Ed and Lydia’s French Riviera wedding was a true celebration of love and joy, with every detail thoughtfully planned from their home in New York. On June 16th, 2018, they exchanged vows at La Bastide Des Salins in St Tropez, surrounded by lush gardens and the warmth of their closest friends and family. The couple’s vision was to create a relaxed and whimsical atmosphere, free from the constraints of formalities. And what an achievement it was! With photographer Sophie Boulet capturing every special moment, we’re thrilled to share these breathtaking images with our readers, courtesy of Sophie’s generosity. This was more than just a wedding – it was a day filled with laughter, tears, and cherished memories. The venue, which had never hosted a wedding before, presented its own unique set of challenges, but Ed and Lydia rose to the occasion, bringing their personal touches and vintage flair to the decor and suppliers. From the beautiful florals to the alfresco dining, every element came together seamlessly to create an unforgettable experience. And then there’s the heartwarming moment when their daughter made her way down the aisle – a true showstopper! We can’t help but be swept away by this enchanting celebration of love and commitment.
The Proposal
It was during a casual BBQ gathering in 2013, shortly after my arrival in New York, that I met Ed. He had relocated to the city a few years prior due to work commitments. As our connection grew stronger, we soon found ourselves living together. The whirlwind romance culminated in a spontaneous city hall wedding on February 6th, 2015, with only one witness present – a deliberate choice made to avoid making the occasion feel overly formal, knowing that we would eventually plan a more meaningful celebration in the future. Little did we know at the time, life had other plans, and it would take the arrival of our two tiny humans and nearly three and a half years before we could make our ‘real’ wedding a reality.
The Vision
The objective was to create a charming and carefree outdoor gathering that embodied the essence of a sunny day. The plan was to keep the celebration entirely alfresco, with the weather being the only factor to potentially alter the arrangements. And, of course, an abundance of rosé would be on hand to add to the festive atmosphere.
The Planning Process
With our planners at Rock My Love leading the way, we were able to effortlessly navigate the wedding planning process despite being on opposite sides of the Atlantic. We leveraged video calls with vendors to review every detail, and their local knowledge proved invaluable in curating shortlists for all aspects of the big day. Pinterest was our trusted companion throughout the journey, and we created multiple inspiration boards to ensure our vision was met. To match the serene atmosphere of the garden and the season, we opted for a pastel-heavy colour palette with cream and green tones. As someone with a marketing background, I approached planning with a focus on the ‘customer journey’ for our guests, considering what information they would need before arriving in Ireland and how to create an unforgettable weekend experience. This led us to plan a full weekend of activities, including a sunset cocktail party on the water and a beach club brunch the following day. On the wedding day itself, we prioritized comfort and seamlessness with thoughtful details like parasols and fans from Etsy, cold drinks upon arrival, a children’s play area, food stations, dancing flip flops, sunscreen, and more. Despite the challenges of planning remotely, our special day unfolded exactly as imagined – with one minor exception: we underestimated the popularity of rosé and had to make a midnight restock from a local restaurant!
Budget
Groomsmen
With the groomsmen briefing happening remotely, Ed had to take on the task of selecting attire for the group himself. He relied on online shopping to find a suitable ensemble, eventually settling on a relaxed navy summer suit from J Crew that worked well as a model for his taller groomsmen. To bring everything together, Ed ordered a variety of navy bow ties on Etsy, including ones for Jasper, their 2 1/2-year-old son, and Ruben, their 4-year-old nephew. For the young boys, Ed found smart navy shorts at H&M and paired them with white shirts from Zara. Adding some braces from Etsy and white Chuck Taylor sneakers to the mix made them the adorable boys in the wedding party.
The Venue
As an Irish-English couple living in New York, we wanted our special day to be close to home. France held a special place in our hearts, having spent countless family vacations there as kids. The allure of June sunshine in the French Riviera was a major draw, and Ed’s family ties in Monaco sealed the deal. Our wedding planners arranged a two-day venue hunt, but we were hooked after just one look at La Bastide Des Salins, a 14-room boutique hotel in St Tropez. The property’s intimate size, with its lush garden and French Riviera glamour, made it the perfect fit for us. We fell head over heels.
What drew us to this venue was the promise of bringing in our own suppliers, as La Bastide had never hosted a wedding before and lacked an indoor space suitable for the occasion. This unconventional approach thrilled us, allowing us to craft a one-of-a-kind celebration that reflected our unique style. Our planners were equally excited to take on the challenge.
The Readings & Music
We deliberately left the selection of readings to our close friends, asking them to choose a unique poem and book excerpt that would surprise us on the day. This non-religious ceremony allowed them to get creative with their choices, which they executed beautifully. The fact that they selected the pieces themselves added a deeply personal touch to the proceedings.
