Brie + Jackson by Lou Lou Memphis

Our style was focused on a ‘city-chic’ aesthetic—modern yet timeless.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

Jackson and I both work in Advertising & Media—he is a Global Account Director, and I work as an Executive Director, Client Leadership. We share a love for travel, dining out, and experiencing new cultures together. Living in London has been a dream, giving us the perfect base to explore Europe while indulging in the city’s incredible food scene.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

Jackson and I met during our first year of university in Otago, New Zealand. I had just moved from Sydney, Australia, and we instantly connected, becoming close friends. We spent countless hours studying together, sharing meals, and discussing everything from life goals to future travels.

Initially, I didn’t see Jackson as anything more than a friend, but he had a different sense of connection from the very beginning. Over the course of the following months, our bond grew stronger, and what started as a friendship blossomed into something deeper. There is a saying that goes that marriage is the highest state of friendship, and for us, that could not be truer. Jackson is my best friend, and it is so easy to love him.

When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?

Over the months following that first meeting, Jackson and I became close friends. We studied together, shared meals, and talked endlessly about life, dreams, and future travel. I didn’t initially see him as more than a friend, but Jackson knew there was something deeper between us.

One year after we met, on 27th July 2016, he officially asked me out, and 7 years later, on 17th June 2023, he proposed to me in the South of France at Hotel du Cap Eden Roc. The number 7 has always had significant meaning to us, and funnily enough, when we were booking our wedding venue, one of the dates they had available was 17th September 2024.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding.

For our civil ceremony, I had always dreamed of wearing a suit, so when I saw the Self Portrait two-piece set, I immediately fell in love. Our style for both the ceremony and wedding was focused on a ‘city-chic’ aesthetic—modern yet timeless.

For the wedding, we wanted an elegant and sophisticated celebration with a classic feel that emphasized love and romance. We chose a colour palette of whites, greens, and baby blue — blue & green being particularly meaningful to us as it reminds us of home (New Zealand) and the ocean.

Hydrangeas have always been my favourite flowers, and Jackson suggested we create a stunning aisle lined with white hydrangeas and roses, which turned out beautifully. One of the highlights of the planning process was working with Brogan Scott to design our wedding stationery. We had a lot of fun creating personalized touches, especially with the bespoke illustrations for our ‘Finnigan’s Spritz Bar’ and the Cocktail Hour Drinks menu.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you?

Wedding Day

The stunning Château Rigaud, with its beautiful, timeless interior and exterior, provided the perfect backdrop for our celebration. The property was amazing as it took our guests on a journey throughout the day. We began with the ceremony & first glass in the quad, followed by canapés served on the other side of the property, where guests enjoyed breathtaking views over the rolling hills of Bordeaux. The reception then moved into the barn and terrace, all beautifully lit, creating a magical atmosphere.

One of the most important things for us was ensuring there were personalized touches throughout the day. We included several meaningful details to make the celebration feel unique and reflective of our story.

  • Jackson made a beautiful ‘letter to the bride book’ from all the special people in my life, the photos and messages honestly left me speechless.
  • We had personalized fans for guests at the ceremony with “The Finnigans Wedding” printed on them, which was a lovely keepsake.
  • Our guest book was a coffee table book from the place where Jackson proposed—Hotel du Cap Eden Roc—adding a special personal connection.
  • We also engraved our wedding date on our wedding perfume bottles.
  • In addition, we had custom-embroidered pillowcases that read “Mr. & Mrs. Finnigan” and handkerchiefs with our names and wedding dates, which added a sentimental and personal touch.
  • My beautiful nan made my ‘getting ready robe’ for the morning of the wedding, which was so special as, unfortunately, my grandparents couldn’t travel from NZ to France.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

Within our profession, Jackson & I are required to be highly detail-oriented planners; this translated well into the wedding planning process, which made the whole experience much easier than what was anticipated. We created a wedding playbook—a comprehensive guide covering everything from style inspiration to bridal party org charts, guest accommodations, and timelines. It helped keep us organized and stress-free and gave us a physical vision of what we wanted.

For other couples, my advice is to focus on what truly matters to you as a couple and stick to your vision. Establish your non-negotiables early, as it’s easy to get overwhelmed with options, but prioritizing meaningful details will make your day more personal and enjoyable.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?

The number 7 holds significant meaning for us, though I didn’t fully realise it until my dad’s wedding speech. He beautifully tied the theme to the seven steps involved in making brie cheese (which was very fitting for our wedding in France), a process that mirrored key milestones in my life. It was then that I realized I had worn seven different outfits throughout the celebrations—from the bridal shower and civil ceremony to our recovery party!

