A Very Private Affair

Julie and Jason celebrated their union in stylish and
intimate surroundings

Click on any of the images below to view a larger version

The proposal…

New York-based Julie and Jason met five years ago, when they were introduced by a mutual friend. Jason had planned to propose to Julie on a romantic weekend getaway in Stowe, Vermont, but couldn't wait. "The night before the trip, Jason pulled out a two-carat emerald cut solitaire set in platinum and popped the question," says Julie.

Hen and stag parties…

"We've both been married before, so this time around we wanted to focus on each other and plan a magical experience just for the two of us," says Julie.

The venues…

Julie and Jason eloped, taking with them just two witnesses. As Julie puts says: "It was the best decision we've ever made. We wanted to elope at a special destination and plan the entire day as a celebration of our love.

We've always loved England, and the agent who booked our honeymoon on the Orient Express suggested that we consider Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons for our ceremony. As soon as we saw the pictures, it just felt right. We didn't actually see it in person until we arrived in April to get our marriage licence at the Oxford register office - but we absolutely fell in love with it the moment we arrived."

The attendants…

The best man was Ian Douglas Cameron who, together with his brother, stood in as witnesses. Douglas played the bagpipes as Julie entered the room, and then accompanied the couple around the grounds of Le Manoir after the ceremony. "I'm fairly certain he even attempted Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne," says Julie.

The dress…

Julie wore a champagne coloured satin Vera Wang gown adorned with crystals and brooches on each shoulder. "The style reminded me of the dress my grandmother had worn when she married in the 1930s." For accessories, Julie wore a handmade crystal and silver comb.

For something old, Julie carried her great-grandmother's lace handkerchief wrapped around the stem of her bouquet. Something new was her Vera Wang dress and Christian Louboutins, and something borrowed were the earrings her grandmother had worn on her wedding day. Something blue was worn by the groom - a custom-made midnight navy blue suit and a vintage pale blue and navy striped tie that belonged to the bride's dad.

The transport…

Julie and Jason stayed at Le Manoir, so they only had to walk through the grounds to get to the ceremony suite. "We did take a quick ride on a golf cart, which was a riot," recalls Julie.

The decorative touches…

The day's theme was based on simplicity, romance and sophistication. In the ceremony suite there were three modern floral arrangements of roses in square glass vases. Julie's bouquet of roses and lily of the valley doubled as the dining table centrepiece.

Instead of the traditional wedding cake, the newlyweds enjoyed a simple strawberry dessert. "When we returned to New York City from our honeymoon, our families and closest friends met us for a second reception. We saved the cake-cutting tradition for them, and enjoyed a red velvet cake with creamy vanilla frosting coated in white fondant."

The best bits…

The best part of the day for Julie was seeing Jason standing with the registrar waiting for her during the ceremony. For Jason, it was the morning they spent together.

"Since we eloped and didn?t have to fuss with a lot of guests and responsibilities, we were able to enjoy the whole day together. We went for a run in the countryside in the morning and had a lovely breakfast together before the preparations began. The weather was much warmer and sunnier than we ever expected, and we found ourselves laughing the entire day. We couldn't ask for more," says Julie.

The honeymoon…

Jason and Julie wanted to do something memorable, so they went to Paris and Venice on board the Orient Express for eight days. "It was a great experience, but I if were to do it again, I would only want to spend only one night on board," says Julie. In Paris they stayed at Le Meurice, which the couple found to be an excellent hotel, and in Venice, they stayed at Bauer Il Palazzo.

Useful Contacts: