Curated Texan
A Record-Breaking Inaugural Auction, An Engagement Under The Fireworks On The Palace Grounds, And A Texas-Sized “Deep In The Hearts and Pockets” Spirit To Preserve The Landmark Palace
This summer, Texas “go big or go home” energy touched down in Paris for the American Friends of Versailles 2026 Dinner Gala, where couture moments and royal-level access all led to one clear mission: raising unprecedented support for the Château de Versailles, according to our Curated Texan inveterate traveler and gala goer, Mallory Miller.
Photography courtesy of AFOV, François Goizé, Christophe Foui, Catalin Vutcariov and Mallory Miller
Meet Me In Paris
There are Mondays… and then there are Parisian Mondays that start with champagne at the Ritz and end at the Palace of Versailles with fireworks and dancing. Just one lingering question: how is this real life?
This past June, I, a Texas Cinderella, arrived to experience the American Friends of Versailles 2026 Dinner Gala at full tilt. Just before America’s 250th Anniversary celebration, AFOV’s biennial benefit weekend unfolded in and around Paris through a diplomatic, cultural, sartorial, and, let’s be candid, royal lens. It wasn’t just an event. It was a story, and Texans were there to help turn the pages.
Founded by the late Catharine Cline Hamilton of Amarillo with a mission to raise awareness and support the preservation of the Château de Versailles, American Friends of Versailles is now led by multi-generational Texan visionary Alicia Bryan, who is ushering in a new era of supporters who want high-touch access and bespoke experiences in what can only be described as philanthropic tourism. As the saying goes, it’s a marathon, not a sprint… and Bryan and Société des Amis de Versailles delivered exactly that: four days of immersive moments designed to build on the purpose, not just the party.
A Franco-Texan Itinerary That Felt Like A Royal Series Premiere
Friday kicked off with private tours of the salons at Hôtel de Talleyrand, where Franco-American history was brought to life. Then came Saturday cocktails and dinner under Michelin-star polish from Chef Yannick Alléno, staged in the quarters of the Quai d’Orsay: elegant, luminous, and unmistakably intentional.
Sunday, the energy shifted into something quieter and more sacred. The equestrian showcase at the private Château de Champlâtreux felt serene and stoic in the best way, like the kind of stillness you can only find in places that have witnessed centuries of history. And then, as if to seal the moment, a bald eagle appeared while American and French flags fluttered in the breeze. C’est magnifique!
From “London Fast” To “Paris Even Faster” (Aka, The Ultimate Quick Change)
This Cinderella arrived Sunday afternoon, thankful for London living, and the ability to hop the Eurostar to Paris faster than it takes to drive I-35 from Austin to Dallas. Garment bag in hand, I navigated Gare du Nord to my hotel, then performed the kind of quick-change that only a former Conde Nast and New York PR gal would dare to attempt. Pro tip: Chanel ballet flats are the ultimate day-to-night footwear, and they happen to be great for traversing Paris’ cobblestoned streets.
Cocktail attire on. Party mode on.
At the David Yurman Jewelry flagship store on Rue Saint Honoré, David and Sybil Yurman hosted an evening to toast America’s Semiquincentennial and unveil a High Jewelry piece generously donated to the AFOV auction. Inspired by the crown on the Statue of Liberty and featuring over 25 carats of diamonds, the bracelet caught the light, and the room, like it was made for a spotlight moment. Guests buzzed with excitement, ready for what Versailles would bring.
As American Friends of Versailles President Alicia Bryan shared about the weekend’s theme, Legacy of Light, “informed everything from the design to how we communicate our goals for the organization… illuminating our work at Versailles and the gracious donors who will light the future.”
The “Magical Network” Detail That Made It All Click
Houston-native, Paris-based event planner Lucas Somoza was chosen to execute Bryan’s vision, and the weekend ran with that effortless precision you can only achieve when someone truly gets it. “I’m a screw in the magical network that Alicia Bryan has crafted,” Somoza said, “I’m only as talented as my clients.”
Bryan’s response? Pure Texas confidence with a wink: “I let him run.”
Even with a design pivot less than 30 days before the event, reimagining the color palette and table settings, the mood never slipped. Of course, with this duo dream team, the show always goes on, and with nothing but smiles. With leadership from AFOV’s Executive Director, Kristin Smith, the evening proceeded flawlessly.
Versailles Day: Couture And Ceremonial-Level Entrances
Then came the Monday of my dreams. Coaches to Versailles was the rush-hour commute that felt like part of the spectacle and part of the story. Rain started to pitter-patter over gloomy skies, but the mood didn’t dim. A rainbow of couture confections spilled onto the grounds: tulle, tiers, sparkles, shimmers, fur… more is more was the dress code in true Marie Antoinette fashion.
Instead of waiting, guests were whisked from coaches to sprinter vans for front-door drop-off at the palace. Envision: Umbrella escorts in belted trench coats. Official palace guards in court dress. Dramatic drumroll energy. A ceremonial staircase ascent that made every guest feel like they’d stepped into a fairytale you only see in films; only this time, you were in it.
The last time this Cinderella visited Versailles, I was an 18-year-old high school graduate. This time? The accessories were better, the attention was sharper, and the mission felt personal. Less “audio guide tourist,” learning about history, and more “I’m here to witness history.”
Hall of Mirrors? More Like Hall Of Purpose
Inside, the experience unfolded as a sea of chiffon, beading, couture, and a cowboy hat or two, wafted through the chambers and salons. A fashion parade through the Salon de Diane delivered the kind of visual “amuse bouche” you didn’t know you needed, including the latest ceiling fresco reveal tied to restoration work American Friends of Versailles supports. Honorary Chairwoman Becca Cason Thrash shared, “Americans know that no museum or institution could survive without private equity. They’d never have an endowment or have any new acquisitions. They’d never be able to afford restoration projects. So, as Americans, we approach these events with that in mind.”
