Paula was thrilled to travel to the South of France at the end of June to design the flowers for the stunning wedding of Camilla Kerslake and Chris Robshaw.
We spoke to Paula for the inside details on their private ceremony in the rolling hills of the French countryside. Enjoy reading our ‘Behind the Scenes’ journal on the delightful couple.
Camilla Kerslake, classical singer, and Chris Robshaw, former England rugby captain, were the most refreshing couple to work with! Camilla had a definitive vision for the South of France private estate where the couple said “I do”, yet her calm demeanor made for an extremely relaxed atmosphere. Following on from their official wedding at Chelsea Town Hall, Camilla and Chris travelled to the Cote D’Azur to celebrate with a small group of family and friends. For the couple, it was vital that they immersed themselves with the ones they love in a location that was equally as special to them.
Paula and her team of expert florists travelled to South of France a week ahead of the couple’s Friday wedding. The charming Provence village was so small that we worked in harmony with our friends at Karma Group to make every element of Camilla and Chris’ special day perfect. Not only did Paula design and install the breathtaking floral installations, her team rallied around the village to collect ice-cream cones for the weekend long celebration!
In keeping with the wedding venue, Camilla and Chris wished to complement the traditional French Chateaux with a mixture of French and British elements. Nicky Haslan designed the interior with vintage French furniture while British sparkling wine flowed from the couples favourite wine supplier Nyetimber.
Our stunning couple walked into a lifetime of love and happiness under a silver birch canopy with flowing ivory muslin drapes alongside beautiful silk wisteria which created a whimsical and romantic effect to the focal backdrop. Paula designed the aisle from the grass and olive branches in the Chateaux garden. Resident gardener, Michelle, allowed Paula and her team to cut their own lavender and olives for the wedding displays.
Camilla and Chris made an extremely poignant and special touch to their South of France wedding by hanging photographs of late loved ones from the trees in the Chateaux garden; it was one of the personal touches that resembled how passionate and caring the couple were throughout their special day.
Camilla and Chris make you immediately happy and warm in their presence! The vision for their South of France wedding was founded with their close family and friends in mind. It was a dream to travel to such a remarkable venue bursting with floral decadence and charm. No request or change was too big for Camilla and Chris; you could tell by the sparkle in their eyes and the smiles on their faces that they both thoroughly enjoyed the flow of their entire wedding day.
Paula Rooney, 2018
MEET THE TEAM
Le Preverger |The incredible 18 bedroom Chateaux, Le Preverger, was the setting for Camilla and Chris’ french nuptials. Formerly owned by designer Laura Ashley and actress Jeanne Moreau, the Chateaux has homed a myriad of notable figures such as Pablo Picasso and Brigitte Bardot as a retreat destination. After looking at various luxurious hotels and Chateaux in the Cote D’Azur, Camilla and Chris opted for Le Preverger as it was the perfect ambiance for their intimate wedding party. Having everyone gathered under the same roof for the weekend made Camilla and Chris’ wedding extremely intimate. All of our creative collaborators and Chateaux staff created a family environment of our own while designing an unforgettable day!
Karma Group | We worked with the wonderful Monica from Karma Group who gelled extremely well with Paula’s team. Together they worked to make every detail and moment of Camilla and Chris’ day perfect. Michael was the couples chef for their wedding weekend and delivered the most incredibly visual dishes that were delicious to consume.
Ira Ann Events | Reiss of Ira Ann Events assisted Camilla and Chris in orchestrating their magical day at Le Preverger. Working with Reiss was both innovative and creative.
Nicky Haslam Design | Leading British Designer, Nicky Haslam, brought his world renowned style to the Chateaux for Camilla and Chris’ phenomenal day. Nicky brought his prolific touch to the interiors with silk wallpaper, vintage French furniture and large wooden sleigh beds.
Jenny Packham | Camilla looked radiant in a a white tulle skirt, appliqued bodice and veil designed by British fashion designer Jenny Peckham. Jenny has been one the of the leading fashion houses in the UK since 1988 with her revolutionary bridal signature style. Camilla personalised her bridal gown with her natural beauty.
Dressed2Kill | Chris looked dashing in his bespoke pale blue grooms suit tailored for him by leading London stylist Dressed2Kill.
Nyetimber | Having Nyetimber at Camilla and Chris’ wedding was a beautiful dose of British. Both Paula and Nyetimber are Hampshire producers and both leaders in their fields. Raising a glass of their fine bubbles at the end of the evening to toast the beautiful couple’s marriage was the best way to round-up our journey together!
WITH SPECIAL THANKS
A very special thank you to Camilla and Chris for making us part of their incredible wedding day! They welcomed Paula and her team with open arms. Being at Le Preverger with our creative collaborators and members of Camilla and Chris’ family was an incredibly personal experience. Thank you to Hello Magazine for the wonderful feature and Max Ciscotti for the stunning catalogue of photographs that capture the raw essence of Camilla and Chris as a couple! Keep your eyes peeled for more on Camilla and Chris’ stunning wedding with photographs by the talented Max Ciscotti.
