CHANDLER & STEVE - CHATEAU DU RAYSSE
Chandler & Steve’s Easter weekend wedding took place at Chateau du Raysse in the Dordogne region of South West place, complete with Easter bunny and hog roast
Hi Simon,
Steve and I have just had a moment to sit down and actually breathe after all the events from the weekend. We both wanted to say a ginormous thank you to yourself for all your hard work and great help this weekend. We couldn't have picked anyone better to document Saturday and Sunday for us - it was a real privilege to have had you there! Especially when it came to seating designs at the ceremony.
As you can imagine, we got emotional all over again watching the video and looking through these photos!!!
Thank you SO much!! They are absolutely beautiful and you captured the very essence of the weekend perfectly - we absolutely love them! And there’s more to come! We can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done.
So sorry that we couldn't get back to you earlier - neither of us had signal until this evening. And then we spent the entire evening watching, reminiscing and watching all over again! Really appreciate you getting it to us for today, thank you so much again! Enjoy the weekend and we'll speak again soon ☺️
Speak soon,
Chandler & Steve
3rd visit to Chateau du Raysse in the Dordogne, one of my favourite regions in France and another Spring wedding. Only this time, the weather was a bit better than my previous visit and was more like a Summer’s day.
Chandler & Steve’s wedding took place over the Easter wedding and with a few children, took on an Easter flavoured theme, at least in the morning of the wedding day which included a visit from someone special. Keep an eye out for him in the film (above) and highlight pics (below).
This, like my last wedding, was another very hands on DIY wedding with me being pretty much the only on the day supplier other than the hog roast caterer. The evening before was an Indian food themed (kind of) event prepped by various family members and the day of the wedding was not much different with many friends & family being hands on.
The wedding day itself ran as follows…
Easter mask making and egg hunt for the children.
B&G prep followed by a ‘first look’.
Ceremony conducted by family member Simone
Drinks reception with music by friend and singer songwriter Cooper (the second track in the film above is Copper and his girlfriend singing live mid-reception).
Hog roast buffet and speeches.
Dancing including a choreographed father & daughter dance.
The couple then set off on an epic 3+ month extended honeymoon and new (van) life.
Great wedding elevated to fantastic by the people involved, - Chandler & Steve, plus all their friends & family.
If you were a guest at this wedding, C&S will ping you a link to the full gallery.
CLAIRE & NEIL - CHATEAU GLORIEUX
Hi Simon
Can't wait to see everything and I must add you were fantastic on the day! So much fun and my mum described you as 'priceless' while we were all getting ready 🙂
Speak soon,
Claire
Claire & Neil’s Marry Me In France planned wedding took place at the spectacular ‘Chateau Glorieux’ near Bordeaux, South West France.
It began with a mass yoga session followed by pancakes. Of course it did. All weddings should!
This one was a bit of a rarity for me in that it was just single day coverage (one of only two of the most recent 60+ booked weddings) due to availability and other surrounding weddings, but was a packed day nonetheless.
Planned and executed by Mollie G on behalf of MMIF, it was a day of glorious weather which suited the appropriately titled Glorieux wedding venue.
The ceremony took place under the shade of a big old oak followed by drinks & canapés on the rear terrace.
Speeches in multiple locations, partly planned, partly due to circumstances…
The ‘circumstances’ were a massive rainstorm mid Groom’s speech and pre-dessert forcing a very hasty surge inside!
It’s stuff like that, that just add to the story and memories.
SOPHIE & LIAM - CHATEAU PLOMBIS
This one holds the records for both the most postponements (5 over 4 years and 2 venues) and longest booking to wedding date (Oct 2019 to June 2023). All thanks to Covid. I am really looking forward to the time when we don’t have to mention that word ever again, but still 2 more weddings to do this year before all ‘20'/’21 postponed weddings are done!
But finally we got there for Sophie & Liam. And Nola & Hywel, their 2 children who did not exist when we started this, it has been that long!
It was a typical warm/hot Summers day in SW France and Chateau Plombis is a perfect medium sized chateau/wedding venue planned by Jo B from The Impeccable Pear.
