MY DAUGHTER VANESSA MARRIES IN ST TROPEZ

It was a lovely, original, spiritual ceremony. The French guests, unused to such, were rather surprised and fascinated by the “Feel the earth under your feet;” and “breathe in the energy and let any concerns or doubts you may have leave with your breath.” There were traditional exchanges of rings, vows like “do you accept …,” “I do’s,” and the final Kiss. As the bride and groom walked back down the grassy steps between stands where huge glass vases held white rose petals, all the young children tossed the petals to the newly weds in a perfect shower of white.

We had 3 days of wonderful fun, food, friends, ex-husbands, families of ex-husbands, former wives of ex-husbands, perfect weather, time to cruise the port and back streets of St Tropez.

All the events surrounding the wedding took place at the home of Catherine Schneider, Vadim’s wife after me, who has been a second mother to Vanessa over the years. Her graciousness, class, generosity and joi de vie, ensured that everything would be splendid in every way. It was all enhanced by the talents of jewelry designer par excellence, Carlo Traglio, and his friend, Thomas. They came from Italy on Carlo’s yacht, bringing the flowers, candles, and Thomas’s amazing creative talent at turning an already startlingly beautiful estate into a magical wonderland. I am exceedingly grateful to Catherine, Carlo and Thomas.

Had to leave for the airport in the middle of a totally splendid and gorgeously laid out table of raw veggies (arranged on thick cork platters as is custom in St Tropez) and grilled fish with 39 of us at the famous Club 55 on the even more famous Pamplona Beach. Vadim and I spent many months over our 8 years together at Hotel Tahiti, a little bit down to the left on that same beach. In fact, that’s where we were when the morning french papers announced that the U.S. Congress had voted to bomb North Vietnam–the “Tonkin Gulf Resolution.”

I cried a lot seeing my daughter so happy. And all of us are crazy about Paul Van Winkle, the handsome and kind groom.

I return to Paris tired and relieved that it all went so well (with no effort on my part, I have to add) and without any meltdowns.

A big whew!! Enjoy the photos.

children of guests playing during our happy hour

Boo Boo with his daughter

handsome groom-to-be

Boo Boo (purple scarf) with some of his guests

The about-to-be-married lovers at the cocktail gathering

Frday night--Happy Hour offered by Catherine's son, Boo Boo (Olivia) from her first marriage, the night before the wedding.

Italian jewelry designer, Carlo Traglio

The Port

The harbor

The church in the background is where Vadim's funeral services took place

There are a number of Botero statues along the port's edge

The view from where I had lunch Saturday

Tulea not-to-cautiously approaching a peacock in the street

The Saturday market in the square

Market

Other side from the port of St Tropez

lots of narrow streets

You can't move at the height of the season--July and August

Thomas's flower arrangement in my room

the walk to the ceremony

Waiting for the bride

left to right--Troy, Catherine, Vania, Vanessa, Paul and me

Barbara Wiliams, Tom's gorgeous wife--actor and singer

wedding cake with rubber ducky bride and groom on top

Tom Hayden, his wife, Barbara Williams and friend of all, John Rubin

bride and groom walking to the ceremonial spot

left to right: Vania, Nathalie, Natacha who is Carlo's international Director, Marie Christine, Helene, Simone, troy, Olivia, Vania's girlfriend

The next day at club 55

There was what Catherine described as a shish kabob of children at the far end of the table

me with my daughter, the newly wed

crudities (raw vegetables on a cork tray)

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64 Comments

  1. Wow! Congratulations to Vanessa and Paul!!! and thank you Jane for “taking” us to St Tropez. How beautiful.

  2. Such a beautiful couple! The pictures are stunning, looks like you had some nice weather. Congratulations to you all!

  3. Those are some gorgeous pictures. You must be very happy. Congratulations to your daughter.

    Loved the location shots!

  4. thankyou for being there. aenea donamigli

  5. really beautiful, thank you so much for sharing

  6. A magical, beautiful celebration. I never noticed how much Vanessa and Troy favor! Vanessa’s new hubby is major handsome!

