A Romantic Countryside Wedding at a Chateau in Normandy, France

Golden Touch

Invitations from Emily Rose Ink displayed the couple's ivory-and-gold color scheme, while a floral wreath illustration and matching garland images hinted at the the French countryside atmosphere the couple imagined.

In the Bag

Julia and Crawford created welcome bags for each guest, choosing a canvas tote printed with their custom monogram and filling it with chocolates, personalized cups, favorite snacks and spirits, and cookies decorated with two favorite images: the wedding venue and the couple's dog, Finn.

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Locally Sourced

Though she traveled to New York for a shopping trip with her mother and best friend, Julia ended up choosing a wedding dress from Atelier Edwin Oudshoorn Bridal, a boutique near her home in Amsterdam. "It was one of the first dresses I tried on, and I kept comparing everything else to it," she says. "I also loved that I was buying my dress directly from the designer. Edwin was able to customize the dress exactly how I wanted it, which really swayed my decision." Her silk organza corset sheath was embroidered with beads, sequins, and floral appliqués, and included a removable tulle skirt and veil that she added for the ceremony.

Pretty in Pinks

Each of Julia's bridesmaids chose her own gown, without any requirements for designer or silhouette. "I wanted my bridesmaids to wear dresses they loved, so I asked them to choose their own based on a color palette I put together," says Julia. "They all have such different styles, it felt wrong to ask them all to wear the same thing."

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White Knight

Crawford paired a bespoke white dinner jacket from Michael & Giso in Amsterdam with a flat front tuxedo shirt and black patent leather loafers. "I like to keep things simple so I really limited it to the white tuxedo, since it's already quite a statement," says Crawford. "But I bought my cummerbund from High Cotton in South Carolina, because it's always important to remember where you're from."

First Look

Julia and Crawford shared their first look on a staircase outside the chateau, feeling "super nervous, but very excited!" says Julia.

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Puppy Love

The couple's dog donned a loose floral garland from florist Lily Paloma to join the wedding party. "Having our dog Finn there was so important to us," says Julia. "He was there for the entire week, and in a lot of ways was the star of the show. He even served as one of our two ring bearers. The entire wedding night, people were feeding him little bits of cheese and meat, so I think it's pretty safe to say he had an amazing time, too."

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Garden Party

Julia and her bridesmaids carried bouquets of garden roses, spray roses, hydrangea, and sage tied with silk ribbons, while the men wore boutonnières of ivory garden roses that complemented their classic tuxedos. "All of my friends are quite good dressers, so I just told them to wear tuxedos and I knew they would all look great," says Crawford. "I wanted to keep things as simple as possible."

An Elegant Arch

The bride and groom set up their ceremony facing the grand exterior of the chateau. Raised floral arrangements stood at the aisle entrance, while light-colored chairs kept the focus on the full, lush garlands that covered the central arch.

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New Additions

Before Julia's parents walked her down the aisle, she affixed two striking pieces to her outfit. "I wanted there to be an element of surprise for Crawford when I walked down the aisle, so I added the skirt and veil in secret right before the ceremony," says Julia.

She Said, He Said

Crawford's uncle officiated the couple's ceremony, where readings included a passage from Song of Solomon and a Scottish blessing. Julia and Crawford wrote their own vows. "They were very personal and we surprised each other with them, so the first time we heard each others' vows was during the ceremony itself," says Julia.

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Time to Celebrate

After the ceremony, the newlyweds spent a few minutes alone before joining their guests at the cocktail hour.

Chateau Cocktail Hour

Guests mingled outside the front of the chateau during the interlude.

Let's Nosh

They dined on appetizers that included salmon with raspberry infusion and churros with chorizo cream. "It was really special to see all of our friends from different parts of our lives, and our families, come together outside the chateau while we drank Champagne and ate really decadent food," says the couple.

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Charcuterie

A cheese station was also on offer for guests.

Blue Notes

Inside the chateau's dining room, guests sat at long tables draped in white linens. Blue cloth napkins added a bright accent to the neutral tablescapes, while dramatic crystal chandeliers provided opulent shine overhead.

Golden State

White china and custom menus contrasted with lavish gold flatware and gold-rimmed votive candles. Low centerpieces dotted the center of the table with overflowing arrangements of roses and varied foliage.

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Sweet Stuff

The outside of the couple's four-tier cake from Synie's Paris was decorated with textured buttercream and fresh flowers, but the flavor was a sweet surprise: vanilla velvet cake with Funfetti sprinkles and marscapone vanilla filling. "The wedding was all about things that we love, and the Funfetti birthday cake was no exception," says Julia. "One of our first dates was a baking class at Momofuku Milk Bar in Williamsburg where we learned how to make their famous birthday cake and birthday cake truffles, so our wedding cake flavor really came full circle."

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Change of Heart

Before the couple's first dance—to "You Make Loving Fun" by Fleetwood Mac—Julia swapped her wedding gown for a Fame and Partners two-piece, which included a tie-back crop top and a maxi skirt.

Sweet Emotion

Julia and Crawford count their cake cutting as one of their most memorable—and best—moments of the day. "Our favorite Father John Misty song was playing, we were a bit tipsy, and the cake was incredibly delicious—oh, and the croqeumbouche and Champagne," they say.

Cheers!

After spending a week with their guests, Julia and Crawford loved sharing a "super intimate" wedding dinner with the group. The final menu from Grand Chemin Traiteur included foie gras, filet, and a cheese course, with wine pairings handpicked by the bride and groom and beer from their favorite Netherlands brewing company. "Seeing the two sides of our lives come together and create their own relationships was something we'll never forget," says Julia.

Sources

Photography, Hannah Duffy Photography
Event Planning, Jennifer Fox Weddings
Catering, Grand Chemin Traiteur
Flowers, Lily Paloma
Stationery, Emily Rose Ink
Cake, Synie's Paris
Music and Lighting, Anthony Vonscheidt Wedding DJ
Rentals, Options
Bride's Gown, Atelier Edwin Oudshoorn (ceremony); Fame and Partners (reception)
Bride's Shoes, Bella Belle
Hair and Makeup, Sanni Sorma
Groom's Attire, Michael & Giso
Groom's Cummerbund, High Cotton
Cookie Favors, Kat Makes Cookies
Rings, Isabel Bond