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Brides are often too busy to eat on their big day, but one woman made sure that wasn’t the case during her dream wedding in the south of France.
Nicola Easterby (@polkadotpassport), 30, from London, U.K., was determined not to become “that bride” and documented every delectable bite in a viral reel that amassed 931,000 views on Instagram.
“I had heard a lot of brides say that they didn’t eat at all on their wedding day and ended up feeling really faint by the end. I didn’t want to make this mistake.
“I really made an effort to take time to eat throughout the day and enjoy all the lovely food we had,” she told Newsweek. “I’m a full-time travel and food content creator, and I love creating ‘what I eat in a day’ videos whenever I’m travelling. I thought it would be cool to recreate this same style of video for our wedding day as a way to document all the amazing food we ate.”
As Easterby prepped to walk down the aisle last August, she indulged in a pain au chocolat, a mini croissant, and a plate of scrambled eggs, a baguette, goat’s cheese, and butter—her “favorite breakfast in the world.”
After fueling up, she was ready for her stunning outdoor ceremony, followed by an epic DIY grazing platter of cheese, charcuterie, and fresh bread—a true homage to France’s rich culinary heritage, one of the reasons the couple chose the location for their nuptials.
“This wedding celebration was really special,” she shared. “My husband and I had legally gotten married two years prior during the lockdown in New Zealand, but without any family present. So it was incredibly meaningful to have friends and family from all over the world join us in France.”
As the day progressed, guests enjoyed a refreshing dip in the pool and cooled off with ice cream. The bride herself opted for passion fruit and salted caramel scoops.
The next round of bites featured a variety of canapés, including skewers, crostini, and smoked salmon blinis. When it came time for dinner, Easterby wanted to keep things relaxed.
“All of my alfresco wedding reception dreams came true,” she wrote in her video overlay. “We really wanted a laid-back vibe for our reception dinner. Instead of doing anything too fancy, we had a barbecue with different meats, fish, and lots of delicious sides.”
The pièce de résistance—Easterby and her husband forwent a traditional wedding cake in favor of a croquembouche—a towering structure of profiteroles encased in spun sugar, a beloved French wedding dessert.
“I am still dreaming about the croquembouche we had instead of a wedding cake. It was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.”
For brides, staying nourished on their wedding day is crucial. According to wedding planner Maria Northcott of A Sweet Start, eating can prevent exhaustion and allow brides to fully enjoy their day without feeling faint. Easterby certainly set the perfect example by savoring every moment—and every meal.
Easterby’s approach to documenting her wedding day eats also taps into the viral “what I eat in a day” trend. The trend, as explained by The Everygirl, can sometimes create unhealthy food habits, but Easterby embraced the joy of food, creating a positive, enjoyable experience that resonated with viewers.
Commenters were quick to praise the couple’s unique and relaxed celebration.
“When a couple has the wedding they want and keeps it intimate and fun too… nice… the food looked yummy… the swimming, ice cream, and BBQ-style food was a lovely idea,” wrote one viewer.
“Happy anniversary. That looked like a fun day,” commented another, Lynn.
Easterby, who jokingly admitted she’s prone to spilling food, marveled at how her dress stayed pristine. “It was a miracle I didn’t spill anything on it!”
“There were so many highlights to the day! Finally having my dad walk me down the aisle, swimming with all of the guests, my dream alfresco reception coming to life, the croquembouche, and partying with a live band. The list goes on,” she gushed.