I’ll let the film (above) and pics (below) tell the story of their day as the visuals as always, can do it much better than my words…
Jess & Stefan - Chateau Du Raysse
Jess & Stefan’s wedding was my second to last (ever hopefully!) postponed wedding due to Covid, but as with all who kept the faith, we got there eventually.
To Chateau du Raysse in Dordogne on the Dordogne/Lot border of South West France.
I’ve been to this place a few times so know it and the area quite well and for the more adventurous, there is a ton of stuff to do and places to visit in the immediate vicinity.
The day started with prep for each of them and then an outdoor ceremony conducted by the ‘Love Wizard’. The photos will reveal all…
Drinks on the top terrace and then an almost British village Summer fete style marquee down in the field. But with French food and wine.
Dancing and cheese back up top, all outdoors which is really what weddings in France are all about!
JAZZ & ROB - THE TYRELLS WEDDING
No, not those Tyrells, though they did make an appearance, more than once…
DAY 01
2021 was a very limited year for weddings due to Covid. In fact, I only attended 5 from what should have been 30. But that was better than 2020 when it was 1 from 30.
Of the 5 that did take place last year, the season finale took place at Chateau de Puits es Pratx near Narbonne. Guess where my 2022 season also ended? Maybe I gave the answer away with using the word ‘also’…
Day 1 of this 3 day wedding was a ‘meet & greet’ gathering in the main hall with friends, family, wine and food. And a quiz. Plus as many couples like to, we also did a little practice shoot ahead of the main event…
WEDDING DAY
Let’s just say…and I don’t think she will mind me saying it, but Jazz is a ‘colourful’ kind of girl… The shoes, the veil, the earrings, the nails, the entire decor for this wedding. So many prizes won at this one for ‘Most Original Shoes’, ‘Most Original Earrings’, Most Colourful Ceremony Decor’. The list goes on…
Carey H on hair and make up. We often end up on the same end of season job together.
The ceremony was conducted by a friend and with all flowers and catering in house, the only other supplier I can think of was the band, Funk Mode.
Day 03
And that is it, another year in the can.
For Jazz & Rob and family & friends, it was a wind down day of pool party and BBQ and on that note if you were a guest at this wedding, you can click here to access the full gallery.
KALYN & DANA - GERMANY DESTINATION WEDDING
American couple, Kalyn & Dana’s Germany destination wedding took place at the spectacular Schloss Burg Rheinstein just outside of Trechtingshausen on the River Rhine.
Spectacular possibly isn’t even word enough for this absolutely stunning location but the real stars of this show were Kalyn & Dana themselves. A high percentage of my clients are American couples getting married in Europe and they never disappoint!
Planned by Vanessza for Peach Perfect wedding planners, this intimate wedding was just a joy to be at and capture for Kalyn & Dana.
Full gallery for friends & family can be viewed by clicking here.
OLIVIA & GLYN - A MARRY ME IN FRANCE WEDDING
2nd or 3rd visit to ‘Chateau Glorieux’ near Bordeaux? With 33 weddings this season, I’ve lost track a bit of exactly where I have been and how many times… It’s been that kind of season!
4th Marry Me In France wedding in a row, - I know that and this time planned by Nicole and assisted by Pamela at this spectacular place in SW France.
Very autumnal looking also due to the extremely dry Summer we had this year which caused the leaves on many trees to turn brown much too early and the grass…well finding grass that is green this year has been a challenge!
Olivia & Glyn had an outdoor ceremony as most weddings in France tend to have followed by outdoor drinks reception and meal.
If you were a guest at this wedding, you can click on THIS LINK to gain access to the full gallery.
TAMSIN & JOSH - A MARRY ME IN FRANCE WEDDING
This was 4th and final visit of the season for a wedding at The Romantic Chateau.
Planned this time by Kristian for Marry Me In France, each of the visits has being different in character and weather, but also because each couple and wedding is unique in itself.
In Tamsin & Josh’s case, the day started out with a somewhat emotional (in a good way!) scenario at each of the locations they were getting ready. Tamsin off-site and Josh at the venue.
Tamsin arrived in a pale blue Citroen 2CV which then went on to play a part later in the day as the results above and below will attest to.
