French and American Traditions Meet at Chateau de Thanville, Alsace

Laura and Steven's cross-cultural wedding at Chateau de Thanville in Alsace blended French and American traditions, captured by Fanny Auer.

By Elena Moretti | Published 25 February 2019

French and American Traditions Meet at Chateau de Thanville, Alsace

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Laura and Steven, who met in California and returned to France for their marriage, chose Chateau de Thanville in Alsace for its quiet grandeur and connection to Laura's roots. Captured by Fanny Auer, their bilingual celebration south of Strasbourg blended French and American traditions beneath the soft northern light of the Grand Est.

Photography

Fanny Auer

Venue

Chateau de Thanville

Region

Alsace, France

Couple

Laura & Steven

Getting Ready

A couple portrait taken outdoors in an open field with a treeline in the background. The groom, wearing a dark olive/charcoal suit with a tie, stands behind the bride with his arms wrapped around her, both smiling and leaning toward each other. The bride wears a sleeveless white A-line gown with a fitted bodice and full skirt, with her hair styled in a loose updo. The shot is a medium portrait with a shallow depth of field, leaving the background softly blurred, and the overall color grading has a slightly muted, natural tone consistent with a boho or relaxed outdoor style.

A getting-ready detail shot showing an ivory wedding dress hanging from a wooden hanger on a full-length floor mirror in a simply decorated bedroom. The dress features a lace bodice with thin straps and a flowing tulle A-line skirt. The room has grey-painted walls, warm wood flooring, a dark grey shag rug, and a white chest of drawers topped with white pillar candles and a few small beauty items. Natural light enters through shuttered windows. The composition is a medium wide shot capturing the full dress alongside the mirror's reflection of the room.

A close-up portrait of a bride during the getting-ready phase, with a makeup artist applying eyeliner using a red pencil while holding an orange makeup brush at the hairline. The bride has her eyes partially closed, wearing what appears to be a white bridal robe or top, with her blonde hair worn down in loose waves. The background is softly blurred with dark and neutral tones, suggesting an indoor setting with natural light coming from one side.

Laura prepared in the chateau's rooms overlooking the Alsatian countryside, her gown by Point Mariage catching the northern light. Surrounded by close friends and family, the morning moved between laughter and quiet moments of anticipation. Her mother's hand-painted guest book sat ready alongside carefully chosen accessories, each piece personal and deliberate.

Ceremony

A black-and-white image of an outdoor wedding ceremony taking place on a stone or wooden pathway in front of a large historic chateau with pointed turrets and a rendered facade. The couple shares their first kiss at the altar, which consists of two tall standing posts draped with flowing white fabric and topped with floral arrangements featuring light-toned blooms. An officiant stands to the right of the couple holding papers. Guests are seated in white folding chairs on either side of the aisle, while the bridal party — groomsmen in dark suits on the left and bridesmaids in dark knee-length dresses on the right — stand and applaud. The image is a wide shot with moderate contrast, capturing approximately 20–30 attendees. Potential venue feature image.

A three-image collage showing an outdoor wedding ceremony setup on the grounds of a French chateau with a distinctive pointed stone tower. The ceremony area features rows of white folding chairs arranged in two sections along a stone-paved aisle, leading to a white wooden arch draped with sheer white fabric and accented with small floral arrangements. The top image is a wide shot showing the full ceremony layout against the chateau facade, while the bottom-left detail shot shows white folding chairs adorned with small greenery and white floral accents along the aisle. The bottom-right image provides a straight-on view down the stone aisle toward the arch, showing the full seating arrangement. The overall decor palette is white and green with a classic, understated style. No guests or wedding party are present, indicating these are pre-ceremony setup shots. Potential venue feature image.

The garden ceremony was led by a friend in both French and English, ensuring every guest felt part of the moment. Laura and Steven exchanged vows beneath the soft northern light at Chateau de Thanville, its stone facade and rolling gardens framing the scene. Regional wines and local cuisine carried the celebration naturally from ceremony to reception, languages blending as easily as the cultures.

Bridal Party

Close-up detail shot of flower girl baskets placed on weathered wooden decking, with scattered white rose petals around them. The small woven baskets are filled with white roses, baby's breath, and eucalyptus greenery, tied with white satin ribbons. Additional brown paper cones filled with white rose petals are visible in the upper portion of the frame, along with the edge of a white bridal gown. The styling is rustic and natural, with a white and green floral palette.

A groom and five groomsmen walk together across a gravel courtyard in front of a historic stone and brick château entrance featuring a large arched gateway with wrought iron gates. All six men wear matching black suits with black ties and white dress shirts, each with a small boutonniere featuring greenery and a white floral element. The groom appears to be the tallest figure in the center-left of the group, and the men are laughing and walking casually toward the camera in a wide, candid portrait shot. The styling is classic and coordinated with a monochromatic black palette. Potential venue feature image.

