Skip to content

Sustainable Style at Chateau de Poudenas in Gascony

An eco-friendly wedding editorial at Chateau de Poudenas in Gascony, featuring candlelit outdoor dining, vintage food trucks, and 24 local artisans. Captured by Isabelle Souriment.

By Elena Moretti | Published 18 July 2020

This eco-friendly wedding editorial at Chateau de Poudenas captures the heart of Gascony's wedding scene near Bordeaux. Planner Julie Andrada of Un Mariage en Gascogne championed sustainability alongside creativity, while photographer Isabelle Souriment documented every texture of the setting. Stone arches, sweeping valley views, and 24 local artisans brought the shoot to life beneath open Gascon skies.

Photography
-
Venue
Château de Poudenas
Region
Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Couple
-

Cocktail Hour

A group of wedding guests raises glasses in a toast during what appears to be a cocktail hour or reception, photographed from a low angle looking upward. At least four people are visible, including a man in a navy blazer with gold buttons at center smiling broadly, a man in a dark suit to his left, and a woman in a teal draped dress to his right. Drinks include what appear to be glasses of white wine, beer bottles, and a glass of red wine. The setting is an outdoor courtyard of a historic stone building with arched architectural details visible in the background. The low-angle composition emphasizes the raised glasses converging toward the center of the frame.
Outdoor cocktail hour or lounge area set up on a lawn in front of a stone farmhouse or domaine with arched openings and terracotta roof tiles, with a stone tower visible in the background. The seating arrangement features mustard yellow velvet armchairs with fringe detailing, rust-orange and teal upholstered chairs, and low wooden rustic bench tables with white bowl-shaped decorative pieces. A bohemian-style teepee or rattan hanging chair structure is visible mid-ground, along with wicker accent chairs and small cocktail tables scattered across the lawn. The styling palette leans heavily boho-rustic with warm earth tones — ochre, terracotta, and teal — and two white bicycles are parked near the arched facade on the left. Wide establishing shot capturing both the decor setup and the full venue exterior. Potential venue feature image.
Close-up detail shot of a rustic wedding stationery and decor vignette displayed on a wooden table, likely at an outdoor cocktail hour or reception. A weathered wooden crate holds kraft paper seed packet wedding favors printed with 'Myriam & Alex Semée' (French for 'sown'), alongside teal-green glass mason jars, fresh artichokes used as decorative elements, and a woven wicker basket filled with red cherries or cranberries. The overall styling is rustic and nature-inspired, with an earthy, botanical theme carried through the seed packet favors, raw wood, and garden vegetables as decor accents.
A cocktail hour or reception scene photographed from inside a vintage-style food or dessert cart, showing two wedding guests — a woman in a beige blazer and a man in a navy suit with a pocket square holding a glass of red wine — being served by a staff member in a white polka-dot blouse. The cart's counter displays fresh fruit including strawberries, blueberries, and bananas, along with glass jars filled with biscuits and meringues, and stacked paper cups. In the background, a classic French chateau courtyard is visible with additional guests mingling at tables. The composition is a medium shot taken from the vendor's perspective inside the cart, giving an immersive point-of-view framing. Potential venue feature image.

Guests mingled across the stone terrace as golden afternoon light warmed the courtyard. A vintage Citroen HY van and an orange VW camper served as food stations beneath the chateau's arched colonnades, while rattan chairs and bistro tables dotted the gravel. Homemade lemonade, local charcuterie, and the hum of live music set a relaxed, festive tone that felt unmistakably southern French.