After a ceremony in the chapel it was; confetti, champagne tower, drinks & canapes, followed by a meal in the barn, speeches and dancing with the band.
If you were a guest at this wedding, you can click right here for access to the full gallery with print ordering facility.
ALEXIS & PAUL - A MARRY ME IN FRANCE WEDDING
How many times was this one postponed for, 17 was it…??
OK, maybe not quite that many but it was I think at least twice, but we finally got there in the end!
Taking place at Marry Me In France’s Vineyard Villa, this beautiful venue has a majestic view over the Dordogne river and some superb sunsets.
Planned by Sue C for Marry Me In France, this elegant day was a black tie affair for the men. Wedding party anyway and there’s nothing more elegant than black tie in my opinion.
Some of my favourite industry suppliers were also working on this one so as they say, a proper dream team.
If you were a guest at Alexis & Paul’s wedding, you can click here to access the full gallery.
BECKY & ALEX - A MARRY ME IN FRANCE WEDDING
This was my third of four visits to this particular venue this year with the main difference this time (other than the couple and guests obviously!) being outdoor eating and speeches.
The weather did brighten up in the late afternoon, but it was a bit of a grey start to this one for Becky & Alex.
Planned & executed by Laurence for Marry Me In France it was one of those days that went without a hitch.
If you were a guest at this one, click here to access the full gallery.
MARISSA & BOBBY - SCHLOSS SCHADAU, SWITZERLAND
New York couple, Marissa & Bobby’s intimate wedding took place at the stunning Schloss Schadau in Thun, Switzerland.
The venue situated on the edge of a lake, is an absolutely picture perfect postcard kind of place.
The only negative we experienced was the weather…
I know, “What do you mean, the weather? I looks perfect!”
And yes, it was, the day prior…
It started off reasonably bright on the actual wedding day but the ceremony nearly did not take place outdoors at all as the weather was closing in.
It actually held off in the end until just after 6pm so we did manage to spend some time outdoors as the pics below will show.
Organised by Vanessza, one of the planners at Peach Perfect, this one was an absolute pleasure to attend. Just a bit of a trek to get to!
If you were a guest at this wedding, you can access the full international print order gallery by clicking here.
KATRIEN & JORIS - CHATEAU DE CLAUZADE WEDDING
Katrien & Joris’s Chateau de Clauzade wedding, or as I am calling it, ‘The Foodies Wedding’.
This one was without question, the most eating-orientated wedding of this season with catering provided by Katrien (The Bride) the day prior and day post (assisted by her ‘team’) and by Jerome of Comme Chez Michel (and his team).
With planning by resident wedding coordinator and venue manager Sam Webb, this was my 4th visit to Chateau de Clauzade in the last 2 years and 3rd of this year’s 3 weddings.
All 3 weddings have been completely different and that is quite rare as weddings at some venues follow a near or actual identical pattern.
But with my 3 weddings there this year each, none of them used the same locations for; prep, ceremony, drinks reception, meal/speeches or dancing so all 3 were completely unique and individual. Which is great for my own creativity (on my couples behalf) as I I’d rather avoid attending and shooting ‘The Same’ wedding repeatedly!
Belgian couple Katrien & Joris’s 3 day wedding could be summed up in 3 words; intimate, culinary and dogs. We’ll start with the day prior…
WEDDING DAY PREP
Using just one of the two properties on the site and with a smaller than usual sized wedding, plus no formal bridesmaids or groomsmen, prep was a relatively simple and fuss-free kind of affair…
CEREMONY
OK, I confess I did not quite understand all of the parts of Katrien & Joris’s ceremony planned (and was a surprise to the couple) by friends Hedwig & Leen, partly because most of it was in Dutch (I don’t speak or understand a word) and partly because it involved; fire, water, earth, air, “hand fireworks” (we’d call them sparklers), balloons, dogs, a big sign for ‘Tinderland’, a thumbprint tree plus the smashing and putting back together of a heart. Yup… best just to look at the pics ;)
Wins the prize this season for ‘Most Original & Individual Wedding Ceremony’.
