Candlelit Barn Romance at Chateau Rigaud in Bordeaux Wine Country

Camilla and Tim's vineyard wedding at Chateau Rigaud near Bordeaux, featuring a candlelit barn reception, lace gown, and ceremony beneath ancient trees. Planned by Awardweddings.

By Elena Moretti | Published 2 January 2020

Candlelit Barn Romance at Chateau Rigaud in Bordeaux Wine Country

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Camilla and Tim found their perfect venue after countless UK viewings fell short, landing at Chateau Rigaud amid the rolling vineyards of Bordeaux wine country. Planned by Clementine of Awardweddings, a trusted wedding planner in Bordeaux, the weekend celebration balanced rustic stone charm with candlelit elegance.

Photography

Mark Ward, Awardweddings

Venue

Château Rigaud

Region

Bordeaux, France

Couple

Camilla & Tim

Getting Ready

A bridal portrait taken indoors, with the bride positioned in front of a large window that creates strong backlighting and a warm, overexposed glow. The bride wears a fitted ivory strapless lace gown with an allover floral lace pattern and a sweetheart neckline, paired with a long cathedral-length veil edged with appliqué lace detailing. Her blonde hair is styled in loose curls falling over one shoulder. She is looking downward, and the composition is a close-up portrait cropped at the waist, emphasizing the texture of the lace dress and veil.

Black-and-white close-up portrait of a bride during the getting-ready phase, shot from behind and slightly to the side. The image focuses on her long, loosely curled hair, which falls over her shoulder in soft waves with high contrast between light and dark tones. A lace strap of what appears to be a bridal gown or lingerie is visible at her shoulder. The background is dark and blurred, keeping all attention on the hair styling detail.

A bride is getting ready indoors, seated on a light grey sofa and fastening her strappy gold heeled sandals. She is wearing a white lace wedding dress with thin straps, and her blonde hair is styled down. The room has rustic, aged stone walls with large multi-pane windows letting in warm natural light, and a dark wood floor partially covered by a patterned rug. Dusty rose velvet cushions accent the sofa, a table lamp with a warm glow is visible in the background, and a dark wood coffee table with glassware sits to the right of the frame. The overall styling combines rustic architecture with soft, muted tones. This is a medium portrait shot with a shallow depth of field.

The bride prepared in a softly lit room at the chateau, her fitted ivory strapless lace gown catching warm window light. Loose blonde curls fell over one shoulder as she adjusted her cathedral-length veil edged with applique lace. Nearby, the groom and his groomsmen dressed in black tuxedos with bow ties, sharing a quiet moment in the moody, sconce-lit dressing room.

Ceremony

A couple portrait taken outdoors among a grove of trees, with what appears to be vineyard rows visible in the background. The bride and groom are kissing, framed by several tree trunks that create a natural arch around them. The groom wears a black tuxedo with a black bow tie, while the bride wears a fitted ivory lace gown with a low open back and a long cathedral-length veil that trails onto the grass. The composition is a full-length portrait shot with the couple centered between the trees, shot from a slight distance to incorporate the surrounding landscape.

An outdoor wedding ceremony processional taking place in the courtyard of a ivy-covered stone chateau, with the bride walking down the aisle escorted by an older gentleman in a black tuxedo. The bride wears a fitted lace wedding dress and carries a white and greenery bouquet. Guests are seated and standing on either side of the white folding chair-lined aisle, dressed in colorful attire including a mustard yellow dress, a lilac ruffled dress, and a mint green pantsuit. The wide shot captures approximately 15-20 visible guests framing the processional, with the chateau's stone facade covered in climbing ivy serving as the backdrop.

Wide exterior shot of a French stone manor or chateau, likely taken before or between wedding events, with no people currently visible in the main frame. The building features ivy-covered limestone walls, tall shuttered windows, and a terracotta-tiled roof typical of southern French architecture. A row of white folding chairs is set up along the facade, suggesting an outdoor ceremony or cocktail area is being prepared on the gravel courtyard. Potential venue feature image.

The ceremony took place beneath the spreading branches of an old tree on the estate, led by English celebrant Sandie Smith. Guests gathered as sunlight filtered through leaves, casting a soft glow on the vows. The processional wound through the ivy-covered stone courtyard, with the bride's lace gown and long veil trailing along the aisle as confetti floated in the warm air.

Bridal Portraits

A couple portrait taken outdoors, showing the bride and groom kissing while holding hands in front of a large tree trunk. The bride wears a fitted white lace gown with thin spaghetti straps and an open back detail, with long loose hair and a simple white veil. The groom is dressed in a black tuxedo with a black bow tie and a small greenery boutonniere on his lapel. The shot is a medium portrait framed from the waist up, with a softly blurred green outdoor background.

A bride sits alone on a wooden tree swing hanging from a large mature tree in the grounds of what appears to be a French country estate or chateau, visible in the background. The swing's ropes are wrapped with trailing greenery foliage, creating a decorative boho styling detail. The bride wears a fitted, long-trained white gown with a low back, and her hair is loosely down. The shot is a full-length outdoor portrait taken from a medium distance, capturing the bride looking downward with her dress and train pooling on the lawn around her.

An outdoor bridal portrait showing a bride from behind as her long ivory veil billows and lifts dramatically in the wind, partially obscuring the frame. She is wearing a white or ivory gown with an open or low back, and her hair is worn down. The shot is taken in warm golden backlight, creating a soft, hazy, sun-flared exposure. The composition is a medium portrait taken from behind, with the sweeping veil filling much of the frame.