Music was also an integral part of our celebration. We opted for a talented Jazz trio to perform during the ceremony and cocktail hour. Despite planning from a distance, we were able to narrow down our options through YouTube videos and Skype calls with our planners. One musician who stood out from the start was Lizzy, whom our planners recommended. Her music quickly became a highlight of our special day.
One of my all-time favorite songs is ‘You’ve Got the Love’ by Florence and the Machine, so it was only fitting that we chose it as our processional song. To this day, hearing it still brings tears to my eyes! We also opted for Pharrell Williams’ upbeat ‘Happy’ to get our recessional started, which proved to be a perfect choice.
The Flowers
As we delved into the world of wedding planning, hours upon hours were dedicated to perfecting the flowers. It wasn’t until this point that I fully grasped just how crucial a role they would play in capturing the essence of our special day. With a clear vision in mind, I spent an abundance of time scouring Pinterest for inspiration, meticulously curating a board filled with references that matched my desired aesthetic: a whimsical blend of pastel pinks, peaches, ivory, and green hues reminiscent of a lush summer garden. My excitement knew no bounds when the final product exceeded my expectations, earning them a well-deserved spot on my flower inspo board!
Your Outfits & Accessories
As I embarked on the daunting task of dress shopping just a month after welcoming my daughter Marley into the world, I was accompanied by my mom and my tiny tot at all bridal appointments. This unconventional start to my dress-hunting journey meant that I didn’t exactly feel like the radiant bride-to-be I aspired to be. However, I consoled myself with the thought of choosing a dress now and tackling fittings later when my post-pregnancy body felt more like its pre-baby self. We scoured through countless dresses at various boutiques, including Modern Trousseau in NYC, where I ultimately found inspiration for the bespoke gown that would become my Pinterest-perfect reality. After around five rounds of fittings, I finally felt confident with my choice, despite initially struggling to find the exact dress that had captured my imagination. In hindsight, I realize that I wasn’t alone in my doubts; many women experience ‘dress doubt’ as they weigh their options and worry about not making the perfect choice. But on my wedding day, everything fell into place, and I rediscovered my love for the gown that had been a constant source of inspiration throughout the process. To complete my look, I added a cathedral-length veil, Aquazurra satin sandals, and crystal drop earrings from Etsy – a thoughtful touch that tied everything together.
Beauty
Despite the distance, having your hair and makeup trial the evening before your destination wedding can be overwhelming. To prepare for this scenario, I decided to have a trial with my own hairdresser in New York a couple of months prior to the actual event. Although she wouldn’t be doing my hair on the day itself, I was able to take photo references of what I wanted to share with my actual wedding stylist. My vision was to achieve a natural look with a subtle smoky eye and beachy hair that would complement the outdoor summer theme. In preparation for this, our planners had sent me a selection of hair and makeup experts in advance to choose from, which made it easy for me to select Joana, whose Instagram feed I had previously stalked.
Your Photographer
Our vision for the wedding photographer was clear: we wanted someone who could capture the authentic moments, without staging or posing. Sophie was the perfect fit. We enjoyed getting to know her on Skype beforehand and felt an instant connection. On the day, she was a breeze to work with, never intruding on our special moments. She took stunning portraits of our guests, many of whom didn’t even realize they were being photographed! We later printed these shots and included them in our thank-you cards, which our loved ones appreciated immensely. Who wouldn’t love having a professional photo taken of themselves, after all?
Bridesmaids
When it came to selecting dresses for my bridesmaids, I drew inspiration from a previous experience where a friend had worn mismatched, yet stunning, dresses in shades of gold and blush. I screen-grabbed the Instagram photos and shared them with my bridesmaids, giving each one the freedom to choose their own dress. While this approach seemed straightforward, it surprisingly required some coordination to ensure the dresses complemented each other. After all, not every shade of blush, nude, pink, grey, and gold naturally matches! The process involved some returns, but I was thrilled with the final result. The bridesmaid dresses came from a mix of retailers, including BHLDN, ASOS, JJ’s Bridal, and Needle and Thread. To tie everything together, everyone wore the same drop earrings and had a loose bun hairstyle. Meanwhile, my 8-month-old daughter Marley got lost in a sea of tulle while wearing her dress from Etsy. The added bonus was being able to attach a harness under her dress without compromising her overall look.
