AXELLE AND MAXIME

Travel with Axelle and Maxime's wedding in a unique venue in Gironde with a warm and creative atmosphere!

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The meeting

We met in autumn 2011 on the benches of the IUT. We had this little hangout, a pub in Bordeaux, where we often met up with our fellow students. And from party to party, we got closer until it was obvious.

A little over 5 years later, in January 2017, having graduated and both of us on permanent contracts, he proposed to me one evening at our home in all simplicity. Of course, I said a huge yes!

Most vivid memory:

It's not obvious, but I think it's the moment I walked down the aisle for our secular ceremony.

We got married at the town hall the day before the big day, to save our guests a 45-minute drive (not including traffic jams) between the two ceremonies. So it was the first time I'd seen all my guests dressed up, on the arm of my wonderful dad, and my future/young husband at the end of the aisle, was a wonderful memory!

The location:

We held our wedding ceremony and reception at Le Relais de Margaux (in the Médoc, Gironde). It's a 4-star hotel with its own restaurant and reception room. All the staff are attentive and attentive. It was a real pleasure to have them on our big day. It allowed us to let go and have the festive atmosphere we were looking for. I wanted a wedding that was chic but not stuffy, and that everyone could enjoy themselves, and I think we succeeded!

Inspiration:

We're always on the move and "between planes" (as my mother-in-law would say). So naturally, we decided that our theme would be travel. A few hours on Pinterest and wandering the aisles of Cultura later, I created most of my decor with my own hands (with the help of my future husband, of course). We started with the idea of a vintage spirit for "via air mail" envelopes with pretty blue and red stripes and a very bright brown to break up the patriotic side of the other two colors.

Dress:

I've always dreamed of a gorgeous white dress with a pretty train. I'm not a big fan of princess and strapless dresses, so that limited my choice! And like all women, I have my complexes, so I wanted to hide them for this very important day. But as I did my fittings, I fell in love with the Olympiade dress from the Pronuptia 2017 collection. It was a real coup de coeur for me and my companions, despite its body-hugging cut, which scared me a little at first.

Shoe design:

Unfortunately, I don't have a Dessine-moi un soulier boutique near me, but I'd read nothing but good things about the brand. So I quickly decided on a pair of Salomés. For my choice of leathers, I ordered samples, and had some hesitations about the materials and color combinations I wanted. In the end, I opted for blue velvet and silver sequins, for the festive aspect and to satisfy my desire to be a princess.

As my husband is much taller than me (23cm between us!), I opted for 10cm chunky heels. With the addition of the gel sole, my feet didn't hurt all day!

Bride's advice:

First of all, I'd advise you to surround yourself with the right people! Service providers are a huge part of the success of your big day: I advise you to choose real professionals.

On the big day, try to let go by looking at your guests, admiring their smiles, and enjoying your husband's hand fresh in yours, not worrying about insignificant details that no one will see. I know we think about this day for months or even years, but once the big day arrives: ENJOY IT! But don't forget to eat and drink!

And finally, make your wedding your own, even if it's not necessarily what your nearest and dearest expect. Whatever happens, your day will be perfect: you're getting married to the man of your life!