An Intimate Destination Wedding at Chateau la Durantie, Dordogne

Audrey and Sean's intimate 33-guest wedding at Chateau la Durantie in the Dordogne featured cathedral vows and a Vera Wang ballgown, captured by Jessica Lund…

By Elena Moretti | Published 19 September 2016

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Chateau

Chateau la Durantie

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · Dordogne

Up to 150 guests

From €18,000 4.7 (114)

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Chateau

Chateau la Durantie

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · Dordogne

Up to 150 guests

From €18,000 4.7 (114)

Audrey and Sean planned their intimate destination wedding entirely from California, choosing Chateau La Durantie, a prestigious wedding estate in the Dordogne for its twelve acres of peaceful countryside. With just 33 guests, the couple crafted a week-long celebration in the Dordogne that balanced fairytale romance with relaxed French living.

Photography

Jessica Lund Photography

Venue

Chateau la Durantie, Dordogne

Region

Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Couple

Audrey & Sean

Getting Ready

A couple portrait taken outdoors in front of a classical stone building, shot with strong golden-hour backlight creating a warm lens flare on the left side of the frame. The groom wears a black tuxedo with a bow tie, and the bride wears a strapless white ballgown with a full tulle skirt; her dark hair is styled in an updo with a diamond tiara and drop earrings. She holds a large cascading bouquet of ivory ranunculus, blush roses, and trailing greenery. The two are facing each other with foreheads nearly touching in a close romantic pose. The composition is a mid-length portrait with a shallow depth of field that softly blurs the architectural background.

A bridal portrait captured as a reflection in a large ornate gold-framed mirror with elaborate Rococo-style carved detailing. The bride wears a full-skirt white ballgown with a long veil and a tiara, and holds a loose bouquet of blush pink roses and lush greenery. The image is composed from a slight angle, with the bride's veil visible in the foreground at the bottom of the frame, adding depth. A gilded antique chair upholstered in floral tapestry fabric sits beside the mirror, reinforcing the classic French interior styling. The setting appears to be an indoor getting-ready room with pale walls, consistent with a chateau-style venue.

Getting-ready scene showing three men in white dress shirts adjusting their light blue ties before the ceremony. The setting appears to be an indoor room with white paneled walls and ornate mirrors, consistent with a chateau or formal venue interior. The men are at various stages of tying their neckties, with the central figure — likely the groom or a groomsman — focused on knotting his pale blue tie. Medium shot with a candid, documentary-style composition.

A groom is photographed getting ready indoors, seated on an upholstered cream-colored bench with carved wooden detailing, laughing and looking to the side while putting on his shoes. He is wearing a white dress shirt, black bow tie, black suspenders, and black trousers, with a notable intentional style choice of green camouflage-patterned socks. His black dress shoes are on the floor in front of him, and his black jacket is draped over the arm of the bench. A gold-framed oil painting hangs on the striped wallpapered wall behind him. The shot is a full-length portrait taken in what appears to be a formal interior room of a chateau or manor house.

Audrey began the day unhurried beneath the Dordogne sun, preparing in the chateau's light-filled rooms. She wore a lightweight Vera Wang ballgown of tulle and lace, complemented by a custom royal-length veil and a handmade pearl crown from Etsy. Jessica Lund Photography captured the delicate layering of details as the bride's look came together with effortless precision.

Ceremony

Close-up detail shot of a pew end floral arrangement hanging from a wooden church pew in a clear glass jar. The small bouquet features blush pink roses, white lisianthus blooms and buds, white carnations, and dusty miller foliage with its characteristic silver-grey lobed leaves. The soft blush and white color palette against the warm honey-toned wood of the pew creates a classic, understated ceremony decor look. The arrangement is tied to the pew end with a thin clear wire or monofilament.

Wide-angle exterior shot of a small Romanesque stone chapel with a square bell tower and terracotta-tiled roof, photographed from ground level looking up. The chapel features a rounded apse constructed from pale limestone blocks with narrow arched windows. A row of white chairs is partially visible to the left of the building, indicating an outdoor ceremony setup. The composition is a low-angle wide shot with the architecture positioned in the lower third of the frame. Potential venue feature image.

