Caroline & Damien
Today, the lovely Caroline shares her magical and chic day at the heart of Château du Calaoué with Damien!
Photo Credit: Elena Tihonovs
The encounter
Damien and I met 5 years ago through a mutual friend. We instantly connected, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. Damien took me on a trip to Florence—we share a deep love for Italy—and he proposed to me in front of the San Miniato church, with the city lights at our feet... It was a magical moment. It’s so clear that we’re meant to spend our lives together. Our families get along incredibly well, so this wedding was eagerly anticipated!
What stood out to them:
We live in Paris, and our families and friends are spread across France and abroad, so having everyone gathered together for this day was truly a gift. Our guests were so enthusiastic and had planned surprises that moved us deeply. Walking into the beautiful hall of the Toulouse town hall, with all our guests standing and applauding to the tune of "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles, was particularly touching. We cherish extraordinary memories of that day and every single minute of it. So much happiness, kindness, and love were shared. The guests were absolutely exceptional with their energy!
 |  |
The venue :
We had dreamed of spending an entire weekend together in the countryside, and our dream came true at Château du Calaoué in the Gers. It’s a beautiful estate with traditional Toulouse pink bricks, combining elegance and rustic charm. We wanted a warm, welcoming place where everyone could feel at home. We were able to accommodate many of our guests on-site and host a big "barbecue" brunch the next day.
The atmosphere was festive, but also filled with emotion and love. We went through difficult times in 2016, having to postpone our wedding because Damien was ill, so this day was filled with deep meaning and tears of joy! We especially cherished the solemn moment in the church when our witnesses and friends were moved as they read Bible verses we had chosen, which held even more significance after all we had been through.
Their inspiration
The color pink was a natural choice with Toulouse being the "pink city": we used a range of pastel shades and whites. We also drew inspiration from Liberty patterns, which we used for the table runners, among other things. Pinterest was an endless source of ideas and inspiration. We went for a chic rustic decor with lots of flowers—this was very important to us. We spent quite a bit of time looking for decorations and made all the decisions together; Damien was very involved. We also put a lot of thought into making it special for the children that day, with dedicated decor and activities just for them.
For my outfit, I knew I wanted two dresses: I had dreamed of my blush pink dress for the town hall for a long time, and I fell in love with it at Marie Laporte.
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
The bridal shoes :
A friend told me about Dessine-moi un soulier. The website is wonderfully well-designed and fun to use. I had a specific idea of what I wanted, but when I went to the boutique, I was able to enhance my design with the team’s guidance. Seeing the models, feeling the materials, and seeing the colors in person is essential, and the advice from the team is very reassuring! I had initially chosen a nude pink model and wasn’t sure about going with a gold heel, but with their encouragement, I took the leap, and I’m thrilled I did—it added that little “glossy” touch to my outfit that gave it some extra flair!
Indulge in your color choices; this is the time to align with your theme. Shoes are the finishing touch to your look, not to be overlooked, and at the boutique, there’s plenty to enjoy to satisfy every desire!
Her key vendors
A huge thank you to everyone, as it was their kindness and passion that made this day the most beautiful of all!
The Venue: Château du Calaoué: a dream location nestled in the countryside of the Gers. We were able to hold our religious ceremony in the chapel on the estate—it was magical. Beyond the beauty of the location, we instantly fell in love with the owners, Sabine and Jacques de Bon. They are such kind people who went above and beyond to make our day as successful as possible. They felt like family and spent the whole weekend with us! Our guests loved the venue and still talk about it!
The Dresses: I had multiple fittings with different designers, but it was Marie Laporte who completely won me over. The showroom in Paris is stunning, the team is fantastic, kind, and professional, and the creations are simply exquisite. I chose both my dresses there, a decision I have never regretted. I loved seeing each fitting as the dresses took shape, perfectly tailored to my body and my desires.
Hair and Makeup: While browsing blogs, I discovered Emilie from Mily Cuts. Our first meeting for a trial in April convinced me immediately. She’s a warm and funny person who understood and embraced my vision, enhancing the day while letting me feel like myself!
The Flowers: I’m a fan of Poppy Figue Flowers, and I followed her creations on social media. We discussed the style and my favorite flowers, and then it was a delightful surprise—everything was stunning with incredible touches. From the bouquet to the flowers in my hair and the seating plan... We were in awe when we walked into the room!
The Photos: Elena Tihonovs: her kindness and eye for detail... She didn’t have an easy task because we had winter weather in July, which meant no outdoor photos were possible. But Elena adapted beautifully, capturing candid moments just as we wanted and taking stunning portraits of everyone. Her photos are filled with emotion and beauty; we feel so moved just looking at them.
The Catering: The teams from La Gourmandière, Les Délices de Marlène, and Pâtisserie GELIS
The caterer suggested interactive stations during the cocktail hour, which were a hit with our guests, allowing everyone to mingle and move around—a fantastic idea. The teams were lovely, attentive, and very professional. The food was of excellent quality, made with fresh ingredients and presented beautifully. La Gourmandière was an exceptional choice
Caroline's advice :
Enjoy the process of planning this day together. I loved sharing these moments, discussing every detail, and having our families help us along the way. Beyond the wedding day itself, sharing these preparations is part of the magic! Think of it as hosting the people you love most in the world on your most beautiful day, and follow your own desires! Choosing the right vendors is essential, too. Since Toulouse isn’t my hometown, I spent a lot of time on blogs and websites finding the right people for us, and we had a strong connection each time. Everyone was not only professional but also so open-hearted and passionate. We could trust them 100%, and often, like with the photos and flowers, the results exceeded our expectations! That connection is key!
We also assigned “point people” for specific responsibilities on the big day to avoid being bogged down by logistical details. This allowed us to fully enjoy the day. Each person had a little task (like managing the church music, picking up the flowers, or being the caterer’s contact), which made everything run smoothly.
And always have a Plan B if you’re planning outdoor activities in case of bad weather. It was 15 degrees on July 1st in the Gers, with non-stop rain (yes, it’s possible!). Once we decided two days before to move the cocktail hour indoors, as we had another room available, we felt much more at ease.
Finally, don’t forget to savor every moment—especially with your spouse. We tried to stay together as much as possible, visiting guests together, and having fun. We entered the reception to a Pulp Fiction track with a mini dance routine; it was electric and made the day even more thrilling
