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French Wedding Style

A Relaxed Hilltop Wedding at Chateau Soulac, Dordogne

Tom and Kate's relaxed destination wedding at Chateau Soulac in Dordogne with lavender styling, hilltop ceremony views, and 150 guests celebrating in the French countryside.

By Elena Moretti | Published 19 December 2014
A Relaxed Hilltop Wedding at Chateau Soulac, Dordogne
Chateau
Chateau Soulac wedding venue

Chateau Soulac

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · Gironde

Up to 100 guests
From €16,000 4.7 (29)

Tom and Kate's wedding weekend at Chateau Soulac, a historic hilltop estate overlooking the Dordogne Valley brought together 150 guests for a relaxed celebration filled with lavender, local wine, and golden countryside light. Set in the heart of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, their day balanced rustic French charm with deeply personal details.

Photography
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Venue
Chateau Soulac, Gironde
Region
Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Couple
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Getting Ready

A two-image composite showing getting-ready details alongside a venue exterior shot. On the left, an ivory strapless lace wedding gown with a layered tulle skirt hangs from an ornate white-framed mirror against a pale blue wall, with sheer white curtains in the background — a close-up detail shot. On the right, a softly focused exterior view of a French-style venue with white rendered arched colonnades, vine-covered walls, and a gravel courtyard, with lavender plants in the foreground — a medium wide shot. Potential venue feature image.
A getting-ready scene showing a bride and four bridesmaids posing together indoors, likely in a hallway or corridor with framed pictures visible on the wall behind them. The bride wears a white satin robe and a delicate floral crown of small white flowers in her hair, while the four bridesmaids wear matching magenta floral print robes featuring large pink, yellow, and purple rose patterns on a white background. All five women have their hair and makeup done, with the bride wearing a side braid. The group is smiling directly at the camera in a close portrait-style shot.
Close-up portrait of a bride from the shoulders down, holding a hand-tied bridal bouquet in front of her strapless white lace dress. The bouquet features blush pink peonies, a coral garden rose, white hydrangeas, bright cobalt blue cornflowers, pale blue agapanthus, cream stock flowers, small white astilbe sprays, and ivory sweet peas, creating a colorful summer palette. The bride wears a delicate pendant necklace and a ring is visible on her hand. The background is softly blurred in pale blue and white tones, consistent with an indoor getting-ready setting near a window.
A portrait of two women posing together indoors in front of sheer white curtains, likely taken during the getting-ready portion of the wedding day. The bride wears a strapless, fitted ivory lace and tulle gown with a small train, while the older woman beside her — likely the mother of the bride — wears a knee-length navy chiffon dress with a navy feather and fascinator headpiece and a pearl necklace. The room features terracotta tile flooring and pale blue walls, with a white-framed mirror visible to the left. The image is a straightforward two-person portrait shot at mid-distance.

In a room with blue-painted walls and terracotta floors, the bridal party prepared together in a relaxed morning atmosphere. Kate chose a gown that felt effortlessly comfortable, paired with classic Roland Cartier shoes and a last-minute veil that completed her look. Tom selected a blue three-piece Reiss suit, perfectly suited for a day in the French countryside.

