Every now and then you meet a couple who are just so right for each other that their love literally brightens the lives of everyone around them. From the very first moment I met Emily and Paul and we bonded over our shared love of rescue dogs, I felt like they had been my friends for years.
For their intimate wedding in France, they rented a chateau amongst the rolling hills of Normandy and spent a week living la vie en rose with ten of their closest friends and family members. Everything about their day was beautiful, intentional, and filled with love – scroll down to see more and see their full feature on Wedding Chicks.
Planning your destination wedding in France and searching for a Normandy wedding photographer? Contact me to book your date!
Just fifteen minutes from the sea and nestled in the idyllic French countryside between charming fairytale villages covered in climbing roses is the most beautiful petite chateau outside the town of Criquetot-le-Mauconduit. Emily, an interior designer, immediately fell in love with the chateau’s beautiful grounds and whimsical decor and knew it would be the perfect place to spend a week with their best friends.
The animal-loving couple left their two rescue dogs at home in the United States, but happily let the sweetest family of sheep fill in for the week. They would pick fruit from the nearby trees and feed them to these cuties!
Emily chose a simple but chic Joanna August wedding gown and paired it with possibly my all-time favorite bridal shoes – a gorgeous pair of silk Miu Miu flats, embellished with rhinestones and feathers. The perfect ‘something blue’!
I loved Paul’s blue suit paired with a floral tie and patterned pocket square. Keep scrolling to see what this stylish groom changed into for the reception!
After a relaxing afternoon of brunch and getting ready with her best friends, Emily was ready to see Paul for the first time…and look at that smile when she did!
How beautiful is Emily? Standing under a weeping willow tree, wrapped in the softest golden afternoon light, she truly looked like she had stepped into a painting.
The ceremony, conducted by Paul’s best friend, Jeremy (who actually introduced the couple), was simple, beautiful, and overflowing with love. The words that he, Paul, and Emily shared were so incredibly heartfelt – at the end, not a dry eye remained (including my own).
After the ceremony, Emily, Paul, and their guests enjoyed cocktails and champagne on the lawn. Overflowing with flowers, their dinner table was adorned with custom monogrammed linen napkins, hand-curated antique French china, and taper candles (a forever favorite of mine).
As the sun began to wane, Emily, Paul, and I snuck away into the chateau gardens for their bride and groom photos. The light could not have been more beautiful!
At sunset, Emily and Paul sat down for an elegant French dinner al fresco with their guests. As the champagne flowed and candles flickered, day turned to evening and the cool night breeze intermingled with the sound of crickets chirping, birds singing, and friends laughing through the night.
Emily and Paul, I truly adore you both and could not be happier that you found each other. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your dream wedding adventure in France.
Stay tuned for their honeymoon session on the cliffs of Etretat, coming tomorrow!
Photography by Normandy wedding photographer Molly Carr Photography | Wedding Gown: Joanna August | Bridal Shoes: Miu Miu | Flowers: Fleurs Design by Faustine | Rentals: Options | Catering: Chef Daniele Ferro