Handmade Charm and Golden Light at Chateau de Lacoste, Dordogne

Laura and Brian's rustic wedding at Chateau de Lacoste in the Dordogne featured handmade details, a chapel ceremony, and photography by Karen McGowran.

By Elena Moretti | Published 3 September 2012

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Chateau

Chateau de Lacoste

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · Dordogne

Up to 130 guests

From €9,500 4.7 (88)

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Chateau

Chateau de Lacoste

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · Dordogne

Up to 130 guests

From €9,500 4.7 (88)

Laura and Brian chose Chateau de Lacoste, a romantic wedding chateau overlooking the Dordogne countryside for their relaxed yet elegant celebration. Planned by Beth Stretton of Marry Me in France and captured by Karen McGowran, the week-long gathering in the Dordogne paired handmade details with French charm.

Photography

Venue

Chateau de Lacoste, Dordogne

Region

Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Couple

Laura & Brian

Getting Ready

A bridesmaid stands in a portrait shot inside what appears to be a chateau or manor house, positioned beside tall wooden paneled doors with natural window light falling across her from the right. She wears a strapless dusty mauve floor-length gown with a sweetheart neckline and a gathered waist detail, and holds a small round bouquet of white roses and cream blooms with a small purple floral accent. Her dark hair is styled in an updo and she gazes off to the side toward the light source. The warm wood paneling and draped floral curtain visible at the edge of the frame suggest a classic, traditional interior setting.

Laura dressed in the chateau's sunlit rooms, her preparations marked by laughter and the careful attention of her bridesmaids in dusky pink. She had crafted many of the day's details herself, from wooden easels to raffia-tied ceremony booklets. The morning carried an easy warmth that set the tone for the relaxed celebration ahead.

Ceremony

A young flower girl, approximately toddler age, stands in the center aisle of a Catholic church during a wedding ceremony, wearing a white tulle dress with a small floral hair clip, looking directly at the camera with a wide-eyed expression. In the background, the bride in a white gown and groom in a dark suit stand at the altar before a stone religious statue and crucifix. Church pew ends are decorated with mixed floral arrangements featuring pink roses, white blooms, and green foliage tied with gold and pink ribbon streamers. Guests visible on either side include women wearing decorative hats and fascinators in pink tones, with one guest in a bright fuchsia outfit. The shot is a medium portrait taken from aisle level, with the altar scene softly out of focus in the background.

Close-up detail shot of a rustic wire basket with a wooden handle holding multiple cone-shaped pouches made from white lace doilies, each filled with dried flower petals in blush pink and cream tones. The cones appear to be confetti toss favors prepared for guests, likely for a ceremony exit. The styling is romantic and vintage-rustic, with the lace cones and soft petal colors creating a delicate, handcrafted aesthetic. The image has a slightly soft focus and warm, muted tones overall.

Inside the chateau's on-site chapel, Celebrants in France led a humanist ceremony as live music by Musique-Wedding-Receptions filled the stone space. Laura and Brian exchanged vows surrounded by hand-crafted touches, from the raffia-tied order of service to the cork place markers lining the aisle. The intimate setting and personal officiation gave the moment a depth that resonated with every guest.

Bridal Portraits

A bride and groom stand together on a lawn in front of a small stone Gothic-style chapel with a steeply pitched roof and pointed arched windows. The couple faces each other in a portrait pose, shot as a wide-angle full-length image. The bride wears a white strapless ball gown with a long cathedral-length veil, while the groom is dressed in dark trousers with a white dress shirt and light beige vest. The overall styling is classic and traditional. Potential venue feature image.

Black-and-white portrait of a bride and groom walking away from the camera hand-in-hand along a wide gravel path bordered by manicured lawns and trimmed topiary trees. The bride wears a full-length gown with a long cathedral-length veil that billows to the side in the breeze, while the groom is dressed in a dark suit. The surrounding landscape features rolling hills and dense tree lines in the background. The image is a wide mid-shot with strong contrast between the light gravel path and the darker tones of the lawn and treeline.

A bridal portrait taken indoors, with the bride standing in front of ornate dark wood paneling. The bride wears a white strapless A-line gown with lace detailing along the bodice and a mid-length veil with her hair pulled back. She holds a rounded bouquet featuring deep purple, mauve, and hot pink roses with trailing greenery. She is gazing to one side with a smile. The image is a medium portrait shot with warm, directional lighting that highlights the bride against the rich wood background.

Framed by the honey-coloured stone and golden Dordogne landscapes, Laura posed in her gown with its old-rose bouquet arranged by Art-et-Fleurs. The soft pinks and purples of the flowers echoed the bridesmaids' dusky dresses visible just beyond the frame. Each portrait captured the region's warm light and the bride's radiant confidence.

