One final walk-through

Audrey's shoes were by Betsey Johnson

What you may not yet know is what inspired Mike and Audrey's wedding theme.

In the early part of May of 2024, before they were even engaged, Mike took Audrey and Dagny to Europe. No; not just the three of them.

Mike's mother, Judi, went along, and his three adult children, none of whom live in South Carolina, met them in Paris.

The trip had been planned for a long time -- long before Mike and Audrey met on December 31, 2023.

Audrey's stationery suite

It was essentially meant to be a family trip, as Mike's wife and the children's mother had passed away in the summer of 2020 and the group had been to Paris together in the past, when the first Mrs. Erni was alive.

Mike had arranged three different lodging plans for himself, his mother, and his children. He paid for the trip for everyone.

He had reserved a room for himself at the Hyatt Paris Madeleine and a room for his mother at a completely different hotel.

His children were billeted at a comfortable Airbnb.

The pearls have been in Mike's family for many years

His reasoning was that, at the end of a long day of sightseeing, they could all go to their spaces and relax without being constantly in one another's pockets.

When Audrey became a character in the cast, Mike invited her and Dagny to share in the trip, in order to spend time with and get to know his family.

He gave up his room at the Hyatt Paris Madeleine for them and stayed in the Airbnb with his children.

During that trip, they visited Versailles, the palace of Louis XIV and later, the home of Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette.

He wore Polo Red; she wore YSL Mon Paris

You know how they ended up: at the guillotine.

From Wikipedia: In 1783, the palace was the site of the signing of the last two of the three treaties of the Peace of Paris (1783), which ended the American Revolutionary War.

So, the palace and gardens at Versailles are impressive and full of history from both sides of the pond, and therefore made a great impression on Audrey.

She came away from there dreaming of a wedding and reception that was not only French-themed, but heavily influenced by Marie Antoinette's memory.

Audrey wanted low-profile rings; diamonds and sapphires set in platinum

It was for that reason that she wanted the bridesmaids' dresses to be of French blue (a color that one could argue is called dusty blue or slate blue in America), with red accents.

Because that looks French. I think you will agree that it really does.

Originally she wanted French blue dresses with red sashes, but after some research we came to the realization that the easiest way to make the French-blue-and-red thing happen was for the girls to wear red velvet sandals with the blue dresses.

And it had an undeniable charm, and was perhaps a tad bit unusual, and did the trick.

Hydrangeas in her bouquet echoed the French blue

Another thing we did which turned out to be somewhat of a stroke of genius -- if I do say so myself (because they were my idea) -- was the cardboard chandeliers.

I purchased them on Etsy -- four in total -- and TG painted all of the cardboard pieces gold.

The Monday before the wedding, Erica met me at the church and we worked for several hours assembling the chandeliers (it was not difficult) and outfitting them with battery-operated fairy lights.

One hung over the cake table, one hung over the photo booth, and one hung over the gift table at the reception.

You can see the chandelier in the lobby behind them

The fourth chandelier hung in the lobby of the church, and if you look closely in the photo where TG is walking Audrey down the aisle, you can see that one twinkling behind them.

Audrey's dress was meant to evoke the opulence of the French royalty of the pre-revolution era, and also pay homage to the gardens at Versailles.

She said of her dress that when she wore it, it felt indestructible. She'd worn it for her pre-bridal shoot at the Governor's Mansion, in October, and wore it for several hours before the wedding and several more hours after.

It looked delicate but the dress was sturdy and comfortable to wear -- as much as any formal wedding gown can be. She said she loved wearing it and that made me so happy. Because it cost more than she had budgeted for that expense, and TG and I helped to pay for it.

Audrey still accuses herself of walking too fast

We girls -- Audrey's sisters, Stephanie and Erica, her niece Allissa, her daughter Dagny, and me -- gave Audrey a small personal shower about a month before the wedding.

I chose as the theme all-out Marie Antoinette. There were the cards with ribbon that you see in a few of these photos -- they were actually gift tags -- and, not pictured, an ornate stand on which the mini cupcakes and treats were displayed.

We gave the girls, as part of their bridesmaids' gifts, Marie Antoinette tote bags, and ornate teacups with saucers, and a delicate lace oval-shaped doily with pink roses embroidered into the netting.

And I think we imbued the wedding with enough of the Marie Antoinette and French-in-general vibe that it was felt and it was recognized.

Let's make this a quick getaway

I think we succeeded. Even if things went wrong, we cannot and will not say that we failed.

And I will tell you here in case you have not heard me say it before (and when would you have?) -- I do not have another wedding in me. So it's a good thing that all three of my daughters are married.

Our granddaughter Allissa will be graduating from high school in the spring, and Stephanie has asked me to design her graduate's table for the after-graduation party at the school.

So I have a project to look forward to, but although it is no less important, the scale is nowhere near as large as a wedding.

I think she is giving him a coquettish look

This concludes our look-back at November of 2024, and the wedding that is now securely in the books.

So, onward to Thanksgiving and then Christmas, and we're all going to be busy so I am glad that our wedding reminiscence is done.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Friday :: Happy Weekend

Comments

[Dianna]

I enjoyed this so much, Jenny. I loved learning about all of the French inspired themes. Such a lot of work, but you were able to give that beautiful daughter of yours a wedding that was a dream.

