Will you marry “moi” ?

Sadly, this is the last in our series of behind-the-scenes interviews with Caroline Berthe, CVW’s Senior Wedding Coordinator, who, over the past year has been planning her own intimate destination wedding in Sweden, followed by a larger, more relaxed wedding in the south of France. Read on to discover how Caroline’s wedding in the beautiful Languedoc-Roussillon region of south-west France transpired and note down her tips for planning your own destination wedding wherever it may be taking place.

CVW Blog: How did you feel on the morning of your wedding?

The few guests that couldn’t make it all called me on the morning of the wedding to wish us good luck. That’s what helped me to realize it was actually going to happen that day! Otherwise, I felt quite relaxed. I had faith in my wedding coordinators who so happen to also be my colleagues and knew that for the rest of the day everything was being taken care of and coordinated by them. I didn’t have to worry about anything! I did plan 30 minutes where I disappeared and went for a walk so that I would be on my own, away from the family and everyone, just to relax a little.

CVW Blog: Were you happy with your hair and makeup?

I loved it! Well of course I chose my favorite hair and makeup artists to come on this special day. They did an amazing job. I wanted very discreet makeup which was perfect and my hair was in a Spanish style chignon matching the theme of the day, with a big red flower in the back. It held throughout the day and night and I thought I would actually have to sleep with it as I had a hard time getting the pins out before going to bed. It would have survived a hurricane I’m sure!

CVW Blog: We know that one of the uncertainties of any outdoor wedding ceremony and cocktail is the weather. This is especially true for the region of south-west France where you got married. How was the weather on the day?

We did take a risk, but had a rain plan as backup. The weather was a little cloudy on the day and my Mom thought she felt a few drops of rain just before the ceremony. But in the end, there were quite high winds but no rain. It actually turned out ideal because the photographer got great light and we were not too hot.

CVW Blog: How did you feel during the ceremony? How did it compare to your Swedish Ice Chapel ceremony?

There is no comparison! They were two very different ceremonies. The Swedish ceremony took place in winter, inside an ephemeral ice chapel with only 10 guests whereas the ceremony in the south of France took place in high summer and was much bigger with 125 guests. The emotion of all those people around us was palpable. It was quite surreal in fact, you can feel and see them moving around you taking pictures and talking to you excitedly, but you can’t really control your own movements, you feel like you are just swept along by the momentum of the day. Its like I lived the whole day in a happy bubble. It is definitely the emotion and number of guests that really made the difference between the two weddings.

CVW Blog: Were you pleased with the catering?

Loved it! The cocktail appetizers were amazing. A copious buffet of tapas with live cooking stations really gave a festive feel to the cocktail. We gave specially-made Spanish-red aprons to the servers to wear, matching the rest of my decor. It made the feel of the cocktail less formal which is what I wanted. My only regret is that they did not go around serving champagne to guests, everything was buffet style.

We skipped the starter due to our 2-hour long cocktail and served a giant paella for the main course. It was amazing, as was the cheese and dessert buffet that followed. The presentation, taste and service were just perfect.

I must admit though that having the coordinators make sure everything was set up and running on time and done according to my recommendations was a godsend. I can definitely say, after 6 years of wedding planning, that I would not do a wedding without any onsite coordinators. It is a job in itself just to be the bride on the day, never mind having to think of a million other details! I couldn’t imagine if I had had to coordinate everything myself.

CVW Blog: Did the decoration look as good as you had imagined it would?

Perfect. I knew the florist very well and only had to tell him the theme – Spanish flamenco – to know it would be fabulous. He decided on black and red for the dinner hall. The effect of the big balls of red flowers suspended by a black ribbon from the wooden beams overhead was just stunning.

The decor at the ceremony and cocktail was even better! A multitude of colorful ribbons hung from the century old tree overhanging the cocktail area alongside the ceremony, an iron-framed gazebo decorated with flowers and ribbons served as the altar, and colorful gerberas were positioned all over. An old carriage was also decorated with ribbons and flowers and served as an ideal backdrop for the photos. Baskets of rose petals, lavender and transparent tubes of soap bubbles were placed at the foot of each aisle. There were so many rose petals and dried lavender thrown over us after the ceremony that we had to close our eyes for what seemed like forever until it stopped. It was so much fun.