A couple exits through the large ornate dark wooden doors of a stone chapel or church as guests toss white flower petals in celebration. The groom wears a classic black tuxedo with a white boutonniere and black bow tie, while the bride wears a strapless white ballgown with a cathedral veil and a tiara, carrying a bouquet of blush and ivory roses with greenery. Approximately six guests are visible on either side, dressed in formal attire, actively throwing petals. The shot is a medium wide portrait taken at the church entrance, capturing the joyful recessional moment.

Vows were exchanged in a medieval cathedral in both French and English, with organ music played by the village mayor. The ceremony ended with rose petals tossed beneath ringing bells as the couple emerged into the Dordogne sunshine. Audrey's royal-length veil trailed through the ancient aisles, adding a sense of quiet grandeur to the setting.

Bridal Portraits

A bride and groom are seated inside a vintage steel-blue Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, decorated with white ribbon across the hood, suggesting a wedding car transfer between venues. The vehicle has a French license plate and is parked on a cobblestone surface in front of a stone building with pale blue shuttered doors. The couple is visible through the rear and side windows. Wide shot composition capturing the full length of the classic luxury car.

A bridal portrait of a bride seated indoors in what appears to be a chateau or historic French venue, shot in a medium portrait composition with soft natural window light. The bride wears a strapless white ball gown with a voluminous layered tulle skirt, a crystal tiara, and a cathedral-length veil, and she is looking down with a smile while arranging her skirt. She holds a loosely arranged bouquet of blush roses and green foliage. The interior setting features warm yellow-toned walls, a black-and-white tiled floor, and tall French windows, consistent with a classic chateau aesthetic.

A bridal portrait taken indoors on an ornate staircase with cream-painted carved wood balustrade detailing, shot from a slightly elevated angle. The bride wears a strapless white ball gown with a beaded waist detail, a cathedral-length veil, and a crystal tiara, her dark hair pulled back neatly. She holds a loose, garden-style bouquet of white and blush roses with trailing greenery and ferns. The interior setting features light neutral walls and a small decorative side table with ceramic figurines visible in the background, suggesting a chateau or manor house interior.

A couple shares a kiss during outdoor wedding portraits on the grounds of what appears to be a French estate or chateau. The bride wears a full-skirt white ballgown with a strapless silhouette and carries a bouquet of white and greenery flowers, while the groom is dressed in a classic black tuxedo with bow tie. They are positioned in front of a stone classical rotunda structure with a domed roof, columns, and balustrade railing, flanked by tall cypress trees and a trimmed lollipop-shaped topiary. The composition is a wide portrait shot with soft, overcast natural lighting giving a muted, airy tone to the image. Potential venue feature image.

Jessica Lund Photography captured Audrey framed by the chateau's manicured gardens and golden stone facades, her Vera Wang ballgown trailing through the sunlit grounds. The custom veil flowed behind her as she moved along gravel paths and beneath archways, each portrait balancing the grandeur of the estate with the bride's natural warmth. The Dordogne light lent every image a soft, cinematic quality.

Flat Lays

A getting-ready detail shot of a white strapless ball gown wedding dress with a structured sweetheart bodice and a voluminous tulle skirt with a ruffled hem, hung from an ornate gold lantern-style chandelier. The dress is displayed in a classic French interior room featuring grey damask wallpaper, dark hardwood floors, tall white-framed windows letting in natural light, a white radiator, and two Louis XVI-style upholstered chairs in pale grey. A delicate necklace is draped across the bodice of the dress. The wide shot captures the full dress against the period-appropriate décor, giving the image a classic, formal aesthetic consistent with a French chateau setting.

Close-up detail shot of a wedding reception table setting with a white linen tablecloth and white chiavari chairs visible in the background. The place setting includes two empty wine glasses, silver flatware, a folded white napkin with a calligraphed 'Merci' tag, a handwritten place card reading 'Kathleen' with a decorative botanical border, and a printed menu card. A small silver votive candle holder sits nearby. The centerpiece running along the table features a lush garland of green foliage interspersed with blush garden roses and ivory white ranunculus or lisianthus blooms, creating a classic, refined table design in a white and blush palette.

