Planning two very different weddings ....

Hi everyone

By now, I am sure you have all enjoyed the unique experience of having a daughter marry - twice in a week - once a legal ceremony in England, the second a unique celebrant led one in France.

It also involved a ferry ride & a long drive in France to the chateau but we all planned that trip well with our ferry rides booked months in advance because it was the start of school holidays & the 3 dogs needed pet passports, our house bunny needed a babysitter at home & Katie's cat had to be kennelled - lots of planning to make it all work smoothly.

The first wedding in Dorset was in a gorgeous knee length silk Prada dress with a stunning hat & bouquet

The photos reflected their fun personalities

A very modern & beautiful wedding cake ... 

The second ceremony in a stunning full length dress in a fairy tale chateau setting with their dogs attending too

Their personality shone through - Lace Toms for Pat, sandals for Andy ....

Hydrangeas from the chateau garden - hand-tied with ribbon 

The lovely chateau was a perfect backdrop to this fairy tale day ...

Several have asked how we made it all happen - if it was planned or spontaneous? It was planned spontaneity - carefully planned but then relaxed on the day ...

We did not know what would be available at the Chateau so we gathered a good stock of things we could use to make it special - a cake topper which reflected their personality (choice of two)

 Various wedding items

Wedding bunting which was not used on the day but was there in case it was needed

Cards from their Grandfather in Africa had to be posted weeks in advance 

 Along with gifts he asked for ...

The selection of ribbons meant that glass jars collected by Sue could be hung in the trees 

The fruit cake was decorated with hydrangea flowers & the topper & it looked stunning 

We bought beautiful paper decorations off Amazon which could travel easily & they transformed the outdoors space in to something special with everyone folding the decorations for the tree, even the little lads getting in to the folding ...

Ms M & Katie found the lovely Wedding Day sign & it was perfect for the tree

Rolls of broad blue ribbon transformed ordinary chairs in to lovely items, the tree lit by solar lights at night  ...

We relied on an award winning chef who cooks for special occasions at the chateau - he was amazing

 The chateau was very well stocked with more than enough cutlery, crockery & glassware. It all came together perfectly on the day in a relaxed way that had been well planned behind the scenes to make sure that we had a varied supply of things that could be used ....

The relaxed day was reflected in the dress too - it was about the occasion & people

A tiny group of people who came together to make it happen for the lovely 

The day was as special as their unique & special rings - Pat designed a ring with an uncut diamond set with claws & flanked by 3 traditional diamonds to balance the design. Their wedding rings are a combination of 18 & 24 k gold - set with a diamond inside the band which was a gift from their friends - very special & designed by them, as unique as they both are. 

Not everyone has understood their desire to have their wedding in their unique way. Pat & Andy have the confidence to walk another path & those that love them the most, were happy to make it happen as they wanted & that made two very special occasions ....

It was hard to keep it under wraps but it was not my secret to tell.

Love is - keeping their secret, planning 2 weddings in their vision, driving 1000 miles on the wrong side of the road in a country where you don't read, write or speak the language, explaining to those who don't understand a unique experience that is is not about them but the couple ....

The Tipsy Tart summed it up perfectly for me:

 I think everything Pat and Andy did was so romantic....going to France and having just family there....keeping it a secret...sounds like the perfect wedding to me...well done them...xxxx

Thank you for your company & taking the time to read & comment,
 Dee ~♥~

A fabulous French affair ...

Hi everyone,

I know that many will be surprised by the announcement of the betrothal of our daughter - a modern day 'elopement' with close family in tow. First a legal ceremony in the Dorset town with 300 year family links, then a second ceremony conducted by a Magali, a Celebrant From Unique Ceremonies in France - personalised by them with the two extended families coming together to spend a week relaxing in the gorgeous French countryside.

The lovely Castle 'La Bergelière' has sufficient bedrooms over several floors, with large reception rooms to easily take our party of 18 for the week.

Our day started with a champagne breakfast - complete with French patisseries from the local bakery that we picked up.

After our local champagne shopping,  we decided to set up a champagne tasting bar to see who could spot the most expensive one - very interesting results - Groom's Dad Tony was in charge of this ...

We planned the decorations & were all be on hand to put them up & make it special.