THE REST OF THE DAY AND EVENING
Non-stop food. FINALLY!! This is how food should be done at weddings…
OK, if you really want to sit down for 3-4 hours in blazing heat for an outdoor formal 3+ course formal meal, then feel free to do so…and most do, but the reality is this kind of thing does not really work that well in say South West France in the Summer.
Instead, what we had here was as follows…
Typical trays of cold canapes, either set on tall grazing tables, or served by roaming staff…gradually moving into more exotic and hot cooked platters and tidbits, served as previously. This then gradually began to morph into more ‘main course’ type servings (fish, meat etc) almost exclusively cooked over open fires as theatre. And that is exactly what this was, - culinary theatre spread over 4-5 hours with some speeches sprinkled in between, - perhaps the only more formal part of the day. Oh and some outdoor dancing chucked in. No band, no DJ, no lighting other than the table and location ambience.
This is one of those times and experiences where it’s difficult to describe in words (and perhaps even in pictures and video), exactly how good this kind of thing is. One thing was without question and that is ‘quality & variety and pure originality of the cookery on display’ was of the highest order by Chef Jerome and his team.
THE DAY AFTER
The day after was the most simple of affairs and was essentially a brunch of leftovers from the day prior.
There are weddings…and then there are weddings. All I can conclude with is this is the kind of event I do this for. Just magic.
If you were a guest at this wedding, you can click here to access the full gallery.
OLIVIA & JAMES - CHATEAU GLORIEUX WEDDING
Olivia & James’s Chateau Glorieux wedding was planned & organised by Marry Me In France.
This stunning venue is situated in South West France not so far from Bordeaux and as it’s name suggests, is indeed pretty glorious!
Olivia & James’s wedding began the day prior with a welcome BBQ and outdoor games.
It was a truly hands on family event with the creation of the ceremony area with the ceremony itself conducted by a close family friend.
The weather was a bit ‘on and off’ and we had a few showers on the day to contend with but nothing too major…
If you were a guest at this wedding, you can view the full set of results by clicking here.
SAM & KEVIN - MANOIR MOURET
The wedding of Sam & Kevin took place in mid July at the Manor Mouret which is situated on the edge of the village of Andillac in the department of Tarn.
Planned and organised by Hannah Nicolet of Noble Nuptials, other suppliers involved included:
Hair: Annette Carr
MUA: Sarah Rees
Celebrant: Rob, a family friend
Caterer: Wizard Wedding
Music: The Distractions.
If you were a guest at this wedding, you can access Sam & Kevin’s full gallery by clicking here.
LAURA & JONNY - No. 3 THE CHATEAU
THE BBQ
Not only did this wedding take place at No. 3 The Chateau, it was a ‘3’ for me also.
As in the third in a chain of 3 weddings over around 1 full decade…
It started back in the UK with Alexis & Simon’s wedding.
Next up was Simon’s brothers wedding to Katy who was a bridesmaid at this, Laura & Jonny’s wedding.
It was a new venue to me (and one that is fairly recent to weddings itself) and up in the heart of the Cognac region.
The day prior kicked off with a ‘welcome party’ BBQ and I can’t really stress enough just how important it is to do this properly.
Some couples elect for a local restaurant or other public space and it rarely works as well as it should, especially from a visual perspective.
Others have the BBQ, but it’s cooked in a kitchen and maybe some burgers are finished on a BBQ around the back out of sight.
No no no no no. That is not a BBQ, - it’s just BBQ food and if it’s served indoors for no reason… What’s the point?!
At Laura & Jonny’s wedding it was done right. Planned by Josh from Josh Tully Management with catering by The Forks and hosted as an integral part of the entire 3 day event by L&J, as above, it was done just right.
The very essence of a BBQ is that it is done outdoors and the culinary side is a bit of theatre, or as above, it’s just BBQ food.
The pics below should demonstrate exactly what I mean…
THE VENUE
No. 3 The Chateau is situated in South West France.
The village of Salles-d’Angles to be precise in the Cognac region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Below are a few of my pics of the place from the ground and the air.
PREP
At every wedding, prior to the ceremony, the couple (and everyone else) obviously get ready.
