HORSE DOCTORS - HATTIE & CHRIS - CHATEAU DE CHANZE
I meet and have a lot of clients across a whole variety of professions, but to date, have never had a pair of horse doctors before. There’s always a first time for everything…
“It’s a really small intimate family wedding, not like your usual larger swankier weddings” or some words to that effect, bride Hattie said to me just prior to her wedding. “Not as much going on”. Yeah right…
I cover weddings of all shapes and sizes ranging from literally 2 handfuls of people (ie, 10’ish) up to 150+ guests with most weddings falling somewhere between those two figures with 40-90 probably being realistic norms.
With 36 in total, this one was on the ‘less large’ size but having a ‘below average’ number of attendees doesn’t make any real world difference when it comes to weddings.
What makes a difference is YOU. It’s always YOU. I bring the same tools, the same commitment, but it’s what you provide for me to capture that makes THE difference and Hattie & Chris, plus their friends & family made the difference as happens at all great weddings.
But enough of that, - time to get some imagery going in regard to this one, starting with the day prior…
The theme was a relaxed/informal, vintage afternoon tea party with lawn games…and that is exactly what it was:
WEDDING DAY
Last year (2025), approx 90% of wedding days, the weather prediction was a storm at some point. The reality was just a single storm all season (on wedding days I attended) and the weather was mostly pretty decent, but not always that great. The story of the 2026 season to date has been dawn to dusk sunshine and for many, a little too much relentless heat. But thankfully, this one was one of the least hot of the year. So far…
I always think the story of the day tells itself in video (if not above, arriving shortly…) and in the selection of highlight photos below, so rather than me waffle on about exactly how the day unfolded, it’s all below for your visual delight. The fun & games from the day prior carried over throughout the wedding day itself :)
Supplier credits below, so if you’d like to know exactly who made this wedding sing, it’s down there!
TEAM CREDITS
This wedding would not have been possible without the following:
VENUE = Chateau de Chanze
PLANNER = Helene - Sparkling Days
FLORIST = Fleurabelle (also all the info I have…)
HMUA = Two local people, Apoline & Valerie (that’s all the info I have!)
CELEBRANT = Mark Rind
CATERER = Traiteur Fleurinet
MUSIC = JAM Duo
DANIELA & CAMERON - CHATEAU RIGAUD - 2 DAY WEDDING (photo only)
We’ve looked through everything twice, hearts absolutely singing looking back at it all 😍❤️🥳
Thank you so so much Simon 😭 so many gorgeous moments captured that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.
We could sit here all night going through them again and again and again!
Such a joy and a privilege to have had the most special time at Rigaud with the people we love the most and to be able to look back on those memories forever is honestly so priceless. The photos with my Dad coming into the church 😭🥹❤️ honestly I feel like these photos will punctuate our lives for years to come. Thank you thank you thank you.
We are the most grateful couple in the world to have lived this and even more grateful to have these beautiful images to treasure xxx
DAY 01 - CHATEAU RIGAUD RIVERSIDE BISTRO
There was a little bit of deja vu I won’t lie as no prizes for guessing where I had been just 3 evenings prior…but that is no bad thing (quite the opposite) and this ‘off-shoot’ from the main Chateau is a perfect location for a pre-wedding welcome reception. And so it was for Daniela & Cameron.
Including a Michelin trained chef, a chicken rotisserie machine, great service and an open air riverside view, this is how you start a wedding!
GROOM PREP
Sometimes groom prep can be well…a bit flat, but not with Cameron and his boys and certainly not with the surprise that Daniela had for Cam.
First there was some outside time with the younger one’s flying planes and err, shooting guns.
Then prep as in dressing.
Then the surprise. A track recorded to vinyl plus his wedding ring.
This last part was pretty special to say the least and it’s elements like this, when as a photographer, you say to yourself, “yeah, this one isn’t flat”.
BRIDE PREP
As always (mostly anyway), one of my favourite parts of the day.
Why? Usually there is no rush, ie, plenty of time for me to take my time and wait for moments rather than have to capture moments because the clock is ticking. It’s still ticking here, especially the closer we get to the ceremony, but it doesn’t tick as fast as other parts of the day which can be ‘one shot chances’.
On hair & makeup was Laura Cawte and flowers as is always the case here at Chateau Rigaud, are by in house florist Jilli.
One of the highlights was the 300 foot long ribbon with the names of all the departed females from Daniela’s family line. OK, it wasn’t quite 300 foot long, but long enough and another one of those moments that this wedding was just packed with from start to finish.
CEREMONY
And another bit of deja vu for me as I was last at this same church just 3 days prior and having never been there before, a bit of a coincidence to be there again so soon, but that’s just how it is in Wedding Land sometimes.
Different priest, different ceremony as this one was Catholic so about 7x as long. Even without a mass. And the priest had his guitar with him…
Might as well mention the car as it’s right there below this text. Another classic from Bordeaux Classic’s and this time the Peugeot 404 Cabriolet. We’re going to be seeing a whole lot more of this car later in this post…
COCKTAIL ‘HOUR’
It’s never actually ‘an hour’ at Rigaud and nor should it be anywhere. If a wedding doesn’t have at least 2 hours scheduled for this part of the day, it’s a bit thin and well, elements are going to have to be skimmed over. No one ever said, “our drinks reception just dragged on and on and on and…” but plenty have said, “we realise now it was too short”.
