Parisian Chic Wedding {Part 1} …

Bonjour, Mon Ami! It's the weekend!! Time to celebrate and drool over some exquisite wedding photography.  And I have a completely gorgeous and glamorous new wedding to share with you here today, a stylish and extremely chic affair, infused with Parisian style charm, that make me want to go and immerse myself in the final few episodes of Sex And The City all over again. Carrie Bradshaw eat your heart out!

Feast your eyes and enjoy the most splendid and stylish of celebrations that was, Natalie and Scott's wedding…

Thank you to the fabulous A J Williams for agreeing to provide these most glamorous of photographs.

Love My Dress Wedding Blog – All Images Copyright (C) 2009, A J Williams Photography

"Scott popped the question in Paris, somewhere he knew was already my favourite city from previous visits and my love affair with all things Sex and the City and my idol – Miss Carrie Bradshaw!! (The Plaza Athenee was a possible venue but sadly creeping just over(!) our budget).  Following his proposal there, the city became an even more special place for us.  My love of the culture, street cafes, art galleries, eating macaroons at the Café Marly overlooking the Louvre and of course… windowing pawing Christian Louboutin – all these things became something I adored and treasured and knew instantly that Paris was to become inspiration for the finer details of our day – although keeping some English traditions.  A very chic affair, with the Eiffel Tower becoming a sort of logo we wrapped around our day!"

"We chose South Lodge Hotel for it's old-fashioned glamour; a stately home with etiquette to match it's previous visitors like Winston Churchill.  It has stunning views, which is something we really wanted; acres of rolling hills with views over the South Downs and beyond.  The service was incomparable and the food, award winning; we are both foodies, and this was important to us!  We wanted to be able to tailor make the menu to suit us and our guests and give them something to tickle their taste buds from the canapés on the lawn, to the 4-course wedding breakfast, which included Selsey prawn and crab cocktail, locally sourced Sussex beef and his 'n' hers desserts, all accompanied by wine from the Bordeaux region.   We searched endlessly for our venue, looking at nearly 30 possible options, from Bath to Cornwall and the South of France!!  We realised we had to compromise unless we started building with bricks ourselves!"

 

"I wanted a very glamorous and elegant wedding – something simply beautiful and classic, that would show off my attention to detail, with some added bling!  Scott was able to sit back and let me take the reigns, probably like most Grooms, he just wanted me to be happy!" 

 

"I didn’t want to wear a veil as the back of my dress was the statement – the three crystal hairpieces from Accessorize that I opted for worked great with my beehive and curly locks".

 

"I loved looking for my dress and it was definitely one of the highlights of the planning stages.  I didn’t want to be bombarded with options so I only took my Mum to the first two boutiques and my Matron of Honour accompanied us when I found ‘the one’!  I had a running pattern in my huge wedding file and that was gowns that weren’t strapless.  I wanted to move away from that tradition.  I also seemed to love the elegance and classical styles of Pronovias gowns.  Eventually I made an appointment in Bond Street and tried on six gowns.  Fell in love but then, out of the corner of my eye I saw the gown I chose for my big day!  It was a one off exclusive design by Manuel Mota for Pronovias!  I hoped to achieve a glamorous sophisticated look, but one that was classic, clean lines with a little bit of bling.  I also wanted a timeless design – one I wouldn’t look back on in 40 years covering my eyes eeking in horror at the slave to fashion that I was!!  I didn’t want the dress to ‘wear’ me!  But I DID want that wow factor – a dress people saw me in on the day and hadn’t seen anything like it".

 

"The dress was nearly white with a low back and a gorgeous 4ft train!  Otherwise it was simple so the seamstress suggested adding a Swarsovski crystal and pearl beaded belt.  I didn’t want something to cut me off at the middle as it didn’t suit the dress that way.  So she tailored the belt to fit neatly under the bust.  I left the length of the belt to tie in to a ribbon at the back and float down the back – it gave sparkle when I moved which I really loved!  I did feel amazing in it on the day – it was a splurge and an amazing wedding gift bestowed to me from Mum but something I didn’t want to take off and still wish I could wear again and again!  Underneath the gown I had my Mum’s wedding ring sewn in which my late Father gave to her, it was really special to have that with me".

