A Sultry 1920s Wedding at Chateau Lagorce, Dordogne

Nicole and Gregg's 1920s-inspired wedding at Chateau Lagorce in Dordogne with candelabras, jazz music, and croquembouche, captured by Mark Gashi.

By Elena Moretti | Published 19 March 2014

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Chateau

Chateau Lagorce

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · Gironde

Up to 150 guests

From €42,800 4.8 (111)

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Chateau

Chateau Lagorce

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · Gironde

Up to 150 guests

From €42,800 4.8 (111)

Nicole and Gregg brought their love of 1920s glamour to Chateau Lagorce, a multi-award-winning fairytale castle near Bordeaux for a long weekend celebration in the Dordogne. Inspired by a visit to Josephine Baker's Chateau Milandes, Nicole styled every detail from candelabras and jazz music to art deco stationery and a croquembouche cake.

Photography

Mark Gashi Photography

Venue

Chateau Lagorce, Gironde

Region

Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Couple

Nicole & Gregg

Ceremony

A three-image collage from a wedding day. Top image: four men in matching navy suits with pink ties and white rose boutonnieres stand and converse in front of a white ornate wrought-iron arch topped with a cross, set in an outdoor garden ceremony space — a medium wide shot. Bottom left: a man in a navy suit crouches to hug a young flower girl wearing a white dress and a white feathered headband, who is holding a small white drawstring bag — a close portrait shot taken outdoors on grass. Bottom right: a black-and-white aerial shot looking down a grand interior staircase with a wrought-iron banister, showing several formally dressed guests and wedding party members descending the stairs inside what appears to be a chateau or manor house — high contrast tones with bright natural light from a skylight window visible. Potential venue feature image.

A split image showing two elements from the Pharo-Smith wedding in 2013. On the left is a close-up of an Art Deco-styled wedding itinerary printed in black on cream card stock, listing the day's schedule from a 4PM ceremony through to a 9PM first dance, with the tagline 'Drink Champagne • Dance All Night.' On the right is a wide exterior shot of a French chateau courtyard featuring honey-colored stone architecture with a turret, arched doorways, a balcony with red flowering plants, and a small child in a patterned dress standing in the foreground. Potential venue feature image.

Close-up detail shot of a bridal bouquet resting on a white wooden folding chair at an outdoor wedding ceremony. The bouquet is composed of white roses, white calla lilies, baby's breath, green hypericum berries, and broad green leaves. Rows of white folding chairs are arranged on a grass lawn in the background, with ceremony programs visible on one of the chairs. A wooden structure, likely a chalet or pavilion, is visible in the soft-focus background, suggesting a garden or parkside setting. The overall decor palette is white and green with a classic, understated style.

A celebrant arranged by Chateau Lagorce's owners Anna and Edward led the ceremony on the chateau's terrace, with guests gathered in the Dordogne heat. White lilies and roses dressed the ceremony space, their neutral palette keeping the visual tone restrained and elegant. Nicole and Gregg exchanged their vows with the vineyard stretching behind them, the 45-degree warmth adding an undeniable intensity to the afternoon.

Bridal Portraits

A bride walks away from the camera along a grass path between two rows of grapevines in an outdoor vineyard setting. She wears a sleeveless ivory gown with a low open back featuring a halter-style strap detail, and her blonde hair is worn up. The shot is a wide portrait taken from behind, with the vine rows creating strong leading lines toward the horizon. The dress has a gathered, slightly draped skirt that brushes the ground as she walks.

A side-by-side composite of two shots taken at the same French chateau venue, showing a couple descending a grand stone staircase flanked by stone balustrades. The left image is in color, showing a wide shot of the steep exterior staircase leading up to the chateau's stone tower with a pointed turret and ivy-covered walls; a stone urn statue holding a planter with red geraniums is visible at the base, and two figures can be seen near the top of the stairs. The right image is black-and-white with strong contrast, showing the bride in a long white gown and the groom in a dark suit walking down the same staircase together, with the full chateau facade and turret visible in the background. Both shots are wide-angle architectural-portrait compositions that prominently feature the historic chateau exterior. Potential venue feature image.

A couple stands side by side with their backs to the camera on a stone terrace with a classical balustrade, looking out over a wooded landscape. The groom wears navy trousers, a white dress shirt, and a navy patterned waistcoat, while the bride wears a champagne/ivory fitted gown with a low open back and halter neckline, with a short train resting on the stone floor. The shot is taken from behind in a wide portrait composition, emphasizing the open-back dress detail and the terrace architecture. Potential venue feature image.

A black-and-white diptych featuring two portrait shots from the same wedding. On the left, the bride and groom are seated together on an ornate upholstered sofa indoors, with the bride reclining against the groom's chest; she wears a fitted white dress with a high neckline and a delicate hair accessory, while the groom wears a white shirt, dark waistcoat, and tie. The composition is a close-mid portrait with soft natural light from a nearby window. On the right, the groom sits alone in an antique armchair placed on a gravel courtyard in front of a French chateau-style building with a pointed turret and shuttered windows, with a large patio umbrella visible behind him; the shot is a wide portrait capturing both the subject and the architecture. Both images have strong contrast with deep blacks and bright highlights. Potential venue feature image.