As above, not at Rigaud, home of the ‘Double Drinks Reception’, the first being a shorter ‘champagne welcome’ affair complete with man with accordion making French sounds and then a second longer, ‘canapés and Aperol Spritz’ scenario on the rear terrace.
And then we skipped off to the vineyards for a bit with the car…
COUPLE SHOOT
A little bit at the venue but mostly this was about; The Couple, The Car, The Vineyard, because when it’s your wedding weekend in South West France and you’ve hired this thing (the car), why would you not?!
It doesn’t really need words, - just scroll to the pictures below and if you think this stuff takes time, well yes, it does, but nowhere near as much as you might think, ie, 20 minutes out of a 3 day weekend/lifetime.
MEAL & SPEECHES (PART 01)
What’s to say here really other than it looked spectacular and if it was my wedding, I would also choose to do this outdoors as the ambience and opportunities are so much more than indoors, but just my humble opinion…
Hats off to in-house florist, Jilli once more for her stunning efforts.
Hats off also to the in-house catering team lead by head chef John. The food that is created (not simply plated and that is the difference here) is quite astonishing, - 10/10 no question.
COUPLE SHOOT (PART 02)
If the opportunity exists, I’d encourage all couples to do this, ie, at some point, ‘sneak off’ if only for 5 minutes after mains or something, to take advantage of golden hour and some extra-special couple portraits.
And we did.
SPEECHES (PART 02)
Round Two and the timing was perfect as we went from the end of golden hour to full dark with the time it took for just 2 speeches which then really showcased how the lighting transforms the ambience of an outdoor scenario such as this that you simply do not get indoors.
CAKE & DANCING
Pictures tell it better than words but special shout out to the boys from Bright Lights, France’s top wedding band.
My coverage ended later on with the girls and Dirty Margeuritas, and then that was it, but what a couple of days.
Special. Genuinely 100% special.
LUCY & BEN - CHATEAU SAINT MARTORY - 2 DAY WEDDING
THE VENUE
Chateau de Saint Martory is genuinely one of my three favourite venues in France that I visit on a regular basis.
Why/what makes it so? Well just look at the place. Looking for ‘fairytale castle/chateau’? Check and with genuine facilities as in there are plenty of of other ‘fairytale castles/chateaux’ on paper as in they look great in pictures, but the reality of having a wedding there is often very difficult including often not even having access to the main building, ie, it’s just a backdrop. Or has limited facilities. Not so Chateau de Saint Martory which has both the looks and the facilities including wet weather options which far too many places simply do not have. Or care about.
This was my 6th wedding at this fabulous venue, approx 1 hour South of the international airport at Toulouse and situated in. the foothills of the Pyrenees.
GROOM MORNING & PREP
The morning started a little grey but reasonably warm so what better way for the boys to start getting ready than a poolside kickabout with penalties and beers? Sounds about right… But plenty of time for the more serious stuff that followed! Florist on this one was Le Pouvoir Des Fleurs by Andrea
BRIDE PREP
Chateau de Saint Martory’s bridal suite is one of THE best rooms for bridal prep that I have worked in. Light, spacious with neutral decor and with real character. HMUA = Holly Fraser
CEREMONY
DIY as in a friend or family member as celebrant or use a pro? That’s only a question you can answer but approx 65-75% of my couples seem to prefer DIY.
My best advice when it comes to ceremonies is simple; allow the person(s) responsible for capturing your wedding, part of the ceremony planning and set up and ideally, with a rehearsal as close to 24 hours prior as you can. It can and WILL make all the difference!
RECEPTION
‘Reception’, the catch all term for everything that takes place after the ceremony and prior to the meal/speeches.
Unless it’s a really small wedding, shorter than 2 hours and you will probably feel after the fact it was too short. Longer than 3 hours and it will probably drag a bit. Therefore, 2.5 hours is the sweetspot!
LUCY & BEN
Do they look good together or what?
The couple session is one of those parts of the day that many couples dread and some even skip totally. I feel that the former is not necessary and the second would be a mistake, but your wedding not mine. It really only needs to take up 15-20 minutes out of a typical 2.5 hour drinks reception so really does not take you away from guests for any length of time that you’d notice, but would probably regret not taking the time to do.
TABLESCAPES, MEAL & SPEECHES
Eat indoors or out? OUT, EVERY SINGLE TIME! Not just from a capture perspective which is huge compared with the usually limited options indoors, but just from an ambience perspective. The way it starts in sunshine, moves through sunset and into dark and artificial overhead illumination. Just beautiful.
Catering by Cooking4U
CAKE & DANCING
Wedding cakes in France (and Europe) tend to be more exciting than cake cutting in the UK due to the addition of fireworks (or at least sparklers) and really kicks off the rest of the evening and night. Band = Captain Star
THE DAY AFTER
Hmmm, the weather did not play ball, but then the forecast was accurate for once and said it would not be great. This meant the pool party was off, but the indoor barn BBQ still took place, plus between a few showers, some outdoor courtyard games.
