Erin and James had their rustic wedding in France, and made full use of the holiday setting. It was a real family occasion, with their daughter right at the heart of it…
The proposal
Erin and James met when they worked together in advertising. “It was all strictly professional, but I loved James’ charismatic, kind and humble character,” Erin smiles. “After moving jobs, James plucked up the courage to ask me out for coffee, and the rest is history. He proposed to me at home, during a romantic dinner – a complete surprise.”
The bride’s outfit
With wedding dress designer Deana Hudson as her mother-in-law, Erin knew exactly where she would find her perfect gown. “Deana very kindly agreed to make my dress as a wedding gift, taking inspiration from Jenny Packham and Phillippa Lepley, and I knew I was in safe hands,” says Erin. The end result was made from champagne pink hand-dyed silk, with beaded lace and a button back. “It was amazing to work with a professional to design my dress, and I ended up with something unique,” Erin adds. She wore her hair in a natural style, with dried flowers from The Artisan Flower Company.
The groom’s outfit
James wore a crisp and smart navy blue suit in linen, from Brooks Brothers.
The bridesmaids
Erin chose her sister Alex as her bridesmaid, and her cousin’s daughter Caitlin as her flowergirl. Alex looked chic in a long, navy dress from Adrianna Papell, while little Caitlin wore a pretty ivory gown from Monsoon, teamed with a vintage style parasol.
The ceremony
The couple tied the knot at Le Mas de Barbut – a charming country guesthouse in the Carnargue region of France. “After the ceremony, we went to the beach to have our photos taken,” say Erin. “The French people were intrigued!”
The reception
The newlyweds chose a Provençal theme for their wedding, influenced by their location. The guests dined al fresco by candlelight on freshly cooked giant prawns and grilled tuna. “I bought candles, vases and lanterns in London and took them over to France for the wedding, and made table runners from natural hessian,” Erin says. “We foraged for our table flowers in the nearby fields, collecting wild berries, flowers and foliage, and had the typical French croquembouche topped with sparklers as our wedding cake.”
The couple also combined their big day with a naming ceremony for their daughter, Niamh. “We had our first dance with her, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house,” smiles Erin. The guests were given delicacies from a local patisserie as favours, inside place name crackers from Tilliemint Loves.
The honeymoon
Erin and James spent their wonderful honeymoon in the Dordorgne.
Real wedding gallery
