Purple, Gold, and Regal Florals at Chateau de Courtomer, Normandy

Steph's morning began in one of the château's light-filled rooms, where Maison B styled her hair into a polished updo that would later transform into a modern wet look for the evening. The first Oksana Mukha gown, a long-sleeved A-line with intricate lace detailing, hung against the tall windows while final touches of makeup caught the soft September light. There was a calm, focused energy in the room, the kind of quiet before everything begins.

The ceremony took place on a stone bridge spanning the château's canal, framed by wrought iron gates and dappled light falling through the chestnut trees above. Steph walked toward Paul with a cathedral-length veil trailing behind her, and for a moment the whole scene held still. The setting felt both grand and intimate, the water below, the trees overhead, and a small gathering of guests watching from the far bank.

Katy Lunsford photographed Steph in the château's formal gardens, where her lace-sleeved gown stood out against the deep greens of the hedgerows and the pale stone façade. The cathedral veil caught the breeze as she moved through the gravel paths, and the afternoon light picked up the fine details in the lace. These were quiet, unhurried frames that let the architecture and the gown speak for themselves.

As the afternoon light turned golden, Steph and Paul walked through the fields and gardens surrounding the château, pausing at the edge of the grounds where the countryside stretched out behind them. Katy Lunsford captured their warmth and ease with each other, the kind of connection that makes formal portraits feel spontaneous. The Norman landscape, all soft greens and warm stone, provided a backdrop that felt as natural as the couple themselves.

After the ceremony, guests crossed the bridge and gathered on the château's front terrace, drinks in hand, while the late September sun warmed the stone beneath their feet. The chestnut trees provided a natural canopy, and small groups drifted between the gardens and the main steps. It was an easy, unhurried pause before the evening ahead.

The reception table was set directly in front of the château's entrance, creating a striking scene against the pale 18th-century façade. Sparkling lace linens by BBJ La Tavola covered the long table, layered with deep eggplant napkins, gold-rimmed glassware, and brass chargers that caught the candlelight. Overflowing arrangements of roses, hydrangeas, clematis, and bells of Ireland ran the length of the table in shades of mauve, blush, and goldenrod. As the sun dipped behind the estate, the mood shifted from golden afternoon to flickering, warm-lit evening.

Every detail leaned into the regal colour story: eggplant, goldenrod, blush, and gold woven through the table linens, florals, and stationery. Franklin Paper Studio designed impressionist-inspired menus finished with silk tassels, while gold flatware and crystal glassware added weight and warmth to each place setting. The florals by Empreinte Numero 8 were generous and textured, mixing garden roses with snowberry, hellebores, and kale for arrangements that felt abundant without being fussy.

The morning's details were arranged on the château's antique furniture: hand-lettered menus with tasselled edges, gold rings on a velvet tray, and Steph's lace-trimmed veil folded beside her shoes. Each piece reinforced the day's palette of deep purple, warm gold, and soft blush, grounding the editorial aesthetic in tactile, personal objects.

Château de Courtomer sits in the rolling Norman countryside, its 18th-century façade framed by mature chestnut trees and formal gardens that stretch down to a quiet canal. The stone bridge, wrought iron gates, and gravel paths give the estate a sense of history and proportion that photographs beautifully in any season. For this September shoot, the grounds were at their best: green, warm-lit, and perfectly still.