We felt it was very important to create a relaxed, organic, and timeless vibe for our wedding.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
We are Jan and Annelies, better known to our close ones as Jannelies. We have been a couple, a team, for 6 years. Jan is a marketing manager at a startup company. Annelies is a psychologist on the oncology ward at a hospital. We are both spontaneous, social people with big hearts for our friends and family. We prefer to spend our time together or with people who are close to our hearts, from a lavish dinner to a good party. Luckily, Annelies loves to cook, and Jan knows exactly which songs are the most danceable. We are creative people and get a lot of energy from organising fun experiences for our loved ones. In addition, we built a house together, which has been our hobby for the past three years. Now, we can enjoy it together.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We had known who the other person was for years. We attended the same high school and went to the same places in the city where we both live. But we really got to know each other during the summer of 2019 through mutual friends. Our first impressions definitely differed from how we see each other now. As we got to know each other better, we immediately found so many things in common: how we approach life, our sense of humour, our values and beliefs… everything just clicked. Despite a chaotic start, we quickly became incredibly connected and couldn’t imagine being without each other. As our friends describe it: a match made in heaven.
What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).
We felt it was very important to create a relaxed, organic, and timeless vibe for our wedding. In our décor and flowers, we chose calming colours so that the beautiful venue could steal the show. For the bridal bouquet, we opted for pastel tones, as that was the dress code for our female guests. Less is more was our motto, because we instantly fell in love with our venue. A hidden gem with so much charm. Our favourite spot on the property was the vine arch where the dinner took place, as well as the impressive driveway and entrance to the estate, which we made sure to highlight.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
It was an amazing (but also overwhelming) search for our venue. Since we wanted to celebrate our wedding intimately, we looked for a location in France that our guests could drive to from Belgium. We randomly searched for venues through blogs, social media, and even just Google Maps. It was through Google Maps that we found our hidden gem, newly renovated and with no reviews yet. It was a gamble, but also a real hit. Initially, we wanted to try organising everything ourselves from Belgium, so we began the search for a caterer. But again, as foreigners, this turned out to be a tiring process, and we decided to look for a wedding planner. What a relief it was when we met Emilie from Sun Day. She made the planning process so relaxed, organised, and most of all, fun. With her connections, she was always able to present us with the best options. We discussed everything in detail, she helped us keep track of our budget, and we actually had fun during our calls. We are forever grateful to her for this wonderful period. Our tip is definitely: hire a wedding planner. They take so much stress away, so you can enjoy the lead-up to your big day without any unnecessary worries.
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?
All of our vendors were recommended by our wedding planner. She understood perfectly what we were looking for, which is why we were thrilled with every single one of them. Both our photographer and florist truly stood out. Our photographer, Lina, captured stunning images of our day. She photographed spontaneous moments and raw emotion, exactly as we had hoped. The couple of sessions were short and comfortable, so we didn’t have to miss much of our reception. She also brought along an analog camera, which added a fun twist to some of the photos. It gave them a timeless, elegant look.
Our florist also did an incredible job. The table styling was even more beautiful than we could have ever dreamed of, with soft colours and gorgeous flowers. She even made additional suggestions that made everything come together perfectly. Finally, we were huge fans of our live band during the reception. They performed beautiful covers of well-known songs.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
The search for the perfect wedding dress wasn’t easy. In the end, Annelies chose a simple, timeless gown with an open back and a long train from Made With Love Bridal. The back was definitely the showstopper. It felt completely like Annelies and was incredibly comfortable, despite being a very fitted design. The dress was complemented by a pearl-embellished veil, which added an extra touch to the simple gown. The motto for the outfit was also “less is more,” so she kept accessories to a minimum. Annelies chose long green Swarovski earrings, which matched perfectly with her green engagement ring. She also wore a diamond bracelet borrowed from one of her best friends.
Jan’s suit was tailor-made by Suitsupply. He tried on several fits before selecting from different fabrics. He chose to add an extra detail to the back of his waistcoat, which was beautifully highlighted by his dark brown tie and matching shoes. The look was completed with a gold-engraved tie clip gifted to him by his best friend, who was also one of his groomsmen.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
Jan bought the engagement ring from a well-known jeweller in our region. The ring was specially designed for the proposal. Jan chose a green emerald-cut tourmaline, a gemstone that adds a beautiful twist to the Imeless design. Inside the ring, the date our relationship began is engraved.
For our wedding rings, we returned to the same jeweller. Jan’s ring is a classic wedding band, but it was made entirely from the gold of his grandfather’s signet ring, who passed away last year. Annelies’s ring was also custom-designed for our wedding. It’s another elegant twist on a classic design. The band is slightly wider, allowing the engraving of the wedding date to be placed on the side, visible while the ring is worn. Additionally, the raised setting allows it to fit perfectly against the engagement ring, so they can be worn together on the same finger.
What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).
We considered the location the most important aspect and decided to invest a bit more in it. Since the venue would be the backdrop for the entire weekend, we chose an idyllic place that needed very little extra decoration. We’re so happy with that decision, as our venue truly felt like a real-life fairytale.
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
We experienced so many unforgettable moments that day. The first look was definitely one we will always cherish. It was an intimate moment, just the two of us, in front of the house. It was the only moment we were both nervous about. The excitement of seeing each other for the first time was truly magical. We also deeply enjoyed the personal and intimate ceremony, created by two of our best friends. They put together a beautiful story with touching and funny speeches from several guests. There was a lot of laughter and tears of pure emotion.
What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?
Being married is the seal of our love for each other. It’s incredibly meaningful to know that we consciously choose one another, and that we will continue to make that choice, time and time again. It feels so safe and reassuring to know that we are now officially a team. That we will explore together, make mistakes, learn from them, and keep growing side by side.
In the lead-up to our wedding, we tried to plan a monthly date night, where one of us would surprise the other in between building our house. It was our way of consciously making time for each other. We still do this today, deliberately setting aside time for us, for one another. A small ritual that means so much to both of us.
LOCATION Domaine du Rodier, Castelnau-Montratier, France, @domainerodier BRIDE Annelies, @anneliesvekemans GROOM Jan, @janvrancken PHOTOGRAPHER Lina Bernard, @linabernard_photographe PLANNER Sun Day Wedding, @sun_day_wedding FLORIST Les Renouées, @lesrenouees.floral CELEBRANT Close friend of the couple ENTERTAINMENT DJ – Friend of the couple; Live Band – Maggie In Bloom, @maggie_bdx HIRE Chairs & Ginguette – Les Chaises Roses, @leschaisesroses CATERING Horace Events, @horace_events STATIONERY DIYed SIGNAGE Etsy, @etsy ENGAGEMENT & WEDDING RINGS Juwelen Peeters, @juwelen_peeters BRIDE’S WEDDING DRESS Made With Love, @madewithlovebridal BRIDAL BOUTIQUE Rebel at Heart, @rebel_at_heart_bridal_studio BRIDE’S SHOES Maje, @majeparis BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Earrings – Swarovski, @swarovski; Diamond bracelet – Close friend of the bride BRIDE’S PARTY DRESS Reformation, @reformation HAIR & MAKEUP Close friend of the bride BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Aura – Thierry Muggler GROOM’S SUIT & SHOES Suitsupply, @suitsupply GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Tie Clip – DRKS; Watch – Groom’s grandfather’s GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Spice Bomb – Viktor & Rolf, @viktorandrolf
