Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, Margot & Florain crossed paths at the tender age of 18 through the mystical powers of mutual friends. Alas, the universe conspired against them, for they were not destined to reside in close proximity, leading to them untimely parting...
. . .Lo and behold, fate had other plans as they reunited at the ripe age of 24, with her beloved relocating for the pursuit of knowledge. The reconciliation was swift and sweet, like a well-aged cheese. Three years down the line, a tiny human made it's grand entrance into their lives, followed by a sibling just four years later. And so, the epic saga of love, distance, and unexpected reunions continues. . .
Photography by Angela Rosa Leites
The Proposal
"He proposed on my birthday in our holiday house by the sea, He isn't romantic so he only said 'Here you go' while giving me a ring"
So, here I am, juggling the absence of romance there like a pro as I weave their tale. You can totally see my struggle, right? The lovebirds eventually tied the knot on 30 September 2023 at the ever so romantic breath-taking Chateau de Chazelles in France, with their friends and family cheering them on.
The Venue
Welcome to the French Château de Chazelles! Prepare to be dazzled by its bright whitewashed facades and slate roofs that make it stand out from the medieval castle crowd in Saint-André-de-Chalencon. It's like the castle said, "Move over, boring castles, the real deal is here!"
This place is no ordinary spot - it's got a private mansion and an orangery that's all about celebrating nature's beauty. And let's not forget the three-hundred-year-old trees and the grand weeping beech tree that's basically the Beyoncé of trees, radiating a magical, awe-inspiring vibe.
But wait, there's more! The estate of Chazelles castle is like a treasure trove - with three stunning fountains, cute flower-filled kiosks, fancy wrought iron furniture, Medici vases, and a bunch of other delightful surprises that will make you go, "Ooh la la!"
The Wedding Planning
"We wanted to get married as soon as possible because I didn't want to waste 2 years of my life in planning. We've decided to find a place near his parents house where enough people could sleep in. It was the main criteria. We've visited a few places but fell in love with the castle because of the stunningly big tree in the garden.
They do their own catering (food) so we didn't have to look for it. They recommended the DJ and the photographer so it was quite easy to put everything together.
Most of the other tasks were DIY. We've done our own invitations, decorations, and prepared little games for entertainment... A lot of stuff were recycled, for example I've asked people to give us some old keys, broken jewellery, pieces of fabrics..."
So, basically, forget everything you know about weddings! No white wedding dress, no flowers, no cake! Just picture this: a small group of loved ones, a weekend getaway, a laid-back ceremony, a fun party, delicious food, and games galore! Now, about those mysterious old keys you're curious about... Well, your guess is as good as mine! But hey, let's just roll with it and see where this crazy ride takes us. . .
The Photographer
In a world filled with pixels and lenses, Angie embarked on a wild journey into the realm of photography all by herself. Armed with nothing but a camera and a dream, she conquered the mysterious art of capturing moments frozen in time. In the magical year of 2014, she even levelled up and earned herself a fancy diploma in photography.
Residing in the enchanting land of Haute-Loire, Angie is on a quest to narrate your tale through the enchanted medium of photographs. She seeks out the treasures of life - the giggles, the tears, the warm embraces - all those precious moments that make life sparkle. Her mission? To weave your unique story with threads of sensitivity and a cloak of discretion, capturing moments that are as rare as a unicorn sighting.
The photographer is the most essential individual without whom this wedding story simply cannot exist. . .
The Wedding Dress Experience
"The first ever pin on my Wedding Dress Pinterest board was one of Margo Stankova's dress designs, but it never occurred to me that I could easily trace the designer because I live in France. However, at that moment, I knew I wanted a sparkling pink bespoke dress. I sent emails with my ideas to a few French dressmakers, but nobody even answered them. So then I thought, "Why not try to get the original dress from Pinterest?" Unlike the others, Margo emailed me back right away.
From that moment on, everything was perfect. She was so welcoming and easy to speak to, showed me all the fabrics, ready-made sample dresses, and took the time to discuss a few ideas. She said yes to everything I asked for! Padded shoulders: YES; Short veil: YES; Pocket square and bow ties for the groom: YES; Scraps to incorporate in the bouquet: YES. It was amazing!! I loved every second of our appointments..."