Reception

A close-up detail shot of an outdoor rustic wedding reception table styled with a harvest-inspired food display, set on a stone terrace overlooking a rolling wooded landscape. The table features a whole cured ham on the bone, a baguette, fresh lettuces, a decorative plate, and a floral textile runner with a warm earthy pattern. Two green glass bottles hold an arrangement of wildflowers, eucalyptus, yellow blooms, and purple sprig flowers in an informal, foraged style. The overall decor palette combines deep greens, mustard yellows, and warm terracotta tones, consistent with a rustic or countryside-themed wedding aesthetic.
A styled outdoor reception tablescape set on a rustic wooden farm table with bench seating, photographed in a wide-angle detail shot at dusk. The table is decorated with a mix of white taper candles in brass candlesticks, large white pillar candles on wooden slice risers, and floral arrangements in dark green glass bottles and vases featuring lush greenery, deep burgundy blooms, white flowers, and trailing foliage. Place settings include white plates layered on chargers with vintage-style cut crystal glassware. The overall decor palette combines brass, dark green, burgundy, and natural wood tones in a romantic, rustic-organic style. The setting is an outdoor courtyard of a stone chateau or castle, with a red wooden door and weathered stone walls visible in the background. Potential venue feature image.
An outdoor evening reception dinner set in a château courtyard, with approximately eight to ten guests seated along a long rustic wooden table lit entirely by candlelight from multiple taper candles in dark metal candlestick holders. The table is set with white china plates, crystal glassware, and scattered greenery as a centerpiece, creating a warm amber glow against the dark night. Guests are dressed in smart-casual attire including waistcoats and blazers, and are engaged in lively conversation; a vintage car and the warmly lit château facade are visible in the background. The composition is a wide-angle shot taken from one end of the table, emphasizing the length of the table and the candlelit atmosphere.
A wedding reception dinner scene shot from above at close range, showing guests gathered around a rustic wooden table sharing a communal charcuterie-style platter served on a large wooden board. The table is lit entirely by candlelight — pillar candles, taper candles in candleholders, and small votive tea lights — casting deep amber and warm golden tones across the scene. Visible table elements include crystal glassware, silver cutlery, ceramic plates, small glass jars with condiments, and a red wine bottle. Floral arrangements with dried and fresh blooms in muted tones are visible in the background. At least three guests are partially visible — a woman in white wearing a pearl necklace, a man in a light shirt, and another figure in dark clothing — all reaching toward the shared board. The overall styling is rustic and intimate, with the candlelight-only setting creating very dark shadows and high contrast across the image.

Dinner unfolded outdoors at a long rustic wooden table lit entirely by candlelight. Pillar candles, taper candles, and votives cast deep amber tones across crystal glassware and communal charcuterie platters. Vintage furniture from Cocotte et Coquette and locally sourced delicacies reflected the shoot's emphasis on regional craftsmanship and minimal environmental impact.


Flat Lays

Close-up detail shot of a guest receiving an ice cream cone at what appears to be a wedding cocktail hour or reception. The cone is wrapped in a black and white damask-patterned paper sleeve and topped with a scoop of pink ice cream. Two sets of hands are visible — one handing over the cone, one receiving it — with a silver bracelet visible on one wrist. In the background, a glass of red wine and a second dark glass are softly out of focus, suggesting a food and drink station or mobile dessert cart. The styling is relaxed and festive, consistent with a casual outdoor catering setup.
A detail shot of a rustic wedding reception vignette set on a gravel surface in front of a vintage cream-colored caravan or food truck. A chalkboard-style sign with a distressed white frame reads 'Time to Drink Champagne & Dance on the Table' in gold and white lettering, propped against a weathered wooden crate. Two brass or antique gold teardrop-shaped vases flank the crate, and a third larger brass vase holds a wild, loosely arranged bouquet of red flowers, dried grasses, eucalyptus, and feathery foliage. The overall styling is bohemian-rustic with a warm metallic and natural palette.
Close-up portrait of a bride holding a large, loosely arranged bouquet in front of her. The bride is wearing a white lace dress with a geometric chevron bodice detail and pearl embellishments at the waist. The bouquet features deep red roses, blush pink roses, lavender lisianthus, white blooms, yellow craspedia (billy balls), berry clusters, and abundant greenery including rosemary sprigs and eucalyptus leaves, styled in a wild, garden-gathered boho aesthetic. The shot is cropped from chest to mid-thigh, keeping focus entirely on the dress detail and bouquet against a lawn background.

The stationery and styling details leaned into natural materials and conscious design. Wooden reception tables, hand-selected vintage furnishings, and seasonal blooms demonstrated that sustainability could sit alongside visual polish. Each element, from table settings to signage, honored Gascony's artisan traditions and the estate's winemaking heritage.


