This French Countryside Wedding at Chateau La Gauterie was so incredible to capture and was made all the more meaningful in that it was my cousin getting married! We had a whole week of revelry and celebration and enjoying so much good french food at this 19th Century Chateau.
Getting Ready in the Heart of the Château
The day started off with delicious fresh croissants and coffee in the downstairs dining area of the chateau, where the groom enjoyed breakfast with his family, and the bride enjoyed her petit dejeuner upstairs in her getting ready suite. They decided to get ready separately, aided by their closest friends and family members. The bridesmaids presented the bride with a box of her favorite things and some sentimental notes that she could treasure on her wedding day which was so sweet to see, and all the ladies got ready together upstairs.
A Rose-Adorned Garden Ceremony
The ceremony took place in the front entrance of the chateau with a beautiful arch of flowers provided by local florist Marie-Claire.
The first time the groom saw the bride that day was as she was walking down the aisle, accompanied by her mother, and the groom’s joy at seeing his bride was so infectious that everyone in the audience was grinning from ear to ear!
As soon as the ceremony finished all the guests gathered on the steps of the chateau to toss rose petals as the bride and groom made their way down, receiving all the well wishes and congratulations of their family and friends around them!
After the ceremony it was time for family portraits which took place nearby against a beautiful wall of green ivy, with deliciously cool cocktail refreshments available nearby.
After family photos were finished guests could gather around the table inside for an amazing spread featuring provolone hams and creamy french cheeses!
Outside they could enjoy the yummy signature cocktails and wine and relax beneath the parasol tables provided by the Chateau.
Dinner was an incredible affair with serving dishes passed around the table and the most mouthwatering french desserts you’ve ever seen! Everyone was having so much fun, and it was so wonderful to see the families blending together with so many guests coming from different reaches of the globe to attend.
I snuck away with the bride and groom to get some golden hour portrait photos, and to also give them some private time together to chat about the day and how happy they were with how the day had gone. We explored the grounds of the chateau, with one of my favorite spots being the bamboo grove towards the entrance.
Dancing the Night Away
After golden hour portraits finished we headed back to start the dancing, the bride and groom had their first dance together and then opened up the dance floor to everyone else to get the party started!
A Celebration that Lasted
There was about 4 days of festivities that happened with everyone arriving the day before for a pizza lunch to meet all the other guests, and the day after the wedding we all came back together to the Chateau to enjoy the most wonderful Fish n’ chips from a local food cart called Le Petit Poisson, and the next day was spent exploring the nearby town of Ribérac.
This was such an incredible wedding to attend and I was so glad I could be a part of my cousins’ wedding this day to capture all the love and excitement.
To book your own French Wedding at Chateau La Gauterie you can check out the chateau here: https://chateaulagauterie.com/
To check out more of my work click here: https://olivialouisephoto.com/blog
France Destination Wedding Photographer
I’m currently offering discounted packages for weddings and elopements to the UK and Europe, with packages starting at 6 hours of coverage at $4,250 including travel fees! So if you’re looking for a France Destination Wedding Photographer to capture the candid belly laughs, intimate stolen glances, and majestic beauty of nature around you on your day, book a free consultation call with me here.
