Our wedding story: picnicing, swimming and kayaking

This week’s newly weds met in very different circumstances – during a series of work events; at Glenans Sailing School in Brittany; and in the course of a house party in Boston


Daniel, the son of Prof John Crowe – former president of the Royal College of Physicians – and Dr Margaret Crowe from Dublin, first met Olivia, who grew up in the UK and France, aged 17 at Glenans Sailing School in Brittany.

They kept in touch but it wasn't until they graduated – Daniel with a degree in computer science and economics from UCD and Olivia from Univeristy of Birmingham Medical School – that a relationship began and eventually the kite-surfing enthusiasts moved to Bournemouth together.

After travelling to a friend's wedding in Argentina in 2013, Daniel proposed in Uruguay.

Some 150 guests travelled from Ireland, the UK, Australia, the US, Mexico and Malawi for their wedding on June 27th at Olivia's grandparents' estate in Die in southeast France.

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Flowergirls sprinkled lavender flowers as the bride came down the steps into the gardens where she was met by her father, Prof Michel de Rougemont.

The non-denominational ceremony was delivered in French and English and the celebrants – who each gave a speech – were Margaret Crowe, the bride's mother, Sandie de Rougemont, her half-brother Jean and her cousin, Nick Barr.

Friends of the bride and groom performed a violin concerto by Bach and traditional accordionists also played. A vin d’honneur followed the canapés which were accompanied by a local sparkling wine andl English Pimms. A four-hour dinner began at 8pm in the courtyard – during which Olivia’s brother Stefan was MC and speeches were given – followed by three croquembouche wedding cakes (profiterole towers). Dancing started at midnight and continued until 6am.

The rest of the week was spent picnicking, swimming and kayaking.

Olivia, a GP and Dan, a credit analyst with a London-based equity and debt research company, live in London, and will honeymoon in Panama after Christmas.

Photographs: José Lopez