An Influencer's Relaxed French Wedding Near Bordeaux

When Anne-Laure Mais first spotted Edouard Moreau at a nightclub in December of 2011, it was his eyes that drew her in. “I’ve been captivated by his eyes ever since,” she describes. Three years after they first met, the couple’s friendship evolved into a romance—and the rest is history. Over Christmas in 2015, Edouard brought Anne-Laure, who is an influencer with her own label, Musier Paris, to the beach with him to walk their dogs. “The weather was amazing, the perfect day to be on the beach,” she describes. But that wasn’t Edouard’s only plan. “He made a huge declaration of love, then took out a ring!” she recalls.

The French couple wanted to choose a wedding location that really spoke to them, first selecting Chapelle de la Villa Algérienne in Le Cap Ferret. “It’s a gorgeous building, and really emblematic of where Edouard is from,” Anne-Laure describes. Being so close to Bordeaux, the region is full of sprawling castles—but that wasn’t what the couple was looking for. “I wanted something similar to a Provençal farmhouse, and Chateau de l’Isle in Castelnau-de-Médoc was perfect," she says.

For their September 1, 2018 wedding, Edouard and Anne-Laure didn’t want a theme as much as they wanted to use lots of color and decor that felt like the bride’s grandmother’s home. “I am obsessed with vintage pieces, and we started buying old vases and candelabras right away,” the bride explains. But the most important part was having as much fun as they could!

Take a peek to see how this couple made a wedding in French wine country entirely their own. Thankfully, Morgane Lay and Jonny Cocherane of M & J Photography were on hand to capture every detail and fashion moment!

Ever the fashion bride, Anne-Laure worked with Wednesday Atelier to create a custom silk-and-lace wedding dress featuring sheer sleeves and a detailed bodice. “I trusted her immediately," she says. "It was hard to stick to our first ideas, but she was so professional and helpful in keeping me on track."

Anne-Laure’s niece served as ring bearer, carrying the rings down the aisle while wearing a crown of flowers. The couple also had other adorable attendants who wore khaki shorts, neutral sneakers, and white shirts.

The ceremony took place in a chapel featuring octagonal steeples and brick-red stripes. The entryway featured ornate detailing and tile work, while the inside held simple wooden benches. “We added dried flowers on each bench for a hint of color,” says Anne-Laure.

The couple added a few personal touches to the Catholic nuptials. Afterward, guests tossed petals as they emerged from the front doors.

Following their flower-strewn ceremony exit, the newlyweds had another one planned—this time in a convertible! The couple made their getaway in a vintage silver-blue Mercedes.

The bride added fun white sunglasses for the ride, while Edouard wore a wildflower boutonniere on his black De Fursac tuxedo.

Anne-Laure also carried a bouquet of wildflowers, which coordinated nicely with the lace details and sheer accents on her wedding dress.

“We had an amazing band from the southeast of France,” says Anne-Laure, which played a lot of classics to get all generations dancing—including the flower girl!

“We wanted our guests to really have fun, so we opted for a cocktail-style reception instead of a seated dinner,” says the bride. Clusters of colorful blooms topped the tables, which were lit with a mix of taper candles in vintage candelabras and fragrant pillar candles, including the popular “Figuier” candle from Diptyque.

For the reception, Anne-Laure changed into a ruched mini dress from Magda Butrym, with bows on the shoulders and buttons down the bodice.

“Later in the evening, we switched over to a playlist that Edouard and I put together,” the bride says.

The couple’s towering wedding cake had layers of vanilla cake paired with fresh berries and meringue—a light, fresh, and not-too-sweet finish to the evening.

Looking back, the influencer shared this piece of advice as a takeaway: “Having a wedding coordinator made all the difference,” she says. “It allowed us to enjoy every minute without worrying about the timing and organization.”