A nine-image collage from a French château wedding with a classic, formal aesthetic. Top row: the bride in a strapless white ball gown with a tiara and long veil holds a lush green foliage bouquet while seated on an ornate staircase; a white strapless ball gown hangs near tall windows in a room with patterned wallpaper and a gold chandelier; a close-up detail shot of a diamond ring and what appears to be a pink-accented silver ring box on a reflective surface. Middle row: a close-up of a navy blue heart-shaped Limoges-style ring box with gold detailing holding wedding bands; a close-up of a small bouquet of blush pink roses and white lisianthus resting on a wooden church pew; a portrait of the couple sharing a kiss bathed in warm backlight inside an ornate interior, the bride in her white ball gown and the groom in a dark suit. Bottom row: an exterior wide shot of a French classical stone château with symmetrical windows, manicured topiary, and a gravel forecourt — Potential venue feature image.; an interior shot of a cream and gold paneled room with tall French doors and a gilded bench; a close-up of a croquembouche tower decorated with blush pink and white floral accents on a reception table.

The flat lay details told the story of a bride with a strong sense of personal style. The handmade pearl crown, Jimmy Choo shoes, and delicate jewellery were arranged alongside calligraphed stationery and ribbon-wrapped programmes. Audrey's engagement ring and floral details completed the vignettes, each element reflecting the refined yet accessible aesthetic of the celebration.

More from the Day

A photo booth prop station set up outdoors on a white wrought-iron garden table, photographed as a detail close-up shot. Two clear glass jars hold an assortment of glittery stick props in hot pink, black, red, navy blue, and gold, including shapes such as lips, hats, glasses, and a Paris Eiffel Tower silhouette. A chalkboard-style sign reads 'Welcome to the Photo Booth – Please Grab a Prop & Strike a Pose,' and a Hollywood-style film clapperboard prop sits at the front of the table alongside dark grey decorative chalkboard speech-bubble cutouts. The props are displayed on top of a rustic wooden storage box, suggesting a Hollywood or cinema-themed wedding reception decor concept. The setting appears to be an outdoor cocktail hour or reception area.

A close-up shot of a catering staff member dressed in black holding a round gold tray during what appears to be a cocktail hour. The tray is arranged with seven small clear glasses filled with an orange-toned soup or velouté, each with a small silver spoon, surrounding a cluster of golden choux pastry puffs in the center. The presentation is neat and the gold tray adds a warm metallic accent to the passed appetizer service.

Black-and-white image of a champagne toast during a wedding reception, with four guests in the foreground raising their flutes and glasses with animated, joyful expressions. The setting is an indoor venue with exposed stone walls, likely a French chateau or barn conversion, with what appears to be a fabric drape visible in the upper right corner. The table in the foreground holds wine bottles, glassware, and a floral centerpiece with what appear to be roses and mixed blooms. The composition is a mid-range shot capturing the energy and spontaneity of the moment.

The bride and groom are cutting a traditional French croquembouche wedding cake, a tower of cream puffs, during an indoor reception. The croquembouche is topped with a classic bride-and-groom cake topper, decorative straw, and an active sparkler, while a man in a white shirt assists behind them. The bride wears a lace-detailed ivory gown and the groom a dark navy suit jacket. The setting appears to be inside a rustic stone-walled venue with an arched doorway and cream-painted cabinetry visible in the background, lit with warm ambient lighting. This is a medium close-up shot capturing the energy and movement of the cake-cutting moment.

Aesthetic

Romantic, French Traditional

Guest Count

33 guests

Budget Range

Bride's Dress

Vera Wang lightweight tulle and lace ballgown with custom royal-length veil

The Wedding Team

Venue

Château la Durantie

FWS

Photography

Jessica Lund Photography

Videography

Zen Film Works

Florals

French Flower Style

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The Venue

The couple chose Chateau la Durantie, a chateau in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Premium

Chateau

Chateau la Durantie

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · Dordogne

A luxurious 19th-century chateau in Dordogne built in 1840 as the residence of the Duke of Isly, offering exclusive privatisation for weddings up to 150 guests with accommodation for up to 40 on-site.

Up to 150 guests

From €18,000 4.7 (114)

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