A private wedding near Nîmes — Gladys & Clément
CONTENTS
A private wedding
at the gates of Nîmes
Gladys & Clément, a wedding weekend combining timeless elegance and the art of living in the South
Some celebrations transcend the simple framework of marriage to become a true life experience. The one envisioned by Clément and Gladys is a perfect illustration of this.
After twelve years of a relationship built with patience and certainty, the couple gathered their loved ones for a weekend designed as a timeless escape. Between Castries and a secluded estate nestled near Nîmes, they orchestrated a reception where every detail resonated with a single vision: that of natural, understated elegance.
At Les Jardins de Campagne, a charming residence with Italian influences, the decor celebrates the art of entertaining. A palette of powdery blues, delicate pinks and soft greens, custom-designed stationery, carefully selected vintage objects, a few thoughtfully chosen flowers, the tranquility of a dinner under the trees… Nothing is left to chance, yet the sense of spontaneity that characterizes the most beautiful receptions is never lost.
Even the rain, which disrupted the evening's program, became part of the narrative, offering vibrant images and an even more memorable atmosphere. It was a celebration where refinement lay less in abundance than in coherence, emotion, and the attention paid to each shared moment.
Under the lens of Cleya AsulonThis reception reveals a contemporary vision of destination wedding in France : a discreet, deeply personal luxury, where time slows down to give full rein to the beauty of memories.
The initial meeting
We met in Montpellier a little over twelve years ago (at the time of the wedding), at a party where neither of us was supposed to come… and where we knew almost no one.
When Clément came into the room, smiling, Gladys whispered to her best friend, "Don't you think he's cute?" We talked all night, with that rare feeling that time slowed down.
Later, even when life forced us to be apart for years, we continued to choose each other. Looking back, that's undoubtedly where our story was built: in consistency, patience, and the simple desire to move forward together.
The marriage proposal
We got engaged at the end of December 2019, just before the pandemic. We designed the ring together: a custom-made piece of jewelry, conceived as an intimate and eternal symbol, an object designed to accompany us throughout our lives, and that we might, perhaps, one day pass on. The proposal, however, was Clément's secret: Gladys knew nothing of the surprise trip at Christmas time.
At the end of our wonderful stay in Budapest, as we were heading to the airport, the taxi dropped us off at the train station, and Clément casually announced that we were actually taking the train to Vienna. He had planned everything: horse-drawn carriage, champagne, Christmas market, illuminated city, carefully chosen hotel, and one evening, as we left a restaurant after a concert at the Musikverein, Clément got down on one knee. There was a great deal of emotion, and, above all, this certainty: we were already sure of ourselves; the "yes" was inevitable, almost written long ago.
The wedding venue in Nîmes
Finding our place was one of the biggest challenges: we searched for a long time, visited places, hesitated… until we were close to giving up. And then, almost off the beaten track, we stumbled upon “ Country Gardens "It was love at first sight: the architecture (the house was designed by an architect who also designed villas on Lake Como, Italy), the garden, the pool, the overall atmosphere… it was a no-brainer. The option to book for several days sealed the deal: we wanted a real weekend, not just a day."
The venue wasn't very well-known when we booked it, which we also appreciated. At the time, Carole, the owner, rarely hosted weddings there; she trusted us to celebrate ours in her family home, and we are deeply grateful to her.
Many guests still tell us that the place impressed them, that it was magnificent, timeless.
Wedding planning in Nîmes
Our engagement was a long one (over five years), between Gladys returning to her studies and Covid, which disrupted everything: we started, then paused, then resumed. Paradoxically, it did us good: our inspirations had time to settle. The Pinterest boards had existed for years, and almost everything we liked from the beginning still appealed to us: a timeless aesthetic, carefully chosen details, and understated elegance.
We organized everything ourselves, without a wedding planner, and it was a somewhat complex undertaking since we live in Paris while the wedding took place in the South of France. It therefore required a lot of planning, real coordination from a distance, and constant energy.
In the same vein, we also created our own very detailed wedding website, complete with RSVP information, all the practical details (access, accommodations, schedule, etc.), and some inspirational tips, particularly regarding the dress code: this really made things easier for our guests. But beyond the tools and schedules, our real stroke of luck was having such a wonderful support system: our family and friends spontaneously offered their help, and without them, none of this would have been possible.
