The majority of destination weddings are beautiful (the dazzling sun has that positive affect) but today's wedding at Abbaye Chateau de Camon in France is truly phenomenal. An impeccable venue, Abbaye Chateau de Camon was the perfect setting for Charlotte and Peter to celebrate their 13 year relationship. Adding extra sentiment bride Charlotte created all the decorations herself, including authentic vintage touches - all captured by The Picture Rooms photography...
In love with this phenomenal room...
Beautiful bride Charlotte tells her love story..."Peter and I first started dating nearly 16 years ago. (Half of our lives to date!) We both went to the largest secondary school in Ireland and it wasn't until transition year that our paths crossed, on a retreat of all places! I knew instantly that I liked him and it was only a matter of time until I managed to convince him of the same. We have pretty much transitioned into adults together and have been inseparable since we first met. We have lived together for the last 9 years and getting married seemed very right. (Much to our families and friends dismay that they had to wait so long for the party!)"
Together for such a long time Charlotte was convinced the proposal wouldn't be a surprise. Alas she was wrong..."Peter and I had been together 13 years before we got engaged. We had discussed marriage and had both agreed when the time was right we would go for it. Every holiday I went on, the girls in the office would look at me expectantly on my return and every time I reassured them that I would know well in advance if Peter was going to propose...Until of course...I didn't! Peter proposed on a blissful and romantic holiday to the Amalfi coast in Italy. We were watching the sun go down on the rooftop terrace of the hotel overlooking the bay of Naples. We chose not to tell anybody for a few days so we could enjoy the experience between the two of us. It was a great decision, we felt like giddy school children with a big secret! Peter knew me well enough to not buy me a ring. It's so much fun to go ring shopping, I wouldn't have swapped the experience for anything!"
 
In the end Charlotte chose a vintage engagement ring and a bespoke wedding band. A choice she would highly recommend..."A very talented jeweller, Luisa Verling, made my wedding ring. My engagement ring is vintage and has a beautiful oval diamond. This posed a problem when I went to buy my wedding ring. No conventional ring would sit correctly beside it. Luisa offered the perfect solution and designed a stunning diamond studded wedding band that nestled in perfectly next to my engagement ring like a jigsaw piece. Luisa also designed and made Peter’s wedding band. Peter was very reluctant to wear a ring at all but Luisa showed him the light with her exquisite design."
Again, such beautiful surroundings!!
Eager to have an intimate wedding celebration Charlotte and Peter chose to have a destination wedding in France at the one of a kind Abbaye Chateau de Camon - which they actually found on One Fab Day! Charlotte told us..."I found the Abbey by trawling through blogs (One Fab Day was one of the first places I came across it!) I had created a picture in my head of the venue, which is dangerous. We planned a trip to France and visited many châteaux. The Abbey was the first we visited and none of the venues thereafter could top it. There is a wonderful serenity about it. Not only is the location beautiful, nestled into the foothills of the Pyrenees, but also the owners are so welcoming and the chateau is picture perfect."
A lover of vintage Charlotte chose a silk and lace vintage wedding dress and beautiful vintage bridesmaid dress for the wedding - both from one of our favourite boutiques, Dirty Fabulous. Vintage was also reflected in the venue styling with vintage handkerchiefs on each guests chair, vintage typewriter signage, vintage lace and vintage drink dispensers.
The Dirty Fabulous ladies looking well, fabulous!
Seeing as guests had travelled to France for the wedding Charlotte and Peter made a big effort to ensure everyone had the best time from the moment they arrived. Charlotte details the wedding weekend..."We organised a buffet meal for the Friday night which allowed the guests to ease into the celebrations and exchange hellos. The wedding ran all day on Saturday and the ceremony was held on the château grounds in the Magnolia garden. The champagne reception was held on the terrace with the flamenco guitar players. The meal took place al fresco in the cloisters and the dancing followed in the monk’s kitchen with the Caroline jazz band- the atmosphere was electric."
Charlotte continues..."We planned a very chilled lunch for the Sunday afternoon, this allowed for sore heads and tired limbs after the relentless celebrating the previous day and night. We had a wedding cake made entirely from rounds of cheese and we laid out picnic blankets and served a selection of homemade cocktails in vintage drink dispensers. We entertained our guests with a variety of garden games; swingball, an enormous tug-of-war rope, cornhole, limbo, ring toss and sacks for old-fashioned sack races. No good games would be complete without a prize giving so the winners were all presented with medals. I laughed so much my belly hurt!"
A huge congrats to you both and thanks so much for sharing your wonderful destination wedding in France with us all!
A big thank you also goes to The Picture Rooms for sharing their work with us. To see more from The Picture Rooms visit www.thepicturerooms.com
Recommended Suppliers
Wedding Dress, Bridesmaid Dresses & Accessories:Â Dirty Fabulous
Rings and Earrings:Â Luisa Verling
The Wedding Details
- Ceremony & Reception: Abbaye Chateau de Camon
- Shoes: Aldo
- Flowers: Fleurs de Mirepoix
- Bespoke Groom's Suit: mysuit.ieÂ
- Accessories: Â Marolsha
- Hair: Annette Carr
- Make Up: Aisling Moore Tournie
- Reception Music:Â Caroline Jazz Band
- Groom's Hat: Shevlin Millinery
- Photographer: The Picture Rooms