Ceremony

A two-image panel from an outdoor garden wedding ceremony. On the left, the bride and groom share a first kiss and embrace beneath a leafy tree; the bride wears a fitted, sleeveless white lace gown with a long train, and the groom wears a navy blue suit with brown shoes. On the right, the couple performs a unity sand ceremony at a small white bistro table, which holds two tall clear vases and several silver mercury-glass vessels; the bride wears a peach or coral flower accent in her hair, and the groom's boutonnière features a coral/peach bloom. White folding chairs with seated guests are visible in the background, indicating an outdoor lawn ceremony setting. Both images are close-to-medium portrait shots with bright, airy natural lighting and a classic, relaxed styling approach.
An outdoor wedding ceremony takes place beneath a large tree, with the groom reading his vows from a small card or booklet. The groom wears a navy blue three-piece suit with a dark navy tie and a coral/peach rose boutonniere. The bride stands with her back to the camera, wearing a white lace gown and a long cathedral-length veil with a pearl or crystal hair accessory at the crown. A third person, likely the officiant, is partially visible at the far right edge of the frame. The composition is a medium portrait shot with the tree trunk dominating the left side and bokeh foliage filling the background.
A composite of two images from an outdoor garden wedding ceremony. The top image shows the groom in a navy blue suit with a pink boutonniere standing at the altar position alongside his best man in a navy blue vest and trousers, while the officiant in a beige linen suit holds a black folder; the setting is a manicured garden lawn shaded by a large tree, with white chair rows visible in the background. The bottom image is black and white and captures the bride being walked down the aisle by what appears to be her father, both facing the groom; the bride wears a fitted lace gown and carries a rounded bouquet, while seated and standing guests line the aisle on white folding chairs beneath the same large tree canopy. The ceremony has a relaxed, rustic-garden style with minimal visible decor beyond the natural setting.
The bride and groom walk back up the aisle following an outdoor ceremony, greeted with celebratory cheers and confetti from guests on either side. The ceremony takes place in a garden setting beneath a large leafy tree, with trimmed hedges and hanging lanterns visible in the background. The bride wears a fitted strapless white gown and carries a bouquet of peach, coral, and pink blooms, while the groom wears a navy blue suit with a peach boutonniere. Approximately four to five guests are visible in the foreground, dressed in a mix of casual and colorful attire, with the group captured in a mid-shot candid composition.

The outdoor ceremony unfolded on the chateau terrace with sweeping views of the Dordogne valley below. Clocks mounted on a tree trunk marked the hours as guests gathered among lavender sprigs and rustic wooden signage. The couple exchanged vows in the golden light, surrounded by 150 friends and family who had made the journey to France.

Reception

A wedding speech is taking place during a reception dinner inside a rustic stone barn venue. A man in a grey suit holding a microphone stands at the end of a long banquet table delivering his speech, while the bride in a white strapless dress and the groom in a blue waistcoat sit among guests laughing and listening. The table is dressed with candlelight from gold votives, glassware, bottles, and what appear to be loose floral centerpieces in pink and green tones. The venue features exposed stone walls, heavy wooden ceiling beams, and strings of warm fairy lights along with colorful bunting banners hanging overhead, creating a rustic, informal atmosphere. The shot is taken from a slightly elevated wide angle, with a blurred guest in the foreground framing the scene.
A reception tablescape detail shot showing a long banquet table set for a wedding dinner inside a rustic stone-walled venue with exposed, cracked plaster walls. The table is covered in a white linen cloth and lined with white painted wooden folding chairs with woven seats on both sides. Centerpieces include coral and pink ranunculus or peonies, small purple florals, green wine bottles used as vases, mercury glass and metallic vessels, crystal glassware, and white table number cards. Empty white ornate picture frames of varying sizes are mounted decoratively on the distressed stone wall in the background, reinforcing a shabby-chic or vintage-rustic styling theme. The perspective is a low-angle shot running the length of the table, giving a sense of scale to the long setup.
An outdoor evening reception taking place in the courtyard of a French stone farmhouse or rural estate, with approximately 30–40 guests gathered in groups across the gravel space. Some guests are seated at round tables with white linens while others stand in conversation clusters near the building's entrance, which is warmly lit from within. Wooden wine barrels are used as decorative and functional elements, and small ground-level candle lanterns line the pathway in the foreground. The warm amber uplighting on the stone building façade contrasts with the deep blue of the night sky, giving the scene a warm, rustic atmosphere consistent with a Provençal or Southwest French countryside aesthetic. Wide-angle shot capturing the full courtyard setting. Potential venue feature image.
A detail-focused split image showing two close-up shots from a wedding reception set in a rustic stone-walled venue. On the left, a reception table is dressed with a white linen cloth and features a small floral centerpiece of bright blue cornflowers, blush and coral roses, and delicate white blooms in a mint green vessel, alongside green wine bottles used as casual decor and standard glassware. On the right, a hand-lettered chalkboard menu sign leaning against a limestone stone wall reads 'Menu' with four courses written in French chalk script, ending with 'Bon Appétit!' — the courses include fine smoked salmon with fresh asparagus, lamb fillet with rosemary jus, a cheese plate, and a chocolate dessert. The overall styling is relaxed and rustic with a wildflower-inspired color palette of blue, blush, and coral.

