Sparkling In The Sunshine: Holly + Patrick at Chateau La Chaire

June weddings are just dreamy…and this one was set on the picturesque island of Jersey! ?

Holly and Patrick said their ‘I do’s’ in a seaside themed wedding day, perfectly fitting the idyllic atmosphere of Chateau La Chaire that just radiates beachside romance and historic charm. With the sun shining down the pair could not have picked a more dreamy location for the happy event.

Holly was gorgeous on the day in an elegant figure-hugging gown that sparkled in the seaside shots taken by their talented photographer, Peter Trenchard. Take a look at this lovely couple’s island wedding and soon you’ll be fantasising about your own beachside, summer wedding day.

The Beginning

“We met at the University of Lincoln where we were both Journalism students. We were put into the same group for a presentation and we got on like a house on fire.”

The Proposal

“Patrick can be amazing at big gestures (he took me to Paris one Valentine’s day…!) but the proposal was so low key and special. We went for a walk along the river in Cambridge where we live, with the plan to go and pick something up from the shop for dinner. I turned around because I felt he had stopped walking and there he was on one knee. I was in complete shock because it was so unexpected.”

The Dress

“I always knew I didn’t want a huge dress. I am very relaxed as a person and wanted to be comfortable whilst also showing off my figure a bit. With the whole seaside vibe going on I wanted it to be cool on a hot day and to look nice when we went for our beach photoshoot. I fell in love with ‘Lesley’ by Morilee. The high neck is very ‘me’ and the open back makes up for the high front. I love the criss-cross design on the lace and the way it sparkled in the sunlight was perfection.”

The Venue

“We only looked at a couple of venues when we came across Chateau La Chaire which my mum recommended as she got married at the same venue 9 years ago. Patrick and I went to look around it and fell in love. It was so perfect. Small, quiet and set back in the most amazing backdrop of huge green trees. We loved the feel of the place and when talking about it to my friends, not many people had heard of it, which is unusual for Jersey. It was so special and the staff made it even more so.

I think the wedding co-ordinator, Sofia, added so much to the whole experience. Offering up ideas when I was stuck and just helping make the day run perfectly. On the day itself, the food was great and the guests loved the whole feel of the day. Being able to get married in the same place as the reception made all the difference too. It was all so easy and the guests could relax knowing they were in the same space all day.”

The Photographer

“I loved working with Peter Trenchard. We had two meetings with him before the day and he just “got” us. I told him about the amazing cars we had (all seven of them) and he instantly began working on a way that we can incorporate them in a photoshoot. Behind the scenes, he worked with one of the drivers to hunt down the most incredible secret location for the photos and each and everyone came out perfectly.”

Trends & Themes

“I tried to stay away from “trends” because they can be overused. As most of our guests were flying in from the UK (and Australia!) we wanted to play on the seaside/beach theme as this is what makes Jersey so special. We decided on all shades of blue as the colour scheme and then built from there. I added ropes around the flower vases and put sand and seashells in the candle ones. The cakes were beautifully made by my very talented bridesmaid, Juliette. She also incorporated the blue colouring and adding fondant starfish and shells to the top of each cupcake and main cake. They were lemon flavour and tasted amazing!”

Memorable Moments

“One of the most special moments for me was saying our vows that we had written ourselves. No matter how many times you practice them at home, nothing compares with the love and emotions you feel on the day. It was incredible to look around and see all of our friends and family in one room, laughing and enjoying themselves. We also had a performance from four amazing dancing girls from JLee Productions. They danced to songs from Chicago, Burlesque and Moulin Rouge. It was perfect to transition from the chilled-out day to the party at night time. After the performance we turned on a playlist which Patrick and I made ourselves, incorporating our guests’ favourite songs!”

Special Thoughts

“I was particularly lucky as I am the Editor of Enjoying MG, a magazine for MG Owners around the world. I asked my connection at the local Jersey club to see if anyone was willing to lend their car for the day and take us to the wedding venue. I was inundated with lovely owners wanting to help me and I then had a difficult task of choosing seven of them. It was so special and meant so much to have MGs feature as part of the day. They were all fantastic.”

Supplier Information

• Venue:

  Chateau La Charie

• Photographer:

  Peter Trenchard

• Band:

  JLee Productions

• Bridal Shop/Designer:

  ‘Lesley’ by Morilee

• Florist:

  Market Flowers, Jersey Central Market

• Hair Stylist:

  Jade Saunders from Dirty Blondes

• Wedding Cake:

  Juliette Morris

• Wedding Car :

  MGs Courtesy of The Jersey MG Owners’ Club and the Early MG Society