    You are so gracious to share Vanessa with everyone. You’re a gracious, loving Mom.

  7. I can tell form the tone , that this has been one more thing on your mind, and so happy for you that it all went so well. The port of St Tropez, must have been like a Completeness of a kind, one stage of Conveyancing, transfer of time to another. So happy for you , one less worry ,or concern about anything not going right, all looked well and good.
    Every child is a thought in the mind of God, and our task is to recognize this thought and help it toward completion. Your a thinking woman wanting to create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and drive it to completion, or maybe just a mom.
    Great photos Jane

  8. Thanks for sharing that. What a wonderful wedding she had!

  9. Very nice photos…

  10. Lovely photos.

    Time passes so quickly.

  11. Thank you Jane for such an inspiring post. I’ve always wanted to go to St. Tropez, and a secret dream would be to get married there so this is going on my visualization board for the future–it must have been magical. Congrats to your daughter!

  12. Thank you for the photos. Your daughter is marrying for love pure love

  13. Dear jane~mazel tov! A hundred blessings for vanessa and her gorgeouis new husband. The picture of you and your daughter is perfect. How many memories these three days in st torpez must have brought up for you. You are truly blessed to have such a wonderful large and very tightknit extended family. Xox m&lb

  14. That was lovely to see, thank you for sharing that I really enjoyed looking at all the photos

  15. I like the vegetables on the platter, it looks like original..

  16. Beautiful photos. They look very happy, you must be very proud.

  17. Really lovely to see. Thank you for sharing such personal photos with us. Good luck and God bless to the happy couple.

  18. Lovely photos. Your daughter looks beautiful .. and her new husband is quite handsome. He reminds me a bit in one photo of your brother Peter (perhaps the eyes?) I also loved her dress. Thanks for sharing.

  19. Your photos brought back such memories. I had the good fortune to live in St. Tropez for 10 years. Thanks.

    BTW I still walk to you your walk out tapes (MP3’s now.) In your spare time, you should make some new ones!

  20. Even though some think of you as a “glamorous movie star,” these photos show a normal life with regular people who are family and friends. Blessings to all of you.

  21. Thanks for posting these pictures, I have always been a fan, it feels like you are there looking at these (and I will probably never get there) so it’s nice.

  22. Thank you for sharing this ‘wedding album’ in beautiful country! Loved the white rose petals everywhere and colorful photos of the surroundings. Wish you could have sent the fragrance of market with fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers. Merci!

  23. Viva La Riviera Francais, but I’ll take Cabo anytime.
    Bonne Chance

    T J

  24. Est-ce votre frère que l’on voit sur une des photos ? Je trouve que votre fils ressemble beaucoup à votre père et votre fille a un mélange Fonda et Vadim. Elle a l’air d’être sereine. Vos photos sont très sympa. Vous avez dû être tranquille, les vacanciers ne sont pas encore arrivés !!

  25. Delighted that you and your family are having such joy. You are the best and I love all of the great things about your time in France that you are sharing with your readers.

    I adore your photos of alleys. Maybe I’ll send you some of mine. My favorite alley is in Ybor City, a historic area of Tampa. The Frech alleys look so intersting.

  26. Bravo. It sounds like a great ceremony. Congratulations to you and your daughter. I have to laugh at the idea of how the french would relate to such simple spiritual things.

  27. Wow, thanks for sharing, what beauty, what a travelogue!

  28. Have you always been such a shutterbug, or is that an offshoot of starting a blog and the ease of digital photography?

  29. Beautiful wedding photos. Your daughter looks so happy and she got a really beautiful man inside and out from what you say about him. I love the street shots of St Tropez showing all the characteristic pink/salmon colored buildings.