Thanks to everyone who made this whole wedding the utter banger that it was!
JADE & ALEX - CHATEAU NAUDOU - 2 DAY WEDDING
Hi Simon,
Wow! Thank you so much for capturing our special day in such a way. We have watched the video maybe 5+ times and the photos are just amazing! We are so pleased!
Fully appreciated your tips, we followed them to a tee and had the best time going through the photos.
Jade & Alex
PART 01 - THE MORNING
It’s pretty rare these days for me to start coverage of a wedding on the actual day of the wedding because with something like 19/20 events, I’m usually covering the day prior. But as Jade & Alex did not have anything planned for this day, coverage started early on the wedding day itself.
And what a start. The first thing I like to do with any venue whether it’s my first visit or I have been there many times, is an extensive site recce and landscape/architectural establishing shoot. On this particular morning, as is often the case at this time of year (September is the best month for a wedding in France in my opinion and this was the very end of the month), things are getting quite autumnal with fabulous early morning mists.
But just before we get to those pictures, some mentions…
This wedding was planned and coordinated by Jo from The Impeccable Pear. To date, I have done something like 20+ weddings with Jo at numerous venues throughout South West France.
On hair and makeup, are two other familiar faces, Nikki and Kelly plus floristry by Claire from Busy Bee.
PART 02 - THE CEREMONY
Something like 50% of the weddings I attend have a pro celebrant which means approximately 50% do not.
I think it is especially important if nothing is happening the day prior and there is not going to be any kind of rehearsal, that a pro celebrant becomes a must, because this part of the day, doesn’t ‘just happen’. And there’s no second opportunity.
I’ve worked with Michelle Roberts before and once again, she delivered another well planned and executed ceremony for Jade & Alex and it went without a hitch. The pics speak for themselves how it all came together…
PART 03 - THE AFTERNOON
Supporting the ceremony entrance in a musical capacity was guitarist Pete McGrane and he carried this over into the afternoon celebrations.
Otherwise, there was a confetti tunnel and champagne tower to kick things off with canapés etc by the other half of The Impeccable Pear, Le Chef Impeccable, Jean-Marc (Jo’s husband).
PART 04 - THE EVENING
Food & Speeches
Lighting, lighting, lighting…is often what weddings come down to. In terms of both the atmosphere and the result photographically and in video.
On that basis, I am going to list another supplier for the day who took care of the lighting for the speeches, me. ;)
Find your seats, eat some scrummy food and listen to some amusing stories and anecdotes, plus fit in a brief golden hour shoot with the couple.
Followed by a sparkler entrance, cake with fireworks and dancing with DJ, sax and drumming from Mixology.
PART 05 - THE BBQ
And then to bring us back down to Earth from the hype trip that was Jade & Alex’s wedding day, we had a BBQ and poolside gathering.
That isn’t to diminish in any way the day after, but very little could compete with how that day prior unfolded.
I never truly know how any wedding is going to pan out until it actually unfolds, but suspected this one was going to be a little bit ‘extra special’ simply because of Jade & Alex.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to be on the same page and have mutual trust. Having met the couple in Paris earlier in the year for coffee, a chat and a practice photoshoot, I was pretty confident that this one was going to be a banger.
It was. It banged from start to finish.
LAUREN & KAL - INDIAN WEDDING FRANCE - 2 DAY WEDDING
DAY 01
MEHNDI
Back in 2020 and 2021, I had 3 Indian weddings in France booked. But then Covid struck and all 3 were cancelled. Not postponed, but cancelled as in never to happen in France and this was something I was pretty sad about as I very much enjoy an Indian wedding whether it be Hindu, Sikh or as in this case, Bengali Muslim.
Back in the UK, I used to enjoy a few of these every year, but there are not so many taking place in France, so when Lauren & Kal came along saying, “hey Simon, would you like to come to our Indian Wedding in France”, I leapt at the chance.
BTW, if you look closely at any of the signage etc, the groom’s name will read Chotan, but he goes by Kal, hence the title of this post.
This was not just one single wedding, but two with a different flavour of wedding on the Friday and that can be seen by clicking here. This side of things took place over an additional 2 days with Day 01 being the traditional mehndi sometimes known as a ‘Henna Party’.
And that is exactly what happened, henna for the ladies while the men…well the men played table tennis and did most of the cooking. Until Kal’s mother Salihar turned up and took charge of the kitchen. Up to that point and beyond, best men Zia and Muj did a great job.
Everything over the 3 days took place at Gites La Colombiere in Dordogne, about 1 hour from Bordeaux.
As the sun went down, it was time to eat followed by a ‘how well do you know the B&G’ quiz hosted by the bride herself and was a lot of fun.
Above, we have a film/video of the henna party and below, some highlight pics and below that, Day 02, the second wedding day.
DAY 02
WEDDING DAY
Technically Day 03 of the events in France but Day 02 of the Indian Wedding.
It started off as they tend to, with some prep with makeup by Anais from Sunset Life. With the ‘other wedding’, the focus was a little more on the bride. This time, the groom had some extra focus.