Couple Portraits

A couple poses together at the entrance of a stone chapel or chateau with Gothic-style arched doorway and decorative stonework, photographed at sunset with a vivid orange sky in the background. The bride wears a white floor-length gown and the groom is dressed in a light-colored suit, and they are leaning close together on the stone steps of the entrance. The wide-angle shot uses dramatic backlighting from the setting sun, creating strong contrast between the warm golden sky and the darkened silhouette of the building and surrounding landscape. Potential venue feature image.

A groom stands alone in front of a traditional French stone building, positioned in a doorway framed by cream-painted wooden shutters and a glass-paned double door. He is dressed in a dark navy or black suit with a white dress shirt, white pocket square, and a small white boutonniere. The portrait is a full-length, slightly wide shot taken at ground level, with the groom centered in the composition on a low stone step. The warm, muted tones of the image give it a soft, film-like quality consistent with classic wedding photography style.

A bride and groom sit together on a wooden bench outdoors, sharing a kiss or close embrace while facing a wide landscape view at sunset. The bride wears a white gown with a long veil, and the groom is dressed in a white shirt. The couple is positioned in the lower-right area of the frame, silhouetted against a warm orange and gold sunset sky with scattered clouds. The setting appears to be an elevated outdoor terrace or lawn with a panoramic view of rolling hills. Wide shot composition with the couple as small figures against the expansive sky, emphasizing the landscape backdrop.

Karen McGowran captured Laura and Brian exploring the nearby village of Daglan for their post-wedding portraits. The couple walked through sunlit streets and ancient doorways, their connection evident in every candid glance. The images offered a romantic epilogue to the week's celebrations, perfectly framed by the Dordogne countryside.

Flat Lays

A close-up flat lay of a wedding ceremony booklet printed in dusty rose typography on cream card stock, reading 'Wedding Ceremony, Chateau de Lognac, 25th June 2012,' with a hand-illustrated sketch of a French chateau printed at the bottom of the cover. Two sprigs of fresh purple lavender are laid across the booklet, and a second booklet tied with natural raffia ribbon is partially visible behind it. The shot is styled against a weathered stone surface, suggesting a Provençal or South of France aesthetic.

A wedding ceremony taking place inside a small historic French chapel with Gothic vaulted stone ceilings, arched windows with stained glass, and painted religious statues along the walls. The bride in a white gown and groom in a dark suit stand at the altar before an officiant, with a lit candle visible behind them. Approximately 20-30 guests are seated in traditional wooden chairs arranged in rows, with several women wearing decorative hats or fascinators. The wooden chair ends along the aisle are decorated with small bouquets of pink and white flowers tied with cream ribbon bows, adding a delicate floral detail to the classic, traditional ceremony styling. The shot is taken from the back of the chapel looking toward the altar, giving a wide perspective of the full interior.

A close-up detail shot of a green and white directional sign reading 'PARKING MARIAGE' with a right-pointing arrow, mounted on a white post beside a stone wall. In the soft-focus background, a white ornate wrought-iron gate is visible alongside a neatly trimmed topiary ball tree. The sign uses dark green lettering on a white background with a green border, consistent with classic French roadside signage styling.

Close-up detail shot of a wedding reception table setting featuring a small wooden easel displaying a table name card reading 'St Emilion' in burgundy script on a cream and kraft paper card, with a matching menu card stacked behind it secured with a burgundy wax seal. The centerpiece in the background includes a large white pillar candle surrounded by a low floral arrangement of mauve roses, pink roses, cream blooms, and purple flowers with greenery. A wine glass and olive oil bottle are partially visible at the edges of the frame, suggesting a French-inspired reception styling with a classic, romantic decor palette of cream, burgundy, and shades of pink and purple.

Laura's handmade details filled every corner: wooden easels with hand-lettered signage, cork place cards, and wine-bottle labels crafted with personal touches. Raffia-tied ceremony booklets rested on chapel pews while close-up shots captured the textures and layered styling. Each flat lay told the story of a bride who poured creativity into every element.

The Venue

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

Premium

Chateau

Chateau de Lacoste

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · Dordogne

An XVIII century family chateau in the heart of Périgord Noir, overlooking the Dordogne valley. A classified cultural heritage site set in 3 hectares of parkland with an infinity pool, French garden, Lourdes Grotto and small chapel, sleeping 55 guests and hosting up to 130 for weddings.

Up to 130 guests

From €9,500 4.7 (88)

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