Occasionally we are contacted by someone who knows exactly what they want for their wedding, it’s rare but it does happen. This was the case this past summer when we helped a French couple organize their 30th Wedding Anniversary celebration at one of our favorite Loire Valley venues, the Dream Renaissance Castle.
Indeed, Mrs S. knew exactly the type of atmosphere she wanted to create for her 80 guests. It was a breath of fresh air and quite a change for us to work with someone who had a precise vision of how the day would unfold. So, we simply called upon our trusted suppliers and partners and put the pieces together to make the perfect day. Mrs S. was not disappointed. Here are some of the day’s highlights…
Relaxing morning…
Without the stress of preparing for a wedding ceremony and the turmoil that inevitably surrounds a new bride, Mrs S. was able to relax on the morning of her 30th Anniversary. She took breakfast with her guests before retiring to her suite to be pampared by our professional hairdresser, ready for the first part of the day, a Chic Picnic that was to take place in the pretty tree-lined Italian Alley with the backdrop of the castle and peaceful surrounding countryside.
Chic Picnic…
With staggered round tables descending the Alley and ivory parasols to protect guests from the hot June sunshine, we created a Chic Picnic with wooden folding chairs, cappucinno colored table cloths, transparent crockery and take-away centrepieces. Indeed, each guest was invited to take home one of the small zinc plant pots containing a plant or herb which doubled up as a centrepiece and favor.
The food was carefully selected to add color, flavor and variety. The presentation and impeccable service rendered the Picnic a unanimous success.
Afternoon games…
During the afternoon, guests could relax around the pool, play tennis on the tennis courts or join in the golf driving tournament which was improvised on-site. The younger crowd enjoyed playing football and frizbee. As evening approached, everyone disappeared to their rooms to freshen up and prepare themselves for the evening celebration.
Baroque ‘n’ roll…
This is where we really enjoyed ourselves! The theme for the evening was baroque ‘n’ roll. A mix of the “Baroque” style which originated in Italy in the early 17th century and is characterized by free and sculptural use of the classical orders. It uses forms in elevation and movement to create a dramatic effect. Architecture, painting, sculpture and the decorative arts work to combined effect. This was spattered with a touch of rock ‘n’ roll.
The color theme was black, silver and purple. Deep velvet purple Calla lilies with sweet peas and peonies helped to create a bold, harmonious effect. Black table cloths with purple satin ribbons adorned the tables along with silver chairs and crystal candlestick holders as centre pieces filled with black candles. The tables were named after famous rock ‘n’ roll singers and menus placed in silver picture frames.
We even had fun with the table plan which consisted of silver spray-painted empty picture frames with flowers suspended inside mini glass vases and attached to the top of the frames.
All that remained was for our caterer to regale the guests with more delicious food and our DJ to fill the room with rock ‘n’ roll tunes. The rest is history…
Thank you to Mr & Mrs S. for sharing your special day with us! We’d love to organize more wedding anniversaries!
Photo credits : Studio Cabrelli
