Wow, do we have a destination wedding that will knock your socks off. Irish real wedding couple Georgina and Con tied the knot at Château De Garde near Saint-Emilion in the Southwest of France and their big day was a real-life fairytale. Their black-tie theme was executed flawlessly, from their elegant stationery to the bridesmaids in black and the statement yet soft flower arrangements which married baby's breath and roses. Georgina was a vision of ethereal beauty wearing a sensational tiered organza gown and their garden ceremony on the lawn had a dazzling floral ceremony backdrop (complete with the prettiest paper parasols for guests). Their reception dialled up the monochrome magic where delicate bows stole the show. Get ready for your jaw to drop when you see exquisite images by Mark Ward from Awardweddings.

So, before we get to their epically dreamy wedding day, let's find out more about Georgina and Con's love story. They are both from Ireland and they met in Cork city on New Year's Eve 2019. Georgina tell us: "That was it we’ve been together ever since!"

Con popped the question at home and it is a day Georgina will cherish forever. She reflects: "The proposal was in the height of lockdown in April 2021 in our living room! It was the same weekend as my birthday and Con was giving me my presents one by one which were pieces of jewellery and for the final one he got down on one knee, it was wonderful!"

They wanted a sunshine-soaked wedding abroad and they worked with their wedding planner to help find their dream venue. "Our planner Clementine sent us a document with several places to look at and the minute we saw that one we got a feeling about it. It just suited the exact style we wanted. When we viewed it we just were in awe of how gorgeous it was and knew it was the one for us!"

There's no surprises there, the exclusive-hire, 18th-century chateau provides a majestic backdrop for weddings. The interior blends antiquity and modernity and there are picturesque gardens to explore along with an exotic patio and the reception hall boasts vineyard views.

The couple were singing from the same hymn sheet when it came to what they wanted from their special day. "We agreed we wanted good music, good food and good craic! And I think we achieved it!" The vibe of the wedding was "classic, chic and timeless" and their colour palette oozed sophistication with accents of white and black with a touch of gold.

"To be honest, I think we didn’t have much inspiration I just knew that we wanted classic and timeless. Straight away when I think that black and white comes to mind. Groomsmen in tuxedos and bridesmaids in black will always look amazing if you ask me!" And she is so right!

Georgina looked incredible in her romantic wedding dress which had a crepe bodice with a plunge neckline and an ethereal tiered organza skirt. Her Valentino heels brought a gentle dash of sparkle and she accessorised with pearl drop earrings, a pearl and crystal hair vine with white and pink pearl flowers and a cathedral veil that looked so beautiful in the sunlight.

They exchanged vows on August 8th, 2023, and 86 of their nearest and dearest joined them for their unforgettable day. Their sun-kissed outdoor ceremony was held in front of the chateau and at the top of the aisle stood a glorious floral arch. White sheets were draped beautifully from the dark wood structure while pretty bursts of gypsophila mixed with elegant white roses on top.

They were blessed with incredible weather and the sun shone brightly. The couple had all bases covered as they even had paper parasols, fans and hats for their guests to keep cool in the heat. "Our celebrant Sandie was wonderful. I don’t think I could pinpoint one part, it was all special and lovely. She really made it beautiful."

After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests basked in the sunshine and atmosphere of love with an outdoor cocktail reception.

Poseur tables were dressed with black tablecloths and white flowers were held in glass vases. It was a feast of flavour too with a buffet offering a selection of wonderful local food. The magical monochrome palette continued in the reception hall.

The space is superbly rustic with exposed brick walls and aged wooden beams while glittering chandeliers and sparkling fairy lights only added to the stunning spectacle. Crisp white tablecloths were the perfect foundation for the tables where black taper candles were placed in vintage brass candleholders and napkins were tied with sweet black satin bows. Gold cutlery finished off the tablescape.

Baby's breath and rose arrangements sprung across the tables and tea lights gently flickered creating a bewitching glow. As to be expected, the couple's wedding photos are absolutely gorgeous. They shared an immensely romantic moment alone in the vineyard at sunset. Talk about wow!

Reminiscing on their special day, Georgina says: "I think the people who travelled made it special. It was wonderful walking down to the aisle and seeing all your nearest and dearest in a stunning setting in a different country. We really felt the love!"

There are so many wedding cake alternatives to choose from. The couple had a medley of sweet treats in place of the traditional centrepiece which included chocolate caramel bites and strawberry-topped tartlets.

As for wedding planning advice, Georgina urges couples to stay true to themselves. "Don’t listen to the noise. There will a lot of opinions." If you want a classy first dance song that will get your guests in the mood for celebrating, take a cue from Georgina and Con.

For their first dance as a married couple, they chose Frank Sinatra's iconic hit Fly Me to the Moon. The pop rock cover band who played throughout their entire day ensured the atmosphere on the dancefloor was utterly electric. The festivities were elevated to new levels of dazzling with a wonderful fireworks display.

While the Southwest of France has many stunning honeymoon spots the couple set their sights on more exotic climes as they headed to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean for a week. "The tropical blues and greens in Saint Lucia were incredible!" They jetted to the US after. "We did Nashville and Memphis in Tennessee for week two! Seeing Graceland was a highlight."

A very special thank you to Georgina, Con and Awardweddings for sharing their beautiful black-tie chateau wedding with One Fab Day. There are tonnes more photos to pore over in the gallery below!

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