Secrets of a wedding stylist

We went behind the scenes with Charlotte Ricard-Quesada from La Fete to pick up tips on creating an Insta-worthy wedding

The Wedding Stylist

Every wedding starts with a vision and it’s the role of the wedding stylist to exceed the couple’s expectations and bring that dream to life. Whether or not you are using the services of a stylist, creating a moodboard is a great place to start with cuttings of colours, styles and themes that you like. Pretty quickly, a look will start to emerge, making it clear how your celebration could come together. This moodboard is invaluable to share with all your suppliers so they understand just what you have in mind.

Charlotte and her team put together this stunning wedding in Château Challain in France, a fairytale venue in the Loire Valley. Follow them, step by step, as they set about transforming one couple’s vision into beautiful reality.

Overall Style

Once the colour palette was set, we began to think of the look we wanted to create. Because of our French heritage, we’ve always been inspired by our country’s history. And after seeing a piece of lilac toile de Jouy fabric, we set our hearts on creating a regal theme, with a bit of a fairytale twist.

The Outfits

Like at many weddings nowadays, our bride had two different gowns: one for the ceremony and one for the party. The more formal gown from Bowen Dryden was lilac-embroidered tulle; the party outfit was a corset top and skirt combo from Brides Do Good. We kept the bridesmaids in the purple theme with their embellished Motee Maid outfits, while the groom wore a grey suit with an emerald green tie.

The Palette

The starting point for this celebration was the colour palette. We wanted to use shades of purple, from lilac to amethyst, but made sure that we always included some little breaks and accent colours so that we didn’t end up with too much of a monochromatic look.

The Cake

Dea from Dea-licious Gateaux created a stunning four-tiered lilac wedding cake, complete with gold detailing, edible blooms, hand-piped garlands and an edible topper. We presented it on a dessert table filled with flowers and other sweet treats.

The Venue

A châteaux was an obvious choice and the Loire Valley is dotted with stunning examples that are worthy of a Disney movie. Built in 1854 and steeped in Gothic romanticism, Château Challain was perfect. When you’re searching for a venue, look out for areas that will provide a good backdrop for photographs, a drinks reception and even alfresco dining.

Table Setting

Of all the aspects of the day, the one we wanted to inject the most purple into was the table setting, with a particular focus on the table runner/cloth, the serviettes, flowers and handcrafted biscuit place cards. Metallic details were key in breaking up the purple and adding luxury to the look. We also added glass candelabra on the table and cut-crystal chandeliers hanging from the tree branches above.

Flowers

Styled by Helen at Mister Brett Events, the flowers were an integral part of the day. We stuck with a palette of purples, whether this was the bride and bridesmaid bouquets, or the table settings. Touches of blue were added, along with white and different shades of foliage, for example, trailing ivy was used to decorate the staircase.

The Paperwork

The fantastic De Winton Paper Co. combined nature, (the delicate floral border) and the majesty of the venue in a bespoke watercolour illustration of Château Challain that was used on the stationery. It made a lovely keepsake for guests to take home.