Nicole fully embraced her 1920s inspiration, her glamorous styling capturing the era's confidence and allure. Mark Gashi Photography framed her against the 17th-century chateau's restored interiors, where art deco details and warm stone created a fitting stage. In the vineyard beyond, the couple escaped for intimate portraits where the Dordogne light softened every edge.

Reception

This image shows the interior of a winery cave or cellar, featuring a row of large oak wine barrels with dark red metal hoops mounted on wooden and metal stands along a concrete floor. The space is dimly lit with a single overhead light, revealing aged stone and plaster walls, stacked wine cases on the left, and winemaking equipment visible on the right. No people, wedding party, or wedding-related decor are present in this image. This appears to be a venue or property feature shot rather than a wedding photograph.

A side-by-side image showing a traditional French croquembouche wedding cake and the couple eating from it. The croquembouche is a tall cone-shaped tower of caramel-glazed profiteroles decorated with chocolate-dipped choux puffs and small pastel blue and pink sugar decorations, topped with a figurine bride-and-groom cake topper, displayed on a white square cake stand on a white linen-covered table with a cake knife beside it. The right panel shows a close-up portrait of the groom, who is bald and wearing a white shirt, leaning over the bride as they both eat a profiterole directly from the tower. The setting is an outdoor courtyard or terrace against a stone wall, consistent with a French chateau or farmhouse venue, suggesting a relaxed reception atmosphere.

Black-and-white image of a first dance taking place on an outdoor stone terrace at night, with the couple embracing and kissing at the center of a circle formed by approximately 25-30 guests watching around them. The groom wears dark trousers and a light shirt, while the bride appears to be in a short white dress. A young girl in a patterned dress stands in the foreground slightly apart from the crowd. Guests are dressed in summer attire including short dresses and shirtsleeves, suggesting a warm evening event. A small cocktail table with candles and what appears to be a floral centerpiece is visible to the left, and several guests are photographing the moment with cameras and phones. The shot is a wide-angle, slightly elevated view capturing the full scene with high contrast between the dark sky and the lit figures below.

Guests gathered around a horseshoe-shaped table on the top terrace for a Lyonnais salad, duck confit, and Bordeaux caneles, with wines from Chateau Lagorce's own vineyard. Large candelabras entwined with white lilies lined the centre, and vintage teacup-and-saucer favours sat at each place. A croquembouche cake anchored the table, and after speeches, the party moved to the middle terrace where Mess Agency DJ played well past midnight.

Design and Details

A wide shot of a historic French chateau or manor house exterior, featuring a stone staircase leading up to the main building. In the foreground, a decorative stone statue of a figure holds a large planter bowl filled with red geraniums. The building has pale blue shuttered windows, a pointed slate turret, and stone crenellations along the roofline, with climbing green ivy and shrubs framing the facade. No people or wedding-specific activity are visible in this image, which appears to be a venue exterior shot taken in natural daylight. Potential venue feature image.

Wide shot of a French country estate courtyard featuring aged stone buildings with white shuttered windows and terracotta roof tiles. A covered wooden wine or olive press structure with a large wooden barrel mechanism is positioned centrally in the courtyard, suggesting a working or historic domaine. Purple lavender plants fill the foreground, and potted red geraniums are placed near the entrance portico with decorative stone columns. No people are present in this image. Potential venue feature image.

Black-and-white overhead shot looking straight down onto an interior staircase of what appears to be a classic French building, featuring ornate patterned floor tiles and a wrought-iron spiral newel post. A bride in a long white gown carries a white bouquet and descends the stairs accompanied by at least one other woman also holding a bouquet, while two more women in dark dresses stand on the tiled landing below. The high-contrast image captures the geometric interplay of the staircase, decorative tilework, and figures from a dramatic bird's-eye perspective. The setting suggests a mairie or historic townhouse interior.

A creative portrait shot captured through the reflection of a large gold-framed mirror mounted on a wall, showing a bride and her escort descending a grand interior staircase with a deep burgundy carpet runner and wrought-iron railing. The man, likely the father of the bride, wears a navy double-breasted blazer, cream trousers, and a white boutonnière, and is holding the bride's hand as he leads her down. The bride wears a sleek ivory halter-neck gown with a minimalist silhouette and carries a round bouquet of ivory and pale yellow flowers with green foliage. The interior setting appears to be a chateau or manor house, with classic white stone walls and ornate architectural details visible in the background. The composition uses the gilded mirror frame as a creative framing device, adding depth to the image.

The 1920s theme ran through every design choice, from art deco stationery and jazz music to the ornate white chalkboard table plan. Mini chalkboards marked each table with the names of famous French chateaux. Candelabras, white lilies, and neutral tones kept the aesthetic grounded, while the vintage teacup favours added a personal, collected quality to the reception.