  30. Hello Jane, Firstly I love your naturalness and the sense of freedom you instill in your blog for someone that has been pursued by ‘everyone’ for most of your life. I have been in the fitness industry 31 years and began teaching dance based exercise when Jane Fonda’s Aerobics changed the world. I embraced it and made it my own with my version of dance exercise, but you were the greatest influence. I was an enthusiastic Aerobic champion in the 80’s and have since trained in many other forms of exercise over the years, one being ChiBall where I ran a workshop in St Tropez. I am very happily married to a Frenchman and we live in Australia but will go back to South of France when our daughter finishes her schooling. Looking at those St Tropez photos brought back many memories. I currently run a business in Manly (beachside suburb)Sydney in Yoga, Pilates, ChiBall and now ZUMBA Fitness (Latin based dance fitness).
    I looked at the pictures of the presentation ceremony in Paris that I received from someone in Paris which lead me to this blog.
    I will now happily read it regularly as you have many interesteing topics and tips that I enjoy.
    Thank you for ‘keeping it real’ when you could so easily not. You do look amazing with some help but again have kept it real and not begun to look like so many others that have taken it too far.Kind Regards. Jill Healy-Quintard

  31. These are such wonderful pictures, Jane! The wedding looked like a lovely, happy occasion! I liked all the pictures of Vanessa! She looks beautiful in her wedding dress! She looks so happy and lovely in all the pictures taken of her! St. Tropez looks like such an interesting place! You always take the BESTt PICTURES wherever you go! I’m sure being in St. Tropez brought back many memories for you! Thank you as always for sharing pictures of special times in your life!:)

  32. Wow, great photos! Beautiful location, thanks for sharing!

  33. Her smile says it all ! It is a good to see her so happy ! Best too you all ,…john

  34. WOW!! I love all the photos. Vanessa looks so lovely and Paul looks very handsome! Thank you for sharing!

    How far St Tropez is from Paris?

    Patty

  35. Unbelievably magical photographs which are feast for the eyes.Nice way to share with the people the day to day happenings.All photos are enjoyable.

  36. Just glorious pictures! Lovely bride and handsome groom. Wish them all the best!

    The little dog is quite adorable, too. 🙂

  37. Wow. Looks fantastic. You all look really happy.
    I love St Tropez, well South of France in general. And Botero…! So great.

    I admire the fact that you’ve all stayed so close i.e. ex-husbands, former wives etc. as you mentioned.

    I truly admire that and I hope you’re happy with that arrangement, as you say you are. I’ve been trying it, but it’s hard for me. Sometimes there’s still too much emotional baggage – even after years. But I’m still trying…

    Take care
    Jason

  38. Why is there no mention of or pictures of the groom’s parents? I find that very odd.

  39. These are gorgeous.

  40. Beautiful! Congratulations to your daughter!

    Jen in TX

  41. Congratulations on your daughters wedding.
    I loved your Pictures and how you write your blogs. Vanessa wore such a beautiful dress.
    Love is what binds us all in the end!
    Please take care.

  42. Named after Miss Redgrave ? (I was)

    • Yes, after Redgrave and also because I liked the illiteration–Vanessa Vadim

  43. Congratulations to the beautiful bride & groom!
    Thanks Jane for sharing these pictures with us.I think I can say for everyone here its a priviledge to see them.Take care!

    Jeanne

  44. Recently read your autobiography and now follow your blog. I’m 63 and want you to know that you’ve become the inspiration for how to live this last third of my life. Thanks for posting your blog so often and also the wonderful photos. All best wishes to the happy married couple and hope the film shoot continues to go well.

  45. Congratulations!!! And very beautiful place as well.

  46. I have to agree with Florence, Vanessa does look as though she ressembles both you and Vadim.

    You made me wish I was there and I hope one day to visit Europe.

    Thanks for sharing, it was beautiful.

  47. What a delightful blog, Jane! I happened onto it by accident…and wonderful accident indeed.

  48. Your daughter is lovely. I am glad that you shared such a special day with her – and in such an intriguing location, the winding streets…

    I like your blog.

  49. Big Congrats….awesome milestone for a family in such a luscious setting…ooh-la-la.

  50. Looking at these heavenly pix on fathers day in hot hot hot brooklyn…transporting…and wonderfully french (like vadim!)
    bliss to see and bliss to send to you and your (new) family.

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