The entire creation and set up for the ceremony, as with the Mehndi yesterday, was 100% hands on and DIY with everyone working like troopers for many hours to create the setting.
The caterers came in and did their thing, but otherwise this was very much a ‘family & friends’ affair.
Immediately after the ceremony, food was served followed by some speeches and then it was time for the event many had been waiting for, the holi colour fight!
The only problem with colour fights is they only last 2 minutes so as a photographer/filmmaker (and the official timekeeper!), it was flat out for 120 seconds trying to grab as much footage as possible with minimal kit damage and preservation of my eyesight. There were no casualties.
HANNAH & RAPHAEL - CHATEAU DESTINEE - 2 DAY WEDDING
Hi Simon!
We love the video and the photos and we cried and laughed watching it, they are truly special.
Thank you so much!!
*
This one was a bit special… Most of them are, but sometimes, everything aligns, either by accident or design, more so than on some other occasions. Your best bet is still in the planning (the design) and then everything else on top can be considered a bonus. Let’s get this one started…
THE VENUE
The first time I visited this venue was in September 2016 and it was actually the first wedding I covered as a resident of France. I had previously travelled over 30 times from the UK for weddings in France, but this was the first that did not require a flight!
Back then, it was called something else and under different ownership. The new owners have extensively updated and in some areas, transformed the place. Below is a series of pictures that highlight this fabulous place that sits quite literally, on the bank of the Dordogne river. Chateau Destinee is without question, one of my favourite venues for a wedding in France…and I do not say that about every place I visit!
Special mention to my guide and associate for some of this shoot, Cooper the dog!
THE WELCOME PARTY
After a brief ceremony rehearsal (skip at your peril), it was a ‘night market’ style food & drink, meet & greet welcome party for all.
The forecast was a little shaky as it has been for so much of the first half of the 2024 wedding season in France, but as has also been the case on most occasions, keeping fingers crossed seemed to do the trick.
Special mention here to Tom Smith performing several live sets during the evening. Incidentally, Tom was one of the very first ‘Wedding People’ I met in France, prior to moving here full-time.
STRAW HATS & BOW TIES
(Groom Prep)
↓
BRIDE PREP
As per almost every wedding (and post I make), still and probably always will be, my favourite part of a wedding day to capture.
I don’t know why, (because I am a bloke), but I like the details, the moments, the face painting etc…possibly because (as a bloke), I don’t do any of these things on a daily basis so there is still some magic in it for me…
Special mention to Laura Cawte on hair and makeup today.
FIRST LOOK
It’s not often the first look between a father and daughter is as special as this and at some weddings, neither party seems that bothered about it even happening at all, but for those that do appreciate this kind of thing, this one earned it’s own special chapter in this wedding.
CEREMONY
We scouted 3 potential areas the day prior and chose the one featured below.
Intimate, shaded and with a great entry point for a final touch of theatre.
All florals today by Jenny Fairbanks; bridal bouquets, ceremony arch, table deco later…
CHAMPAGNE & CANAPES
A champagne tower is always a bit of fun and live music is not necessarily a must, but really does add something a bit special.
The location, timescale and ambience took care of the rest…
HANNAH & RAPHAEL
(Session 01)
TABLESCAPES & SPEECHES, PLUS MARSHMALLOW EATING CONTEST
Yes, you read that correctly. The speeches were genuine, interesting and just the right length, but all who were there, would agree that the marshmallow eating contest between Hannah & Raphael was the highlight of this part of the day. The win went to the bride!
Special mention to the Chateau Destinee in house catering team who provided superb food and service.
And yay, nothing taller than a wine bottle on the top table which was also single-sided and straight and absolutely zero large parasols. Quadruple yays if you are a fellow videographer, you will know EXACTLY where I am coming from 🫡
COUPLE SESSION 2
(Golden Hour)
SPARKLERS & CAKE
Proof that it does not need to be…and is better if it isn’t, fully dark for sparklers.
But you DO need ideally the biggest/longest sparklers you can source!
COCKTAILS - DANCING - PICK YOUR OWN DISCS
DAISY & BEN - CHATEAU DE JALESNES - 2 DAY WEDDING
Hi Simon
We've just sat together and looked through these all!
A-M-A-ZING! We can't thank you enough for capturing these moments. One of us cried our eyes out looking at them (I'll let you decide which one you think this was!)
I can't wait to share these with our nearest and dearest.
The new Mr & Mrs Tanner
The first time I visited this place, it was January, wet and cold. Looked impressive though…
The return in July was to the bluest of blue skies and golden sunshine. Chateau de Jalesnes in the Loire is an impressive place.
And Daisy & Ben’s wedding? Pretty special…
It started with a ‘French’ themed evening including 2 food trucks; one serving crepes and the other, more ‘substantial’ fare. The flatbreads were to die for.
The staff all dressed up in red, white & blue plus there was live music which is a must if you want proper atmosphere at your event.
The fabulous weather carried on into the wedding day and though many found it hot, it wasn’t hot like it was the other day, but that’s a story for another time…
Going back to that theme of live music, during the ceremony, there was not only a harpist, but one of the bridesmaids is a singer and boy (girl actually) could she sing. Etta James ‘At Last’. Check out the Wedding Film above. Pretty impressive for outdoors, no real practice, ‘hot’, and at your friends wedding when your role is as a guest/bridesmaid!