Venue

Aerial wide shot of a French country estate's outdoor grounds, featuring a rectangular stone-edged swimming pool with blue water on a large lawn. The property includes a balustraded stone terrace wall, terracotta-roofed outbuildings, and tall cypress trees flanking the grounds. The surrounding landscape shows dense woodland and what appears to be a small village in the distance. No people are visible in this image. Potential venue feature image.
A fire performer is captured mid-act during a nighttime wedding entertainment segment, spinning fire poi or a fire staff to create a large circular trail of sparks and flames. The performance takes place in the courtyard of a French chateau, with stone arched colonnades and a balustrade upper-level facade illuminated in warm golden-green uplighting. The long-exposure wide shot captures the full arc of the fire trail surrounding the performer, with sparks scattering across the gravel courtyard floor. The overall color palette contrasts deep blue-black night sky against the warm orange and gold of the fire and the green-tinted floodlit stone architecture. Potential venue feature image.
A wide establishing shot of Paris featuring the Eiffel Tower rising prominently between classic Haussmann-style cream stone apartment buildings with wrought iron balconies. No wedding subjects, couple, or wedding-related decor are visible in this image. The shot appears to serve as a location or venue context image, likely used to establish a Paris wedding setting. Potential venue feature image.

Chateau de Poudenas stands amid rolling Gascony countryside, its honey-colored facade framed by century-old pines and a grand double staircase. An aerial perspective reveals the balustraded terrace, rectangular swimming pool, and surrounding woodland stretching toward a distant village. The estate's architecture and panoramic setting earned its reputation as the French Tuscany.


More from the Day

Close-up detail shot of a two-tier semi-naked wedding cake placed on a rustic wooden stool, decorated with green foliage sprigs and small blue and purple flowers. The stool sits on a vintage red and navy patterned rug laid over a gravel surface, contributing to a boho outdoor styling aesthetic. In the background, a round wooden side table holds brass candlesticks and a decorative plate with berries and dark leaves. The edge of a white fabric garment is visible at the right of the frame.
A styled shoot or vendor showcase featuring three women posing with a vintage orange-and-white Citroën 2CV van that appears to be converted into a mobile bar, with a tap visible on the side. Two women stand on either side of the vehicle and one sits in the driver's seat, all wearing matching retro-style outfits consisting of white cap-sleeve tops, coral-red full circle skirts with black petticoats, black belts, and coral-red heels. The styling theme is 1950s rockabilly or pin-up inspired. The setting is outdoor against a stone wall with arched architectural details, likely at a French chateau or historic venue. The shot is a wide portrait-style composition capturing all three figures and the full vehicle.
An outdoor ceremony or cocktail hour setup on a lawn in front of a French country estate with stone and rendered facades, terracotta roof tiles, and burgundy shutters. The seating arrangement features mustard yellow and burgundy velvet armchairs paired with low wooden coffee tables, styled in a boho-rustic theme. Large glass vase bottles filled with dried pampas grass and dried grasses line the central aisle, and a macramé arch adorned with pampas grass marks the focal point between two tall cypress trees. The wide shot captures the full layout of the space with the venue buildings visible in the background. Potential venue feature image.
A black-and-white getting-ready portrait of the groom indoors, standing against a light-toned wall beneath a crystal candelabra chandelier. The groom has a full beard, slicked-back hair, large ear gauges, and extensive chest and arm tattoos visible through his open white dress shirt; he holds his suit jacket over one arm and looks down at a boutonniere he is pinning or adjusting. The image is a mid-length portrait with soft, high-key tones and gentle contrast, giving the room a bright, airy feel.
Aesthetic
Eco-Friendly, Nature-led
Guest Count
-
Budget Range
-
Bride's Dress
-

Love this wedding? There are hundreds more.

Real weddings, venue guides, and planning inspiration, in your inbox every month.

More Real Weddings in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Discover More

Browse our curated venue collections.

Share This Wedding
10 chapters

Planning a Destination Wedding in France?

Our complete guide covers everything from choosing a region to the morning-after breakfast.

Read the Complete Guide