5 Key Lessons Danielle Copperman Learned from Her Wedding Day

Looking back, Danielle Copperman Sersoub reflects on her wedding day two years later. Intimate, intentional, and inspired: the day captured her and her now-husband Hedi’s personalities and shared values ​​while embracing the beauty of their French surroundings. Though she cherished every moment, Danielle reflects on a few things she might have done differently for ease.

In the quiet of a sun-drenched morning in the metropolis of Lyon, France, Danielle Copperman stood at the window of her now-husband’s family home, a place steeped in rustic charm with a lush, wild garden where the ceremony would later take place. Nestled in the eastern folds of France, it’s a region of undulating vineyards, dense forests, and crystalline lakes. “It’s the epitome of slow living”, Danielle says, who has been somewhat of a slow living advocate: “For work I’m constantly on the go, but this is a refuge of quiet and that’s why we decided to settle down in the French countryside after meeting in London.”

Glancing down from the tall French windowpanes, with the scent of wildflowers carried in on the breeze, she remembers that moment of guests streaming in – laughter, embraces, and the hum of anticipation. “That was such a moving moment for me. By the time of the wedding, I’d been living in France for nearly two years, and it felt incredible to welcome all my friends and family to this home for the first time. Seeing everyone together in one place was unforgettable. I loved the informality of it all – the relaxed atmosphere was exactly how I had envisioned the day.”

A Dedicated Coordinator on the Day

Yet, Danielle acknowledges that hosting at home brought its challenges. She shares a key takeaway that she’s learned: “In hindsight, I think having a wedding planner – even if just for the day – would have been invaluable. Not to plan the aesthetic or overall vision, but simply to coordinate everything. There was so much to manage on the day itself, and it was hard to fully relax right away. I’d definitely recommend having someone, even a family member, take on that role. Although, they should enjoy the day too. A dedicated coordinator might be worth it to take the pressure off and let everyone savor the moment.”

Breathing Room Before the Big Day

Another reason a wedding planner might have been helpful, Danielle notes, was the lead-up to the big day. “The night before, we were still preparing things at the house, so there wasn’t much time for anything else. It’s hard to fully relax when there’s so much to do,” she says. While a small gathering with her sisters and close friends was “really special,” she now feels a larger group gathering, like the brunch they had planned for the day after, would have worked better the day before. “It’s such an exciting time, and it would have been lovely to bring everyone together earlier, also to get to know one another.”

Source Locally for a Personal Touch

That being said, Danielle embraced the process and made it her own. “Since we decided to host it in a family home, we didn’t have to look into wedding venues, so for us, it started with the guest list, which evolved over time, and the food. The food was a real priority for us.” As the tastemaker and author of Well Being: Recipes and Rituals to Realign the Body and Mind, she wanted the menu to reflect her values of mindfulness and sustainability. “We really wanted to find a supplier we loved, so the tastings and decision-making took some time,” she explains. They ultimately chose a local company run by a couple, celebrated for their focus on organic, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients. “In France, it’s tricky to find something culinary and beautiful but still informal with amazing ingredients,” she finds. “In England, you see a lot of restaurants embracing seasonal small plates from local producers, and you can really taste the difference. That’s what we wanted.” The final menu reflected this ethos with a relaxed barbecue vibe. During the cocktail hour, fish, meat, and seafood were cooked outdoors in front of the guests, with the exact menu decided just days before, based on what was freshest. A great deal of thought also went into sourcing everything locally. “We had a lot of seasonal vegetables and salads, and a local girl made our cake,” Danielle shares. “Even the wine came from a nearby vineyard — a friend of ours. In France, you can’t really go wrong with wine, but it was so nice to work directly with people we knew and manage those relationships ourselves.” The extra effort was worth it. “The food and wine were amazing, and that was so important to us. People really remember those details,” she says. “It took a lot of planning, but it added such a personal touch to the day.”

“In hindsight, I think having a wedding planner – even if just for the day – would have been invaluable. Not to plan the aesthetic or overall vision, but simply to coordinate everything.”

Stay True to Your Values and Keep It Intentional

The details of Danielle’s wedding reflected her deeply personal and intentional approach. Bridesmaids wore elegant yet relaxed Reformation dresses, chosen to keep the tone unfussy and natural. “Nothing too formal”, she explains. Invitations were a labor of love, designed by Danielle herself and hand-painted by her mother. The bride also worked closely with British designer Savannah Miller to create her bespoke gown. The dress, crafted from deadstock pearl ivory duchess satin – the last of its kind – was made with sustainability in mind, right down to its recycled boning. “Every element of the dress was made consciously,” she says, “and that was really important to me.”

The same thoughtfulness extended to the wedding décor. Instead of lavish floral installations, Danielle opted for potted plants. “They felt more sustainable, less expensive, and gave a sense of longevity,” she explains. “After the wedding, we gave them to guests to plant in their gardens, and now we still have a few here. It’s a lovely reminder.”

Let Go of the Pressure to Do More

Of course, she admits, there’s always the temptation to do more. “You always realize there’s more you could have done — Pinterest and Instagram make everything look amazing,” she reflects. “But I didn’t want it to be too expensive or over the top. “I wanted it to feel like an extension of us.” For Danielle, the day was about meaning and intention, embracing what mattered most and letting go of the rest.

And how does Danielle find married life now? “The biggest change was probably the engagement,” she reflects. “It’s when you really become a team and feel that deeper commitment. Once you’re married, not much changes — you’re just like, ‘Okay, cool, you’re my husband,’ which feels strange at first!” she laughs. Still, there’s an underlying sense of connection she cherishes. “You feel like a little family. It’s about trust, vulnerability, and taking the next steps in life together — it’s such a wonderful feeling.”

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