Following Pernille and Jeppe August Soerensen Rosenkilde’s Copenhagen wedding, which saw the bride walk down the aisle wearing a sheer feathered dress she hand-stitched herself, the newlyweds flew to France to continue the celebrations at Hôtel Amour in Nice. The catch? They had their toddler Lizzi, who wore custom baby blue Cecilie Bahnsen on the couple’s big day, in tow.
The couple landed on Nice owing to its blend of beach and city, playgrounds and galleries, cafés and bars. “It’s perfect for a child—yet it also exudes a romantic, Wes Anderson-like charm with great wine and a lovely atmosphere,” shares the designer and influencer. “We don’t usually separate our activities into ‘with kid’ and ‘without kid’ categories. Since Lizzi was very young, we’ve taken her on trips, to concerts, and out for dinner. We believe life doesn’t stop when you have a child, so we include her in our adventures, which has made her a social and lively little person.”
There are, however, travel hacks for entertaining a tiny tour de force while managing to eat cake on a sun lounger. “We avoided crowded restaurants with closely packed tables, opting instead for places where we could sit outside and let her run around,” shares Pernille. “Often, one of us would play with her while the other ate.” Staying at Hôtel Amour also meant Pernille and Jeppe, who met during a chance encounter at Copenhagen Business School, could relax after bedtime with a glass of something chilled and the baby monitor in the courtyard. Managing expectations was a game-changer for these busy creatives, who would normally have had the Matisse Museum, Villa Ephrussi, and Villa Kerylos at the top of their to-do list. “Things take more time with a toddler, and sometimes naps or other needs don’t go as planned,” admits the Scandi businesswoman behind quirky label Per and the Zoo. “Learning to be in the moment and not stress over a tight schedule was a valuable lesson, and I quickly learned to relax and enjoy the slower pace.”
Indeed, unwinding was the main agenda for the holiday. “Balancing wedding planning and busy work schedules left us feeling pressed for time, so it didn’t feel right to leave our daughter behind,” Pernille shares of why Lizzi was always going to be their plus one. “We finally had a chance for quality family time, and bringing her allowed us to extend our stay to four nights— something we wouldn’t have done if she stayed colorfulwith her grandparents.” While the Fondation Maeght—a museum with a beautiful Miró garden where kids can run around—was certainly a highlight, the most treasured moments were throwing stones in the ocean and eating ice cream with their little one.
Pernille notes that masking tape (endless fun on the airplane for small people), Peppa Pig (“she can be your savior in desperate times”), and headphones (to again invoke a moment of calm) were her ultimate packing essentials, but her job as a content creator meant multiple outfits were also crammed among the snacks. “It can be a bit stressful to bring outfits both stylish and practical for a family vacation,” she admits. “I usually pack an extra outfit per day to make a change.” Pernille is also keen to stress that she would never pack anything she wouldn’t wear day to day—Daily Sleeper feathered crop tops and gigantic bow skirts fashioned from deadstock included. “My outfits are for real life, not just photos, but planning is key.” How to honeymoon with a toddler as per the Danish style set? Colorful clothes, a sense of humor, and, naturally, wine.
