Camila Hashimoto and Thiago Bueno de Oliveira, both medical doctors from Brazil, first met in 2000 while attending medical school. At the time, Camila was sharing an apartment with her friend, Ana Carolina, who was also friends with Thiago. Once Thiago started asking about Camila, Ana Carolina decided to play the role of Cupid and facilitated a growing friendship between the two. Although Camila was in a relationship at the time, she eventually broke up with her boyfriend, knowing Thiago was “the one.”
The two doctors share two passions – traveling and drinking good wine. In November of 2012, during a trip to Italy, Thiago asked Camila to fetch something from the safe in their bedroom; and he proposed once Camila discovered the engagement ring he had hidden in the safe.
“THE CEREMONY COULDN’T HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIAL” CAMILA HASHIMOTO
After the proposal, the couple decided they wanted to have a destination wedding that would symbolize their love of travel, wine and gastronomy. They also envisioned having an elaborate celebration so their beloved guests would have a beautiful memory of that special moment for the rest of their lives. Enlisting the help of Fernanda Silva of Wedding Luxe, it was decided that Paris would be the perfect location for Camila and Thiago’s destination wedding – not only because of the excellent wine and cuisine, but also because Camila had dreamt of having a princess-like wedding.
“She wanted something glamorous, opulent and royal,” Fernanda describes.
Fittingly, the wedding took place at the luxurious Shangri-la Hotel in Paris after a year-long wedding planning process. The bride got ready in a stunning suite with a view of the Eiffel Tower, and the ceremony and dinner took place in historical rooms that were once the residence of the Bonaparte family.
“The ceremony couldn’t have been more special – the flowers by Jeff Leatham were unbelievably gorgeous and I had a live harpist, as I had always dreamed of,” says the bride. “But the most important for me were the vows Thiago wrote for me. It was unforgettable.”
The wedding décor was inspired by a classic English style, but with a strong Parisian flair. Macarons and delicate gourmandizes by Laduree were part of the cake display, and Fauchon biscuits and tea were included as well. Altogether, it created an atmosphere that allowed guests to admire the room’s amazing architecture (very similar to the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles) and fully enjoy a unique experience.
“The day after the wedding, we felt fulfilled and ready to start a new chapter in our lives,” Thiago says. “I was extremely happy to see all the guests had enjoyed our destination wedding, and also to see the smile on my wife’s face.”
For their honeymoon, the newlyweds traveled to France’s Burgundy region.
WEDDING TALENT
Location and Cake: Shangri-La Hotel, Paris Paris, France; Event Design and Planner: Wedding Luxe, Paris, France; Floral Design: Jeff Leatham, Paris, France; Invitations: S-cards, São Paulo, Brazil; Macarons: Ladurée
Wedding Dress: Pronovias; Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo; Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss