Venue Site Visit for Your Destination Wedding in France
Visiting the venue with my clients is not only essential for planning the decor but it’s a special treat to see places I have always wanted to visit. As a wedding florist here in France, I see my role as an opportunity to visit my adoptive country and discover new things in addition to playing with flowers. What luck!
Recently I went to Chateau Beaumesnil with a future groom and his father. The weather couldn’t have been worse except maybe turning to snow but we were able to have a private tour seeing the facilities and getting a good image of the space for their 2024 wedding. Maybe a little difficult in January to imagine how it would look and feel in June but I saw huge possibilities and knowing June as a beautiful month in Nature, I can’t wait now for their wedding day.
There are so many details that need to be considered and having visited, the list became even longer since seeing the venue presented more logistics to plan for. For example, the beautiful pavers leading to the doorway for the ceremony aisle. As a woman living in Paris and having walked with high heels here, one risks a broken ankle or a broken shoe (pick one or both) walking on these stones. Will the bride need to consider her heels then? Or, how do we navigate a public space for a private wedding? This chateau is open to visitors until 6 pm. Luckily June it stays light out for hours afterwards so an evening wedding will be perfect. These are just a couple of examples that come to mind after a venue visit.
As soon as we left, I began making the list that the groom and his bride will now have to review and make decisions for their day. As a wedding designer, flowers are just a part of the overall ambiance. As a liaison for the couple coming from afar, I am the eyes and ears for them. And in this case the French language interpreter too.
Engaging a wedding designer and planner for a destination wedding aids couples in feeling comfortable and secure in their decision to have their wedding here in France. But in addition to the decor, I help plan for other details such as guest arrival, guest activities, accommodations and transport logistics. Thinking how those that are invited feel after a long trip across the ocean is essential to everyone’s happiness and comfort. Does the couple offer a welcome gift bag? How about a tour the day before? These are additional considerations when hosting a destination wedding.
The value of me as a wedding planner and designer is not only organization but the overall ambiance, comfort and peace of mind that they can offer the couple. Flowers are just the icing on the wedding cake!