CVW Blog: How did the surprises go down?

The Flamenco musicians and dancer were a blast. Everyone was surprised to see them as Tony and I had kept it a secret, not even our parents knew about them! I loved my father’s face when he saw them. I knew he really wanted something like that. He and the other guests really enjoyed listening to them.

The dancers from my dance club performed two great dances that our guests just loved. It was a great change to the endless speeches that usually take place.

CVW Blog: What was the most emotional moment(s) of the day for you?

I really can’t say, the day went by so fast, I felt like I was floating over everyone and watching them from above. I can’t wait to see the photos and video because that is all I have to relive the day. Memories are very faint as it went by at lightning speed. I think it was actually the next day that was more emotional for me than the wedding day, seeing everyone so happy…

CVW Blog: Which did you most enjoy between the pool party and the rehearsal cocktail the day before the wedding and the brunch the day after? Which one is indispensable for a destination wedding in your opinion?

I would say that something the day before and the day after is indispensable, especially for a destination wedding! Again, the actual wedding day goes by so fast, and you have very little time to see all of your guests, so having the pool party all afternoon and the rehearsal dinner to finish the day before really enabled us to see all our friends that had joined us from far and wide.

The next day brunch is a great way to unwind and close the wedding. The energy is different, almost nostalgic but everyone was so complimentary, relaxed and happy, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It was wonderful to be able to say goodbye to everyone too. It would have been like a cake without the cherry on the top if we had not done it.

CVW Blog: Would you recommend your wedding coordinators? J

Like I said above, it really is indispensable to have a wedding coordinator to supervise the set up, timing and all of the other details on your wedding day. I am serious when I say this is a necessity and not a luxury. I would have spent the day completely stressed out if I had had to do my own coordination. I wish to thank my colleagues from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be a real bride on my wedding day. Everything was better than I had imagined it would be. The day ran so smoothly and it was largely thanks to them! You’re the best!

CVW Blog: What will stay in your mind as the most memorable part of the day?

There were actually three most memorable parts of the day for me. The first was walking down the aisle with my father. This is something I did not get to do in Sweden so it was important for me. The second was hearing Tony say his vows. We wrote them ourselves and his were so moving, I had a tear in my eye just listening to him. The fact that 123 other people were listening at the same time made the moment even more magical. The third was our first dance. We danced a Chachacha with special costumes, music and choreography. It was just fantastic. We had been working on it for so long and as amateur dancers everyone had high expectations for our first dance. We made it! It was really invigorating.

This brings our series of interviews with Caroline to a close. We hope you have enjoyed them and have been able to take away some helpful tips for organizing your own destination wedding. Stay tuned later this month when we will be posting lots of photos and maybe a video clip of Caroline and Tony’s dream wedding in south-west France.

In the seventh and penultimate installment of our up-close and personal series of interviews with Caroline Berthe-Altimani, our very own Senior Wedding Coordinator here at CVW, who is planning her own wedding in the South of France, we now find ourselves just one week from the big day! Read on to discover Caroline’s choice of theme, decoration, menu, surprises and her top tips for how to create a perfect wedding in the South of France!

CVW Blog: What atmosphere are you creating for your wedding in the South of France?

I am creating a casual and very summery wedding with a Spanish theme. I want to stay away from what I’m used to doing for my own couples and have a very non-traditional wedding day.

CVW Blog: How will you achieve this? Tell us all about the decoration…

We are planning an outdoor ceremony and have sourced some pretty red and white parasols to match our wedding colors. These will provide shade for the ladies during the ceremony. We also have some fans to distribute should it get really hot.

The decoration at the ceremony and cocktail will follow a countryside theme with old wooden boxes filled with fruit, flowers, herbs as well as some watering cans and wrought iron salad baskets to add to the old-fashioned effect. The garden flowers and herbs will smell wonderful!

