Adventurous Micro Wedding In The French Alps – Christine & Erik’s Story
Christine and Erik are an adventurous, outdoor loving couple from Colorado, USA. When they decided to tie the knot, they knew they were looking for something a little different from their big day. After finding The Farmhouse on Instagram and falling in love with everything their internet research could tell them about Morzine, they decided to book a visit.
The couple first arrived in Morzine in November 2019 and were met at The Farmhouse by the team. After the initial introductions and a tour of the building and gardens, Christine and Erik soon knew their gamble to travel halfway around the world had paid off. They had found the perfect wedding venue in an adventurous alpine paradise.
Christine explains “When we got engaged, we knew we wanted to get married somewhere that would be an experience for our guests. That included some of our favorite things to do together – travel, adventure, outdoor pursuits, eating amazing food. The Farmhouse, and Morzine checked all of these boxes for us. We loved the history of The Farmhouse, it’s undeniable beauty, and the adventure that would be required for our guests to get there”.
An Adventurous Start To A Destination Wedding
Being a destination wedding, the couple and their friends and family arrived a few days before the big day. This was fully intentional as the couple really wanted to provide their guests with a real experience rather than just a wedding. In the days leading up to the ceremony the party took full advantage of some of the activities on offer in Morzine and went mountain biking, hiking and relaxed with some Yoga.
The weather delivered on the big day and the wedding party awoke to a beautiful warm and sunny September morning in Morzine. With perfect weather and the adventurous nature of Christine and Erik, the wonderful Reuben from Eight Bells – Wedding Photography had something a little different in mind for their wedding photos. He whisked the couple up to the summit of the spectacular Col du Joux Plane for a very special photoshoot. Not wanting to take the easy option, after hearing about the viewpoint at the top of a neighbouring peak the couple were sold. The only issue was the small matter of a half an hour hike in full wedding attire to reach it. Not a problem for the likes of Christine and Erik.
“Hiking three miles in our wedding attire to take pictures with Reuben will remain a very special memory. Our friends Anna and Cody helped us get there (Anna had to walk within arm’s reach of me for the entire hike, holding the train of my dress). It had rained in the days leading up to the wedding, so it was a very muddy and precarious hike! It was 100% worth it and very much our style.”
The Dress
Getting married in France, Christine knew she could push the envelope of what would normally be expected in an American wedding. The dress Christine chose was a Judith dress from American designer Tara LaTour. It was a champagne blush color and featured sheer horsehair panels and raw silk flowers along the skirt.
Christine loved that some of the features of the dress were unexpected and different, but it was still a traditional ball gown at its core. She also knew that if the weather cooperated, they would get some awesome shots of the Alps and wanted a dress that could balance that beauty and intensity. Christine complimented her stunning dress with a wonderful bouquet of local wild flowers sourced by The Floral Kitchen.
For Erik’s suit Christine spent some time looking at pictures of other brides with blush colored gowns and decided that Erik needed to wear blue.
The Ceremony
Coming all the way from the USA, the wedding party was small which made for a very personal and intimate occasion. As it was such a nice day the ceremony took place in the beautiful garden at The Farmhouse. A double banking of seats were carefully laid out across the lawn forming a natural aisle for the couple to walk down. The ceremony was led by the couple’s good friend Scott who delivered a beautifully personal service set against the stunning Alpine backdrop.
A cocktail and canape reception followed the ceremony and the couple was able to spend some quality time relaxing in the beautiful gardens with their nearest and dearest in the alpine sun.
Dinner was served in the theatrical dining room which was traditionally decorated and lit by a plethora of candles creating a very special ambiance. The couple chose to have a large selection of desserts rather than a traditional wedding cake and they celebrated by cutting a beautiful cheese cake.
“The Farmhouse team provided delicious canapés, dinner and dessert! The food was fantastic and one of the main reasons we wanted to celebrate our wedding in France.”
A Little Help For Planning A Small Destination Wedding
After their experience of a small destination wedding in the alps, Christine had some wonderful words of wisdom for any couples thinking about doing something similar:
“Don’t be afraid to have a micro wedding. Some of our guests remarked that it was the smallest wedding they had ever been to, but also the most fun they’d ever had at a wedding. You’re able to do so much more with a small wedding and actually get to spend time with your guests. A destination wedding is also a great way to extend the celebration beyond just the day of the ceremony and reception. All of our guests took extended vacations in Europe leading up to or after the wedding. It also allowed us time to do some really fun activities with our guests before the wedding. Just make sure the key people you want to have there can make it. “
Are You Looking For The Perfect Wedding Venue In The Alps?
If you’re looking for the perfect wedding venue in the French Alps then why not click here to find out more about weddings at The Farmhouse.
The boutique hotel has 11 bespoke ensuite bedrooms and the whole venue can be booked for exclusive use for your special day.
With a stunning property surrounded by beautiful gardens and spectacular views combined with an unflappable team of staff, The Farmhouse truly is the perfect wedding venue in the Alps.