Securing my wedding dress was quite an adventure. Living in London, I found the bridal styles there quite different from what I envisioned. After trying on countless dresses, I sought out Hera Couture, a New Zealand designer, wanting a piece of NZ to be part of our wedding in France. I found the dress while visiting London, but the story doesn’t end there. While shopping for my younger sister, my mum saw the same dress in a Sydney boutique—allowing me to claim a tax refund (I love a good saving!). My dad then flew the dress from Sydney to Auckland, where my in-laws picked it up before bringing it to London via Dubai. Needless to say, my dress enjoyed first-class treatment before the big day!

What was one, or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on?

France has always held a special place in our hearts, so hosting our wedding in Saint-Émilion was a dream come true.

We had three non-negotiables (which we aligned on at the start of the wedding planning process): photography & videography, food, and three days of celebrations (welcome drinks, the wedding day, and a recovery party). We had so many family and friends travelling many distances to be here from the likes of NZ, Australia & throughout Europe, so we wanted to make the most of that special time together for an extended period of time.

Food was incredibly important to us, and the talented chefs at Château Rigaud exceeded our expectations. As for photography and videography, we worked with LouLou Memphis and Moon & Back, who captured every moment beautifully. I still catch Jackson looking through our photos and videos daily—it’s impossible not to reminisce!

BRIDE Brie Finnigan, @brie_finnigan GROOM Jackson Finnigan, @jacksonfinnigan WELCOME DRINKS LOCATION Château Carbonneau, Saint Emilion, France, @chateaucarbonneau WEDDING LOCATION Château Rigaud, Saint Emilion, France, @chateaurigaud CIVIL CEREMONY LOCATION Islington Town Hall, London PHOTOGRAPHER Lou Lou Memphis Weddings@louloumemphis CIVIL CEREMONY PHOTOGRAPHER Kate Jade Hill, @katejadehill VIDEOGRAPHER Moon & Back Co, @moonandbackco STYLIST By the couple PLANNER Château Rigaud, @chateaurigaud FLORIST Jillian Davies, @folies.et.fleurs OFFICIANT Groom’s Sister, Harriet Finnigan ENTERTAINMENT Band: Brightlights, @brightlightsband CATERING Château Rigaud, @chateaurigaud CAKE Wedding Day – Château Carbonneau, @chateaucarbonneau; Civil Ceremony – Lily Vanilli, @lily_vanilli_cake SIGNAGE Brogan Scott Studio, @broganscottstudio RINGS Custom Made WELCOME DRINK GROOM’S SHIRT, SHORTS & SHOES Ralph Lauren, @ralphlauren GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Watch – TAG Heuer, @tagheuer GROOM’S WELCOME DRINKS FRAGRANCE Ombre Leather – Tom Ford, @tomford GROOM’S WEDDING DAY SUIT Barkers, @barkersclothing GROOM’S WEDDING DAY SHOE Moss Bros UK, @mossbros GROOM’S WEDDING DAY FRAGRANCE L’Immensité – Louis Vuitton, @louisvuitton GROOM’S CIVIL CEREMONY SUIT Custom Made GROOM’S CIVIL CEREMONY SHOE ASOS, @asos GROOM’S CIVIL CEREMONY ACCESSORIES Sunglasses – Oliver Peoples, @oliverpeoples GROOM’S CIVIL CEREMONY FRAGRANCE Ombre Leather – Tom Ford, @tomford BRIDE’S WELCOME DRINKS DRESS Self-Portrait, @mrselfporait BRIDE’S WELCOME DRINKS SHOE Slingback Heels – Gucci, @gucci BRIDE’S WELCOME DRINKS ACCESSORIES Earrings: Freshwater Pearls – Mejuri, @mejuri
BRIDE’S WELCOME DRINKS FRAGRANCE No.04 Bois de Balincourt – Maison Louis Marie, @maisonlouismarie BRIDE’S GETTING READY ROBE Made by the bride’s nan, Diane Parker WEDDING DRESS Hera Couture, @heracouture BRIDE’S WEDDING DAY SHOE Ypres, @ypres.collection BRIDE’S WEDDING DAY ACCESSORIES Diamond Earrings – Mother-in-law, ‘something borrowed’ HAIR & MAKEUP Jessica Bérullier, @jessicaberullier BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Apogée – Louis Vuitton, @louisvuitton BRIDE’S POST RECEPTION DRESS Galvan London, @galvanlondon BRIDE’S POST RECEPTION SHOE ASOS, @asos BRIDE’S POST RECEPTION ACCESSORIES Earrings: Freshwater Pearls – Mejuri, @mejuri; Sunglasses – Celine, @celine BRIDE’S CIVIL CEREMONY DRESS Two Piece – Self-Portrait, @mrselfporait BRIDE’S CIVIL CEREMONY FRAGRANCE No.04 Bois de Balincourt – Maison Louis Marie, @maisonlouismarie BRIDESMAIDS GETTING READY PJ – Piyama, @piyama_co BRIDESMAIDS DRESS Héxié, @hexie_studio GROOMSMEN SUIT Barkers, @barkersclothing