Wedding | Elise & Evan

Tell us a little about yourselves!

I grew up in France until I was 16, then lived in New Zealand before moving to the UK five years ago. That’s where I met Evan — in true “wild” fashion at a pub, when he accidentally spilt his drink on me!

My dad’s side of the family still live around Bordeaux, and now Evan and I live together in the UK.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

So much of my family is based around Bordeaux, it felt really special to choose a venue in that region. It was also important for us to have a place that felt like a celebration destination, somewhere we could all come together for a long weekend.

How many guests did you have?

55. Emma Macauley Photography captured our day.

What was your budget? 

£30k.

Tell us about your outfits.

My wedding dress was from Annie’s Ibiza. It was a very last-minute find, as my original dress from another designer unfortunately arrived faulty only three months before the wedding. My second dress, from 16Arlington, was an easy choice – I loved the feathers and how comfortable it was, which made it perfect for dancing the night away.

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

We didn’t want to worry too much about styling beyond flowers, so finding a place that already felt beautiful made it simple. More than anything, our goal was to have a really fun party with our family and friends.

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

We didn’t have any hard non-negotiables. It was more about creating the right atmosphere for everyone to relax and celebrate.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Ask someone to make you a plate of your cocktail-hour food so you actually get to enjoy the lovely things you’ve chosen.

Try to carve out a little 1:1 time between the two of you on the day – it goes so quickly.

If you don’t have a planner on the day, ask a trusted friend or bridesmaid to be the go-to person for vendors and decisions so you can stay relaxed.

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

Honestly, we loved all of our vendors – they each did such an amazing job and helped make the day so special.

Photographer & Videographer: Emma Macauley Photography @emmamacaulayphotography | Flora:

Les Renouees Flowers @lesrenouees.floral | Ceremony & Reception Location: Chateau Fengari @chateaufengari | Celebrant & Day Co-ordinator: Kevin Baker Celebrant @kevinbakercelebrant | HMUA: Laura Cawte @laura_cawte | Catering & Beverages: Events by Nicolas Traiteur @eventsbynicolas | Entertainment: Mixology Fix The Music @fixthemusic | Dress: Annie’s Ibiza @anniesibiza | Suit: Ralph Lauren @ralphlauren | Veil: The Wedding Veil Shop @theweddingveilshop | Engagement & Wedding Rings: Flawless Fine Jewellery @flawlessfinejewellery | Shoes: Zara @zara | Second Look: 16Arlington

@16arlington