to us so we were thrilled to have Annega, a talented local Mauritian artist to sing during our ceremony and dinner. Our first dance song was "Le Soleil De Ma Vie", by Sacha Distel and Brigitte Bardot, an old-school romantic classic. We also flew in a Belgian DJ, Arnaud Bailyu, to perform and set the tone- He had everyone on the dance floor, and I don't remember ever dancing so much in my life!
Tell us about the inspiration you wanted for your wedding dress and how you found it?
I wanted something non-conventional, contemporary, yet timeless. I chose an Oscar de la Renta one-shoulder short silk gown with a removable cascading shoulder train. I tried on many dresses and found most dresses too heavy or with too many sequins. When I tried this one on, I simply fell in love! I could not find a matching veil that I liked, so I designed one with Oscar de la Renta. They made me a custom 60's style satin trimmed short veil which finished the look on a playful note.
And your look for the civil wedding?
I chose an ivory Tuxedo style jumpsuit which I finished with a fun headpiece and gold heels. Our civil wedding took place in Chelsea Town Hall in London this October, so I needed something which was warm enough yet still made me look like a modern bride!
And your husband's look?
At first he had planned to go for a classic darker colored tuxedo, however last minute I had the idea for him to wear an ivory colored Tom Ford Tuxedo which I had spotted. I bought it for him as a gift just before the wedding- he loved it and it suited the summery setting of the wedding perfectly.
Tell us about the beauty look you wanted on the big day.
I wanted something natural yet elegant. I did my own make up just to enhance my features and kept hair minimal but chic in a low bun which I also did myself. I spent a long time as I model so I know what suits me and I enjoy doing it myself. I also designed a pair of pearl earrings with my sister Harriet who owns a jewelry brand called Oceano. I wanted chandelier-style earrings to match the pearly tone of my dress.
Can you describe the outfits of your bridesmaids and guests?
My nieces were my bridesmaids (Kiera, 4 years old and Sveva, 22). I chose simple yet gorgeous ivory dresses for them with subtle floral headpieces for a romantic look. Our dress code was "Black tie" for the ceremony & celebration which was an interesting twist for an island wedding.
What does the wedding symbolize for you?
A union of unconditional love, mutual respect and the beauty of creating a life together no matter what comes your way. The wedding was held on 11.11, and that day has a special meaning for us- it was important for it to be that day as spiritually it means you have met your soulmate, your twin flame- and are on the right path! Since I met Arnaud, I see 11.11 multiple times a day.
The things made you the most stressed?
I must admit I kept very cool for the most part. Only a last minute floral decoration did not turn out the way I had imagined it. However, I managed to rapidly explain my vision in a better way and in the end the florists executed what I had imagined for the event.
Did the covid crisis change your plans?
Not really. We got engaged this summer of 2021 and we envisioned our wedding taking place at the end of the year. 11.11 was a special date due to its spiritual meaning so we decided to organize it quickly! I had always wanted an intimate setting for our wedding so we only had very close family and friends that knew us both well. Luckily Mauritius had re-opened borders just in time in October and vaccinated guests could easily enter the country.
Did you follow a beauty routine before the big day?
Luckily I always try to maintain a healthy, balanced life style, so I did not really alter my routine before the wedding. I eat a plant-based diet all year round and made sure to only indulge when I really felt like it. I stayed in shape by exercising regularly, mostly outdoors once I arrived in Mauritius – Pilates, Yoga, Swimming and Stand-up paddling.
What did you want your guests to remember from the big day?
We wanted our guests to spend a magical moment. A celebration of our pure love. I think our guests enjoyed a unique getaway from reality, the constant smiles on their faces says it all! I am so grateful I met the man of my dreams and I cannot wait to share the rest of my life with him.
Your wedding in 3 words?
Magical, dreamy, and timeless.
The wedding of Alicia and Arnaud in Mauritius.
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