Drinks & canapés followed as they tend to and then lopping off corks with a sword (appropriate for the Groom Ben, him being a military man) and then food and speeches under the early evening sunshine and then stars.
That’s probably enough chat from me, the pics below and Film above can as always, tell the story better than me.
Honourable mentions:
THE VENUE = Chateau de Jalesnes (planning & coordination by Amelie)
HMU = Gabby Gokool
FLOWERS = Flore et Sens Fleuriste
CELEBRANT = Geraldine (godmother)
CATERER = O Prestige
HARPIST = Livia Phoebe
BAND = Groovin’ High
DASHA & HARRY - CHATEAU DE LACOSTE - 2 DAY WEDDING
Hi Simon,
Wow! Thank you so much for this - we're completely blown away by the website and all the pictures are so beautiful!!
We're so grateful again for all your help, advice, and effort throughout our wedding process!
Dasha & Harry
DAY 01
THE DAY PRIOR
The Grande Finale, the final wedding of the season…and it did not get off to the best of starts…
What should have been a 2 hour journey ended up taking 5 hours as a flat tire within 5 minutes of setting off, caused something of an issue.
But even with the +3 hour delay in getting there, it was the day prior and not the wedding day and everything was covered, so drama averted!
I had been looking forward to this one all year and had high hopes and expectations that it would be a cracker. And so it proved to be.
Anything specifically?
Yes. Three things mainly: The location, the weather and the opportunity to have another crack at the place as my last visit…well let’s just say it was not the greatest planning or execution of the plan and some of the choices for the location of key chapters was just bizarre. Sorry, I tell it like it is and it was a wasted opportunity but quite a few years back and so very much looking forward to having a better opportunity.
Dasha & Harry’s wedding took place at Chateau de Lacoste in Dordogne and has some of the, if not the, best views of any wedding venue that I know.
This venue is very much about the outdoor space and the view (something the last visit here got spectacularly wrong, but I won’t go on about it…)
The evening prior consisted of several key ingredients; friends, family, burgers (by the Green Garage food truck), hot air balloons, spectacular views and golden hour, concluding with some pre-wedding informal speeches from Harry’s 3 siblings.
DAY 02
THE WEDDING DAY
I started early. I usually do. It’s one of many advantages of having a motorhome, staying on site and providing multi-day coverage. It means I can be there as late as I like and as early as I wish, the latter being especially important at this time of year, the end of September and the views that are available.
It started misty as it tends to at this time of year in this region of deep valleys and you can hear the hot air balloons before you actually see them as they suddenly break through the mist. Obviously you need to be on top of a hill for this to happen and Chateau de Lacoste is on the top of a hill!
So my day began with about an hour of mist, sunrise and balloons, before the sun rapidly burned away the mist and by that time, the balloons had all gone.
The drone for photo and video tends to come next, usually before the catering truck and florist van etc.
Then, bride and groom prep precedes ceremony and…need I go on? It’s a wedding, - you know the score and the pics below and video above, can tell this story better than I can other than:
HAIR: Eleanora
MUA: Bob Bradley
FLORIST: Le Coeur Sauvage
CATERER: The Event Kitchen
DAY MUSIC: Laura Springham
EVENING MUSIC: Mixology Sax & DJ
MARQUEE: La Bonne Fete
And last, but very not least, SPECIAL MENTION to Kate Whittle at Kate’s Weddings, the planner and coordinator of the entire event.
JENNIFER & ALEXANDER - CHATEAU ROUFFILAC - 2 DAY WEDDING
CHAPTER 01 - VENUE INTRO & DAY PRIOR
American couple, Jennifer & Alexander chose Chateau Rouffilac in Dordogne as the venue for their wedding in France, planned and organised by Perfect Little Wedding.
The venue speaks for itself in regard to being that quintessential fairytale castle on the hill, but due to the weather, it did end up being a 95% indoor affair. Not that that made any difference to the wall to wall fun that this weekend provided!
The weekend kicked off with a pizza & wine party with the food element coming from Le Tube food truck and was followed by a whiskey tasting session in the library hosted by the groom Alexander.
CHAPTER 02 - THE MORNING OF THE WEDDING
The level of attention to detail at this wedding was without doubt one of the highest, if not the highest I have ever been to from the newspaper to the printed elements to the engraved detail on the fans and much much more…
HMUA = one of the absolute best, Olinka
CHAPTER 03 - THE CEREMONY
Planned to be outdoors, the weather dictated otherwise but the upstairs library looked spectacular and it was not the first time this day that Jenny Fairbanks had worked her magic.
The ceremony itself was conducted by Peyton, a close friend of the couple with entrance & exit by violinist Chloe Dunn.
CHAPTER 04 - COCKTAIL HOUR
Exquisite canapés by the caterers and a brief window of opportunity to get outside for a short time.
CHAPTER 05 - MEAL & SPEECH
Michelin starred catering by Nick Honeyman of Le Petit Leon and a menu of at least 7 courses plus Jenny F and her team went all out to bring the decor vision that should have taken place outdoors, into an indoor environment. All I can say was WOW WOW WOW.