We had planned cocktails, dinner and dancing outdoors. The day before, after checking the weather forecast, we decided to make the evening safer: the dance floor was set up in the pool house (an open but covered courtyard), while the cocktails and dinner remained outside.
The rain arrived just as the cheese course and speeches were beginning, and it actually gave the dinner a very lively rhythm: guests with napkins over their heads, and a smoother flow than we had anticipated. The caterer was very responsive, which allowed us all to head to the pool house after the speeches for the champagne fountain, the cake cutting, and the slideshow prepared by Clément's little sister, which was both funny and touching. The rain stopped during the night; some even went for a swim while others were on the dance floor, which made the atmosphere even more festive. Since the tents and tipis were completely waterproof, no one had any problems.
The next day, the atmosphere changed: blue skies, bright sunshine, and a brunch that felt like a summer's day. Then everyone gathered around the pool, on the sun loungers, in the grass, by the water's edge, or at the pétanque court. Our friends were DJing under a parasol while others swam or sunbathed: a real holiday atmosphere.
Wedding Decor & Atmosphere
In terms of atmosphere, we wanted a “elegant garden party“: blue (our signature color), pink for contrast, and a soft green reminiscent of the house, all in powdery shades. We used this blue, the typography, and the logo across all our materials (website, menus, seating chart, ceremony booklets, etc.) to ensure consistency.”
The stationery took us longer than expected, mainly because it was difficult to find a printer willing to print on our watercolor paper. After several attempts and technical hurdles, we found one, but it was too late to send out the invitations in time, so we decided to give them out on the wedding day, in a basket alongside the seating chart and menu.
For the rest of the decoration, we hunted for bargains and coordinated: tableware, candlesticks, vases and carafes, with a few fresh flowers.
The choice of outfits
For the outfits, we were looking for something very much like us, with a slight vintage feel.
Clément wanted an elegant suit, different from what you see everywhere: he chose a two-tone ensemble, cream white jacket and midnight blue almost black trousers, echoing his loafers bought a year earlier on a whim, as well as his silk scarf.
Gladys was by his side throughout the process, with the desire to create a coherent ensemble with the aesthetics of the wedding and harmonious with his wedding dress; Clément simply kept the final fitting to himself, in order to preserve an element of surprise.
Gladys, for her part, went from shop to shop, trying on countless dresses without ever finding what she was truly looking for, to the point where she sensed, even before making an appointment, that nothing would be suitable. And then, almost miraculously, she found her dress secondhand: it fit her perfectly. A fitted, backless dress, embroidered, beaded, with long sleeves, complemented by an overskirt and accessories that transformed her silhouette. She received a flood of compliments.
We were worried about the high temperatures: our outfits weren't the lightest, but we'd chosen them anyway. On the day itself, we realized that the milder weather was actually ideal.
Wedding providers
For our service providers, we primarily looked for a balance between style, budget and human relationshipWe wanted a team that could understand our world (timeless elegance, a chic garden party), while remaining very simple in the way they worked: clear communication, reliability, and a pleasant presence on the day.
In terms of images, we have chosen Cleya Asulon Because her work combines two approaches we loved: documentary photography (lively, candid) and a more editorial dimension (very polished, elegant). From the start, Cléa was professional and reassuring. On our wedding day, we appreciated her efficiency, responsiveness, and ability to guide us without ever being intrusive, which helped us a lot, especially since we're not very comfortable in front of the camera.
For the meal, L'Evidence Catering The restaurant stood out thanks to the quality of its menus (confirmed from the first tasting), excellent value for money, and a service team that was both friendly and highly organized. We particularly appreciated the smooth flow of the dinner, exactly as we had envisioned it, as well as the attention paid to the guests and the bride and groom.
For the flowers, we worked with Franck, who agreed to adapt to our budget; we appreciated his professionalism and kindness.
Finally, for the furniture and certain reception elements, we called upon PinkRabbitEvent The value for money was excellent, and Laureelen was particularly responsive and lovely throughout our interactions. We also rented the sound/lighting equipment and DJ console from them. Energyson Simple, effective, compliant, perfect for the evening.
