Laetitia and Bastien are both from France. She’s from Marseille (that’s why they got married in the area) and he’s from Paris. They both moved to Congo for work and that is where they met one evening in a local restaurant. This sounds a bit like a Rom Com and we’re here for it!
Sylvain Bouzat photographed the day, and Giacomelli Weddings & Events planned every detail. You can see all the images in the full gallery. Read on as Giacomelli Weddings & Events gives us all the particulars on this special three day wedding bash and be sure to watch the wedding film by Gordon Wedding Films.
Civil Ceremony Before The Wedding
On the first day the entire team arrived in Marseille, where the civil ceremony was held. The bride and groom got ready with the help of Un brin d’audace in their French vacation house before heading to the town hall.
They dreamed to have a Jeep Willys to take them there, and that dream came true. After the civil ceremony, and once they said yes of course, a cocktail was held at the Intercontinental Hotel facing the “vieux port” of Marseille and the virgin Marie statue. The evening ended quite early so everyone could rest before the big reception expecting them the next day.
They dreamed to have a Jeep Willys to take them there, and that dream came true.
Setting Up a Wedding
On the Saturday, some of the vendors met in the morning at Bastide de Puget for the set up. The wedding planning team, the floral team of Emily Alarcon, the decoration team and the catering staff. The floral team created a sublime canopy under which the bride and groom were seated during the entire ceremony.
The floral budget being quite consequent $16k, there was a lot of staff and it felt like having many little bees spinning around to create a stunning dream decor. Meanwhile the tables, chairs, and decor for the ceremony from La Blonde et le Barbu, and little details were being set-up.
Everybody worked together, helping each other to make sure the result was as close to perfection as possible. Later on the DJ arrived as well as the photographer with the bride and groom.
A pipeband, another fun dream of the couple who has no relation to Scotland, ensured the groom entrance, the ceremony exit and transition to cocktail.
Wedding Reception
Before transitioning to dinner, the groom gave a speech. And to honor their guests from Congo and the country that they now call home, he explained the African tradition of the “bride token” which is quite similar to the dowry except that in this case it’s the groom that give the bride’s father to prove he will be a good provider for the family.
So his batsmen laid in front of the bride’s father huge flour sacks and goods. Some were curious of this unknown tradition, some laughed, other applauded. But it was an amazing moment!
https://youtu.be/bJxftDqQ-Rs&t=2s
French Wedding Reception
Then everyone was invited to join the dinner table to enjoy the food prepared by Roland Paix chefs. As we do in French weddings family and friends prepared some surprises, so during the course of the dinner they enjoyed speeches, games and a video projected created by all their guests to show their love and appreciation for the couple.
You can see the emotion of the bride in the pictures, she laughed and cried all at the same time. Dinner ended and it was time to party! Benjamin from Discotecnik set the dance floor on fire until the early morning. The next morning tables were nicely rearranged with a more “garden party style” and the guests came back for a nice brunch and a pool party.