Chapter 06 - LE SOIR
It got messy. Quickly.
CHAPTER 07 - THE MORNING AFTER
Galettes, crepes & goodbyes.
AMELIA & TY - CHATEAU D’OCHE - 2 DAY WEDDING
DAY 01 - VINTAGE PIZZA VAN & WELCOME PARTY
New Yorkers, Amelia & Ty’s wedding in France took place in mid August 2025.
This was my third visit to the courtyard chateau that is Chateau D’Oche, not to be confused with the mountain in the Haute-Savoie region! This one is very firmly situated in the rolling hills of Dordogne in South-West France.
The event kicked off with an all white dress code and featured pizza served from the Le Tube beautifully vintage food truck, served with multiple choices of wines to sample.
DAY 02 - WEDDING DAY
The main event. After disappearing off to play basketball (the groom Ty works in the industry), the usual pre-ceremony preparations took place in two separate parts of the chateau with hair by Allison Flory and makeup by the ever bubbly, Linzi of Skin23.
The ceremony took place in the shade of 2 huge evergreen’s and was conducted by the couples friend Eddie.
Post-ceremony, it was cocktail hour in the courtyard with canapés and later, the full wedding meal, by Limes Catering plus music later for the open air dancing, by DJ Charles.
Now as a totally open air event (other than the prep) the one thing you want/need is great weather and the morning of the wedding, it looked TERRIBLE. With a 5pm ceremony, cocktail hour outside, tables set up outside, dancefloor outside, the hourly forecast said storms from 4-10pm…but not a single sign! Phew, lucky escape…
EMILY & ALEXIS - CHATEAU DU PORDOR - 2 DAY WEDDING
DAY 01 - THE GATHERING
‘The Coincidence’ first… This was my second visit to Chateau du Pordor for a wedding and on both occasions, each of the principle persons came from a different country, but both couples live in Edinburgh! My first visit was with Aurelija & Marius from Lithuania and Romania respectively, and for this one, Emily from the USA and Alexis from France. No green wedding dress this time however!
So Day 01 - The Gathering. It’s how most of these events begin, but actually prior to The Gathering, there was the ceremony rehearsal over in the woods by the lake. It is one of the most idyllic settings for ceremony that I have been to in my 850+ weddings attended to date and one of many highlights of this fabulous venue.
The evening (and wedding day) catering was provided for the guests, primarily from; the US, France and Scotland, by Edouard Set.
DAY 02 - WEDDING DAY
On the wedding day itself, unlike our practise shoot earlier this year in Paris in the Spring, there was something of a heatwave going on in France, but in this instance with a pleasant breeze to take some of the most extreme heat out of the day.
As mentioned in Part 01, this was my second wedding at Chateau du Pordor and it has very quickly become my favourite venue for a wedding in North West France during to not just the building and grounds, but the folks that own and run the place. It has a very welcome and special feel to the place.
Hair & Makeup for Emily was provided by Eugenie Grandhomme with coordination throughout the day by Joanna of Joyze Wedding Planning.
Floristry and design was by Little Garden of Avessac and were just stunning including the ceremony area and the dining salon.
The ceremony was conducted by two of the couples friends, Kevin & Harvey with music by another friend, Lydia Bennett with evening DJ set by Malrow Music.
Just a fabulous weekend for this lovely couple at this special place and the pictures can tell the story better than my words!
SOPHIE & JOSH - CHATEAU DE SAINT-MARTORY - 2 DAY WEDDING
Welcome to the highlights from Sophie & Josh’s wedding at Chateau de Saint-Martory.
WELCOME PARTY
Where it all begins… Well not quite, - I met up with Sophie & Josh back in March for a pre-wedding ‘get to know each other a bit’ coffee & shoot in Paris.
It’s not always that easy for some of my more international clients, ie, those from say the US or Australia to do such a thing, but for those UK and EU based, the option exists and it DOES make a difference on the wedding day itself.
So the Welcome Party… Something I would always suggest is, if you can, do something at the venue and not out at say a restaurant. Getting it in, such as a BBQ, or buffet, or food truck or mobile pizza van is just perfect. A table for drinks and sometimes some live music, is all you need.
THE VENUE
This was my third visit to Chateau de Saint-Martory, approx 1 hour South of Toulouse and close to the foothills of the Pyrenees so it’s pretty easy to get to. Unless you live in Normandy when it’s a 900km drive. Each way. But hey ho, I genuinely love the place and the welcome is always warm from owner JF.
It’s quite a ‘fairytale’ type of chateau and sits on the edge of the Garonne river with great options for an outdoor wedding or should the weather be less than favourable, options for that also.
THE WEDDING FILM
The ‘highlights’ of the time I spent at Sophie & Josh’s wedding telling the full story of their event.
There is also a full ceremony video and full speeches video, but neither are featured here as they are a bit long with a combined length of around an hour!
PREP
And still (and probably always will be) my favourite ‘creative’ part of the wedding day itself.
I probably spend around up to 3 hours dipping in and out of Bride & Groom prep, depending on the set up, often bouncing between the two.
