Wedding | Annabelle & Rémy

Tell us a little about yourselves! 

We’re Rémy and Annabelle, a Swiss couple from the same region at the bottom of the Alps. We both grew up surrounded by mountains, Lake, cheese, and family gatherings — things we still love today. 

Rémy is a visual and sound artist and a graphic design teacher in an art school, and Annabelle is a wedding photographer, Coucoustudio.Love. We’re big fans of good food, good wine, art, and just having a good time together.  

Our relationship is built on laughter — with each other and sometimes at each other. We don’t take life too seriously and try to enjoy every moment. 

We first met at one of Rémy’s art shows in Lausanne, not knowing that we had actually lived in the same tiny city, Sion, for two years without ever crossing paths. We’ve been together for almost three years now. After returning from an art residency in South America, Rémy realized he wanted to spend his life with Annabelle. He had even gone to her father a few weeks earlier to ask for his daughter’s hand, thinking it was both romantic and a sign of respect. Then, out of the blue, he proposed at midnight in a kebab shop — he’d had the ring for a few weeks but just hadn’t known the perfect moment. Fun fact: that was also the night they agreed to adopt their rescue dog, Bibip.

Why did we decide to get married where we did? 

Rémy’s mum is from Ardèche (France), and his family still has a house there. After only two weeks of dating, he took me there — a 4.5-hour drive from Switzerland —  and during that little getaway, I not only fell in love with him, but also with the village and what it means to his family. 

We’ve been back many times since: family gatherings, long afternoons in the garden, endless glasses of rosé with uncles, aunts, and all sorts of relatives. Even before we got engaged, we talked about how perfect this place would be for a wedding. So when it finally happened, it felt obvious. 

We had visited several venues before Patricia — a close family friend of Rémy’s mum who owns a campground — offered to host the wedding there for free. That’s the kind of thing that happens in small villages. Le Camping du Moulin is one of those rare places that’s just nature, vans, and campers — no typical infrastructure. It has a beautiful, natural vibe by the Ardèche river, and we love coming there to swim. Patricia and her partner Lucien are such wonderful people, and we instantly fell in love with them. Being able to celebrate our wedding there was a real gift and such a beautiful encounter. 

In the winter, it’s just three empty fields — nothing else — and for us, that was perfect. It was like a blank canvas that we could fill exactly how we wanted for our wedding. Nature and simplicity were all we wanted, even if it meant we had to do everything ourselves. And a big plus: our friends could also camp there if they wanted to.

We also decided to have the ceremony in the village church (10 min walks from the  Camping du Moulin, which had been a bit abandoned over the years — a little like the church Emily wants to get married in with Ross in Friends — and we fell completely in love with its charm. I’m not religious, but I was happy to get married in a spiritual way and to support Rémy in this meaningful choice. 

The church itself is beautiful and unique: the bell tower sits directly in the garden, and there’s grass on the ground inside, something quite rare for a church — probably a cost decision back in the day. The whole village came back to life for the weekend. 

We rented a venue for 50 people, and our friends started arriving gradually during the week before the wedding. It was amazing to have everyone together in one place, and seeing the village of Salavas filled with our friends was just beautiful. 

Our civil ceremony took place earlier, in July, in the mountains where I’m from: the Val d’Hérens, in the village of Evolène.

How many guests did you have? 

We had almost 150 guests coming from Switzerland, France, Belgium, Japan, Germany, and Australia — such a beautiful mix of people all gathered in one place.

What was your budget? 

We set our budget at 30,000, but even though we did things our way — simple, colorful, lots of handmade details, and with huge help from our friends — we ended up closer to 40,000. Thankfully, our families helped us a lot too.

Tell us about your outfits. 

We wanted something that truly represents us — fresh, colorful, but still a little traditional. For Annabelle, it was really important to wear color, as it’s a big part of her identity. Her dress was chosen to be a little timeless: the long skirt brought in a traditional touch, while she also wanted a mini version to be comfortable, simple, and elegant. The sleeves added a  playful, vintage vibe. She chose colorful shoes, a necklace, and accessories, even fun hair clips handmade by her girlfriends — anything she wouldn’t normally wear every day, she could and wanted to wear on her wedding day! She even added a yellow diamond, a sapphire, and a garnet (red stone) to her wedding ring to bring in more color. 

Annabelle also wanted to stay traditional while keeping her own personality, which is why she asked her friend and artist Julia Widmann to create her veil. Together, they chose the colors, designed the shape, and Julia turned it into a beautiful, unique veil. Julia also made Rémy’s boutonniere, adding a splash of color to his suit. 

Rémy wanted something comfortable but a little southern in style. His suit from Le Maire with Marcel fit perfectly — relaxed, arty, cool, yet slightly traditional. His shoes came from Marseille, while Annabelle’s were from Paris and Zurich. 

By the evening, it got quite cold, but Rémy’s mum had bought Annabelle a vintage jacket at a flea market the Sunday before for just 5 euros — in case she got cold. She wore it the whole evening, and it was perfect. 

Later in the night, we even swapped our outfits because we love dressing up and playing around — and honestly, the dresses looked amazing on Rémy too! We wanted our friends to laugh the entire time.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

We wanted our wedding to feel a bit deconstructed — playful and unexpected — while still following certain traditional codes. We wanted to host une fête de l’amour.  

For us, it was really simple: we just wanted our friends and family to have the best time ever. Good food, good wine, and lots of laughter were the most important things. That’s why our dear friends Laura and Thomas, a winemaker and wine cellar owner from Ardèche, were such a big help — they helped us choose all the wine and made sure everything was perfect. 

