An International Wedding Weekend at Chateau de Brindos, Biarritz

Celine and Stephan's wedding weekend at Chateau de Brindos in Biarritz blended French-German heritage with Basque coastal charm, captured by M&J Photography.

By Elena Moretti | Published 10 September 2017

An International Wedding Weekend at Chateau de Brindos, Biarritz

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Celine and Stephan, a French-German couple living in Dubai, chose Chateau de Brindos for a weekend celebration that honoured the people who shaped their lives. Their wedding in Biarritz wove together Basque traditions, Atlantic coastline beauty, and the warmth of family gathered from around the world.

Photography

M&J Photography

Venue

Château de Brindos

Region

Biarritz, France

Couple

Celine & Stephan

Getting Ready

A bridal portrait taken outdoors on a white boat floating on a calm water feature with lily pads visible in the background. The bride is seated in the boat wearing a fitted white sleeveless gown with a long cathedral veil, holding a white lace-trimmed parasol in one hand and a bouquet of yellow and orange lilies in the other. Her hair is styled in a loose updo and she is wearing a pearl necklace. The shot is a medium portrait taken from slightly above, with natural bright sunlight creating strong contrast.

A diptych of two getting-ready images featuring the bride in an indoor setting, likely a hotel room or dressing room. In the left frame, the bride is seated in an ornate wooden chair with her back to the camera, wearing a white off-the-shoulder robe, her blonde hair styled in an upswept chignon. In the right frame, the bride is seen from behind holding a BlackBerry smartphone, with a vanity table covered in makeup products visible in the background. Both images have a candid, documentary feel with soft natural window light.

A bride stands outdoors laughing, posed in front of a bright yellow vintage Fiat 500 car parked near a lakeside setting. She wears a fitted white V-neck gown with a short train and has her hair styled in an updo. A large decorative metal letter 'S' stands beside her on the grass, used as a personalized decor prop. The shot is a full-length portrait with a casual, joyful feel against a backdrop of trees and open water.

The morning unfolded in a bright, airy room at Chateau de Brindos, where Celine prepared surrounded by her closest friends. Laughter and champagne set the tone as hair and makeup came together with natural ease. The bride's gown, refined and understated, reflected the relaxed sophistication she envisioned for the entire weekend.

Ceremony

Two young children walk down a red carpet aisle during an outdoor wedding ceremony, carrying a large burlap banner with hand-lettered text reading 'BRIDE' and what appears to be a name above it. The girl on the left wears a white dress with a teal or blue sash and sandals, while the boy on the right wears a light blue shirt, leather-style brown suspender shorts (lederhosen style), knee-high white socks, and black shoes. The aisle is scattered with rose petals, and green hedges and a building facade are visible in the background. The image is a vertical portrait shot taken from a low angle, capturing the children walking toward the camera.

Close-up detail shot of a wicker basket holding a stack of wedding ceremony programs, each tied with a teal satin ribbon. The programs feature light blue or mint covers, and the teal ribbon accents create a cohesive color scheme. The basket is placed on a white surface, set outdoors in a garden setting with green foliage visible in the background. The overall decor palette suggests a teal and mint color theme for the wedding.

The religious ceremony at Chateau de Brindos gathered friends and family in an atmosphere charged with emotion. Readings in both French and German honoured the couple's dual heritage, while the golden afternoon light filtered through the space. Celine and Stephan exchanged vows with a calm sincerity that drew visible emotion from their guests.

Bridal Portraits

A couple portrait taken outdoors in a garden setting, where the groom, dressed in a dark navy or black suit, is lifting the bride off the ground as they embrace and kiss. The bride wears a fitted ivory lace gown with a long cathedral-length veil that cascades down as she is lifted. The setting features a manicured lawn with a low stone wall in the background and mature trees providing dappled natural backlight. The image is a full-length portrait shot with a bright, slightly overexposed background that creates a soft halo effect around the couple.

A couple portrait taken outdoors in a lush garden setting, with the bride and groom walking hand-in-hand along a low stone wall. The groom wears a black suit with a white boutonniere and a white Panama-style hat, while the bride wears a fitted white gown with a deep V-neckline and a flowing veil, carrying a small bouquet with pale pink blooms. A large flowering shrub with soft pink blossoms — likely hydrangeas — is visible behind them, adding color to the dense green foliage backdrop. The shot is a medium full-length portrait with natural daylight and a relaxed, candid feel.

A bride and groom share a lighthearted, laughing moment together outdoors on a lawn, appearing to dance or pose playfully. The bride wears a fitted ivory lace spaghetti-strap gown and a pearl necklace, with her blonde hair pinned up. The groom is dressed in a dark navy suit with a white tie and pocket square, wearing aviator sunglasses and a white fedora with a navy band. The portrait-style shot is taken in natural daylight with a soft green garden background, capturing a candid, joyful interaction between the couple.

Celine's portraits carried the quiet confidence of a bride entirely at ease in her surroundings. Framed by the lakeside gardens of Chateau de Brindos, her gown caught the soft southern light as she paused along stone pathways. Each image balanced elegance with the effortless warmth that defined the day.