Flat Lays

A three-image collage of wedding details and guests at Chateau Lagorce, dated 20th July 2013. The top image is a close-up detail shot of a white painted wooden hanging heart ornament featuring two doves and the text 'Mr & Mrs Smith', suspended against a softly blurred outdoor background. The bottom-left image shows a framed congratulatory print in a gold frame, illustrated with wine bottles, glasses, and grape motifs in red and green, reading 'Congratulations Nicole & Greg on your Wedding Day at Chateau Lagorce on the 20th July 2013', reflecting a wine-themed decor element. The bottom-right image is a wide shot of approximately 15 guests mingling outdoors during a cocktail hour against the stone facade of the chateau, with the bride in an ivory gown visible among the group; guests are dressed in smart-casual summer attire in various colors including red, blue, and floral prints.

This black-and-white image captures an outdoor wedding ceremony taking place on a lawn, with the couple standing at the altar end of the aisle. The bride wears a sleek, fluid gown with a halter neckline, a long train, and a delicate headpiece or crown, and holds a small bouquet. The groom is dressed in a dark suit with a boutonniere. Both are looking downward, appearing to share a quiet moment. Behind them, approximately 20–25 guests are seated on white folding chairs arranged in rows on either side of a dark aisle runner. A bridesmaid in a light-colored halter dress is visible in the background, along with a groomsman in a waistcoat. A white picnic-style fence and a large patio umbrella are visible in the background. The image is a medium-wide shot taken from the officiant's side, capturing the full scene with strong contrast between the bright daylight and the dark tones of the groom's suit.

A collage of three getting-ready detail and portrait shots. Top left: a close-up of dark navy blue open-toe heels with embellished floral crystal embellishments, displayed on their shoe box in a warmly lit interior setting. Top right: a pair of ivory or champagne satin platform heels with ankle straps displayed on the footboard of a dark wood bed frame in a classically furnished bedroom with floral curtains visible in the background. Bottom right: a black-and-white portrait of a woman, likely a bridesmaid or the bride, adjusting her hair or headpiece with both hands raised; she is seated in a chair in an ornately furnished interior room, wearing a floral or patterned top, with soft contrast and mid tones throughout the image.

Vintage teacups and saucers doubled as place settings and guest favours, each one sourced individually and tagged with a handwritten name card. Art deco-inspired stationery in neutral tones introduced the 1920s theme from the very first detail. Rings, personal accessories, and styling notes were arranged against the chateau's warm stone surfaces.

More from the Day

A getting-ready portrait of a bride standing at an open white-framed sash window inside what appears to be a chateau or manor house room, turning to look back toward the camera. She has long blonde hair worn loosely and is accessorized with a delicate silver chain headpiece across her forehead in a boho style. She is wearing a light grey or pale wrap top or getting-ready robe. The room behind her shows aged, peeling wallpaper with a floral pattern and a dark wood armoire, suggesting a vintage or rustic interior. Natural sunlight streams through the window, creating strong contrast between the bright window side and the darker interior. Close-up portrait composition with the window frame as a leading element.

A diptych of two getting-ready portraits, both taken inside what appears to be a chateau room with tall French doors. The left image is black-and-white, showing a bride in silhouette standing in an open doorway with her long cathedral-length veil and fitted gown trailing behind her; the high contrast between the bright exterior light and the dark interior creates a strong graphic composition. The right image is a color portrait of the same bride, a blonde woman in a silver-grey satin slip-style gown, glancing back over her shoulder while standing at an open window framed by cream floral-print curtains with red and green botanical motifs; the room features yellow-painted walls. Both shots are medium full-length portraits that emphasize the interior setting and the bride's dress, with the window and door openings used as compositional framing devices.

An outdoor garden setting photographed through an open wrought-iron gate covered with flowering wisteria in soft purple blooms and dense green foliage. The wide shot looks through the gateway onto a garden path leading to a low stone balustrade wall, with rolling countryside visible in the background. No people are present in the frame. The image primarily showcases the venue's garden architecture and grounds. Potential venue feature image.

A three-image collage showing cocktail hour entertainment and reception details at an outdoor French venue. The top image shows a live band performing under large black umbrellas on a stone courtyard in front of a limestone building: two male musicians in black outfits playing electric guitars and two female vocalists in black strapless jumpsuits singing into a vintage-style microphone, with wedding guests visible in the background. The bottom-left detail shot shows a silver champagne ice bucket holding two bottles of rosé champagne on a white linen-covered table, with glassware and small plates visible. The bottom-right close-up shows a vintage floral-patterned teacup and saucer in white with a pink rose motif, accompanied by a spoon and a small tag, styled in a classic or vintage theme. Potential venue feature image.

Aesthetic

1920s Art Deco, Jazz Era

Guest Count

50 guests

Budget Range

Bride's Dress

The Wedding Team

Venue

Chateau Lagorce

FWS

Photography

Mark Gashi Photography

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The Venue

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

Premium

Chateau

Chateau Lagorce

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · Gironde

A 15th century fortified chateau in the Bordeaux wine region, set among ancient woodland and a private lake, offering exclusive-use destination weddings for up to 150 guests with 50 sleeping on-site across 22 en-suite rooms.

Up to 150 guests

From €42,800 4.8 (111)

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