Modern Bohéme in a French Château

Photography by Alchemia for Chris and Virgil

Enveloped by the picturesque fields of bucolic France, Chris and Virgil wed in an intimate and wildly romantic celebration within the historic Château de la Mercerie. Surrounded by their closest loved ones, their wedding so beautifully fused the modern with the bohemian, interweaving the most sentimental and stylish of touches to create an event entirely their own.

A deeply spiritual and whimsically chic ceremony unfolded on a picnic blanket set before the estate’s ancient stone walls. Vows were spoken cradling a candle’s flickering flame, signifying the fire of their home and their ardent love for one another.

Cocktail hour then followed where bespoke beverages were sipped, stories were exchanged, and dancing ensued late into the afternoon. As night fell, dinner was served on a communal table adorned with elegant candles and light, textural blooms. Afterward, the pair treated their guests to a musical and dance performance encircled by the enchanting hand-painted murals that lined the château’s walls.

Photography by Alchemia

Our Story

Names / Chris & Virgil

Wedding Date / October 24, 2020

Guest Numbers / 15

Budget / $41,000

How We Met

We met at work. We used to work in the luxury hôtel sector, and we’ve been working together on an upcoming hotel project opening in Paris.

Our Engagement Story

Virgil decided to purpose and solidify our love the moment our son was born.

Marriage To Us Means…

A spiritual moment shared by two individuals. Far from convention. To both of us, marriage is intimate and essential.

The Details

Wedding Location

Château de la Mercerie, France. We wanted a place full of history that was also vibrant, raw and magnificent at the same time. We chose to do the ceremony where the two lovers who built the castle are buried. The symbolic weight is very important to us and our marriage.

Preparation

Having the time to share intimate moments was one of the things the most important for us. That’s why we worked together with the planner, the photographer and the videographer so that they could show how important those moments were. We wanted to wake up at the castle, and get ready – just the two of us.

Overall Aesthetic / Style

The words that guided our inspiration when designing our wedding were: raw, soft, modern, true, wabi-sabi, ecofriendly, natural and pure.

Ceremony Décor

We wanted to keep the place as it was with its arches and keep it simple. We chose flowers that would bring a modern touch to this authentic place. The decor symbolism lay within the candles.

Reception Décor

The main idea was to work on raw and noble materials: linen, sandstone and stones, wood, and the lighting, of course. We wanted only one table to create something delicate, simple and pure, and also so that our guests could be all together. For the flowers, we wanted something modern to contrast with the rawness of the location, and to set a perfect mix and match.

Wedding Planner & Stylist

Our wedding planner was Mathilde from Unik Day Agency. She worked in close collaboration with our wedding stylist the Vintage Ologistes. We also followed the advice of our photographer and filmmaker to make better choices with lighting.

We let the venue guide us and we fully trusted the team who fully understood what we wanted.

Photography & Videography

We wanted a photo and video duo for our wedding, so we chose Olivia and Morgan from Alchemia for their sensitive, aesthetic and poetic work. It was important for us that they had the same approach and harmony between the two.

Fashion Notes

Bride’s Dress

The dress was custom-made by Heidi Floss. I wanted it to be unconventional, raw, and with fully natural materials. I wanted something light but with volume. For the evening part, I was wearing a suit made by By Romance. I wanted a modern touch which we like, and also to be reminiscent of the Parisien aesthetics.

Bridesmaids Dresses

The bridesmaids’ dresses were also made by By Romance. They were made with silk with natural tones.

Wedding Rings

We did not want any rings. Our vows were made through the candle and the flame that symbolizes the fire of a home.

Groomsmen Attire

The outfit the groom wore for the ceremony was imagined by our wedding designer to suit his personal style and to match the ambiance we wanted to create. For the evening, he wore a suit made by Blandin Delloye, for its elegance and modernity.

Hair

My sister in lai is a hairdresser and knew exactly what I wanted. I chose to wear a modern and elegant bun.

Makeup

I trusted Noémie Lemoine’s skills for the makeup. She guided me according to the clothes and my face.

Style Notes

Stationery / Invitations

Myne Creation did all the work. We wanted something simple, pure, inspired by materials like linen.

Favors

To remind our guests of the ceremony, we gave them each a candle. It was to represent the flame of love and friendship. We chose Pia Ecodesign for her eco-friendly values, and because we love what she does.

Flowers & Bouquets

The flowers were used to bring another tone and element of modernity to the decoration. We wanted the flowers to be a little offset compared to the rest of the design.

Food & Beverages

Cocktails were custom-made by The Maxologist. He created cocktails to match each of our personalities.

For the menu, we wanted something local and seasonal, with a bit of wine. Catering was by La Belle Etoile.

Honeymoon

With the pandemic, we could not travel, but we want to travel through the desert in Namibia as soon as we can!

Wedding Songs

We started the ball with a song made by Virgil, and as I’ve been a dancer for 12 years, I wanted to dance at his side.

Entertainment

We had an indie-folk playlist.

Celebrant

We worked with Stella from Les Créateurs de Cérémonie. We chose her because her work is all about symbolism. It is something she perfectly knows and she has a very specific and spiritual approach.

Sources of Inspiration

Pinterest, The Lane, textures and materials We only wanted providers we trusted.

We met Olivia and Morgan from Alchemia, Myne, and Folky Bloom during You and Me Festival, which is a french wedding festival. All the others were recommended to us.

A Memorable Moment

The morning rise was a very great moment for the both of us.

One Thing I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Wedding Plans…

Work on feelings, and trust your team of providers. Trust your choices, and don’t be afraid to do something unconventional, intimate, and that suits who you are.