“I don’t know if a lifetime is going to be enough but we’ll certainly have fun trying…”, the sweetest words spoken from Bride to Bride. You will soon see that Jen and Rachael’s celebration is so much more than a dreamy al fresco fete in France (although we’re big fans of the setting!). It’s jam-packed with love—the kind that will make your heart swell ten times and your smile glow brighter. Darek Smietana is bringing that joy to our screens today in the form of these beautiful images.
From Darek Smietana… Although initially against the idea of a destination wedding, it quickly became obvious to Rachael & Jen that they should host their celebration abroad for everyone to come together and celebrate their wedding. The couple chose the incredible Chateau de Lartigolle in the South of France for a long weekend, also throwing a gorgeous intimate gathering in a relaxed welcome party at the sister venue Ferme de Labarthe. Hearty BBQ food with home grown produce grown on the farm offering a perfect start to weekend with that golden sun, making for an unforgettable summer evening. Nick, Emma & Chris were incredible hosts.
“We decided to have a destination wedding for a number of reasons: we wanted an outdoor, rustic wedding with more sun than the UK could offer. We also wanted to extend the celebrations into a holiday so the South of France was a no brainer due to the food, wine, sunshine and beautiful countryside. Jen came across Lartigolle online and before even visiting we knew it was the one, it was actually the only venue we visited. A very special place in a way that you cannot articulate but only feel. You instantly feel at home and are encouraged to treat it as such whilst staying there. Stunning, relaxed and not pretentious in any way while the food is the best you will ever taste at a wedding. As foodies this was a big selling point for us. Head chef Zoe nails it.”
When people arrive to view Lartigolle they are just rendered smitten by the relaxed and genuine welcome from the owners who have created a venue which has the perfect blend of french chic and rustic charm, staying warm in character while not too posing as too grand for itself, traditional with so many intelligent modern touches in an impressive masterclass of styling.
“Our planning weekend was brilliant. Breaks in eating (not wine) were filled going over details with Emma, one of the owners and our planner, who we bonded with instantly, and continued drinking wine and sharing stories with until 2am. The next day Jen had arranged for an engagement shoot as a birthday surprise for Rachael. It wasn’t something we originally planned but would recommend as it is a great opportunity to get to know your photographer and feel more comfortable in front of the lens.”
Both brides were made to feel equally special with a stunning ceremony… “We would both say our favourite part of the weekend was the ceremony, simply beautiful and just how we imagined it. We made our entrance at the same time emerging from different sides of the chateau walls with our respective fathers. The moment we caught a glimpse of each other was magical. We opted for a very personal humanist ceremony with a reading that was written by Rachael’s grandfather, read by her brother and a poem called Invisible Kisses by the British Poet Lemn Sissay.”
From the perfectly choreographed entrance to the breathtaking floral ceremony backdrop, Emma’s faultless touches of styling and sensitivity were so thoughtfully created for a gorgeous, intimate and celebratory atmosphere.
“A favourite personal touch came about for the dining tables. Since Jen’s father is a beekeeper, we made rustic candles for the favours which looked and smelt amazing on the place settings, bound together with our personalised wax seal, as used for the invitations.”
The speeches were incredibly touching with one especially sweet moment as Jen vowed to support Rachael to live out all of her dreams, saying “I don’t know if a lifetime is going to be enough but we’ll certainly have fun trying…” as well as hilariously touching stories from their best men. These included sweet childhood adventures to a general take on their appetite for life, travel and new experiences. Rachael & Jen are two gorgeous souls who evidently seem to belong together and showed everyone present why. The speeches finished with a quote from a member of Rachael’s family, that “Life is for sharing with someone, otherwise its’ purpose is limited. You and Jen follow your hearts. Life is precious, grab it with both hands and hold on tight.” Rachael then promised before everyone to do exactly that!
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Photography: Derek Smietana | Film: Andrew Kelly Films | Styling: Chateau Lartigolle | Makeup : Laura | Hair: Annie Salmon | Celebrant: Sandie Smith | Chateau: Chateau Lartigolle | Music: Michael