NEED TO KNOW
- The Bachelorette star Hannah Brown married Adam Woolard in a “timeless and classic” wedding in France on July 26
- A string quartet played during the ceremony, and a roaming band performed during the three-course reception dinner
- Brown wore three designer gowns, and tells PEOPLE that she felt “like a princess”
Hannah Brown has given her final rose to Adam Woolard.
The former Bachelorette, 30, married Woolard, 38, in a “classic” coastal wedding attended by 101 guests at Domaine du Mont Leuze in France on Saturday, July 26.
“We wanted something really timeless and classic, and really just the celebration of our love with our friends and family,” Brown tells PEOPLE.
Brown — who recently released her sultry novel The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain and appeared as the Head of Paradise Relations on season 10 of Bachelor in Paradise in Costa Rica — admits that planning a wedding amid all of her work responsibilities was a little “crazy.” She adds that she’s grateful Woolard “really stepped up probably more than most grooms have had to” and for her wedding planner, Neillie Butler with Mariée Ami, calling most of the shots.
A non-negotiable for the bride and groom was making their “intimate” wedding, which overlooked the French Riviera, “as intentional as possible.”
“We want our community to feel loved and appreciated and we want to pour into them, but we also have to make sure the day’s about us and we feel connected,” Brown says.
A luxurious welcome party was held at Le Negresco Beach Club in Nice on Friday, July 25, to kick off the wedding festivities. Everyone “dressed to the nines,” following a “beach chic” dress code, and were served an “unforgettable” four-course meal.
The following morning, Brown and Woolard shared a “special” first look to help them “feel as connected as possible.”
Later at the ceremony, the couple’s mothers and their wedding party walked down the aisle as a string quartet played The Beatles’ 1969 song “Here Comes the Sun.” One of the bridesmaids, all of whom wore different “fun” dresses from Show Me Your Mumu, was Heather Martin, who starred alongside Brown on season 23 of The Bachelor. The two became “instant friends” on the hit dating show and have since remained “really close.”
“Gratitude” by Brandon Lake was performed for Brown, who glided down the aisle in Jimmy Choo Staz Mesh Bow Pointed Pumps and a made-to-measure “Cheyan” Mira Zwillinger gown exclusively from Mark Ingram Atelier. Brown was assisted by bridal stylist Mindy Freedman Kopf in New York City when she selected the rich corseted ball gown with leaf embroidery.
“I feel like it is so classic, timeless, but also feels a little unique. I love it,” Brown gushes.
She adds: “I always knew I wanted to take up space on my wedding day because there’s so many times in life, especially as women, that we feel like we need to be smaller. On my wedding day, I didn’t want to feel that at all. I feel like a princess, and I feel like that’s exactly how you should feel on your wedding day.”
In her hair, which was styled by Allison + Artists, was a Mira Zwillinger veil. Her makeup was done by Trace Watkins and nails were by Nashville Nail Co.
Woolard was so “excited” to see the bachelorette-turned-bride walk down the aisle.
“I have always had a very clear picture of standing up at the altar and looking out at the audience and really connecting with everybody,” Woolard shares. “But then seeing Hannah walk down, I think is something that I’ve always had a very clear picture of and how I would feel in that moment. And I just, as a man, knowing that I’m going to get married, I’ve always had that image in my mind.”
Brown was admittedly nervous about all of the attention.
“I do have a little bit of anxiety when it comes to having everyone look at me, which I know is so crazy because of the things that I’ve done in my life,” she says. “You would think with my experience of having a lot of people look at me at times, it wouldn’t make me as nervous. But … there’s so much pressure for that moment to be this certain way.”
What helped Brown “shed” her worries was reminding herself that everyone there was there to support her marriage.
Brown and Woolard read aloud traditional vows, then personal handwritten vows. Afterward, the couple of more than four years exchanged wedding bands from Ring Concierge. Brown selected the Nest Wedding Band while Woolard chose the 6mm Milgrain Comfort Fit Wedding Band.
After saying “I do,” the pair shared a sweet kiss then joyfully walked back down the aisle together as their string quartet played “Everlasting Love” by Love Affair.
