The Bride Wore Custom Valentino for Her Picturesque Wedding at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
In January of 2015, one of Melissa Jacobs’s best friends went on a blind date with one of Austin Landow’s friends in New York City. Both Melissa, who is an art consultant, and Austin, who is private equity investor, were brought along as their respective “wing people”—and quickly felt a connection. “We exchanged numbers that night and have been together ever since,” Melissa explains.
Six years later, while on vacation in the South of France, Austin proposed at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in September of 2021—the same picturesque, storied hotel in Antibes that ultimately became the couple’s wedding venue. Austin asked Melissa to marry him on the final day of their two-week trip there. “On our last night, we had planned to go out for dinner,” Melissa recalls. “As we were walking to the restaurant, we made a hard left in another direction. This new path was lined with flowers, leading up to a secluded table set for dinner, where Austin proposed.” The engagement ring was created by jewelry designer Monique Péan, who happens to be one of Melissa’s sister’s close friends.
Soon after the engagement, the couple’s wedding date was set for October 1, 2022. “The idea of celebrating our marriage with all of our closest family and friends—in one of our favorite places—was so exciting for us,” Melissa explains. (The fact that Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc’s beautiful gardens and pool carved into the rocks make for a magical setting on the French Riviera doesn’t hurt either.)
The couple worked with Fait Accompli, the same company behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. “From start to finish, the entire planning process was really enjoyable,” Melissa notes. “For me, the details are key, and the Fait Accompli team really understands that. Their team is nothing short of perfection. It was also great that they were very familiar with the venue and knew many local vendors. It was important to us to source locally, when possible. We didn’t want the wedding to feel like we brought New York to France.”
Once the date, location, and planner were all in place, Melissa took a more creative approach to sourcing her wardrobe (just as one might expect given her profession). To that end, she turned to celebrated bridal stylists Carrie Goldberg and Lex Alexandris of CLG Creative. “I also looked at Vogue Runway to see what collections and designers most resonated with me,” Melissa says. “I ultimately ended up wearing three outfits during my wedding weekend.”
Melissa debuted the first look on Friday night, when guests convened at the bottom of the hotel’s well-known grand allée for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres before an outdoor dinner. For this kickoff event, Melissa set the tone for the weekend in a blue Alexander McQueen archive piece, paired with white Alaïa heels and earrings by Nak Armstrong. “I loved the shredded chiffon, tulle, and organza details of this dress,” Melissa explains. “We were so lucky to have blue skies and great weather, and the colors played so well with the setting. The dress is truly a piece of art itself, but I loved that it was inspired by art, namely illustrations of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Picking out this particular look felt like an art acquisition and the intricate craftsmanship that went into designing the dress affirmed that.”
To complement his bride-to-be’s look, Austin wore a classic navy blue Tom Ford suit with suede John Lobb loafers to the dinner, which featured long tables lined with colorful hand-picked flowers, candles, and personalized menus. Once everyone was seated, the Gypsy Queens serenaded guests throughout dinner, roaming around tables and inspiring friends and family to sing and dance. Afterward, the party moved to the pool area where Mia Moretti and Margot (aka The Dolls) entertained guests for the rest of the night from the DJ booth.
On Saturday at 6 p.m., Melissa walked down the aisle to a live instrumental rendition of “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles. For the ceremony, the bride wore a delicate, embroidered Valentino embroidered gown. “I loved how I felt in the dress,” Melissa says. “It was exactly what I had always dreamed of. For jewelry, I was honored to wear Austin’s great-grandmother’s diamond earrings.” She finished the look with Manolo Blahnik heels adorned with lace and pearls. “The shoes were beautiful yet practical, which definitely helped with the four-minute walk down the aisle!” Melissa jokes. Makeup was done by Aurélie Payen, who is based in Paris, and Brian Buenaventura was on hair. “He’s a master at making you look effortless,” Melissa says. “They were a dream team!” Austin, meanwhile, wore a custom Tom Ford tuxedo with a peak lapel and patent Tom Ford shoes.
Rabbi Steven Moskowitz, who has known Austin his whole life, married the couple in a traditional Jewish ceremony and led the ceremonial rituals underneath the floral chuppah. One of those rituals involved reading from the Ketubah, which was handpainted by Ross Bleckner, a contemporary artist and friend of the couple. “Seeing Austin [at that moment] was the happiest I’ve ever felt,” Melissa says. “I also felt a calmness that I didn’t expect to feel.”