The most moving memory
We have fond memories of first lookIn the morning: that suspended moment when you find yourself alone together, before the whirlwind.
At the town hall, we held back our tears: if we had started, we would never have stopped. It was the pressure releasing, and the very simple emotion of saying "I do."
At the church, the image of Gladys' grandmother bringing the wedding rings remains one of our most moving memories: a simple gesture, yet immense. And then there's that rare image: all our loved ones gathered around us.
Their best choice in the organization
We would make the choice to organize it ourselves again: it was demanding, sometimes exhausting, but we are proud of it, because every detail tells a story about us.
We would simply improve two things: a better-defined weather plan B (we really thought the weather would be nice in Nîmes in July), and more structured communication in the last week with certain service providers, to gain peace of mind.
But, ultimately, the most important thing is this: the wedding reflected who we are, and all our guests have excellent memories of it.
Their playlist
We had prepared a selection of tracks that we loved to give direction and share our musical world with our DJ friends, who really mixed and brought the evening to life by drawing on our tastes, while adding their own style and adapting the energy to the different moments and guests.
Their advice to future brides and grooms
The duration and complexity of wedding planning are almost always underestimated: it's better to know this from the start so as not to get discouraged.
Next, regarding the method, we would say: to be regular (motivating oneself each week), Don't get bogged down in minor details., And especially listen to each other, not to be influenced through trends or through the very luxurious images omnipresent on social media.
Divide the tasks Adapting to individual preferences and strengths also greatly helps to conserve energy and avoid tension. And, of course, don't hesitate to To ask questionsto service providers as well as to relatives who are already married: you learn a lot, and it makes the organization run more smoothly.
We also found it very helpful to use the right tools, including: Pinterest et Instagram To refine the aesthetics, check out wedding blogs and Mariages.net for tips and address books.
Canva for the supports and the design, and even ChatGPT to structure certain ideas and save time. And to stay on track, a true essential: a Excel file with the entire organization (budget, to-do list, service providers, schedule, contacts, payments), in order to have complete monitoring and leave nothing to chance.
To set a very clear guideline (especially regarding design) helps enormously to avoid going off in all directions.
Finally, to fully enjoy your wedding day, our most practical advice is simple: create a minute-by-minute schedule, and share it broadly (relatives, witnesses, service providers). This is what then allows one to let go.
And as a bonus: to stay hand in hand on the big day because everything goes by so fast, and we find ourselves separated more easily than we imagine.
A private wedding
at the gates of Nîmes
Wedding Budget
in Nîmes
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We prioritized the venue and the caterer, because they structure the guests' experience, as well as the photographer, because these are the memories that remain and we wanted images worthy of this weekend.
Conversely, we deliberately simplified certain aspects: few flowers (the venue was sufficient on its own), stationery largely DIY (even if it takes time), DJ provided by our friends, makeup done by Gladys.
We didn't give traditional wedding favors, preferring fans at the church, which were both useful and pretty. And our wedding rings, made by friends who are jewelers, have incomparable sentimental value. -
Wedding venues in Nîmes
Venue & Reception
Reception venue • Country Gardens
Caterer • L'Evidence Catering
Bride's outfit
Second-hand wedding dress • Ersa Atelier
Bride's evening dress • Kiki of Montparnasse
Bridal veil • MooreSee
Bridal gown & negligee • Anna Sottilotta & Meshki
Groom's Attire
Groom's suit • Blandin & Delloye
Groom's shoes • Duke + Dexter
Silk scarf • Souleiado
Wedding rings
Laurine Martins & Clément Loutrein
Mise en Beauté
Hairdressing • MJ Hair Salon
Photography
Photographer • Cleya Asulon
Photobooth
Music
@kokoprisci @sharles_music & DJ Full Option
Design
Floral design • Maison Marlies Florist
Wedding stationery • Wax seal
Furniture rental • PinkRabbitEvent
Technical
Technical equipment rental • Energyson
To listen
See more...
Congratulations to the happy couple for this beautiful sharing. We wish them a lifetime of happiness!
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