For dinner, we will move inside into a big room, like a barn where market animals used to be kept. The ceiling is really high with old wooden beams painted white. We will be hanging the table center pieces from the beams, round balls of flowers in the colors of orange, fuchsia pink and red. The table names have been made using pink and red wire. The wire swirls into the name of the tables that we have named after ballroom dances as my fiancé and I are passionate about dancing. Flamenco is one of the table names for example.

As a change from the traditional head table, we have decided just to have a small table for the bride and groom, surrounded by a U shape table with all of our friends. This way, when we get up to say hello to everyone and talk, we aren’t leaving anyone alone. A table of honor is usually quite empty and I don’t really like the idea of abandoning my favorite guests all evening, so this solves the problem. J

CVW Blog: What type of wedding menu have you chosen?

We’ll be having a very long cocktail lasting about 2 hours with a Spanish theme. We’ll be serving a variety of grilled foods on “plancha” as well as a selection of tortillas, pan con tomato and some classic mozzarella and tomato skewers. There will be a huge Spanish ham cut up in front of guests, this will be fun and lively. I am sourcing some cute aprons for the waiters with Spanish stripes to make it more rustic and less formal.

After such a long and copious cocktail, we have decided to skip the starter and go direct to the main course. We have chosen to serve a giant Paella cooked in one of those huge pans measuring over 1 meter wide. Following the main course will be a cheese buffet and dessert buffet. As a change from the traditional wedding cake, we have opted for an assortment of mini French pastries that everyone will love!

CVW Blog: Will you be providing your guests with wedding favors? If so, tell us more!

First of all, a welcome letter and gift will await each guest in their hotel room. The gift is a small jar of homemade jam (strawberry or apricot) with a nice fabric cover (yellow, red and orange) with little Catalan Spanish dancers embroidered on them. A personalized label with our names and the date of the wedding will be stuck onto each jar.

The red and white parasols and fans can be kept by those who wish to keep them. Then, on the tables, we will place a small heart-shaped box containing a small scented candle on each plate.

CVW Blog: Are you planning any surprises?

Yes of course! Several actually! The first is a surprise group of 2 guitar players and a flamenco dancer who will play and dance as guests walk into the dinner hall. They will then meander throughout the room and stop to play at each table. We are sure this will really set the mood and warm up the atmosphere as we have dinner!

Tony and I have practiced the traditional first dance waltz…with a twist! Within one minute of the music starting, our dance friends will come and join us on the dance floor for a fast chachacha Spanish song. I’ve had a really cute chachacha dance dress made for me for our second dance. I can’t wait to see the look on our guests’ faces when we change from the sooo traditional waltz into a fast chachacha. It will be priceless!

CVW Blog: What are your top tips to help couples create the perfect wedding in the South of France?

This part of the South of France isn’t easy for weddings. The region is called the Pyrenees and is named after the mountain range that separates France from Spain. Not many venues are available in this region and there are only a few good caterers. My top tips for creating the perfect wedding in this region of south-west France are:

• Make sure you have a contingency plan in case of rain as this region is renowned for its storms and planning an outdoor wedding is quite risky. Although the storm will likely only last a few minutes, it will be enough to destroy all of your setup. I haven’t taken this risk for dinner, although we would have preferred a full outdoor wedding.
  
• Be patient with the wedding vendors as they don’t reply fast. Although professional, they are slow to respond and don’t seem to be in any rush to do anything until the week before your wedding. This is enough to make any bride-to-be nervous, but hang on in there, you will not be disappointed on the day of your wedding!
  
• If you need to stick to a budget, consider renting equipment and other specific services from Spain which is often much more reasonably priced. It’s just a hop over the border!
  

CVW Blog: Have you hired a Wedding Planner to take care of the on-site coordination and allow you to relax on your wedding day?

I have planned everything to date and have really enjoyed myself. However, as soon as I arrive, my two colleagues will take over all of the coordination until the day itself. I want to feel like a “guest” at my own wedding, not only for me but for my family as well. So it is really important to me that someone else takes care of all the little details on the day, although you would hope that I will have thought of everything as a professional wedding planner!

CVW Blog: How do you feel only one week before the big day?

I feel so not ready! There is still so much to do. Although my list is getting smaller every day, time is just flying by! As I really want to be able to relax with everyone as soon as I arrive a few days before, I really want everything to be all set before I leave Paris.