When your profession is hairdressing (both the bride and the groom) of course you bring your own team.
THE CEREMONY
Conducted by celebrant Lisa Lister, Laura & Jonny’s wedding ceremony took place in front of the chateau.
Amazing floristry by Mrs Whiterose.
DRINKS RECEPTION / COCKTAIL HOUR / VIN D’HONNEUR
It doesn’t really need any explanation does it?!
Champagne, canapes and some live music, on this occasion, the latter provided by Link Lewis on piano keyboard.
THE WEDDING BREAKFAST
Newly installed, this was one of the first (I think the second?) wedding to use this space for the wedding meal and speeches.
I’m a big fan of lighting. In fact, it’s lighting that can make or break weddings, especially visually and is probably the single most underrated aspect of any wedding…
Natural + artificial, quantity AND quality and the timing/time of day is utterly critical.
For instance, with this spectacular lighting set up below, had the call to table been 5pm in June as it so often (mistakenly) is, everyone would have simply sat in merciless blazing sunshine for 3+ hours and would have then been inside dancing by 8.30/9pm and even at that time, the sun would have been blazing away for another hour or so…
This was done RIGHT.
The only thing we didn’t get was any kind of golden hour or sunset as it clouded up, but that is something we do not have any control over.
TIME TO DANCE
Link Lewis was back on with the music, but this time combining his sax skills with a DJ set.
Great wedding, great people, great planning and execution.
If you were a guest at Laura & Jonny’s wedding, you can access their full gallery by clicking here.
SOPHIA & RICH - CHATEAU LA GAUTERIE
My second visit (this season) to Chateau La Gauterie for the wedding of Sophia & Rich brought some very welcome sunshine this time.
(The weather was not so great on my previous visit earlier in the year!)
The weekend began with the usual ‘meet & greet’ welcome party. I say ‘usual’ but quite often they are quite different in flavour so the ‘usual’ is more in regard to being there for that part of the event.
On this occasion it was for an informal outdoor cooking welcome party with catering provided by Gueuleton.
Wedding day itself catering switched to My Wedding Catering and some of the other suppliers involved were:
HMUA = Carey Hawkins
Florist = Angie at Les Fleurscoupees
Celebrant = Lisa Lister
Music = Andy Usher
If you were a guest at this wedding, you can click here for access to the full gallery otherwise below are a selection of highlight images that showcase Sophia & Rich’s wedding day at Chateau la Gauterie.
LIV & ROB - CHATEAU DE CLAUZADE
Wedding 2/3 this year at Chateau de Clauzade was that of Liv & Rob.
Same venue, but 3 very different weddings, none of them using the same locations for any aspect of their respective wedding days except prep at 2 of the weddings.
Great, - I love and live for a bit of variety!
This was a pretty rare event for me in that it was just single day coverage, but nether-the-less we achieved something pretty special.
This, as it always is, comes down to the unique combo of: couple + guests + venue + weather + planning and all of it was pretty great.
The venue for one thing has a special charm about it. This was something I picked up on immediately when I was engaged for a ‘styled wedding’ shoot in 2021 (when we had a very limited amount of real weddings due to Covid) which can be seen here: Chateau de Clauzade styled shoot.
For Liv & Rob’s real wedding day, the ceremony took place on ‘The Island’ just over a wooden arched bridge with guests sat on rustic hay bales and was conducted by Claudia Bowen.
Drinks & canapes on the side lawn followed and then meal & speeches outside the front of the chateau with dancing also outside so other than prep, this was a 100% outdoor wedding. And all the better for it.
If you were a guest at Liv & Rob’s wedding, you can click this link here to access the full gallery.
SUPPLIERS
Venue = Chateau de Clauzade
Planner = Sam Webb Oui Ici
MUA = Makeup & Brows by Laura
Hair = Gemma Welch
Flowers = Fleurs et Nature France
Celebrant = Claudia Bowden
Caterer = Philippe Gault
Hannah & Kris - Pavillon Saint Michel
Topsy Turvy.
That’s possibly the right expression to describe Hannah & Kris’s wedding because it did not take place in quite the order most weddings tend to!