Then the celebration hit full stride in the Hall of Mirrors, where guests sipped champagne, a historic first allowed by the palace. Laughter erupted from guests who came far and wide; my new friends from Toronto, New York, London, Los Angeles, St. Tropez, and, of course, plenty of Texans who arrived to support the cause. Friends reunited from around the world in the storied space, and air kisses landed like promises to meet again, dance again, build again.
Next came cocktails in the Salon d’Hercule. Towering 8-foot-high ombre floral arrangements overflowing with peonies, hydrangeas, orchids, and intricate branches anchored the room’s multiple glass-domed cupolas. Guests were greeted with platters of foie gras, indulging in the delicate hors d’oeuvres as if it was a popcorn snack; margaritas arrived with rose-suspended ice cubes (a Somoza signature surprise that begged to be copied), and a 9-tier cake in Franco-American red, white, and blue added sugar-coated grandeur.
Dinner was hosted in the Galerie Batailles with over 200 guests, burgundy peonies, glistening glassware, and ethereal, creamy white linens that caught the light from the candelabras, catching every guest’s gasp, wonderment, and OMG glances. The menu leaned into luxury and celebration: turbot de ligne topped with generous dollops of caviar.
But the dessert? That was the pièce de résistance.
Acclaimed pastry chef Bastien Blanc-Tailleur (and my tablemate) created a small vanilla cake for each guest, layered with strawberry jelly and finished with black currant leaves de cassis sauce and topped with a handmade white chocolate “face of Louis XVI.”
The Auction: When Generosity Turns Up The Lights
The night’s real electricity arrived when the auction took center stage, for the first time at this event, with globally acclaimed auctioneer Lydia Fenet leading the charge. Becca Cason Thrash shared, “The combination of the Texans and French in one room created an incredible dynamic and offered an extraordinary contribution to the atmosphere. I absolutely love that Texans are so vibrant. They raised their hands and bid generously during the auction.”
Bryan added, “Thrash brings people together around causes and encourages them to dream bigger and give more. Philanthropy is about building bridges: friends, experiences, and momentum.”
Donors beamed as lots raised funds directly supporting restoration efforts, including Christian Louboutin’s DAHABIYA luxury yacht cruise down the Nile and San Antonio-native Shannon Ralston’s rhino-tagging safari experience.
And then, because Versailles is never done being Versailles: celebration spilled into the sky.
Fireworks, Romance & Afterparty Energy Into The Wee Hours
Spirits ran high. The night stayed young. On the Grand Terrace, fireworks lit up the evening in the perfect punctuation mark to everything the weekend stood for.
And under that smoke-and-sparkle sky, another kind of Texas romance unfolded: the engagement of Texan gala guests (Media For Texas founders) Chase Musslewhite and Grant Thomas. While it was technically a no-no by the palace, “I’m a hopeless romantic,” oozed Bryan and Somoza, and couldn’t say no either. Somoza joked, “Ask for forgiveness, not for permission.” The happy couple enjoyed their private moment on the palace grounds, then stepped into roars of congratulations, hugs, and tears as they joined the dance floor.
DJ Victoria Del Bono kept guests moving through the afterparty in Galerie Basse into the wee hours. Bubbles hit tongues. Fireworks mirrored in the eyes of everyone who’d just witnessed how elegance plus purpose can become something unforgettable.
The American Friends of Versailles’ mission is illuminating the future, one legacy at a time. The final auction total and money raised by the event was nearly $3.5 million, with plans for the next Versailles-supporting adventure already in the works, and Curated Texan will be on hand to media sponsor, like many years in the past.
The American Friends Of Versailles 2026 Gala Weekend And Its 10 “Pinch-Me” Moments Shows How Texans Do Royal Right
- A record-breaking start with a purpose-first glow. AFOV kicked off with an inaugural auction that raised a whopping $3.5M to support the Château de Versailles; proof that Texas heart plus elite connections equals real impact.
- Champagne culture, French royalty energy. Not many Mondays begin in Paris with bubbles at The Ritz… then end at Versailles with fireworks, dancing, and more champagne.
- Four days of high-touch storytelling (not just a single gala night). This wasn’t a quick stop: it was a legacy-building weekend with experiences designed like chapters in a story.
- Private access to the salons where history gets made. Guests enjoyed intimate tours at Hôtel de Talleyrand, setting the stage for Franco-American alliance moments that felt as diplomatic as they were unforgettable.
- Cocktail-to-palace flow, Michelin-star flair. Saturday dinner was anchored by Chef Yannick Alléno, served in a setting that made every course feel like a scene from a royal film.
- Sunday brought serenity (and a bald-eagle cameo). The equestrian showcase at Château de Champlâtreux delivered a sacred, stoic kind of magic… American and French flags fluttered in the breeze as the atmosphere enthralled the guests.
- The David and Sybil Yurman festivities with a crown-inspired jewelry reveal. The Paris party on Rue Saint Honoré unveiled a High Jewelry piece donated for the auction; sparkling like it was built for a spotlight moment.
- A Versailles welcome that felt like front-row court life. From sprinter van front-door drop-off to umbrella-ready escorts and ceremonial palace guards, every transition was pure “royal treatment.”
- The Hall of Mirrors champagne and a restoration-backed fashion parade. Champagne in the Hall (a first allowed by the palace) met the kind of restoration pride you can feel… especially after walking through restored rooms tied to AFOV’s mission.
- The night ended like a movie: dinner, an auction, fireworks, and dancing into the wee hours. Between the auction’s electrifying energy and fireworks on the Grand Terrace, it was celebration with a mission; Texas style.
