Designed to Last: Inside Kifu Augousti and Patrick Coard’s artful union

A wedding is a love story made tangible, transposed into light, music and movement. But for the couple, it was also an act of restoration, amplifying what was already there. The architectural elements of the venue were carefully considered. “The white viewing deck, for instance, was falling apart when we first saw it,” Patrick recalls. “But we wanted to restore it, to have that dialogue with the history of the place. We even had discussions with the original architect, Anton Barretto. It was important that nothing felt imposed.”

They speak of their wedding as not an event but an ecosystem, something living and interconnected. “It was this harmonious connection with the family that owns the property,” Kifu says. “We became close to them. It’s not like renting a function hall. This was someone’s home, their land, their horses. We had to be mindful of all of that.”

On the morning of the wedding, guests arrived to a beautiful sight of 20 ballet dancers moving in the open field, their limbs tracing an invisible choreography against the landscape. “Like a Monet painting in motion,” Patrick says. Kifu adds, “We wanted it to be multi-sensory, immersive. Patrick always says he likes things to start on a high note. The challenge was keeping that energy going.” And they did.

Kifu, in an Olivier Theyskens wedding gown of meticulous patchwork, arrived riding a 25-year-old horse fondly called Mr G. Meanwhile, Patrick, in a suit by former Prada menswear designer Neil Barrett—who is also Kifu’s godfather—was as nervous as ever. The couple, apart from exchanging rings, had tattoos done during the ceremony. For them, it’s a concrete symbol of infinity and forever. “During the dinner reception, we had the raffia dance (a performance involving raffia, a natural fibre often used in crafts and textiles). It was the one performance I was most excited to see,” says Kifu. “We had been working on it for over a year, and it had undergone many changes. Patrick and I didn’t want to see any rehearsal videos at some point. And when it finally happened, it was breathtaking.”

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The evening’s feast was prepared by the late chef Margarita Forés, while the wedding cake—a delicate confection—was created by Cakeshop by Sonja. Throughout the night, guests were treated to performances by Ballet Philippines and the Paris-based live entertainment collective Circus Music. Kare Adeya choreographed every dance, adding another layer of artistry to the celebration.

If the wedding had a centre, it would be the synergy of the place and the people in it. “It’s not just about us,” Kifu says. “If it were, we could’ve just gone to a small church and married. But we wanted our guests to experience something. To be part of it.” The night unfolded like a series of vignettes: dinner with loved ones, conversations to cherish, moments to remember—set against a backdrop the couple took a year to plan and design. “It felt like a world we built together,” Patrick says. “It solidifies everything we do. It’s also an open door. What’s next?”

When everything planned falls into place, a couple might find a precious moment to step back and see the night not as a collection of details but as something whole. “I think when you’ve been together so long already, the wedding isn’t a compromise,” Kifu says. “People talk about newlyweds learning to make compromises. But this was different. This was a celebration of who we are, of what we’ve built.”

Every element was considered in this wedding, and every detail was placed with intention. So, it wasn’t surprising that guests—and even the suppliers and collaborators—left calling the wedding the most immersive and seamless experience they’d ever been part of. “What we’re saying here is just a drop in the ocean. There were so many elements, so many stories. Everything was unique, but also deeply tied to us. To this place. To where we are in our lives. There was a lot,” says Patrick. Kifu finally adds, “It was ours. And hopefully, in some way, it was theirs too.

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