And that’s a good thing as anything different, I like.
And it worked.
So we started with bride prep at le Moulin du Roc at Champagnac-de-Belair early in the morning. Very early! I haven’t started a wedding this early (7am) in about 10 years and not since I covered a Sikh wedding back in the UK.
There was a first look between Hannah & Kris and an early lunch followed by speeches at the hotel. Nope, no ceremony yet…
Then it was on to Pavillon Saint Michel close to Hannah’s fathers’ home in Cantillac near Brantome for that ceremony.
It had been quite sunny up to this point but now the wind started whipping up and some threatening clouds began to loom. But then the sun popped out again just as the couple were making their vows.
Drinks and cheese and cakes followed in a festival kind of sent up complete with the Crazy Diamond evening food truck
Great couple, great day.
If you were a guest at this wedding, you click this link and access the full gallery.
KARA & XAVIER - CHATEAU SOULAC
Scotland meets France, falls in love, has a wedding.
The story of Kara (Scotland) and Xavier (France) at Chateau Soulac, one of my favourite venues in South-West France.
Planned by Louise Ham Weddings, this one took place just a few weeks back on a gorgeous sunny (you’d hope in SW France but not always a given) weekend at the end of July.
It was only 2 years late due to you know what, but we got there in the end and I think it was worth the wait?!
Outdoors. That’s what weddings in SW France are about. Unless forced indoors by the weather, I’ve never really understood why some choose to cram as much as possible into small badly lit boxes, but not so with K&X as it was all planned to take place outdoors. (Prep & dancing aside which is fair enough).
This wedding was a real family affair on both sides, especially with Xavier’s father getting into the Scottish side of things having secretly learned the bagpipes (he was surprisingly good!) and leading the ceilidh.
So it was a day of indoor prep followed by outdoor ceremony conducted in both English & French by a family friend followed by drinks and extensive canapes on the terrace with one of the best views over the River Dordogne.
Dinner and speeches (and bagpipe playing) took place on the lawn before dancing in the barn sandwiched with the most amazing sunset and golden hour that Soulac is well know for.
Beautiful day, beautiful people.
If you were a guest at this wedding, you can click here for a link to the full gallery.
SUPPLIERS
VENUE = Chateau Soulac
PLANNER = Louise Ham Handmade Events
MUA = Virginie E
HAIR = Debbie Willes
FLORALS = Les Fleurs de l’or
CATERER = Laurent Iribarne
MUSIC = Be Combo & Sophie Clavel
LAURA & WILL - Chateau De Born
And then there was Laura & Will…
I have been doing this a long time. A very long time. I can sniff a good wedding at first point of contact down a phone line or through an email.
Every year, there are a number of “it’s just going to be good” weddings in the diary that are going to just deliver.
Laura & Will.
What makes a great wedding and a great result?
It’s the former that ensures the latter as the two things are inextricably entwined. A bit like those roots in that popular wedding poem.
It’s not the venue, though that’s part of it.
It’s not the weather, though that has a big part to play.
It’s certainly not in what I call ‘The Stuff’, ie, details and signs and ephemeral things that are barely noticed and easily forgotten.
No, it’s about what it’s always about; people.
Laura & Will planned their wedding to near perfection (there’s always some room for improvement ;) ) and as above, their wedding just delivered, the perfect balance of organised (Jo from Weddings By Joanne) and the couple, their families and friends ‘hands on’ approach.
A great team of suppliers also with links below, are also what helped make this wedding sparkle & shine. Plus some inflatable unicorns. Inflatable unicorns never get the credit they deserve.
If you were a guest at this wedding, then click here for the link to their full gallery.
And then, just as you think it’s all done, there is the mother of all ‘pool parties’…
A pool party on steroids…because it’s a full on lake party!
With inflatable unicorns!
Plus jambon et frites!
CREDITS
VENUE = Chateau de Born
PLANNER = By Joanne
MUA = Linzi Buckley
HAIR = Annette Carr
FLORIST = Victoria Engalen
MUSIC = Mixology
CATERER = Lovage & Pumpernickel
INFLATABLE UNICORNS = Inflatable Unicorns Forever .com