A Lavender-Hued Wedding at Chateau de Bagnols, Lyon

Rebecca and Piers' lavender-themed wedding at Chateau de Bagnols near Lyon with an Inbal Dror gown, garden ceremony, and candlelit Salles des Gardes dinner.

By Elena Moretti | Published 24 April 2017

A Lavender-Hued Wedding at Chateau de Bagnols, Lyon

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Rebecca and Piers returned to Chateau de Bagnols, a 13th-century estate near Lyon they had fallen in love with years earlier, to celebrate with a hundred guests from the UK. Planned by Bulles et Compagnie and captured by M and J Photography, the weekend unfolded across lavender gardens, medieval courtyards, and a candlelit dinner in the grand Salles des Gardes in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes.

Photography

Venue

Château de Bagnols

Region

Lyon, France

Couple

Rebecca & Piers

Getting Ready

A getting-ready moment captured indoors, showing a groom in a white dress shirt and black tie adjusting his tie with both hands, with a slight smile on his face. A second man in a white dress shirt is partially visible on the left edge of the frame. The background features an ornate painted or frescoed wall with botanical motifs in warm ochre and cream tones, suggesting a historic chateau or villa interior. The shot is a close-up portrait with warm ambient lighting.

Rebecca prepared at the 13th-century chateau with her bridesmaids close by, each wearing soft lavender dresses by The Dessy Group with fresh flower crowns to match the garden palette. Her Inbal Dror couture gown hung ready against the medieval stone walls, its delicate construction catching the morning light. Jimmy Choo heels and lavender accents completed the bridal look with precision.

Ceremony

A floral ceremony arch is positioned outdoors in a courtyard in front of a stone fountain, with a ivy-covered French stone building visible in the background. The circular arch is constructed from trailing greenery and adorned primarily on the left side with clusters of blue and purple hydrangeas, white peonies, and small purple blooms. No people are present; this is a decor detail shot capturing the ceremony setup. The overall palette is purple, blue, and white against lush green foliage, set within what appears to be a classic French country estate courtyard. Potential venue feature image.

An outdoor wedding ceremony processional captured in a medium-wide shot, showing the bride being walked down the aisle by a male companion, likely her father. The bride wears a fitted ivory lace gown with a small train and a veil, carrying a loose bouquet of blush pink roses and soft purple/lavender blooms with greenery. Her escort wears a dark navy suit with a dark tie and a small boutonniere. Seated guests on white chair-covered chairs line the aisle, dressed in smart casual attire including a woman in a cobalt blue lace dress. The ceremony takes place in a sunny outdoor courtyard in front of a large stone building with tall windows, consistent with a French chateau or manor house. Potential venue feature image.

In the chateau's lavender-lined gardens, Rebecca and Piers exchanged vows before a hundred guests during an outdoor ceremony set to live piano music. Lavender confetti flew as the couple walked back through the crowd. The ceremony arch by Antoinette of Fleurs de Fee brought fragrance and texture to the scene, anchoring the moment against sweeping countryside views.

Cocktail Hour

A collage of four candid guest photographs taken outdoors at what appears to be a French château or stone-walled venue during a cocktail hour or reception. The first panel shows two women walking together, one in a floral dress and one in a black dress. The second panel features a man in khaki trousers, a light blue shirt, and a white panama hat leaning against a stone wall. The third panel shows a woman seated outdoors wearing a wide-brimmed grey hat, grey wrap cardigan, and printed dress. The fourth panel features a group of four women posing together, dressed in a red halter gown, yellow dress, grey patterned dress, and a fourth in a light-colored outfit. All images are wide and medium shots with a bright, natural light aesthetic, suggesting a warm-weather outdoor celebration with guests dressed in smart-casual to formal attire.

Champagne and canapes flowed in the gardens as guests gathered beneath the medieval courtyards and stone archways. Bulles et Compagnie orchestrated the transition from ceremony to evening with quiet confidence. The cocktail hour carried an easy, summery rhythm, with lavender gardens providing a scented backdrop to every conversation.

Reception

A newly married couple walks through a confetti exit outside a rustic stone building with an arched doorway, likely a chapel or mas in the south of France. The bride wears a fitted strapless lace gown with a short train and carries a loose bouquet of lavender, dusty mauve, and white blooms with trailing ribbons, while the groom wears a navy suit with a light blue tie and a small floral buttonhole. Approximately 30 guests line both sides of the gravel path, cheering and throwing white confetti, with one guest prominently wearing a wide-brim grey hat with a pink flower. The shot is a portrait-orientation mid-range photo with the couple centered in the foreground and the stone venue facade visible in the background.

Wide shot of a French chateau exterior with formal garden grounds in the foreground. The building is a round-turreted stone chateau with warm beige masonry, visible windows, and chimney stacks along the roofline. The formal garden features precisely clipped conical topiary hedges, a central stone fountain with a tiered basin, and symmetrically trimmed tall hedgerows framing a central lawn pathway. A terrace area between the garden and the chateau entrance shows green market umbrellas, suggesting a cocktail or reception setup. No people are visible in the frame. Potential venue feature image.

