Anja & Søren {French Forest Wedding With Nordic Touches}

This afternoon's wedding inspiration comes from our very own RMW Real Bride, Lou at French Bague-ette, who is not only a wedding planner and stylist herself, but is also getting married herself later this year. Lou is British but is based in the South West of France so if you're planning a wedding in that region, do get in touch with her. Never underestimate the value of having someone who speaks the language of your wedding suppliers. It can avoids lots of awkward situations! This shoot is gorgeous, we love a forest wedding and the nordic touches are just perfect for the location - everything feels fresh and fun but also cosy and inviting. Are you sitting comfortably? Let's join Anja & Søren for their French forest nuptials...

Lou The Planner & Stylist: The beauty of putting together a styled shoot is teaming up with superb suppliers, creating together a new universe for one day. Photographer Marine Marques and videographers Adrian & Sara from Rouge Wedding were a dream to work with, as was all the team involved. If you’re getting married in France, I, French Bague-ette could not recommend this team enough... Although many of us dream of a summer wedding, whatever season it is, nature offers us different colours, textures and decorations as a background to celebrate our love. We held this in our hearts when creating the love story of ‘Anja and Søren’. Our inspiration for this shoot is centered around wood as we imagine Anja and Søren to come from Norway, a country where wood and nature’s beauty are king. Here in Les Landes, in South West France, we fell in love with Coco Barn Wood Lodge, a wedding venue surrounded by forest and nature to fit with our theme perfectly. Antoine and Corenthine, the owners of Coco Barn Wood Lodge have created a magical environment for an enchanting wedding, where the beauty comes from the the simplicity of natural materials. Here there’s a barn, guest cabins and The Wood House, hand built amongst the tall trees, a place to dance beneath the stars. The wooden barn was where we imagined the dinner amongst the closest friends of Anja and Søren. Keeping with our natural theme I styled the table with wood, cinnamon sticks and warm colours of nature. The flowers by Margot at Atelier Floral Pau bring delicate life to our winter scene through a mix of fresh and dried flowers: scabious, thistles, wax, eucalyptus, anemones, ferns and rose hips.

Between the river and the lake, watched by the lodge’s horses, we installed a little corner of calm for the lovers to enjoy their first look or to take a private moment together in the whirlwind of the day. I hung wooden triangles to bring a little modernity to the set. This triangle shape was echoed in the triangular alter by Margot and the cut out shape of the sublime wedding dress designed by Claudine, which proves a bride can be sexy even in winter! Woolen plaids and shawls kept our couple and their guests cosy as they enjoyed this special day. As the evening drew in, the bonfires were lit and Anja and Søren found a cosy corner of the barn to sit by the fire, to eat the cake from Fika and to drink and play music by candle light, with warm blankets and good friends.

{Watch The Film}