Not all weddings are equal. How can they be? Some are simply offer more than others, but quantifying how or where or simply what, is harder to point at and say, “it was because of X”, because as it always is, it’s almost always a case of many, many X’s.

Dutch couple, Simone & Matthijs had a wedding of many (many!) X’s from start to finish and as a result, this produced a set of ‘X’ results, because the two are inextricably linked. As these things always are.

Or put it another way, there is a saying, “shoot for the stars and you might just hit the moon”.

This one didn’t just hit the moon, it slammed into it. And knocked it off it’s orbit…

CHATEAU SOULAC

I have a long history with Chateau Soulac. I say long but I suppose it depends on how you define ‘long’, but at the time of writing, one of 10 years as the very first wedding I attended at this venue was the day the UK voted “yes” for Brexit.

Since that time, I have been back 5 or 6 times, - I couldn’t say with certainty but know it’s around that number and sometimes it’s been once a year, or I’ve skipped a year and as in the case of this year, twice.

It’s a special place and one of my favourites. I don’t say that lightly as there are as many venues I dislike (for a variety of reasons but because negativity in any form is of no interest to me, let’s just say I have a Black Book of venues I actively choose to never return to) as like.

It’s right up there, partly and literally because, it’s right ‘up there’, on a hill, overlooking the Dordogne River and valley. As such it, I know of no better venue in this region for sunsets and well, just take a look at the picture above to see what I mean. Having your day prior Welcome Party on site, can really take advantage of this.

Otherwise, it’s just the perfect setting for a mid-sized wedding (50-150 guests) in any weather because unlike so many places (some of which are in my Black Book), it has great alternative options when the weather is not in our favour. Which is rare for the region in wedding season, but can happen and should be a consideration.

THE EVENING PRIOR

As has already been mentioned and I generally advise in my advice to all clients, if you can do something on-site, it tends to work better than off-site. Mainly because apart from the weather, you can control it. That isn’t to say something in a restaurant can’t work, just that there will generally be compromises. Compromises for you and your guests and compromises for me attempting to capture it. But that is not the case here.

The caterers on this one were Hogs & Kisses and in an example of the planets aligning, just as the food was put out in the kitchen for self-service buffet style, the natural lighting was just perfect. Just 15 minutes prior it was not and 15 minutes later, that lighting had gone. Some weddings are just full of planet alignment and that of Simone & Matthjis was a perfect example of that manifesting itself.

There might have been quite a few people speaking/toasts and these day prior events are a great opportunity to not have quite so many on the wedding day itself if you are going to have more than the trad 3 people speaking!

YOGA

Of course EVERY wedding starts with a morning yoga session.

Or perhaps not all, but this one did.

What more can I say other than there was yoga!

BRIDE PREP PART A

I’ve said it many times in many posts, - bride prep is one of my favourite parts of a wedding.

I don’t know what it is specifically, but probably all the little and big details of; dress, shoes, flowers, perfume, jewellery, makeup, transformation and usually, plenty of time for it to happen.

The HMUA team at this one were sister and friend and this chapter opens with Simone’s father putting the final touches to his wedding speech.

GROOM PREP

What exactly is Matthjis up to with those wine bottles?

He’s actually labelling up anniversary wines to be drunk in the future ranging from 1 to 50 years and has to be one of the most romantic things ever?

He’s then cutting & pasting his vows.

It’s personal stuff like this that makes weddings absolutely sing.

BRIDE PREP PART B

This was a bit special…

The cards & gifts that Simone had made and presented to her girl friends.

The gifts for her sister and parents.

Not being able to finish reading the letter that Matthjis wrote her so her Mum had to take over…

Not being able to read, speak or understand a single word of Dutch other than doei, I have no idea what it said, other than it was something a bit special.

CEREMONY

And continuing the theme of not being able to speak or understand Dutch, the great thing about the Dutch (and all their more Northern Scandi neighbours, is that unlike the majority of the French) they all speak English.

But as to the ceremony and the toasts the day prior and through the wedding day, not a clue. I got the sentiment and the general idea what it was about, - mostly nice words being said about the nicest people and from the heart (rather than a best man’s speech pulled off the internet or stories about the time they got drunk and mistook a police car for a taxi…).

The ceremony was conducted by friend and Simone’s brother in law, Derk.

Granny Netty spoke. Simone’s sister Eveline spoke. Karin & Edmond, Simones’ parents spoke. Esther & Peter, Matthjis’s parents spoke. Gifts were given. Barbie made an appearance. No it was not Margot Robbie much to my disappointment and just a plastic doll, but hey ho. They exchanged PERSONAL VOWS (rather than repeated parrot fashion the words of a ‘pro’ celebrant), exchanged rings and it was great.

And it was indoors and not unshaded in the blazing sun wth zero shade as some do…

COCKTAIL HOUR

Cocktail Hour doesn’t need a whole lot of words.

The band played, Simone’s dad made a speech, a cake was cut and eaten, canapés were served and drinks were drunk.

INTERLUDE

Literally, in the musical sense.

Two friends on piano and cello respectively followed the groom himself on violin as a surprise for Simone.

And then the presentation of a family made (?) blanket/quilt which I guessed was some kind of tradition? I don’t need to know why, just that something is happening and it simply gets captured…

SIMONE & MATTHJIS

These two really don’t need any words. They just are.

TABLESCAPES & TOASTS

But before that, a few other mentions…

Weddings don’t just happen. They are many hundreds of hours in the planning and usually at the helm is the captain, the wedding planner and the captain on this one was Lou at Handmade Events. She’s one of the absolute best and most fun to work with.

Caterers were Feastmakers and as always, amazing food. Anyone who makes and brings me an individual dessert will always be amazing to me ;)