Embrace The Timeless Elegance Of Classic French Bridal Aesthetic
From contemporary gowns to free-flowing vintage frocks, look towards some of the most famous French brides for all of your ultra-chic wedding inspiration.
This season, ditch the stress of curating a picture-perfect wedding aesthetic and adopt the easy-going, perennial glamour that characterizes French bridal style. It girls throughout the ages—ranging from Jane Birkin to Lolita Jacobs—have effortlessly embodied the look, as well as the philosophy behind it, and the results speak for themselves.
A low-stress wedding is a rare thing, but by opting for wedding attire—ceremony gown, reception dress, and send-off look included—that feels true to your personal style rather than one that adheres to the trends of the moment, you're sure to feel confident on your big day and the photos you look back on in the years to come will reflect the same effortless grace.
As a '60s style icon and French fashion muse, Jane Birkin and her many envy-inducing outfits over the years have been a seemingly endless fountain of inspiration for women across generations. She was never married to her longtime partner Serge Gainsbourg—although plenty of rumors of a secret wedding were rampant back in the day—but throughout their time together, the model and actress donned numerous white dresses that brides have drawn from in curating their own wedding aesthetics. Laid-back, natural, and subtly sensual, Birkin effortlessly embodies the timeless, charming allure of the French bride.
Although often mistaken for a wedding dress, Birkin's 1969 white lace dress—characterized by a deep v-neckline and a simple, yet chic black closure—is the epitome of the aesthetic, and has been famously recreated by brides decades after she wore it. With minimal makeup, a sleek, straightforward hairstyle, and a few simple pieces of jewelry, Birkin sported a unique, classic look that stood out in all of its Parisian glory.
While Jane Birkin was never married to Serge Gainsbourg, she did elope with John Barry in 1965, prior to meeting Gainsbourg. The two wed in a secret ceremony in a London courthouse, and then-18-year-old Birkin wore a short white crochet dress, accompanied by a set of layered pendants and minimal glam, appearing elegantly at ease as she strode out of the civil hall hand-in-hand with the groom.
Modern brides like Lolita Jacobs—whose 2018 wedding to Jean-Baptiste Talbourdet-Napoleone was one of the most closely-watched nuptial events of the year, especially among fashion-forward crowds—have incorporated the classic French approach to creating a timeless bridal aesthetic. As a stylist and fashion director, Jacobs is in possession of a unique eye for fashion that was plain for guests and followers around the world to see as photos from her St. Tropez wedding circulated on the Internet.
"We didn’t have a dress code or any other wedding rules. The goal was to treat our guests and ourselves with simplicity, laughter, and an authentic family feeling," Jacobs said in an interview with Vogue.
With a pared-back pastel color palette setting the tone for the celebration, elements borrowed from her own parents' wedding, and a series of classically chic dresses, Jacobs' bridal aesthetic is one that has since been mirrored by other brides in search of the same dreamy, boho-esque French girl wedding. For the cocktail party on the eve of the wedding, Jacobs wore a custom white Jacquemus dress inspired by a similar style from the designer's Le Souk collection and white sandals. The next day, Jacobs donned a stark-white Alaïa poplin shirt dress, crimson Manolo Blahnik flats, and a free-flowing Laure de Sagazan veil, gifted to her by her mother-in-law, for the courthouse ceremony, where guests watched as the couple exchanged vows. Later in the evening, guests joined the newlyweds for dinner and dancing, where Jacobs changed into a white Alaïa mermaid-style gown, sleek silver flats, and vintage Chanel hair clips. “Alaïa was always my first choice; it reflects everything about my style personality: simple, effortless, but sharp," she told Vogue in the same interview. "It fit like a glove!”
In a series of looks that felt authentic, timeless, and effortlessly charming, Jacobs enjoyed her picturesque, traditionally French wedding surrounded by family, friends, and her new husband.
In another now-iconic modern French wedding, Camille Charriere married Francois Larpin in 2021. For the Parisian affair, Charriere donned a flowy, elegant Celine couture dress, embellished with sequin detailing, a sheer skirt, and wide long sleeves. The bride carried a simple bouquet of white flowers and wore her long blonde hair in waves as she stepped down the aisle.
Later in the evening, Charriere swapped out her Celine dress for a sheer lace number. "We wanted to create looks that were fun and timeless and didn’t feel so bridal that I would not recognize myself, which was very important to me as I can start behaving a bit funny if I don’t feel good in my clothes," the writer and influencer told Vogue in a 2021 interview. In her Harris Reed reception dress, crafted from upcycled lace found in a Parisian atelier, Charriere embodied slinky '90s style while simultaneously channeling the effortless elegance of the classic French bridal aesthetic.