A bridal party portrait taken outdoors in a formal garden setting, showing the bride walking alongside at least three bridesmaids. The bride wears a strapless lace sweetheart-neckline fitted gown and carries a bouquet of white peonies, lavender blooms, and trailing ribbons. The bridesmaids wear floor-length pale silver-blue chiffon gowns in varying neckline styles, including one-shoulder and sweetheart cuts. One bridesmaid holds a champagne flute. The group is laughing and walking casually toward the camera in warm late-afternoon golden light, with a neatly trimmed tall hedge visible in the background. The shot is a medium portrait with a shallow depth of field, keeping the focus on the faces and upper bodies of the women.

Dinner in the grand Salles des Gardes was candlelit and lively, with traditional speeches setting the tone for the evening. The 101s played live music before a DJ carried the energy into the early hours. The following morning, guests gathered once more beneath the lime trees for a Provencal brunch beside the chateau's Roman pool.

Design and Details

A wide shot of formal garden grounds featuring a central stone fountain with a tiered basin set within a circular pool, flanked by two symmetrical rows of precisely clipped tall hedges forming a long allée. Stone pedestals with decorative urns or statues are visible in the background between the hedgerows, and a rolling hillside landscape extends into the distance. No people are present in the frame. The image is taken in bright midday light with a portrait orientation, emphasizing the formal French garden layout. Potential venue feature image.

Close-up portrait of a groom standing indoors, wearing a navy suit jacket, white dress shirt, and a dark charcoal tie. He is looking directly at the camera with a slight smile. The background is softly blurred but shows what appears to be an ornate interior room with aged decorative paintings or frescoes on the wall and dark wooden furniture, suggesting a historic venue such as a chateau or manor house. The lighting is natural and slightly warm, coming from a window to the right of frame.

Close-up detail shot of a four-tiered naked wedding cake displayed on a dark tray, set against a softly blurred indoor background with architectural columns visible. The cake has exposed sponge layers with minimal frosting, decorated generously between each tier with fresh red currants, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. Floral accents include blush pink peonies at the top, pale pink roses, and small purple lisianthus blooms scattered across the tiers. The overall color palette combines warm cream cake tones with deep red berry hues and soft pink and purple florals, consistent with a romantic, garden-inspired styling approach.

A close-up detail shot of a wooden welcome sign displayed on a natural wood easel, reading 'Bienvenue au mariage de Rebecca et Piers 09-07-16' in white hand-lettered calligraphy. The light blonde wood sign is decorated with a cascading garland of fresh green foliage trailing down the left side, topped with white peonies and small purple accent flowers. The sign is positioned against a decorative stone architectural element, suggesting a French chateau or historic venue entrance. The overall styling is romantic and rustic, with a blush-toned wood palette and fresh greenery.

Antoinette of Fleurs de Fee filled every corner of the chateau with lavender, rose, and textured greenery, from the ceremony arch through to rustic wooden way-finders and garden arrangements. The palette of lavender, grey, and rose reflected the surrounding Beaujolais landscape. Each design element was chosen to feel both refined and rooted in the natural setting.

Flat Lays

A detail close-up shot of wedding guest gifts arranged in two parallel diagonal rows on a stone tile floor inside what appears to be a historic indoor venue. One row consists of matte black Prada gift boxes with gold foil lettering, and the other row features pink and black framed Pink's of Jermyn Street boxes. Approximately eight to ten of each box type are visible, receding into the background. The overall gift presentation palette is black, gold, and blush pink, suggesting a high-end, designer-focused gifting theme.

Detail shot of an outdoor wedding directional sign reading 'Dîner' in white hand-lettered calligraphy on a wooden arrow-shaped board mounted on a stake, positioned beside a large trimmed evergreen hedge. In the background, white-slatted garden benches with dark wrought-iron frames are visible alongside teal patio umbrellas, with a row of lavender plants visible in the soft-focus distance. The setting appears to be a French countryside property with a Provençal feel, likely during a summer wedding. The rustic wooden signage style is consistent with a classic French country wedding aesthetic.

A close-up detail shot taken during bridal preparations, showing a woman's hands holding a champagne flute with a small amount of sparkling wine. She is wearing a white silk or satin robe, a diamond engagement ring on her left hand, and a delicate bracelet on her wrist. A hint of pink — likely a flower or bridesmaid's dress — is visible in the soft-focus background. The overall styling is clean and classic, with a warm, softly lit indoor setting.

A close-up detail shot of a reception table setting featuring a calligraphy table name card reading 'Ruinart' with the couple's names 'Rebecca & Piers' and date '09.07.16' written in a dusty rose script on cream card stock, displayed in a small wooden holder. Behind the card is a lush floral centerpiece arranged in a white vessel, composed of ivory hydrangeas, blush roses, purple clematis or iris blooms, lavender sprigs, thistle buds, and green foliage. The overall decor palette is soft and romantic, combining cream, blush, and purple tones against white table linens, consistent with a classic or garden-inspired reception styling.

The stationery suite echoed the lavender-grey-rose palette in delicate calligraphy and textured card. Bridal accessories, including Jimmy Choo heels and Inbal Dror detailing, were arranged with fresh lavender sprigs and soft ribbons. Each flat lay captured the considered approach to colour and material that defined the celebration.