The Bridal Designer
In the magical land of fashion, Margot & Margo joined forces in a fabulous collaboration that was simply meant to be. When Margot first contacted me from France sounded like she already convinced herself a bespoke wedding dress like this would definitely be out of reach financially. And me - I was convinced nobody would be so determined to travel from Paris to London for my dress designs. And for a while we went quiet, but then the wedding whirlwind hit us a few months before the big day.
Margot didn't just pop by London once, oh no! She graced us with her presence twice. We meticulously measured and chatted during her first visit. Then, like a whirlwind of tulle and sparkle, she returned with her delightful family to claim her dream dress. I'll forever cherish the moment her brother and sister beamed with joy upon seeing Margot in her gown. Their faces lit up, utterly surprised by the sight before them. And especially for her brother as a man to travel all the way here, I knew then he understands the importance of the wedding dress for a bride
When he asked me if I'll have the time to make pink bow ties matching the dress, the least I could do in return of his kindness is to say Yes. After all, who am I to deny a man with such a fabulous fashion sense?
The wedding dress is like the conductor of the wedding symphony, setting the vibe, the feels, and even the dance moves of the bride and the whole squad, trust me! Always The Fairy Godmother, I've got the magic covered with my unique vision and quirky process. Huge shoutout to all my past and present brides for keeping the dress dream alive!
The Non-flowers Choice
Margot had such a wonderfully unique approach to everything wedding! And you know what? Many of my brides share this same practical mindset. She had no intention to decorate the venue or carry real cut flowers in her hands. I was so intrigued by her vision that I eagerly waited, just like everyone else, for the wedding pictures to be published. And let me tell you, her bridal bouquet was unlike anything I had ever seen before! It was so refreshing to see her opt out of traditional decorations and real flowers. And do you remember these old broken jewellery pieces she requested from her friends?...
What a creative and personal touch! Can't wait to see what other surprises she has up her sleeve!
The Official bit
"We spent the night before at the castle with a few friends and family members so we could start decorating the rooms. On the big day, we got up early, finished preparing the place, I put on my civil ceremony dress, and we ate at the castle. Then we asked everybody to leave but our best man, maid of honour, and the kids so we could get ready. We took the couple's photography quietly and then went to the chapel. My brother acted as the marriage officiant.
My husband walked down the aisle with his mother. Since my parents passed away long ago, my cousin walked me down the aisle. At the end, they all surprised us very much by putting on sunglasses all at once. This was a very cool idea!"
The Entertainment
"For the exit of the church, I had made little wool pompons. Kids were having a lot of fun throwing them around. We got back to the castle for the "vin d'honneur" and some group family pictures with the trees. We danced and played a bit there.
Then we made an epic entrance to the dining room to the sound of AC/DC.
People gave speeches, parents of the groom, my brother, and my maid of honour. They organized a game with our faces on a movie poster, and we had to guess the movie. My husband's best maid organized another game with questions and funny answers.
We don't like to dance much, so for our first dance, we just played the music and had the DJ invite other couples to join us little by little. 10 seconds after the start of the song, he invited people who had been married less than a year, 10 seconds after he invited people married less than 5 years, then less than 10 years, and so on. Luckily, we were rescued and didn't have to be alone on the dance floor for too long. And people were very happy to be included.
I locked my precious bejewelled bouquet, made of old jewellery, in a decorative birdcage, and people had to find different keys all over the room and try them until someone could open the cage"
Word of Advice to Future Brides
"Everything on the day was perfection and it all went so quickly but my favourite part was arriving at the chapel and seeing all the people I love!
Don't waste time, energy and money on stuff you don't really want so you can actually enjoy the process."
Thank you, Margot & Florain, for allowing us to be a part of your special day and sharing your life journey and all the fun inspirational ideas. Hope one day you can read the fairy tale of your wedding day to your children too!
Loads of love and eternal happiness
xxMargo
SUPPLIERS
Venue: Chateau de Chazelles
Photographer: Angiephoto
Wedding Dress and Veil: Margo Stankova LONDON
Wedding Shoes: LANVIN
Hair and Nails: M'beauty and Makeup by Laure Boulain
Jewellery: Lisa Sam Bijoux
Bejewelled flower bouquet: the bride
Groom: Les Nouveux Ateliers
Rings: Marc Orian
Event Catering: Traiteur & Saveurs
Sound: Anima Son 43
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