Cathy
Our vibrant bride Cathy shares the story of her special day with us...
Picture : Aurélia Cordiez.
The encounter
"We met over 13 years ago, back in high school. I was treated to a beautiful marriage proposal on our 10th anniversary, which was a wonderful way to solidify our love."
"It's not a specific memory that stands out for me, because there are so many; it's more of a feeling. On the wedding day, we were overwhelmed with love from all our loved ones—it was incredibly moving! Your heart is overflowing with emotions on the big day! I couldn’t sleep for several nights after the wedding, trying to process it all. Being very sensitive, I was especially touched!"
The venue and inspiration :
"We wanted to organize our wedding in a beautiful barn in the Véxin region for a natural and rustic atmosphere. The dominant colors of our wedding were pastel tones, creating a soft, spring-like ambiance."
"To start with, I was very lucky—my husband gave me free rein with the decoration, though he still approved my choices ;) I already had a clear idea of what I wanted, but to get a bit of extra help, I relied heavily on Pinterest, which is like a 'Bible' of trends and great ideas! I used this site a lot, while adding my own personal touch to ensure everything reflected us 100%.
There are also many cool websites online, like Etsy, decorerlebonheur.com, lesbricolesdenolou.com, Ikea, and many more."
The shoes !
"As for me, I went directly to the showroom. Being from the Paris region, it was easy for me to get there, and I really wanted to meet with a consultant in person.
I already had a clear idea of the model I wanted: a platform shoe (I'm short, so trying to gain a few extra centimeters was perfect), in a soft pink color with a touch of gold. The design process was quite fast, especially since I had already tried several online creations. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the young woman who assisted me, but I do remember being warmly welcomed. She was patient and gave me great advice. I wanted height, but I was worried about not being able to wear my wedding shoes all day. The consultant really reassured me on this and suggested that I wear my shoes at home to get my feet used to them and become familiar with the heel height. That turned out to be excellent advice! I wore my shoes at home for 1 to 2 hours every day for six months before the wedding, and on the big day, it felt like wearing slippers!
To anyone who can, I highly recommend visiting the showroom at least once—it's a shoe lover's paradise and definitely worth seeing!"
Her key vendors
"First, I want to highlight my photographer, who did an exceptional job. Her name is Aurélia Cordiez, and her website is: mesplusbeauxsouvenirs.com. She is a small woman with great sensitivity and creativity! We wanted lively and modern photos, and she perfectly met our expectations.
Next, our videographer, who created a stunning video of our big day. His name is Alexis, from the site: pepe-mariage.com. He blended in with the crowd, was unnoticed on the day, yet was always by our side to capture the most beautiful moments. He was patient, attentive, and completely fulfilled our expectations!
Finally, the venue for our wedding, La Grange des Aulnaies in the Vexin. Catherine, the owner, is an exceptional person who supported us for a year throughout the wedding preparations. She has a magnificent venue and is incredibly friendly!"
Cathy's advices
I did all the decoration myself, so I started a year and a half in advance. To anyone like me, I recommend spreading out the workload to avoid feeling overwhelmed three months before the wedding. Then, you need to delegate—I struggled with this because I like to "control everything," but it's hard to manage everything between work, personal life, and wedding preparations. You can easily become stressed, and loved ones are often there to offer their help with good intentions, so you might as well take advantage of it. :)
Also, take the time to carefully choose your vendors. They will be sharing this special day with you, so it's important to be well-supported! It's often a matter of personal connection. For example, with the photographer, who will enter your personal space, you’ll find yourself posing, even though it’s not something you’re used to. So, you need someone who is attentive, patient, and on the same wavelength as you!
