From Sea Ranch to a Surprise Wedding in Reno: Amélie Pichard’s American Travel Diary
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“I dream about a life outside of the big cities,” Parisian designer Amélie Pichard says as she begins to recount her visit to Sea Ranch, a small community in Northern California’s Sonoma County. “That’s why I did an eco-house tour last year…. I’m interested in a new way of life.” She first learned about Sea Ranch when she read about the SFMoMA exhibition on it last December. Much like the eco-houses she visited, Sea Ranch was initially developed as a kind of utopia, designed by a group of progressive Bay Area architects in the 1960s. They created the community’s buildings to exist in harmony with the surrounding natural environment.
This idea was right up Pichard’s alley, so she set out to explore the idealist community herself. Apart from exploring the modernist architecture, she and her boyfriend indulged in the simple pleasures: Activities included drinking biodynamic wine, puzzling by the fire, and going to bed at 7 p.m. to wake up with the sun at 6. All of this inevitably set the scene for what came next.
Pichard and her boyfriend had spoken about getting married, but were never too enthusiastic about the logistics. “As we are not city lovers, having a wedding in Paris was not very charming to us,” Pichard admits. When they arrived to Sea Ranch, they discussed driving out to Nevada, where they realized they could get married immediately, even as French citizens. “It appeared clearly to us that it was the best idea we could have! We had five days on the road to find a ring, a veil, and our wedding outfits—all were 100% vintage.”
Below, see their American adventure, from seal-spotting on the California coast to tying the knot in Nevada.
Photo: Courtesy of Amélie Pichard1/36Road trips are full of fate! This quote at the Monte Rio Theater was waiting for me and my NANCY Boots. I got the name from NANCY SINATRA, who sang this song!
Photo: Courtesy of Amélie Pichard2/36Having a peaceful breakfast at Cafe Antica in the deep fog of Jenner. I love how the fog creates a special sound all around you. Could stay here for hours despite the humidity.
Photo: Courtesy of Amélie Pichard3/36The condominium 1 of Sea Ranch built in 1965 is one of the most significant landmarks of post-war U.S. architecture. Revolutionary in design and widely imitated. I dreamt about this place for a few years when I saw the SFMOMA exhibition.
Photo: Courtesy of Amélie Pichard4/36I love the way people who care about wildlife help others to be more aware. It s always simply explained in the USA, and makes important things playful.
Photo: Courtesy of Amélie Pichard5/36The big rock in front of our Sea Ranch cabin had a guest. We called wildlife S.O.S to talk with them about it, but he left the day after. He was just a lazy guy enjoying a peaceful afternoon.