The Details & Décor
As we curated the atmosphere, every decision was guided by our desire to create a relaxed, whimsical summer garden party vibe. We carefully crafted lounge areas throughout the garden and around the pool using vintage-inspired furniture and rugs, surrounded by lush flowers spilling from the trees. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we illuminated the space with fairy lights, creating a magical ambiance.The tablescape was designed to be effortlessly elegant, featuring white linens, wooden chairs, mismatched vases filled with colorful blooms, an abundance of candles in varying sizes, and – of course – my beloved gold cutlery. To pay homage to Ed’s Mum’s love for vintage Fiat 500s, we built a custom photo booth that exuded southern French charm.We also made sure our little ones were an integral part of the celebration. Jasper proudly served as our ring bearer, while Marley, still learning to take steps, was delightfully towed up the aisle by my niece in a charming reclaimed wooden cart. To keep our tiny guests entertained, we set up a kid’s play area with teepees, toys, and treats. Although they had already drifted off to dreamland by dinner time, we honored Jasper’s favorite cartoons with our table plan.As the sun set, we gathered around the table to indulge in a delectable French Mediterranean menu, served family-style and featuring antipasti, summer salads, seafood, and BBQ delights all crafted with fresh, local ingredients.
The Honeymoon
While we didn’t have a traditional honeymoon, our three-week adventure in southern France turned out to be a prolonged celebration of love and commitment. Surrounded by family and friends, it felt like one long and unforgettable vacation with the people we cherish most. And although it wasn’t officially marked as a honeymoon, we’re already planning an epic getaway to South Africa, which will give us the perfect opportunity to cross that off our bucket list.
Memorable Moments
As I woke up on the morning of our wedding day, I was greeted by a brilliant blue sky and the hum of activity in the garden as the decorations came to life. It was surreal yet lovely to see our carefully planned details take shape before our eyes. The atmosphere was electric.In the bridal suite, my mom and I had some quiet time together while I got ready. She was the only one who’d attended any of my dress fittings while visiting me in New York – it was a special moment just for us. My bridesmaids were peeking through the window, eager to catch a glimpse, but no one else had seen my dress yet. It wasn’t until I put it on with the right accessories, hair, and makeup that I truly felt like the bride.As we stood ready to go, holding hands, the feeling was overwhelming – this moment marked the culmination of our journey together. It felt truly special.Seeing Ed’s beaming face and tears as I walked down the aisle brought me joy. Our wedding celebrant, who’d attended university with Ed, officiated our ceremony once again, this time in a dashing all-white suit.Meanwhile, Jasper, our two-year-old bundle of energy, decided to stage a dramatic fall near the ceremony tree – toddlers will be toddlers! He insisted on being held by Mama, so as Ed placed the ring on my finger, I was cradling him instead. It wasn’t part of the plan, but it felt like a beautiful reflection of our life.As we made our way to dinner, we were met with beaming faces from our friends and family below. We’d also set up a special area to remember Ed’s dad, who’d passed away two years prior – a bittersweet reminder that he was always on Ed’s mind.The speeches that followed left us in stitches, wiping away tears and grinning from ear to ear. We heard from Ed, my dad, our best men Patrick and Higgs, as well as Holly and myself.
The Cake
A show-stopping macaroon tower, adorned in soft pastel hues, harmoniously complemented the overall aesthetic. As part of an exquisite dessert table, it was flanked by an assortment of French-inspired sweet treats, including decadent Mousse au Chocolat and the vibrant Tarte Tropézienne – a delightful combination that would fuel any dance party.
Advice For Other Couples
When planning our relaxed and informal celebration, we didn’t prioritize creating lists of must-capture moments or essential photographs. As a result, we missed out on capturing my second dress (an Alice and Olivia party dress!) as well as our impressive macaroon tower and some family members. In retrospect, having a trusted babysitter for the kids already familiar with them would have been wise. We didn’t take this approach, spending more time ensuring the French babysitters were comfortable with the children when we could have been sipping cocktails. It’s also essential to consider the sheer quantity of rosé your guests will consume in the south of France during the summer – red and white wines simply won’t stand a chance!
Credit Where Credit Is Due
The picturesque La Bastide des Salins served as the idyllic backdrop for Ed and Lydia’s special day. The talented Sophie Boulet Photographe was behind the lens, capturing every moment with her discerning eye. Meanwhile, Rock My Love brought their expertise in wedding planning to ensure a seamless celebration. As the sun shone down, Joana Ronquillo’s masterful touch on makeup and hair added an extra layer of glamour to the proceedings. Deco et Harmonie’s stunning creations wowed guests, while Lizzy and the Gentlemen’s soulful sounds filled the air. Options & Design by C provided the perfect setting with their thoughtful arrangement of furniture. And for Ed, a dashing Modern Trousseau-dressed groom, J Crew’s impeccable suits ensured his groomsmen looked equally debonair. As Rachel reflected on the joyous occasion, she couldn’t help but express her gratitude to the happy couple: ‘What a beautiful and relaxed day! Thank you so much for sharing it with us, Ed and Lydia.’