Woolard, who is the vice president of business development and health coach at Blokes Men’s Health and Joi Women’s Health, notes that he and Brown wanted a “short” ceremony so that they’d have more time to spend with their friends and family afterward.
The ceremony was officiated by the couple’s pastor, who flew out from Nashville.
“Our faith is very important to us and has just continued to be the center pillar for our relationship,” Brown says. “To have our marriage blessed with our pastor and our church community there, that was really important to us.”
During cocktail hour, guests enjoyed an array of passed hors d’oeuvres as a pianist performed. The cuisine was a balance of “something familiar” and a gentle push for guests to “try new things and really take in this experience of being in France and really dive into the culture there as much as possible.”
Signature cocktails from D.N.A Bartending included the Merlin, Pretty Lavender, French 75 and Spicy Margarita.
The “elevated culinary experience” continued into dinner, where guests were served a “fancy” three-course meal by Gaudefroy Receptions as a roaming band played live music.
“In France, the culinary experience of sitting down for dinner is truly an experience, interactive and longer than it is in the States. So, we wanted to make sure there was entertainment going on the whole time,” Brown explains.
As guests were serenaded by a saxophonist, they dined on their first course, a burrata surprise dome with tomato and spring onion tartare with basil olive oil. For their entrée, they chose between a summer truffle beef filet with roseval potato crumble and roasted tomatoes with lemon thyme, or a pan-seared sea bass, mussels and shrimp salpicon a la bourride with Jerusalem artichoke puree and roasted seasonal vegetables.
The third and final course was a dessert buffet of traditional French sweets and wedding cake.
“One thing my mom was really adamant about is that I had a traditional wedding cake, and in France their traditional wedding cake is different from what we’re used to here in America,” Brown says. “And that was one thing my mom was like, ‘We are finding you a white wedding cake.’ ”
Neither Brown nor Woolard were able to try their wedding cake beforehand, so Woolard admits he was “honestly most worried about” Brown tasting their cake because she can be “super particular” about food.
Luckily, Sweet and Nice was able to blend both American and French culture into the wedding cake, which was decorated with vintage piping techniques. The traditional molly cake was a nod to Brown’s Southern roots while also embracing the sweetness of France with a vanilla-flavored mousse.
For her wedding reception, Brown changed into the “Bayne” dress from Mark Ingram Bride’s Spring 2025 Collection entitled “Portrait of a Lady.” The “light as a feather” spaghetti strap slip dress features a corset constructed bodice and floral embroidered tulle over French Chantilly lace.
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Brown and Woolard took dance lessons for about a year so that they could ace their “lightly choreographed” first dance, which was to the tune of Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are the Best Thing.” The 2008 hit was the first song the Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test alum sent to Woolard when they started dating.
“It reminds me of when we really had started to be boyfriend and girlfriend. So, it was really sweet to be able to dance to that song,” Brown says. “And I think now more than ever, all the lyrics are really true.”
The couple made their grand exit in a 1984 Mercedes-Benz Gazelle cabriolet. Brown wore a Zimmermann dress for the departure.
While Brown might not have found love on TV, the right person was waiting for her off-camera. Shortly after her season of The Bachelorette wrapped in 2019, she met Woolard on a dating app, and the two publicly confirmed their romance on Valentine’s Day in 2021. PEOPLE exclusively confirmed the pair got engaged on Aug. 24, 2023, at Bolt Farm Treehouse in Whitwell, Tennessee.
Now, the couple can’t wait to move in together and “continue to put down roots” in Nashville after choosing to live apart before the wedding.
“We’re really focusing on making this house a home together,” Brown says. “Spending time with our families and just having a little bit of a slower pace for just a little bit.”
The newlyweds will travel to Croatia for their honeymoon.
Additional Credits:
Photography: Daniel Knight Harris
Videography: Storybox Cinema
Planning and design: Mariée Ami
Content creation: Signature by Natalie
Linens: Favour Linens
Flowers: Holly Chapple, The Chapel Designers, Alexandra Farms, Syndicate Sales
Rentals: Options
Music: Riveria Sounds
Hair Flower: Jennifer Behr
Calligraphy on the escort and place cards: Bess Booth Calligraphy
Printed materials (menu cards, table numbers, hats, cocktail napkins, matchbooks, cups): VistaPrint
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