Chateau La Durantie wedding photographer
The Venue
After searching high and low at venues throughout the UK, Maddy and Tim couldn’t find the perfect venue which suited their vision. For them, finding a venue which offered flexibility and a relaxed approach to how the day would run, as well as doubling up as the ultimate party venue for the evening reception proved to be a tricky task. They continued their search further afield, ending up in the south west of France where they were spoilt for choice! Maddy and Tim said their I Do’s in possibly the most picturesque location in the Dordogne.
The Night before
Having their wedding in another country also meant that they could extend their celebrations further and they did exactly that. They hosted all of their wedding guests at the Chateau the evening before the big day, where they set up a Gin bar with the largest selection of fever tree we have ever seen! Also present was a pizza van and crepe maker combo! We joined in with the celebrations capturing their guests arrive and mingle, excited ahead of the big day (or should we say weekend!) We even ended up with Rich up a pair of ladders (Sorry no pics!) helping the wedding planners decorate the trees with festoon bulbs to create the perfect evening ambience for the guests to enjoy!
Getting Ready
Due to the size of the Chateau, this allowed both Maddy and Tim to both get ready in the building, but at different ends to ensure they didn’t run into one another throughout the morning. The girls all gathered together and had a wonderful morning both laughing and crying with joy and excitement as the hours on the clock ticked down. Maddy wore an incredibly 2 piece ensemble, a halter neck jewelled and laced bodice with a simplistic classic white silk skirt. To top off her outfit, she fashioned a classic cathedral length lace veil which gave such impact as she walked down the aisle. The boys wore striking blue suits with Tim wearing a Reiss grey waist coat and a shiny brand new pair of brogues from Church’s - any grooms wedding must have for the ultimate sophisticated style! Not only was Tim celebrating his wedding day, it was also his birthday. It was celebrated with a classic Colin Caterpillar cake - we have all had one of those!
The Ceremony
The vows were said at the local church just up the road from the Chateau. It was a service full of emotion and the biggest smiles! Once the vows had been said it was time to dance back down the aisle with the bridesmaids leading the way! We love a confetti throw and how they in some ways can be so different. In this instance we had to stop albeit it a small amount of traffic (If you can call it that!) as there was a guest overflow into the road! Definitely a first for us, but probably not for the locals! M+T departed the church and took the short drive back to the venue in the most gorgeous classic Citroen.
The Reception
The sun soaked lawns back at the chateau was the setting for the drinks reception. It kicked off with Tim expertly removing the cork from the champagne bottle with a sword, before they mastered the champagne glass tower in true style! The sit down meal and speeches all took place outside which was lovely as it was enjoyed by all as the sun dipped. Once the set of hilarious speeches had finished we managed enjoy the last of the sun with some beautiful portraits.
The Party
What can we say about the party.. it was epic! The Piano Factor kept the dancefloor going until the very end. If you are on the lookout for a band we highly recommend these guys. The guests have control for a fair amount of the set as they play to requests whilst putting their own spin on some classic tunes. The party highlight for us was definitely Tim being launched up in the air whilst sat in a chair! The night ended with the gorgeous bride and groom having the final dance surrounded by all their family and friends. It was the perfect finish to the perfect day!
Huge thanks again to Maddy + Tim for inviting us out to France to document their wedding day, we had an absolute blast!
If you’re on the lookout for a Chateau La Durantie Wedding Photographer we would love to hear from you!
destination WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHer
Chateau La Durantie is located just a short drive away from Limoges city centre, being the perfect location for family and friends to travel to with ease. As well as its great location, the Chateau itself is nothing short of incredible. The chateau was gifted by Napoleon and has a huge amount of history. The building is quintessentially french, with a long sweeping driveway, chic timber shutters to every window with an abundance of lavender which sweeps across the estate - Oh so very french! The interior of the chateau showcases French antiques and finishes, with every room beautifully curated in such an authentic way. We were so fortunate that the weather was stunning during our time there, however even on the glummest of days, the chateau offers picturesque backdrops and photo opportunities in every corner of the building.
SUPPLIERS
Venue: Chateau La Durantie
Dress: Riki Dalal Haute Couture
Suits: Savoy Tailors Guild (Groom) / Next (Ushers)
Bridesmaids dresses: Monsoon
Brides Shoes and Jewellery: Dune
Confetti: Ebay
Band: Piano Factor
Cake: Steph The Cake Lady
All Hair & Makeup: Carey Hawkins Make Up
Florist: Floret
Chairs, up lighting and table decoration etc: Chateau La Durantie
Catering: La Table D'Aline