That time spent is often around 25% of the entire wedding day coverage so can produce a lot of material!
FIRST LOOK
First look with Dad and then the girls.
These moments are fleeting but are pretty special.
THE CEREMONY
I call it ‘One Tree Hill’ after the US TV series (not that I have ever seen it) and the hill is more a slight rise, but it’s a perfect location for an outdoor ceremony.
A little stage management the day prior with a ceremony rehearsal ensures that not only does the ceremony LOOK amazing in the results, it WORKS perfectly because the two things are inextricably linked.
Anyone who thinks they do not need to do any kind of rehearsal…well best of luck.
I think we pretty much nailed it here with ceremony conducted by a close friend which seems to be a main and welcome trend this season.
CONFETTI
Confetti does not normally get it’s own chapter in one of my blog posts, but in this instance, I thought it deserved it!
DRINKS RECEPTION/COCKTAIL HOUR
As per all my posts, please please please, do not take that last word too literally. Too many times I receive a timeline for a wedding (and it’s NOT my wedding, but it would be remiss of me not to advise!), but sorry, 1 hour is ridiculously too short. If it’s less than 2 hours, it’s pushing it, - really tight as around 50% of the results I will produce come from this time including; candid guest pics, drone shots, family groups, couple session, tablescapes, never mind any video set up if you are going to have even one single speech prior to the meal.
Have 2-2.5 hours as was the case here and just enjoy it rather than look back and wish you had taken more time!
THE COUPLE
You can probably tell from the lighting that the weather wasn’t exactly stellar on this particular day, but we kept the faith and despite a little bit of rain prior to the ceremony, there was not a single drop the rest of the day and the sun even poked it’s head out, albeit briefly, around 9pm during speeches!
TABLESCAPES, TALKING BITS & FOOD
Doesn’t really need any explanation or elaboration from me, - the pics can speak for themselves.
It did get really black whilst I was shooting the details and I did think it was all going to possibly be moved inside…but the black cloud moved on!
EVENING PARTY
To quote a current popular saying, “OMG”.
Normally, there’s a first dance and then some more dancing and really late on, some shenanigans, but in this instance, the shenanigans started immediately with a mic grab and unplanned karaoke.
Live music by Schmooze Events who also provided live sax during the drinks reception and sang Sophie’s entrance to the ceremony.
FINALLY
Just a quick thanks to Sophie & Josh for trusting me.
X
HANNAH & GARY - CHATEAU DE MALLIAC - 2 DAY WEDDING
Hi Simon,
Oh my goodness where do we begin! We’ve been looking at them all for hours and watching and rewatching the video.
It’s brought it all back just how perfect the weekend was and thank you for capturing it so beautifully!
We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better photographer/ videographer extraordinaire.
Thank you so much again
Hannah & Gary
It was one of those…
One of those being one that I suspected was going to be at least ‘quite good’.
It was more than that…
The first booking I took for Chateau de Malliac in Gers, SW France, I lived over 1000km away in the UK. By the time that wedding came around, we had been planning to move to France and had bought a house just 10 minutes away.
When Hannah & Gary booked me for their wedding, we were still living in that house, which would have been handy, being just 10 minutes away, but we had moved. We had moved just over 700km North to Normandy to be precise, so it was a bit of a trek.
But not really (a bit of a trek) as this was the first of 7 weddings on the road from the very first day of September to the very last day.
It was a great start…
The start for Hannah & Gary was an informal Welcome Party’ which is a fairly typical event for a destination wedding as it gives everyone a chance to check in, catch up and relax so that the wedding day itself can be more relaxed.
Below are a selection of highlight images from that evening.
And so to the main event and the wedding day itself…
The forecast said wall to wall sunshine and in fact, although it rained quite heavily on a couple of days in September in SW France, each of my 7 weddings had glorious sunshine from start to finish.
I made a post about it a year or so back, why September is my favourite month for weddings. You can read that here if interested.
The days tend to start cooler and the sun sets earlier making for more atmospheric conditions at the peripheries of the day. Such was the case at Malliac on the 1st of September with a layer of mist coating the valley floors which added something especially with the drone. Another advantage of having an on-site photographer/videographer who is up before 7am to capture such things. Try getting that in your 8 hour fixed package…
The ceremony took place in a specially selected location that would both maximise the backdrop of the chateau whilst providing the maximum shade for what was going to be a pretty hot day in the low to mid 30 degrees Celsius. This was the first of two back to back ceremonies conducted by Cherry from Bride Buddy with accompanying violinist and piper, it being a 50% Scottish wedding which will become apparent from the photos & video very quickly.
Drinks on the rose garden terrace followed after confetti and a champagne tower with catering throughout the day by Jean-Marc, Le Chef Impeccable with on the day coordination by Jo at The Impeccable Pear ably assisted by her team.
Floral stuff, glassware, cutlery, tables, chairs…basically all the hire, was by Jenny Fairbanks at Our Fabulous Things.
Evening party with DJ Damian Keys with accompanying sax plus MUAH Laura Cawte.
As is typically the case, I won’t waffle any further but instead, encourage you to simply view the results!