[Ginny Hartzler]

She looks so joyful and beautiful! And I remember your post about the trip! That was quite awhile ago, but I still remember it. I do not see the chandelier, would love to see a photo of one if they are not gone.

[Mari]

It was a beautiful wedding and you all did a great job of planning and carrying it out. The shoes, her dress, the chandeliers and all the decor were perfectly French and did indeed had the Marie Antoinette feel. I'm glad you are done with that and can now move on to graduations!

[Amanda Bennett]

Dear Jenny,
You’ve paid such a lovely tribute to that beautiful wedding! Thanks from me and from all of us waiting! I will share with you now something you couldn’t have known. I’ve been a fan of your blog for many years now, but not before my “Aunt” Emmaline was a fan! Emmaline was your fan and an unknown fan of Audrey. You see, “Aunt”Emmaline married a wonderful man a little later in her life than the average bride does. I was raised, in my earlier years, to believe that Aunt Emmaline was my aunt.
She was, in fact, my Mother. Her parents allowed her to keep me only under those circumstances.
When I turned eight, my Mother told me to call her Mother, because that is who she was. She explained a little at a time, as I became older and could understand. Her father was so furious with her! He cut her off financially. She and I had no place to go. My grandfather’s secretary took us in and that lovely lady was a church-going woman. We were church going also, but our church spat us out. We began going to church with her. At church, about a year later, Mother met Charles Dodsworth. They fell in love and married. He said that he married me right along with her. They never had any children of their own.
I discovered earlier this year that my Mother had sent Audrey some gifts and some of those gifts were quite personal gifts, but that was my Mother! She paid no mind! Audrey will know what I mean!
Jenny, my Mother went to Heaven a month before Audrey’s wedding and EXACTLY nine years after Charlie!
She cheered Audrey on here on Earth and I know she was doing it from Heaven that day! It makes me cry as I write this. Charlie was a good husband and the only Father I ever knew. I was proud of my Mother and I walked with her up the aisle to her groom. He was in a suit. Mother was in a champagne colored suit with a smart hat. They had no honeymoon and said they didn’t need one. They had each other. Charlie treated her like a porcelain doll and she was so happy!
My Mother shared that she sent Audrey some lovely vintage lingerie! Audrey must’ve been so embarrassed! (If not, even better!)
So with love enough from Mother, and Charlie, and me, we wish Audrey and Mike every happiness in each other’s arms forever! God smiled at all of this—the stories of Mother and Charlie, Mother and me and Audrey and Mike! XOXO Amanda

[Jennifer]

@Dianna ... thank you so much! I think we did make her wedding dreams come true! God bless you xoxo

@Ginny ... Awww you cannot see the chandelier in the background of the photo of TG walking Audrey down the aisle? The one where you can see their faces. Alas those chandeliers did not survive! They were after all, only cardboard! But so pretty. Happy Thanksgiving my friend! xoxo

@Mari ... We can certainly breathe a sigh of relief even a year later, so thankful that we never have to do that again, hahaha! Designing Allissa's graduate table will be great fun. xoxo

@Amanda ... What a charming story. Thanks so much for telling it! Happy Thanksgiving! xoxo

[Jim and Barb]

What a tale of how the French theme came to be. What a guy Mike is! What a beautiful bride and incredible day.!

[Sharon kelly]

Jenny
I just love how you tell your stories. So much humor and wit. I have to admit that I had to look up the word coquettish ! Never heard it before today. Blessings to you and your lovely family
❤️ Sharon from nj

[Jennifer]

@Jim and Barb ... Mike really is quite a guy. We are so grateful. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Barb and the doggos! xoxo

@Sharon ... Thank you and thanks for reading! Hahaha so you learned a new word ... now find someone to be coquettish with, haha! Blessings to you too and Happy Thanksgiving! xoxo

[Lori]

This really was a very beautiful wedding all the way down to all of the small details that add so much personality to an event. You all did a fabulous job.
The bride looks so happy in every single picture and that speaks volumes.
I'm sorry it didn't go exactly as planned but honestly most things don't. All of the important things went well and that is what matters.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

[Carla TePaske]

Hello Friend,
I love, love, love it. I enjoyed the French theme. It does come out in the perfect way.
Thank you for sharing it with all of us.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving my dear friend.
Love, Carla

[Jeanette]

Looks like the whole wedding was charming! What a great theme! I love that she word the pearls from Miles family!

[Donna]

I know it must have been a beautiful affair! I'm SO happy for you All!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
hugs
Donna

[Jennifer]

@Lori ... you are right in every respect, of course! And the fact that that they are happy, and that it was truly beautiful, and that it's OVER are what's important, hahaha! Merry Christmas to you and TBG and Binx!! xoxo

@Carla ... it was a fun theme to go with. So easy, because everyone seems to respond to it as you would hope! Love you dear! Merry Christmas to you and Jeremy and the boys! xoxo

@Jeanette ... the pearls were so lovely and meaningful. I know how you feel about family jewelry being passed down! I cried when I read that you had your mother's remaining diamond earring (after you somehow lost one of the pair) made into a ring for Shauna. That's a beautiful gesture! Love you my friend! Merry Christmas to you and Rich and Shauna and Brad and Max and Levi! xoxo

@Donna ... How I wish that you and Larry could have been here! Love you! Merry Christmas to you all! xoxo

[Donna]

Got your photo card! Beautiful!
Merry Christmas!!
hugs
Donna