Urban wedding in Lille on a barge – Sawssen + Samuel

The initial meeting

We met in 2019 through the Bumble app, which is as 21st century as it gets!

Our first physical meeting, however, already had a more spiritual character, as we arranged to meet on the forecourt of Notre Dame de la Treille in Lille (to drink a beer ^^)!

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

The marriage proposal

The marriage proposal took place at Portugal in Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Continental Europe. 

It is a wild cape with a magnificent view, where you feel the call of the open sea, while being hammered by the wind and the foam of the waves. It was a very intimate request, because despite the few tourists present, the wild aspect of the place gave us the impression of being alone in the world. But the request was also atypical, because even if it was a marriage proposal strictly speaking, we had already bought our wedding rings a few months beforehand! 

The request also had a very moving character, because behind the choice of this place, there is also our love for the sea and the ocean, engraved in the rock by an extract from the Lusíadas, by Camões: "aqui onde a terra se acaba eo mar começa" meaning: Here where the land ends and the sea begins.

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Wedding venue in Lille

First, we chose to we get married in France, because for us it was the country that could serve as a link between our respective histories (we had previously considered Tunisia and Portugal). 

As for the reception venue, we chose to get married on the Eldorado barge, for the symbolism that this place could bring. First of all, it was about breaking the codes of marriage for us, because we wanted to celebrate with our loved ones, our couple, without having to obey any preconceived idea, but a barge is absolutely not a place of worship!

Our choice of a barge also depends on the symbolic land and sea, referring to our respective cities: Lisbon and Tunis. And the fact that the barge sails during the ceremony also participates, like the journey andevasion what marriage symbolizes to us: the beginning of a new adventure for two.

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Wedding planning in Lille

Regarding the organization, we were lucky enough to come across Marjorie's profile from Suzette and Simone who was our wedding planner. We contacted her at the end of October 2021, and it was love at first sight. So, we started the preparations with her! 

With Marjorie we opted for a formula, where the management of the service providers was an equal responsibility. We exchanged over the days and organized video points, if there were pending, urgent or blocking subjects, or simply to take stock of the progress of the preparations.

Marjorie made everything available to us so that we could have a follow-up and a retrospective of all the tasks to be done with a detailed estimate, down to the day.

Thirty days before the event, Marjorie took the lead with all the service providers, providing them with a roadmap for the big day. She ensured meticulous coordination of all the vendors, down to the smallest detail..

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Wedding decorations in Lille

Regarding the wedding decorations, our primary goal was, to convey an idea of ​​joy and cheerfulness. So we started with something minimalist, which can enhance the space of the barge, while bringing a touch of nature, we therefore opted for a decoration with a strong floral component.

Since our wedding took place in July, we wanted to recall the flowers that bloom in the fields, always with a view to breaking the codes of the traditional wedding. We based ourselves on a color palette with a majority of white, punctuated with blue, red and yellow.

To reinforce the bohemian celebration side, linked to escape, we decorated the pontoon of the barge with a multitude of rugs, soliflores and tealight holders.

Finally, we also informed our guests that there would be no "dress code", other than coming dressed up to party.

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Their most moving memory

Our most moving memory was undoubtedly the secular ceremony ! 

During the preparations, we didn't really know what to think of this ceremony, our feelings were torn between perplexity and fear that it would be a boring moment for our guests. 

The reality was quite different! 

What emotions, between laughter and tears, the ceremony left no one unmoved and everyone congratulated us for this moment. 

The speeches of our witnesses, to whom we had given carte blanche for the content of their interventions, amazed us with their intensity and lightness. Their words still resonate in our memories and bring us smiles and laughter. 

There was also an anecdotal, but quite charming moment during the ceremony, namely that after the exchange of our respective vows, and without it having been planned, the locks of the canal where the barge was sailing, opened, as if to announce a new chapter in our story!

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Urban wedding in Lille on a barge © Marie Dubrulle

Their best choice in wedding planning

It's very difficult to choose one, as we've only had pleasant surprises from the service providers. But, as with any orchestra, the final result depends on the conductor. Thus, Suzette & Simone Agency (Marjorie), our wedding planner, was essential to the smooth running of our wedding. Moreover, it was through Marjorie that we met most of the vendors.

Advice from the newlyweds

Plan the wedding that reflects you, don't be afraid to break the codes, because it's your day. So abstract yourself from family pressures, societal norms, and the weight that the symbol "marriage" can carry.   

Our other advice would be to get support by someone with experience in organizing weddings, namely a wedding planner.
This choice had no impact on the type of wedding we wanted, quite the contrary, because we were able to focus on what was really important to us.
The importance of wedding logistics should not be overlooked, the myriad of small details that may seem trivial, but turn out to be crucial on the big day.
However, choosing a wedding planner allowed us to relieve a considerable amount of stress, so that we could fully enjoy our wedding and our guests, because that is where the very essence of marriage lies: communion with loved ones.

Finally, the guests! Choose the guests you really care aboutThose without whom you wouldn't imagine celebrating your union. You'll probably be bombarded with names of some obscure cousins ​​or family friends, but remember that it's your day, not theirs.