AYAKA & PHILIPP - CHATEAU SOULAC - 2 DAY WEDDING
Hi Simon,
We’ve watched the video twice now and just started going through the photos. Thank you so much for all you have done, it’s absolutely incredible! This will help us to cherish the memories so much more!
Best regards
Ayaka & Philipp
Ayaka & Philipp’s Wedding was one I was especially looking forward to and it did not disappoint. Well the weather did slightly as it was gloriously sunny the day prior for the welcome party at nearby Chateau de Sanse but started wet on the morning of the wedding day itself and was not looking good…
The ceremony was inside in the ‘secret barn’. What secret barn? Well as the planner Lou of Handmade Events said, “the other barn, the one by the pool”. I have only been to Chateau Soulac 4 or 5 times but did not know there was another barn as it’s never been used at any wedding I have ever done there and I assumed on previous visits, it was just a storage place. Well now I know that Soulac has 2 barns!
So it was umbrellas to the barn but soon after the ceremony started, the rain stopped and did not return. It was too late and risky not to eat in the other barn (rather than outdoors as planned), but it’s a good barn so…
This was a very international wedding with the bride being from Japan and the groom from Germany but as neither speak the other’s language, English was the language of the day. Which is useful for me when editing their Wedding Film as I can’t speak either.
And why was I looking forward to this one especially? Apart from being one of my favourite venues, Japan is No. 1 on my bucket list and I love Japanese culture and aesthetic so was hoping for some kimonos at the very least. And we had that with Ayaka and her mother the day prior and from guest and musician Kay, on the wedding day itself. That is him performing live at the start of the Wedding Film above during speeches in the evening.
I think I’ll let the pics do the rest of the talking now other than some supplier mentions below as we had an especially good team on this one…
VENUE: Chateau Soulac
PLANNER: Louise Ham, Handmade Events
FLORIST: Fleurs de Reves
CATERER: David Chambaud
HARPIST: Sophie Clavel
BAND: The Moovers
AURELIJA & MARIUS - CHATEAU LE PORDOR - 2 DAY WEDDING
Hi Simon,
I rushed to get home today just to see these photographs with Aurelija. And they are absolutely stunning!!! No words..really.
We both like to thank you so much for all the work you've put into this event and hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Everything went smooth and effortless from start to finish. It was a real pleasure to work with you and we will recommend you in an instant to anyone we know that's planning a wedding in France.
Best Regards, Aurelija & Marius
Lithuanian bride. Romanian groom. Guests from both countries and Scotland. In France. With a British wedding photographer/filmmaker. I guess this is what they call an ‘international wedding’?!
And who says small(er) weddings cannot offer and deliver everything a large(r) wedding can?!
This one certainly did and is a perfect example of a proper full and fun day with exactly 20 guests.
And for me, despite living and working full-time in France, only my second wedding in Brittany (despite living right next door in Normandy) and first visit to the special place that is Chateau du Pordor.
The evening prior was a hands on DIY pizza & wine evening and the sky was a bit dull and grey, but the forecast for the actual wedding day was better…
And so it was with sunshine from start to finish and not too hot.
It’s not often I can go to a wedding these days and say, “well that is a first”, but we had one at Aurelia & Marius’s wedding with the bride arriving by a boat rowed by her father.
The intimate ceremony took place in the woodland by the lake with the B&G leading the guests back to the chateau for champagne & canapés.
The meal, speeches and games (yes, this wedding had games including ‘The Shoe Game’) took place in the main hall with cake to follow before moving outside for a sparkler entrance to the first dance.
A great wedding from start to finish and a privilege to be part of. Not too many mentions (suppliers) to list as this was very much a ‘hands on’ and ‘in house’ wedding with; venue, planning and DJ all in the family/the venue, so just florist: Atelier Aimer and catering: Edouard Set.
OLIVIA & DREW - CHATEAU DE RIGOULIERES - 2 DAY WEDDING
Max & Fanny…or should I say Olivia & Drew are movie buffs. If you can name the movie in which Max & Fanny are the main characters, extra points will be given.
But let’s get it out of the way and say, 41 degrees was a bit much for anyone’s wedding day (insert rolling eyes, tongue hanging out, emoji). Shirt changed at least 7 times, same for hats, plus at least 10 litres of water consumed…
As is the case with over 50% of the weddings I attend, this was a new venue for me and their is always a certain magic regarding any first time visit for a wedding simply because it is 100% new and fresh. Such was the case with Chateau de Rigoulieres on the North bank of the mighty Garonne river in South-West France.
Olivia & Drew’s wedding kicked off the day prior with an evening Welcome Party and meal at the nearby hilltop restaurant as the sun went down over this beautiful valley not so far from the town of Agen.
The wedding day itself, as above, was hot. Very hot. And that presented some challenges, the main one being most of us would rather have spent the day in the fabulous colour salt water pool they have at the place…but we had a wedding to attend!
An outdoor ceremony took place in the partial shade of some big old trees with live music which continued into the drinks reception that followed.
The meal & speeches took place on an intimate terrace which directly overlooked the river and was a fabulous spot for the evening.
Planning and on the day coordination by Jo from The Impeccable Pear, catering by Jean-Marc and his team at Le Chef Impeccable with evening DJ James Carr.
