JENNIE & DAN - 3 Day Destination Wedding at CHATEAU DE BOIS RIGAUD, Auvergne (Photo & Video)
Hi Simon,
We've just finished looking at the all of these - and watched the video twice! - and the reviews are in....
Wow. Wow. Wow. We completely adore the pictures and the video, and your incredibly kind words about the weekend have really moved us. Though this might be the champagne talking....
But honestly- thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You've captured everything so perfectly and they have turned out better than we could have even hoped. From the smallest details to the bigger shots - you can 100% feel our wedding! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Jennie & Dan
Sometimes I struggle to find the most appropriate words when I am often asked, “what’s your favourite venue?” or “what’s the best wedding you have ever been to?”…and these are not easy questions to answer. But this one is going to be high on that list for a very long time…
Sometimes you just know. Actually, after whatever it is, somewhere between 750-800 weddings in 15 different countries, I do know. From the first point of contact. The first point of contact reveals probably 90%+ of everything I am ever going to know about the wedding and the couple and whether it’s going to be right up my street. And so it was with Jennie ‘Egg’, actor, best known for ‘Young Wife - Station’, Wonder Woman, 2017, according to IMDB.
Then driving up to the venue, I saw this hilltop village bathed in golden light with blue skies and fluffy white clouds above and thought, “that would be a great setting for a wedding…oh, sat nav says I am arriving very shortly”. Pulled in to the place, met Jennie & Dan for the first time (and Jennie’s mum) and then I knew for sure.
The venue. Just great. A perfect mix of modern chic, sometimes quirky bits and pieces mixed in with the ancient grandeur of the place. Chateau de Bois Rigaud is situated in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes kind of central and a bit Eastern. Some clouds looked ominous soon after I arrived but went away and were never seen again.
But weddings are not just about where, but who. “About whom” my mother would say, but as I was not born in 1945, so I’ll stick with who thanks Mum. Jennie & Dan. Their respective families. Their friends. The story that is about to unfold… They were the WHO that made this wedding.
The highlights Event Film above and pics below can tell that story better than my words and I hope I did it justice. I think maybe I did…
But in words:
The day prior was a gathering; of family, cheese, of friends, cheese, of food (including cheese) & wine, of sunshine and music. And cheese. And the ambience was great.
THE WEDDING DAY
“What is Love? By Isaac Lumby”. Just watch the film above! From the tones of the bridesmaids individual dresses to the handpicked flowers…and maybe a little help from me re. how to set seating for the perfect intimate outdoor wedding, the ceremony just worked.
Relaxed drinks for a couple of hours, speeches, cake and then… Fanfare Express. Again, watch the film to understand that but as I say to all my newly booked clients, suppliers can MAKE (or break) weddings and with ‘olde school’ vinyl spinning DJ, Ludovic throughout the afternoon and then evening with the band, this wedding was ON FIRE.
…and then there was GLASTONLUMBY
Jennie & Dan are great festival goers and indeed met at the UK’s best known festival, GLASTONbury. Dan’s surname is LUMBY. In another form of marriage, GlastonLumby was arrived at!
Pool party with Ludovic back spinning that vinyl once again, BBQ and live music by Bonjour Au Revoir.
I can only really do this wedding justice by telling the story as best as I can through their medium of hybrid capture, ie, photo & video. I bring the same set of tools to each and every job. I bring the same skills and experience. It’s my clients that provide the situations and scenarios but most importantly of all, the inspiration. Jennie & Dan nailed it at Chateau de Bois Rigaud in July 2023.
MENTIONS
PLANNER: There was no planner for this wedding and it had a big chunk of family & friends hands on and DIY which suited it perfectly.
HMU: Zip. Mostly the girls just lined up in the large bathroom mirror.
FLORALS: Combo job of bouquets and arch deco by L’Autre Saison des Fleury and the rest was Jennie herself.
CELEBRANT: Friend Alex did a sterling job complete with Asterix & Obelix book.
CATERING: The entire 3 day weekend was handled by Montrognon.
BAND: (wedding day) Fanfare Express
GLASTONLUMBY BAND: Bonjour Au Revoir
As mentioned above, suppliers can make or break weddings. If you are reading this as one of my newly booked couples and need some help with this (and don’t have a pro planner booked), feel free to ask for my ‘Little Black Book’ of recommended suppliers!