Natural French countryside wedding (part one)

It goes without saying this might possibly be one of my favourite weddings ever.  Shot by American photographer David Blair, this oh-so-pretty wedding of Mariette and Benjamin took place at a family-owned, rustic stone villa in the French countryside.

>> View Mariette and Benjamin’s natural French countryside wedding (part two) here <<

If you’re regular readers of the blog, it won’t come as any surprise that the brides dress is one of my absolute favourites – I’m not sure I’ve seen many more that I think are more exquisite.  I even told Nick that I might have swapped my own wedding dress for it – he was shocked!

I love the delicate lace sleeves and the way the front is loosely draped and edged with more lace.  I love the ribbon sash around the waist that is fastened in a bow at the back and the way the skirt falls simply to the floor – the lace hem full of dainty detailing.  It seems quite Edwardian inspired – one of my favourite eras for wedding dress inspiration.

Benjamin wore fab red suspenders and a flat cap – I really like that him and Mariette weren’t colour co-ordinated, and there were no buttonholes at this wedding either.

Mariette wore a gorgeous circlet of flowers in her hair – made up from very soft pink coloured flowers and a greyish foliage – I think it’s so subtle but so beautiful, and I love the addition of a couple of larger flowers fastened in her hair.

The bouquet needs no description – it’s just a thing of beauty…

Mariette’s three bridesmaids look pretty in dresses that had a period-feel to them, each with a different coloured shawl and birdcage veil…

The littlest flowergirl also wore a circlet of flowers that matched Mariette’s – how sweet is she!

The ceremony was held in the garden, the guests sat on wooden benches and surrounded by apple trees and grape vines.

Benjamin and Mariette were married beneath a rustic altar strung with a beautiful garland of orange berries and ribbons.

The aisle was lined with branches pushed into the ground, and tied to each with twine were jam jars of garden flowers – each jar holding a different posy, all very naturally put together in uncomplicated arrangements.

Now here’s a wedding where the ‘wildflowers’ truly were wildflowers, with many being gathered the morning of the wedding from the surrounding countryside.

How many of us dream of a beautiful outdoor ceremony like this?  I love the simplicity and the lightness of details that Mariette and Benjamin chose, there is nothing over-the-top or distracting, no grand art installation, just a beautiful setting decorated with flowers and items from the place.

I think it’s so sweet that as part of the ceremony, Benjamin washed Mariette’s feet to symbolise his commitment to her.

Confetti shots are always some of my favourite just for the look of happiness and excitement on the bride and groom’s face having just got married – what a fab moment this is in our lives!

How happy do Mariette and Benjamin look!

Don’t miss the second part tomorrow – gorgeous woodland photos, pretty reception details and more wildflowers.  I almost can’t wait to share it!

>> View Mariette and Benjamin’s natural French countryside wedding (part two) here <<

Images: David Blair Photography