Inside the stone-walled reception hall, candlelit tables were dressed in white linen with lavender accents and neutral florals. A traditional French croquembouche crowned the evening's feast. Speeches filled the room with laughter before the couple led their guests onto the dance floor for a celebration that carried well into the warm summer night.

Design and Details

Long banquet table with white linen, peach and coral roses, mercury glass vessels, and distressed white stone walls behind
Wide landscape shot taken from an elevated vantage point, showing a sweeping view over treetops toward a river and open countryside beyond. No people, wedding details, or decor are visible in the frame. The image appears to be a venue grounds or location establishing shot, though no buildings or architectural features are shown. Potential venue feature image.
A close-up detail shot of a pair of silver glittery open-toe T-strap heeled sandals, labeled René Caovilla, placed on a dark wooden surface. In the soft-focus foreground, vivid cobalt blue flowers — likely cornflowers or nigella — and green foliage are visible, along with a blurred metallic candleholder in the background. The overall styling suggests a blue and silver decor palette.

The design reflected the setting itself, natural and effortlessly pretty. Lavender sprigs tucked into napkin folds, neutral table runners, and soft florals complemented the chateau's stone walls and terracotta roof tiles. A sweeping view of the river and valley served as the permanent backdrop to every styled detail.

More from the Day

A group portrait taken outdoors featuring the bride and her groomsmen, plus what appears to be a live band, posed together on and around a patterned area rug in a garden setting. The bride wears a strapless white gown and holds a colorful bouquet of pink, coral, and white blooms with greenery, while the groomsmen are dressed in navy suits with charcoal waistcoats, white shirts, dark ties, and small floral buttonholes. Four musicians stand behind the group playing instruments including a ukulele, acoustic guitar, and saxophone, dressed casually in hats and white shirts. The foreground features clusters of cobalt blue delphiniums and white flowers arranged along the edge of the rug, adding a wildflower boho feel to the scene. Wide group shot with approximately 13 people visible.
Close-up portrait of a bridesmaid with long, loosely wavy blonde hair worn down, dressed in a hot pink one-shoulder dress. She is holding a bouquet featuring blush pink peonies, purple cornflowers, and white blooms, and is looking slightly off-camera to one side. The image has a soft, film-quality look with a blurred green outdoor background, suggesting an outdoor setting. The overall styling is colorful and relaxed, with a summery, informal feel.
A flat-lay-style detail shot of three bridal bouquets displayed in glass mason jars on a white surface against a plain light wall. The bouquets feature a mix of large hot pink peonies, mauve and blush roses, peach garden roses, white lisianthus, blue delphinium, and dark berry-toned filler flowers with green foliage. The central bouquet is the largest and most elaborate, wrapped with twine at the neck of the jar, suggesting it is the bridal bouquet, while the two flanking arrangements are slightly smaller and serve as bridesmaid bouquets. The overall floral palette is a soft garden-style mix of pink, peach, mauve, white, and blue, consistent with a romantic, garden-inspired wedding aesthetic.
Guests are seated outdoors during a wedding ceremony, watching proceedings from white folding chairs arranged in rows. The setting appears to be a garden or grounds under bright sunlight with a white canopy or tent visible in the background. In the foreground, three young men wearing matching navy waistcoats, white dress shirts, and navy ties with small floral buttonnieres are visible — likely groomsmen — with two wearing sunglasses including one in a straw fedora hat. Behind them, a larger crowd of approximately 30 or more guests is visible, dressed in summer attire. The shot is a medium wide-angle taken from a low angle, looking back toward the seated guests rather than toward the altar.
Aesthetic
Rustic, French countryside
Guest Count
150 guests
Budget Range
-
Bride's Dress
Relaxed gown with last-minute veil and Roland Cartier shoes

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The Venue

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

Premium
Chateau
Chateau Soulac wedding venue

Chateau Soulac

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · Gironde

A fortified 17th-century chateau with 14th-century monastery origins, set on 8 hectares of vineyards and woodland overlooking the Dordogne river and valley, offering exclusive use for weddings of up to 90 guests with accommodation for 22.

Up to 100 guests
From €16,000 4.7 (29)
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