 

"I absolutely already knew, no questions asked that I wanted to slip my feet in to a designer pair of shoes – how often does a girl get to really indulge!  My love of Sex And The City and Carrie Bradshaw and how shoes can make an outfit but also make the person wearing them feel like a million dollars – my Christian Louboutins certainly did that for me.  During the day, my dress was yanked up countless times with guests asking for a glimpse of them and flashing the red soles!  They were 4 inches high and did cause blisters and pain but my hubbie is 6ft 2 and so they created a definite advantage!  Although I did end up doing our first dance to At Last by Etta James in bare feet on tippy toes – not recommended for the twirls!! But fashion hurts… right?"  (Like my own good Mother taught me Natalie – no pain, no gain.  You have to suffer to be beautiful!!!)

 

 

 

"I spent a long time looking for the perfect jewellery.  To have a necklace or to not, pearl studs or sparkly earrings, a large cuff and so on!!! I was recommended Magpie Vintage by a friend and their vintage pieces are beautiful – I almost convinced myself to have a statement necklace just because I wanted to wear Magpie Vintage!  However, in the end I bought some ‘returnable’ examples from Accessorize to try on at my first dress fittings – I then knew that a necklace would be too much with my gown.  So I opted for a delicate bracelet and more dramatic earrings.  I found the perfect designs at Regina B, New York.  They were vintage inspired but with a fresh look.  They were incredibly helpful and were able to rush my order through as from being so indecisive I’d left it quite late to make a final decision – but it had to be right!  They are now in the box carefully lain with my Tiffany pearl necklace I got for my wedding present – treasured pieces!"

(Oh Natalie, I love the 'Present and Adore' ribbon from Cox and Cox below.  I used this to wrap the gifts for my Hens, on my Hen Weekend….)

 

 

"After searching high street chains, traipsing around Oxford Street, looking on global websites etc. I ended up at a local boutique called Kiss The Bride and they had an amazing selection of Dessy gowns.  I chose three, which I loved and sent the girls in!  As luck would have it (for a change!) they loved the midnight blue chiffon full-length gown I chose.   It matched the colour scheme perfectly and they all looked terribly chic and ladylike!   They each chose their own shoes, clutch bags and jewellery – I just gave the final nod!  They did me proud leading the way down the aisle!  A perfect opening act for my big ‘nervous’ entrance!"

I love the pretty wrist corsage the Bridesmaid is wearing, what lovely detail… 

"I liked the idea of the Bridesmaids having something alternative to the traditional posy or bouquet.  I also didn't want them to have a bouqet only to set it down after the ceremony and that would be it – so I decided on a gorgeous corsage for them each, of blue and white hydrangea tied on midnight blue stin ribbon.  They stayed put all day and set off the Bridesmaids outfits perfectly – very chic!"

Time for some Grooming!

"I wanted the boys to wear black tie and look uniform and smart – we were close to buying their shoes too but had to draw the line somewhere!  Scott chose a King and Allen midnight blue 3 piece suit with a white silk lining and tie!  He wore super winklepicker shoes by Dune, that had been recently featured in GQ mag – shame they omitted to mention the agony they cause!  His cufflinks were from Paul Smith.  He wanted to look suave and handsome on the day and he succeeded!"

A quick peek before we move onto the wedding, of Natalie and Scott's beautiful stationery.   "I searched for ages for the perfect stationery and stumbled across Borrowed Blue Press; they make hand made designs using gorgeous paper sourced from abroad.   I chose a navy blue and cream satin design with blue ribbon.  The main invitation sat in a pocket with the additional details tucked inside – we had swarsoski crystals added to give a bit of sparkle!  I stamped each envelope with an Eiffel tower image on the back to start the theme as I meant to go on!"

One absolutely stunning Bride making her way nervously to the ceremony…

 

How absolutely drop-dead gorgeous is this Bride? Never mind her stunning Bridesmaids (navy-blue is my FAVOURITE colour in the world! Excellent choice Natalie!), and her rather Dapper Groom!

Natalie has kindly provided so many exquisite photographs from her wedding, that I have decided to feature the whole gorgeous affair in two-parts  check back Sunday for some more Oh-La-La, including the ceremony, reception and first dance…

♥