A Perfect Wedding

Two years ago, Mark’s nephew, Mark, and Shardae, his long time girlfriend, announced their engagement to our side of the family, while they were staying at our house here in Caunes.

Mark and Shardae, 2 years ago....in Caunes

Shardae has a reputation for being incredibly motivated and organised….and I guess, from the moment of the engagement ( or maybe before ! ) she began to plan the wedding.

Straight after leaving our house 2 years ago, the engaged couple drove to Bordeaux, where they had identified a chateau they thought might be perfect for their wedding. 

It was....and the serious planning began.

This last weekend, the wedding took place at the beautiful Chateau Lagorce In Haux, close to Bordeaux.

It was amazing.

This is not the bridal suite....but our room.

One of the lounges at Chateau Lagorce

The detailed organisation that had gone into making the 3 days and nights celebration perfect was amazing.

I overheard one of the ushers talking about the fact that a couple of the paper bag lanterns which lined one of the terraces, had fallen over. He said that Shardae would know exactly how to sort it out as she had probably known it would happen many years ago…as it was clear this wedding had been in the planning stages…probably since she was born.

We had the run of the chateaux for 3 days, and everyone helped get things ready for the actual wedding celebrations.

Sorting the wine and beer

Brother of the bride assembling a wedding cake, father of the groom slicing lemons

Table setting, including a pot of home made jam for every guest.....Shardae had made all the jam !

The weather was glorious.

Taken from our bedroom window....as the preparations began

The setting was incredible……and everything went perfectly.

As always I take many many photos…so I will let some of them tell the story of the fabulous time we all had.

The setting for the ceremony, on a lawn in front of the chateau, with a lake in the background

OK...not a wedding photo.... but me, on a walk around the grounds, early, on the morning of the wedding

From one of the terraces

tables set

Groom in the middle, looking anxious.... when would she arrive ? brother of the groom on the left, also looking somewhat concerned..... Best man on the right, checking his phone..... making final arrangements....yes, she was on her way.

The bridesmaids began their descent

Finally, Shardae and her father arrived

There was an incident, as Shardae tripped on the last step.....a gasp from the guests, applause, as she gathered herself again, unhurt, and dad fixed her hair !

A lovely ceremony

The groom and his parents ( Mark's sister and brother in law )

The groom looking much less apprehensive

The cakes were pretty good !

Just one of Shardae's little touches

The paper bag lanterns which adorned all the terraces

The groom's grandmother, who was convinced she was dancing with Prince Harry.

As Mark and I left the celebrations the next day, we noticed the bride and groom walking off together, to go around the lake. Possibly one of the first quiet moments they will have had during the 3 day celebration

A bow tie, discarded during the dancing no doubt......evidence of the great night before.