I’m not nervous about actually saying “Yes” or anything. I just can’t wait to see how my family and friends are moved on the day and how they react to all of our surprises. Since we were so few in Sweden, this wedding with everyone we love around us will be special in a different way and it is the reactions and emotions of everyone around us that will make it different from our intimate winter wedding in Sweden and magical in its own way.

Stay tuned for the final episode after the wedding when Caroline will share her most special moments with us!

Here is the much awaited sixth installment of our monthly interview with Caroline Berthe, Senior Wedding Coordinator at Chateau & Villa Weddings, who is not only rushed of her feet at the moment organizing other brides’ weddings but is also just over 6 weeks away from celebrating her own French wedding in the south of France.

After the excitement of her civil ceremony that took place in an Ice Chapel in Sweden in March, read on to discover how the preparations for her second wedding ceremony and party are progressing.

CVW Blog: After the emotion of your Swedish wedding, are you able to focus on the preparations of your summer wedding taking place in July in the South of France?

Actually, I am really happy we had the Swedish wedding as I feel the pressure is off now and I can look forward to the wedding this summer as more of a relaxed celebration surrounded by lots of our family and friends. I feel like a spoiled child, getting to re-live the magic and emotion of a wedding day for the second time!

CVW Blog: How many guests are you expecting at your summer wedding?

Everyone said yes! We didn’t expect this as it is on a Thursday and smack in the middle of the summer. We are currently at 121 guests but there are still a few outstanding RSVPs so we may even make it to 130! Yikes!

CVW Blog: What type of wedding ceremony are you planning? What type of celebrant will preside the symbolic ceremony?

We are planning a very different type of wedding ceremony. I have seen so many types of ceremonies from different cultures that we wanted to create a truly unique one by integrating a mixture of all of the favorite parts of other ceremonies I’ve seen during my years as a wedding planner.

We will incorporate parts of a traditional catholic service with some protestant and jewish aspects, and maybe even something like the Rwandan ceremony where the bride receives a jug of milk for prosperity and the groom a mask or a lance to protect his new bride and family. We have no relation to this culture at all but the symbolism is strong and we want guests to be surprised.

We haven’t decided how everything will flow together, but we are working on this with my mother’s best friend, a very spiritual lady, who will preside the ceremony. It means a lot to her and us that she is doing this.

CVW Blog: What type of venues have you chosen for the ceremony, cocktail and dinner?

The ceremony will take place in the gardens of an ancient chapel located in the Pyrenees mountains and surrounded by apricot and peach trees. With the famous Canigou mountain in the backdrop, it will be just beautiful. The cocktail will take place at the same place. We will then drive down to the dinner hall which is a really nice renovated room in the center of the village. Old stone walls, high ceilings with old white beams. Very rustic.

CVW Blog: How will your dress be adapted for a summer wedding?

I will be wearing the same dress as the Swedish wedding only without the fur coat. The designer will be adding a nice simple red belt with some beads and additional lace and maybe a few ribbons to give it a more Spanish feel.

CVW Blog: What are the wedding colors?

It will be a mixture of strong summer colors: red and white with a touch of orange, fushia and eggplant. I’m very confident in the florist I have chosen (my favorite and the one I recommend to all my couples!). I asked him not to tell me much about what he has planned so that I can be surprised on the day. I’m very excited about it!

CVW Blog: Are you having any bridesmaids? If so, how will they be dressed?

All of the children will be wearing white. I am having small belts made, similar to mine, that we’ll tie around their waists. They will each carry a small gerbera. They are all quite small, the oldest will be 3 years old, so we’ll see how that goes! For bridesmaids and groomsmen, we’ll have 3 each. The men will be wearing a red waistcoat with a white long sleeved shirt and black pants. No jacket or tie. For the girls, they will be wearing raspberry red dresses, to the knees. The material is really light and airy so perfect for a wedding in high-summer.

That’s all for this time! Stay tuned for the next interview when we’ll discuss the atmosphere Caroline is creating for her wedding, the decoration, menu, favors and a surprise! She’ll also share some of her top tips to help you create your own perfect wedding in the South of France!