Where Watercolor Meets Silk: A Fashion-Led Rehearsal Dinner and Sunlit Pool Party in Provence

Apr 16, 2026 | Bridal Style

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Katie Julia in the courtyard at Bastide de Laurence Provence in a custom gown.

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Destination weddings often bring guests together from across the world, and with that comes a natural shift toward multi-day celebrations. Spreading a wedding over several days allows for a slower pace, deeper connection, and a more considered expression of the couple’s story.

Katie Julia and Buck welcomed their guests for A Fine Art Provence Wedding: A Painterly South of France Celebration, three days shaped by color, texture, and a strong sense of personal style.

When creating the fashion looks for the additional celebrations, Katie Julia took a more personal and creative role in the process. During a period of recovery from a significant health challenge, she returned to watercolour as a way to reconnect with beauty and nature. While oils had long been her primary medium, watercolour offered something lighter and more instinctive, and it quickly became the foundation for what would follow. These paintings became the starting point for the looks that would define the style of the celebrations.

She began with studies of herbs and florals, chosen for their personal meaning, working slowly and intuitively as she explored pigment, paper, and movement. What emerged was something quiet yet immersive, a body of work that gradually developed in both confidence and depth. Softer tones gave way to richer hues, berry shades, and deeper contrasts that brought a stronger sense of identity to the paintings.

The idea of translating these works into fabric had long been in the background. That process began with extensive testing across different materials, observing how color shifted depending on the base. It was only when printing onto natural fabrics, particularly silk organza, that the paintings retained their softness and luminosity. The fabric allowed the pigment to hold its warmth and movement, creating something that felt close to the original works. "I started painting individual stems and florals, exploring combinations that felt natural to me. It was quite experimental, but I had always had this idea of translating my paintings into something wearable."

From there, the concept expanded. Multiple colorways were developed, alongside explorations into scale and repeat. With the support of her dear friend Rose, a graphic designer with a background in fashion, the paintings were translated into repeat patterns. Rose was able to guide Katie Julia into producing the pattern without losing their organic quality. What began as an idea evolved into a fully realized collection spanning linens, dresses, and accessories.

These prints appeared across the wedding in considered ways. Bridesmaids carried velvet bags featuring the designs, while table linens for both the wedding day and rehearsal dinner were developed in collaboration with ALBA. When Katie Julia showed Beth her designs, "we both felt it was something we had to create together. There is more to come from that collaboration, which I am very excited about." The result was a cohesive visual language that carried throughout the weekend.

There was also a natural connection to Buck’s background in fashion print and textile design. While unplanned, the overlap between their creative worlds added another layer of meaning to the process. Katie Julia notes, "Creating my own prints and seeing them come to life in this way felt incredibly special. It was not something we planned, but it felt meaningful that those worlds came together within the wedding."

The wardrobe for the weekend formed an extension of this narrative. Working with designer Charlotte Wilden from Wilden London, Katie developed three bespoke pieces. She shares, "I have always loved Charlotte’s approach to design. She is incredibly thoughtful, so skilled, and brings real meaning into everything she creates. We have become dear friends, and after so many fittings, I found myself missing those visits. We both love creating together, and it was such a special part of the process. Nothing was ever too much for her. She simply makes things happen."

Two of the looks were created using the printed silk organza, directly derived from the original watercolours, while a third took a different direction. A structured pink organza dress, inspired by Audrey Hepburn, introduced a sense of refinement and timelessness.The silhouettes reflected a consistent point of view. Volume through the sleeve, softness through the body, and a sense of movement remained central. The printed pieces carried a fluid, expressive quality, while the Audrey-inspired dress provided contrast through its clean lines and restraint.

Beyond the clothing, the paintings were also translated into the wider setting. Linens played a key role in shaping the atmosphere, particularly during the rehearsal dinner held in the courtyard at Bastide de Laurence.

The tone of the evening was intentionally distinct from the wedding day itself. Brighter and more playful, it drew on a sense of nostalgic glamour, reminiscent of a mid-century garden party. References to Slim Aarons, a book originally gifted to Katie Julia by Buck for their first Valentine’s Day as a couple, informed the mood, with a palette and energy that felt both relaxed and elevated.

Florals followed a similar direction. Designed with movement and softness in mind, they leaned toward an expressive, painterly style with subtle Renaissance influences. Working closely with silk florist Genni from Fleur de la Couture, the use of high-quality silk florals allowed for precision and longevity while maintaining a natural appearance. Installed in Provence after being transported from the UK, the arrangements brought a sense of continuity to the overall design, with tones refined to introduce warmth and balance. "The result felt incredibly natural, full of movement, soft, expressive, and almost indistinguishable from real florals."

The rehearsal dinner also created space for moments that might otherwise feel compressed within a single day. Speeches from family and friends, including Katie’s mother, her maid of honor Minal, and Buck’s father Philip, were given room to be properly heard and absorbed. Live music added to the atmosphere, with French classics shaping the rhythm of the evening. For Katie Julia and Buck, "It was the first real moment to welcome everyone and spend time together before the wedding day. I wanted it to feel like stepping into something, not just arriving."

By contrast, the final day unfolded with a lighter energy. The pool party embraced a more relaxed, Riviera-inspired mood. Color remained central, but the structure softened, allowing guests to move freely between spaces and settle fully into the experience. Katie Julia wore a two-piece in printed silk organza for the poolside lunch, followed later by a PatBO swimsuit styled with a printed bandana and vintage Chanel earrings. The styling reflected the tone of the day, effortless, playful, and considered without feeling formal.

The guests approached the dress code with a clear sense of cohesion, leaning into the established palette in a way that felt both thoughtful and intuitive. Soft pinks, warm yellows, berry tones, and gentle neutrals echoed the colors found throughout the paintings and linens, creating a natural harmony across each setting. There was a consistency to the overall look. Nothing felt jarring or out of place, and each outfit contributed to the wider atmosphere rather than competing with it. The result was a guest ensemble that felt considered yet effortless, enhancing the visual language of the weekend as a whole.

Across the three days, each moment carried its own identity while contributing to a cohesive whole. The welcome dinner created space for connection, the wedding day held its own sense of occasion, and the final day allowed everything to soften into ease. In extending the celebration, the experience gained depth. Time allowed for presence, for conversation, and for a genuine sense of gathering. What remains is not only the visual richness of the setting, but the memory of shared time, shaped with care and intention.