Undyed Linen and Local Blooms at Chateau de Malliac, Gascony

The ceremony was held outdoors beneath overhanging oak boughs, mismatched vintage chairs on the grass facing a hand-constructed wooden arch wrapped in climbing jasmine and dried wheat. The officiant spoke in both French and English, honouring Mathieu's heritage and Emily's journey to this corner of France. When they exchanged recycled gold bands, the only sound was birdsong.

Solo portraits of Emily were taken in the chateau's inner courtyard, where climbing wisteria cast dappled shadows across pale limestone. Her bouquet of garden roses in antique blush, dried pampas plumes, and sprigs of wild fennel practically disappeared into the scenery. Ala Breskaya positioned her close to a weathered stone arch, letting centuries-old masonry do the heavy lifting in the background.

Couple portraits at golden hour took place along the tree-lined allee, where plane trees create a natural cathedral of dappled green and gold. Emily had kicked off her satin mules, walking barefoot through warm grass with her veil trailing behind. Ala Breskaya worked quietly around them, and in the best frame they are mid-laugh, foreheads almost touching, entirely unposed.

Guests spilled across the stone terrace for chilled Cotes de Gascogne blanc and platters of duck rillettes, aged Ossau-Iraty, and vine-warm tomatoes from the kitchen garden. Inside the barn-style reception space, long tables were dressed in undyed Belgian linen runners scattered with terracotta pillar candles and bud vases of garden cosmos. The evening menu leaned entirely local: foie gras, confit duck, and a croquembouche wrapped in spun caramel.

Emily built the design language from natural materials only, nothing synthetic, nothing flown in. Florals came from a Gers flower farm: white cosmos, blush garden roses, strawflowers in burnt amber, and generous bunches of dried grasses. Stationery was letterpress on recycled cotton-rag card with terracotta wax seals, and a sprig of dried lavender was tucked inside each invitation.