The beautiful dining room being prepared for the evening meal - plan B as we couldn't move the heavy tables in to a long one ...

I love table settings & this one looked stunning once the chef had finished the setting 

Gleaming glassware & hydrangea colour is all that was needed (along with Sue's proper napkins)

Hydrangeas from the Chateau gardens were hand-tied in to bouquets for the girlies to carry for the ceremony & then used as table decorations ...

Cards from Africa have arrived from Patricia's doting grandfather & family & the personalised gifts have been set aside to be used in France so that they have that link.

Unbeknown to them, they are having their personalised ceremony on what would have been my parents 60th wedding anniversary.

The lovely French Celebrant made sure that the ceremony was as they wanted - a beautiful, personal celebration of a lovely couple

They just oozed love & happiness 

A look of pure joy & happiness

The dogs with their special collars ...

A perfect setting for a perfectly lovely couple

A French chef had been tasked with providing a celebration meal at the chateau & what a fine job he did of it considering that he could not serve his preferred shell seafood because of allergies.

Our fabulous new son -in-law Andy

A fruit cake was brought from the UK with no decoration to make sure it travelled safely. This special  topper reflects their love of their vizslas Apollo & Aura

It was a perfect day with lovely people - all in their own vision & with a relaxed atmosphere. 

We wish them everything they wish for themselves & a long & happy marriage. 

I hope you have enjoyed this unique experience, thank you for stopping by & taking time to comment 

 Dee ~♥~

A Wondering Star has a very modern surprise ...

Hi everyone,

Please excuse my absence - it is due to the fabulous event.

You are all familiar with my A Wondering Star daughter & her lovely A Wondering Star blog, Jewellery Quarter home, her partner Andy & their lovely dogs.

By the time you read this post, her & her lovely man will be ... man & wife! They planned a perfect modern day elopement - with their usual original style, they decided on & planned an occasion which they wanted. They are two very original,  confident people & they wanted a wedding to reflect this - no great ceremony, just one surrounded by their nearest & dearest as they committed to a life together.

Groom's Mum Sue, Ms M & I have completely respected their wishes & have done everything in our power to give them the day they hoped for, in the way they hoped for. Ms M lives where the civil ceremony was held, so she took on the task of keeping on top of the local florists, cake makers, etc.

A tiny, close circle have been privy to these arrangements & they have all been remarkably supportive to make this happen in Pat  & Andy's vision.

They planned their wedding in the modern manner of doing the planning themselves without being tied to conventions - the traditional roles of maids, groomsmen & even Mother of the Bride / Groom did not apply as they planned it in their way they envisioned.

It has been a very difficult task to keep it all under wraps but this is their day completely ....

Their tiny guest list does not reflect the love & esteem which they are held in; it reflects the way they wanted their special day to be. This tapestry in the Registry office, photographed on a preliminary visit by us Mum's ...

The legal ceremony was marked with a small gathering in the town where the family have lived for 300 years; the lovely Ali from The Bull Hotel taking care of the arrangements for the 42 guests due to us all living a distance from the town.

The dress - a silk Prada dress & a hat from Snooks the Hatters - perfectly Pat

The Mum's - my fascinator from the fantastic selection at Snooks the Hatters

The beautiful flowers & stunning cake were done by a local Bridport Florist - Lavender Blue, the hat from the family hat shop of Snooks the Hatters

The very talented photographer Richard Austin did an amazing job of capturing the spirit of the day & the energy & love of the couple in one of their favourite spots - the beach at West Bay 

A Wondering Star documents their very special wedding day far better than I can so pop on over to her blog to see how wonderful it all turned out. SO, WE ELOPED...

It is really lovely that two very special people have the confidence to do things their own way, in their own vision without giving in to pressure or conventions to have the traditional wedding. This reflects their confidence & unique personalities & several of others commented on how fabulous this made the occasion.

Some friends & acquaintances have been less understanding about this style & this has led to a new role for the Mums - explaining that modern couples have modern ideas & that the day was all about the couple, not about the expectations of others ....

I hope you will join me in wishing our Wondering Star daughter & new son in law, the lovely Andy, all the best in their life together.
 Dee ~♥~