A Lovely Destination Wedding in the South of France

Updated Apr 11, 2016

| By Mackenzie Patterson

A Lovely Destination Wedding in the South of France

Christine and Thomas were instantly smitten when they met at a bar in France in 2004. Years later Thomas took Christine on a romantic trip to New York City for her thirtieth birthday and went to great lengths to make her swoon by renting out the Rockefeller Center skating rink and playing their song over the speakers. Christine says she will never forget the moment Thomas got down on one knee to propose, surrounded by crowds of excited witnesses sharing their happiness with them from the sides of the rink.

Choosing the medieval village of Estaing in the South of France for their wedding location was easy for Christine and Thomas because of the fine cuisine and beautiful landscape. They held their cocktail hour on the grounds of the historic Chateau D’Estaing, which dates back to the 11^th century and provides impressive panoramic views of the French countryside. Because of the distances Christine and Thomas’s guests traveled to attend their wedding, the couple decided to make the event a three-day extravaganza with more than just a ceremony and reception to make the trip worth it for their friends and family. Even in the beautiful French countryside, Christine did not forget her roots and managed to incorporate some Canadian touches into the wedding, like employing a Canadian designer to make her gown and gifting her guests with mini maple syrup favours. One of the highlights of the ceremony for Christine and Thomas was hearing the voices of the choir sing Ave Maria as Christine walked down the aisle. “The moment I heard Ave Maria being sung I got chills down my spine, I was so overjoyed,” said Christine.

Christine Seangio and Thomas Sandrin, August 11, 2012, Estaing, France.

Photography courtesy of Peter Andrew.

Vendors
Ceremony location: L’Eglise St Fleuret d’Estaing (kumarespalion@yahoo.com) Reception location: Chateau D’Estaing and La Goudalie Bridal gown: David McCaffrey from McCaffrey Haute Couture
Bridal party attire: Friend of the bride, Olivera Savic Groom’s tux: Toronto Custom Suits Cake: Au Bel Horizon
Caterer: Au Bel Horizon
Favours: Maple syrup from Turkeyhill Sugar Bush Ltd. and ice wine from Inniskillin Winery
Music: Milhau Beatrix Hair and makeup: DIY by one of the bridesmaids Flowers: Nancy Andrieu (nancy.andrieu@wanadoo.fr) Stationery: Papeterie Store