We wanted our guests to be part of the celebration, not just spectators. That’s why we organized a talent show — anyone who wanted could sing, dance, or perform something —  and honestly, we were blown away by all the talent and laughter! 

We also wanted to bring in things we love, like hiring a fanfare to play songs as at Carnaval, which is a big part of our culture. All the DJs were our friends too, each taking their turn on the decks. 

Really, our friends and family were the heart of the wedding. Everyone helped in some way — from decorating to styling, from organizing to performing — and their support made the whole day truly magical. We honestly couldn’t have done it without them and of course our wedding coordinator Amandine Bula. 

For us, it was so important to celebrate love with all our loved ones. We thought a lot about  the fact that in life, the only times when all the people who matter to you are gathered together are at your wedding and at your funeral — and we definitely didn’t want to wait until we were gone!

Were there any elements that were important for us to incorporate? 

The first thing we did after the proposal was start looking for a wedding photographer.  Being a wedding photographer myself, I knew exactly what we wanted — and since the proposal happened at the end of December 2024, we also knew it would be tricky to find someone we loved for a 2025 wedding, especially as I was almost fully booked myself.  When we came across Misty Wedding’s profile, we were beyond excited and happy to have found  photographers who perfectly matched the style and feel we wanted for our wedding. 

For the rest, we wanted the day to be colorful and simple. Food was also really important to us, though unfortunately we had some major issues with the caterers — let’s just say they didn’t turn out as expected. We also wanted the evening to end with a bit of a party — a rave under the attic of a stone house by the Ardèche river. Even though the weather wasn’t great, we still managed to have it with the guests who stayed. 

Art and color were such important elements for our wedding, and our friends made it come alive in the most beautiful way. We asked anyone who wanted to create flags or floating artworks to hang in the field to decorate, and they turned it into something magical. Our friends even painted about ten portraits of us during the bachelor party, and at the wedding, an auction was held to sell these paintings — it was such a personal and creative touch. 

As we mentioned before, we organized a talent show, and everyone participated, adding their own flair and energy. A little last minute, we realized we didn’t have anyone to sing for our entrance at the church, so our friends, the bridesmaids, stepped in. They all sang Couleur Menthe à l’Eau together, wearing colorful veils like we had suggested for a WOW,  playful effect. They looked stunning, and walking into the church with them, we felt completely carried by love and friendship. 

Both of our mums played such a special part in our day. Annabelle’s mum, who quilts as a hobby, lovingly sewed all the decorations outside the church — even a big flag that welcomed everyone at the entrance of the campground. Meanwhile, Rémy’s mum crafted delicate paper flowers to brighten the village and the church bell. Watching our mums connect, create, and pour their hearts into these little details for our wedding was truly magical. 

Everything our friends contributed — from the artwork and paintings to the singing and talent show — made the day feel vibrant, personal, and full of joy, perfectly reflecting us  and our passions.

Any tips for couples getting married?  

Ask your friends and family to be involved in preparing the wedding and in the wedding itself. It’s a great way to spend time with them, create memories, and build strong connections. The preparation is just as important as the wedding day because honestly, on the day itself, you barely have time to do anything. 

A bride I photographed once told me that she and her husband had chosen a word to say to each other during their wedding to stay truly present — best tip ever! Rémy and I tried it at our wedding, and every time we used the word, it helped us really notice and remember those special moments. I now recommend this to all my clients. 

I also suggest buying disposable cameras for the after-party. It’s a fun way to capture memories from different perspectives and see the wedding through the eyes of your guests.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

We are just so grateful for everyone we worked with. Amandine Bula, our wedding coordinator, isn’t just a friend — she was an absolute gem. Sweet, calm, and endlessly thoughtful, she knows exactly how to handle every situation and communicate with all the other vendors. Having her with us made everything feel easy and joyful — she truly has a talent for making everyone feel cared for while keeping everything running smoothly. 

Misty Weddings, Nora & Lisa, were also amazing — kind, talented, and professional. They were present but discreet, and it felt like they were just two friends invited to our wedding  — which is exactly what we wanted. The pictures speak for themselves, and you can trust them completely. 

Laura from La Cave des Indépendantes was incredible too. She ran everywhere to pick the perfect selection of cheese, called all her friends for great dry meats, beers, and more. Every time we had a problem, she had a solution. Her wine, and her husband Thomas’s  wine, were truly the best. 

Almost all other vendors, friends, and everyone involved were just incredible. There’s not enough space to write about them all, but we are so thankful to each and every one of them.

Photographer & Videographer: Misty Weddings @misty.weddings | Coordinator: Amandine Bula

@amandebula | Flora: Cévennes en fleurs @cevennes.en.fleurs | Ceremony & Reception Location:

Camping le Moulin @camping_le_moulin | Makeup: Julie Monot @julie.monot | Hair: La Grande Daphné @la_grande_daphne | Beverages & Natural Wine: Les Indépendantes  @cave_

lesindependantes_ardeche & Domaine Ozil @domaineozil | Entertainment: Les Platt Band & La nuit @la_nuitt_ | Dress: Jessica Bennett @jessicabennettbridal from Whiteflow Bridal @whiteflow.bridal | Suit: Le Maire @lemaire | Veil: (Design) Bride & (Made by) Julia Widmann @juliawidmn | Engagement Ring: Sherylin Birth @sherylinbirth | Wedding Rings: Handmade by couple with Atelier A2 @ateliers.a2 | Shoes: Carel @carelparis & Collab Zurich @collabzurich  | Wooden Parade Float: Pavillon Trois 

@pavillon.trois | Wedding Architecte: Bureaumilieux @meli.e @bureaumilieux | Guest Gifts: Designed by Bride and made by Groom Cameleon Rouvinet ©cameleonrouvinet