A group of seven men — the groom and his groomsmen — are caught mid-jump in a playful, energetic pose in the courtyard of a French chateau. All are dressed in black suits with white dress shirts and dark ties, with the groom distinguished by a floral boutonniere. The shot is taken in front of a historic stone chateau featuring a round tower with a pointed roof, terracotta-tiled roofing, arched doorways, and white wooden benches flanking the circular fountain they are jumping around. The wide shot captures the full courtyard and building facade, emphasizing the classic French architectural setting. Potential venue feature image.

The bridal party gathered on the chateau's grounds, their coordinated outfits complementing the stone facade and garden backdrop. Group portraits captured the warmth and camaraderie that defined the cross-cultural gathering, with French and American friends standing side by side. The images reflected the couple's priority: making everyone feel welcome and connected.

Reception

A large group portrait of approximately 50 guests gathered on the grounds of a French chateau, celebrating the bride and groom who stand at the center of the crowd. Guests are tossing white confetti into the air with arms raised, creating a festive celebratory moment. The bride wears a white ball gown and the bridesmaids are dressed in deep forest green gowns, while most male guests wear dark suits or tuxedos; a flower girl in a white dress is visible near the front. The chateau is a grey stone building with a blue-grey slate roof, turret, and multiple chimneys, set on a lawn flanked by mature trees, captured in a wide shot that centers the couple on a stone pathway leading to the building. Potential venue feature image.

A couple shares their first dance on a wooden dance floor inside a white marquee tent, surrounded by a large group of seated and standing guests watching from the perimeter. The bride wears a white gown with an open back and has long wavy blonde hair adorned with a floral hair accessory, while the groom is dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and black tie. The tent is strung with warm-toned globe fairy lights along the ceiling, creating a golden ambient glow, with colored purple and blue uplighting visible in the background. The image is a medium wide shot taken from behind the bride, capturing the groom's face as he looks down at her.

Dinner unfolded in the chateau's reception space as local Alsatian cuisine and regional wines anchored the evening. The relaxed atmosphere encouraged easy conversation between French and American guests, languages mixing freely across the tables. Live music and dancing carried the celebration into the night, the joyful blending of two worlds evident in every moment.

Flat Lays

A flat lay detail shot of wedding stationery and accessories arranged on a white surface. The items include a wedding invitation suite with green botanical leaf illustrations for Laura and Steven's wedding at Château de Plumelec, a 'Vows to Steven' booklet with matching green leaf design, two black velvet ring boxes each containing a gold wedding band, a pair of delicate crystal drop earrings, a gold perfume bottle, and a photo card insert featuring the couple walking hand-in-hand through a wooded forest setting. The overall stationery palette is white and green with a botanical theme.

A collage of six wedding photographs from what appears to be a French chateau venue. Top left: a close-up detail shot of an ivory A-line wedding dress with a V-neckline hanging from a wooden hanger on a floor mirror in a bright white-walled getting-ready room. Middle left: a close-up portrait of the bride having her makeup applied, showing red lip color being applied and her wearing a strapless top. Bottom left: an outdoor ceremony setup with a minimalist white rectangular arch decorated with white fabric and florals, lined with rows of white folding chairs on a gravel path. Top right: a couple portrait in a meadow, with the groom in a dark suit and black bow tie embracing the bride in her ivory A-line gown. Middle right: a wide group shot of approximately 40-50 guests gathered on a gravel driveway in front of a historic French chateau, arms raised in celebration. Bottom right: a wide exterior shot of a historic stone chateau with Renaissance-style architecture, surrounded by tall poplar trees and mature grounds. Potential venue feature image.

A close-up detail shot of a bride sitting on a dark grey shag rug fastening a nude or blush strappy heeled sandal onto her foot during the getting-ready portion of the day. She is wearing a white lace-hemmed gown, and a ring is visible on her finger. In the background, the lower portion of a person in an emerald green dress is partially visible, along with a second white shoe resting on the rug.

An outdoor wedding ceremony is underway on a grassy estate or park setting, with approximately 60-80 guests seated in white folding chairs arranged in rows on either side of a central aisle. The aisle is lined with a light-colored, possibly cream or off-white runner, and leads toward a simple white wooden arch decorated with white fabric draping and small floral accents. Guests are dressed in a mix of casual and semi-formal attire in varied colors. The ceremony appears to be at the moment just before or during the officiant's proceedings, as no couple is yet visible at the arch. Wide shot taken from behind the guests, capturing the full scene including the arch and surrounding grounds.

Detail shots revealed Laura's personal touch throughout: handmade decorations inspired by her own designs, a hand-painted guest book created by her mother, and stationery in warm neutral tones. Place cards, favour boxes, and floral accents rested on linen-covered surfaces against the chateau's elegant interiors. Each flat lay told the story of a celebration planned from abroad with care and creativity.