Inspiration

French destination weddings will always be in fashion; who wouldn't want to say 'I do' amidst land that oozes love? Amy & Tim's wedding weekend has us weak at the knees, with every picture perfect detail adding its own je ne sais quoi: from the incredible venue to the beautiful dress to the sensational styling - just look at that cornucopia of candles! - this catalogue of captures shows that heaven truly is a place on earth. Oh, and we haven't even mentioned the Aperol spritz bar. Someone catch me before I fall even more head over heels.

The Vibe Of Our Day

We knew early on that we wanted to have our wedding abroad, as we loved the idea of having a relaxed long weekend of fun with friends and family, rather than one ‘big day’ in the UK. We searched online for venues across Italy, France and Spain, and fell in love with Chateau Rigaud near Bordeaux in France. It ticked all of our boxes: beautiful yet informal, a super friendly and creative team, delicious food and drink, and a house that genuinely felt like home for the four nights we hired it. In addition to the wedding day, the chateau also arranged a canoeing trip and riverside picnic on the Friday, a delicious al fresco lunch and pool party on the Sunday, and a magical final supper of freshly baked pizzas under festoon lights on our last evening.

Amy & Tim

Aperol Spritz Bar

This wedding caught our attention at 'Aperol spritz bar'. Need we say anymore? The summer drink du jour, I can think of nothing I would love more than supping a spritz under the French sunshine, celebrating the nuptials of two gorgeous newlyweds. Accompanied by an array of different canapés, including oysters, spinach and cheese gruyere and arancini, this must have been the most delectable cocktail hour, gearing guests up for the feast that was to follow (not to mention the espresso martini shots, served as a digestif, to get everyone ready for the dancefloor!).

Inspiration Behind The Styling

We had a horse theme at the wedding breakfast, with gold painted horses as favours for each guest. This was in memory of my dad, who passed away in 2016, as he bred and drove carriage horses. The two banquet tables were also named after the two pairs of horses from his original team – Eppo & Arno, and Striker & Ginger. We chose blush pink stationery with a modern white font from RMW recommended supplier Lilac and White, to contrast with the dark grey linen tablecloths and the rustic barn setting. The barn was strewn with fairy lights and there were candles everywhere. Hayley from Chateau Rigaud made all the blackboards and wooden signage for the day, including the table plan, welcome sign and dinner menu, and Heidi from Flowers in the Vines gave us lots of suggestions on flowers to use (in tones of red, white and blue for France!) and ways to display them.

Amy & Tim

Does France take your fancy? It certainly does us. Don't be surprised if you see a mass Team RMW vow renewal in the South of France sometime soon! If you are thinking about a destination wedding, don't do anything until you have listened to Series 2, Episode 5 of our podcast: Destination Weddings and Where To Start. In this episode, Charlotte and Becky share all their weddings abroad advice, from how to decide where to get married and how to transport your dress, to the legal considerations that come into play. They are also joined by special guest, Kim from Love Cloth, who shares her current experience of planning her wedding in Mallorca.

Victoria Honan

Written by Victoria Honan

Featured suppliers

Venue: Chateau Rigaud | Dress Name/Designer: Foster Dress by Laure de Sagazan | Bridal Boutique: The Mews Bridal | Bride's Shoes: L.K.Bennett | Hair Pins and Earrings: Tilly Thomas Lux | Bridesmaids Dresses: Maids to Measure | Groom's Suit: Michelsberg Tailoring | Groom's Shoes: Joseph Cheaney & Sons | Groom's Tie/Groomsmen's Bow Ties: Liberty | Groom's Pocket Square: Reiss | Groomsmen's Chinos: Remus Uomo | Florist: Flowers in the Vines | Hair and Make Up: Laura Cawte | Stationery: Lilac & White | DJ: Ben Randm | Celebrant: Moira Stephen | Videographer: Paul Van

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