“I wanted to reference bridal style in a more subtle, personal way”: Inside Leonie Hanne’s elegant Parisian engagement party

Leonie Hanne didn’t want to go too over-the-top for her engagement party, which took place over the weekend at Le Meurice hotel in Paris. “I’m known for couture and dramatic gowns, but since this isn’t the wedding yet, I wanted to reference bridal style in a more subtle, personal way,” says Hanne, whose fiancé Alexander Gelievsky popped the question in Portofino last summer. Still, this is Hanne we’re talking about – the London-based German influencer whose 4.8 million followers tune in specifically for the fashion fantasy. Working with Atelier Emé, an Italian brand that specialises in occasion wear and, yes, wedding dresses, Hanne crafted not one but two personalised bride-to-be looks. The first, a classic slip dress (“Simple, but with the most incredible fit”) and the second, a Great Gatsby-inspired party frock, marked by lace embellishment and sparkly fringe.

Subtle details were woven throughout each look. To accessorise the slip dress, Hanne wore delicate diamond jewels and drop earrings. For the party dress, meanwhile, she opted for a coordinating choker and donned a piece embroidered with both her and Alex’s initials. She finished the look with a veil, complete with further embroidery: ‘Toi et Moi’ ('you and me'', in French). “It’s especially meaningful because Alex engraved this phrase into my engagement ring after he proposed,” says Hanne. “So it naturally became our unofficial slogan.”

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Hanne complemented the looks with “fresh, glowy skin” and a softly swept-up chignon updo. “Because this moment is so special to me, the most important thing is to feel like myself,” she says. “I’m very lucky – my favourite makeup artist from New York, who also happens to be a close friend, is flying in for the dinner” (She’s speaking of Kelli Anne Sewell, who also crafted Hanne’s makeup looks for the CFDA awards and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show). For Hanne, it’s all about “enhancing” her features without altering her natural appearance. “It’s all about luminous skin, a soft eye, and just enough polish to feel confident and elegant – while still feeling like me,” she says.

There was another thing that influenced Hanne’s looks: the venue. “Honestly, the venue inspired the whole idea,” says Hanne. She and Gelievsky discovered the magic of Le Meurice last Christmas, whilst staying at its sister property, Plaza Athénée (“Alex and I have loved Plaza Athénée for years,” she says). One morning, the couple popped over to Le Meurice for breakfast. “We sat in the Alain Ducasse room – the morning light was streaming through, reflecting off the Versailles-style mirrors and soft blush tones,” says Hanne. “I said to Alex, ‘If we celebrate our love, it has to be here’.” They immediately booked the venue, also booking both of their families into the hotel for the big weekend. The room was decorated with lush blush pink and white florals, with candles lighting the long table.

Having met on the very first day of university, Hanne and Gelievsky have been virtually inseparable for a decade. “We met that very first night and immediately connected – even though we started as part of a group, it was clear we had chemistry,” says Hanne. “We’ve been together ever since – through university, careers, and building our lives side by side.” In fact, they so enjoy each other’s company that Gelievsky ultimately gave up a career in finance to become a full-time partner in Hanne’s business, travelling the world by her side, capturing content and arranging partnerships.

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Though they had just celebrated their 10-year anniversary, Hanne did not see the proposal coming. Whilst in Portofino on their latest work trip (a project with the brand Belmond Splendido) Gelievsky popped the question. “He planned everything in secret – he was so calm, I never suspected a thing,” says Hanne. “The weather that day was moody and rainy, and he booked a boat, which surprised me. He suggested we dress up for dinner – still acting completely casual. We went on the boat, alone on the water, when suddenly the clouds parted, the sun came out, and I heard violinists playing. That’s when he went down on one knee.” Afterwards they enjoyed a private dinner on the terrace of their suite, also to the tune of violins.

Celebrating the engagement just over one year later, surrounded by family and friends is an apt reflection of that magical moment. “That night, I remember thinking how lucky I am to be with someone who goes to such lengths to create moments of love and magic,” says Hanne. “My very own fairytale.”

Meanwhile, if this is the engagement party, we can only fantasise about the wedding itself. See all the snapshots from the evening below.