A couple portrait taken outdoors with a flowering shrub as the backdrop. The groom, wearing a navy suit with a black bow tie, kisses the bride on the cheek while she smiles broadly at the camera. The bride wears a fitted lace white gown with a long cathedral-length veil and holds a loose, garden-style bouquet of white garden roses, white wax flower, and eucalyptus with trailing greenery. The overall decor palette is white and green, consistent with a classic modern styling theme. Close-up portrait composition with shallow depth of field.

Camilla stood framed by the chateau's stone facade and cascading ivy, her cathedral-length veil trailing across the gravel courtyard. The fitted lace gown with its low open back caught the afternoon light as she posed between the estate's manicured hedges and mature trees. Each portrait captured the vineyard landscape stretching beyond the chateau walls.

Reception

Guests raise champagne and wine glasses in a toast during an indoor wedding reception dinner. The setting is warmly lit with soft candlelight and warm-toned string lights or tea lights creating a bokeh-heavy background. A garland of dark greenery is suspended along the back wall, adding a decorative element to the space. The image is a mid-range shot with shallow depth of field, keeping the raised glasses in focus while guests' faces remain softly blurred; approximately 8–10 guests are partially visible around what appears to be a seated dinner table.

A confetti exit shot taken outdoors at what appears to be a chateau or manor, with an ivy-covered stone archway doorway as the backdrop. The couple walks hand-in-hand through a shower of white and pale pink confetti thrown by guests lining either side; the groom wears a classic black tuxedo with a black bow tie, and the bride wears a fitted ivory lace spaghetti-strap gown and carries a white and green bouquet featuring what appear to be white roses and eucalyptus. At least two bridesmaids are visible on the right in floor-length blush pink dresses, one holding a matching white and eucalyptus bouquet. The image is a medium portrait-style shot with a gravel courtyard underfoot and guests partially visible on both sides of the frame.

Dinner was served inside the chateau's barn, transformed by hundreds of flickering candles and natural foliage softening the stone walls. White florals and lush greenery cascaded across rustic tables, while crystal glassware caught the warm amber glow. The evening flowed from laughter-filled speeches to a lively dance floor, with music and conversation carrying late into the night.

Design and Details

Close-up detail shot of a wooden welcome sign displayed on an easel, hand-lettered in white calligraphy script reading 'Welcome to the Wedding of Camilla + Timothy, 27-04-19, Chateau Rigaud.' The sign is decorated with a trailing garland of eucalyptus and small white flowers draped across the top and down one side. The styling is rustic with a natural, organic aesthetic, combining the raw wood panel with lush greenery. The sign is positioned against a dark wooden backdrop.

Close-up detail shot of a champagne bottle chilling in an ornate silver ice bucket with decorative embossed edging, placed on a dark wood surface. A white linen napkin is draped over the side of the bucket. The bottle has a gold foil top and a dark label. The background is softly blurred, showing what appears to be upholstered furniture and scattered items in warm, muted tones. The styling leans classic with the antique-finish silverware and white linen.

Close-up detail shot of a floral arrangement displayed in a clear glass mason jar, set against a dark grey background. The arrangement features ivory ranunculus as the focal bloom, surrounded by small white star-shaped flowers, delicate white spray blooms, and silver-dollar eucalyptus foliage. The rustic-style presentation in a mason jar suggests a relaxed, organic aesthetic with a white and green color palette. The moody, low-key lighting adds strong contrast between the pale blooms and the dark background.

The barn's exposed stone walls and candlelit atmosphere created an intimate contrast to the sunlit outdoor ceremony. White florals and trailing greenery framed the reception space while preserving the rustic character of the converted building. Mark Ward documented the interplay of warm flame light against cool stone throughout the evening.

Flat Lays

A getting-ready detail shot of a wedding dress hanging on a hanger in front of a multi-pane window with aged sage-green painted frames set into a rustic stone wall. The gown is a strapless, sweetheart-neckline silhouette with an overlay of ivory and taupe floral lace over what appears to be a champagne-toned underlining, giving it a muted, antique appearance. The lace hem has a slight train that pools at the base of the window sill, where a pair of white platform bridal shoes is also visible. Natural backlight from the window illuminates the lace pattern, and the overall image has a soft, slightly warm, faded tone consistent with a film-inspired edit.

A close-up flat lay of bridal accessories arranged on white fabric, likely the wedding dress or veil. The items include a pair of gold strappy heeled sandals with crystal embellishments, a white shell-shaped clutch bag with gold hardware, a small grey ring box containing wedding bands, a pair of crystal and cross drop earrings, and a lace-edged veil visible at the lower left. The overall accessory palette is gold and white with crystal detailing, consistent with a classic or formal wedding styling.

Close-up detail shot of a wedding reception place setting on a white linen tablecloth. The setting includes silver cutlery arranged with two forks on the left and a spoon and knife on the right, alongside multiple clear wine and water glasses. A natural burlap/linen napkin is folded at the center and topped with a small sprig of eucalyptus, a miniature gift or favor box, and a terracotta-colored luggage-style place card tag with handwritten calligraphy. The overall styling is minimal and rustic-natural, with a neutral palette of white, natural linen, and silver.

A wedding dress hung against a multi-pane window with aged sage-green frames set into rustic stone, backlight illuminating the ivory and taupe floral lace overlay. The stationery suite and detail arrangements reflected the estate's understated elegance. Crystal-embellished ivory T-strap sandals and carefully arranged accessories completed the refined yet relaxed bridal story.