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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Celebrations that unfold over several days do not just create a richer experience for guests; they also call for a thoughtfully curated wardrobe. Each look should reflect the moment while balancing movement, comfort, and climate. Planning outfits across the entire wedding ensures both style and ease from start to finish.

Katie 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. For Katie, the days surrounding the wedding itself allowed her to explore her love of fashion and art, which were central themes of the main event.

When creating the looks for the three days, Katie took a more personal and creative role in the process. During a period of recovery from a significant health challenge, she returned to watercolor as a way to reconnect with beauty and nature. While oils had long been her primary medium, watercolor 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 and deeply rooted in her recovery and bespoke Sally Bean bridal gown. Working slowly and intuitively, 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, and 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.

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 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 beautiful velvet bags featuring the designs, while table linens for both the wedding day and rehearsal dinner were developed in collaboration with ALBA. The result was a cohesive visual language carried throughout the weekend. When Katie 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.”

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, Katie developed three bespoke pieces. “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 watercolors, 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 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, each arrangement was carefully considered, from initial sketches through to final adjustments on site. Echoing the bespoke dresses, “The result felt incredibly natural, full of movement, soft, expressive, and almost indistinguishable from real florals.”

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.

Beyond the fashion, 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 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 was quintessentially Slim Aarons in style, embracing a more relaxed, Riviera-inspired mood. Color remained central, but the structure softened, allowing guests to dress freely and settle fully into the experience. Think large statement glasses, draped fabrics, and vintage details.

Katie 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.

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. Each accompanied with a look that was rooted in art, design and truly personal to Katie.