Cocktail Hour

A group of approximately 14 women, including a bride in a white dress standing on top of a yellow vintage Fiat 500, pose together outdoors near a lake. The women are dressed in a wide variety of colorful formal and semi-formal attire including hot pink, coral, purple, cobalt blue, red, silver, and floral print dresses, with several wearing sunglasses and one guest in a decorative fascinator hat. The mood is celebratory and informal, with guests laughing, raising arms, and holding glasses. This appears to be a candid group portrait taken during a cocktail hour or outdoor reception, captured as a wide shot with the yellow car serving as a central prop.

A split-image detail shot of a wedding cocktail hour beverage setup, photographed outdoors. On the left, multiple bottles of Moët & Chandon rosé champagne are chilling in a large silver ice bucket filled with crushed ice, placed on a white linen-covered table with greenery visible in the background. On the right, rows of champagne flutes are pre-filled with fresh whole strawberries and a small amount of liquid, arranged in a grid pattern on a wooden tray lined with a white doily, ready for guests to be served strawberry champagne cocktails. The setup reflects a classic French wedding reception drink service with an emphasis on presentation and detail.

Following the ceremony, guests spilled onto the lakeside terrace for cocktails framed by views of the Pyrenees foothills. Drinks flowed easily as conversations mixed languages and laughter carried across the water. The relaxed atmosphere captured the coastal spirit of Biarritz that Celine and Stephan wanted their guests to experience.

Reception

Five men — likely the groom and his groomsmen — are raising champagne flutes in a toast outdoors in front of what appears to be a modern building entrance. All five are dressed in dark navy or black suits with bright turquoise/teal neckties, and four of the five are wearing matching cream/ivory fedora-style hats. The groom or a groomsman on the far right wears a white boutonniere and a teal pocket square. The styling is cohesive with a retro-modern theme centered on the teal and black color palette. The shot is a mid-range group portrait with the men posed closely together and smiling at the camera.

A bridal party portrait taken outdoors showing five groomsmen in matching black suits with teal/turquoise neckties and white fedora hats, collectively lifting and holding the bride horizontally in a playful pose. The bride is wearing a white lace gown and is smiling with her arms outstretched. The group is positioned on a paved path with garden greenery and the facade of a white building visible in the background. The image is a medium wide shot with a clean, fun composition emphasizing the coordinated styling of teal accessories and matching hats across the groomsmen.

A side-by-side detail shot of wedding reception decor. On the left, a white vase holds a large bouquet of cream and ivory peonies and roses, set against a backdrop of faux cherry blossom branches with warm fairy lights creating a soft, glowing background. On the right, a memory table displays two framed photographs of previous generations' weddings — one black-and-white and one color — alongside a round green moss ball, all arranged on a white table surface with the same illuminated blossom branch backdrop behind them. The overall decor palette is ivory, cream, and white with warm ambient lighting, and the styling is classic and romantic. Both panels are close-up detail shots.

The bride and groom are making their entrance onto the dance floor at an indoor reception, surrounded by cheering guests on both sides. The groom wears a black tuxedo and a white wide-brim fedora-style hat, while the bride wears a white V-neck wedding gown. Guests are dressed in a colorful mix of attire including cobalt blue, coral, teal, and emerald green dresses. The venue features dark wood paneling, arched windows, and warm overhead lighting, suggesting a historic ballroom or chateau-style reception hall. The shot is taken from a wide angle at floor level, capturing the full crowd reaction as the couple walks in together.

Dinner filled the chateau's dining rooms with warmth, song, and the rich flavours of Basque cuisine. Guests sang from their tables as speeches moved between French, German, and English, creating an atmosphere of genuine connection. The evening built to a lively dance floor where the couple and their friends celebrated late into the Biarritz night.

Flat Lays

Close-up detail shot of wedding canapés during what appears to be a cocktail hour. The left image shows a long white rectangular platter holding a row of individual spoons topped with light-colored mousse or tartare garnished with red and yellow pepper pieces and black caviar or olive pearls. The right image shows a similar white rectangular platter being held by a person in dark clothing, carrying small clear cups or shot glasses filled with a bright pink cream or mousse topped with black caviar or berry garnish. Both platters suggest a modern, refined catering presentation with a color palette of white, pink, red, and black.

Close-up detail shot of outdoor wedding ceremony aisle chair decorations. White folding chairs are lined up along the aisle, each decorated with a wide teal satin ribbon tied in a bow at the top and a small glass votive holder with white florals — appearing to be white orchids — secured with a smaller teal ribbon bow at the base. The decor palette is teal and white, creating a crisp, clean color contrast. The background is softly blurred with additional decorated chairs visible receding into the distance.

Close-up detail shot of a wedding program booklet for Céline and Stephan, dated 21st July 12, featuring a vintage-style retro travel poster illustration of Biarritz, France (Pays Basque) on the cover, depicting a woman in a red bikini. Multiple dark green card-backed programs are fanned out in the background, suggesting a Basque Country-themed wedding with a retro travel poster design aesthetic. The white booklet with grey typography is positioned in the foreground against a light surface.

Detail shot of a rustic burlap sign reading 'Here Comes the Bride' in white hand-lettered text, laid flat on grass in dappled sunlight. The sign has frayed edges consistent with a rustic or boho styling theme. A small piece of white lace trim is visible at the lower right corner of the sign. The composition is a close-up flat lay taken from above.

Detailed stationery pieces in muted tones set the visual language for the celebration, from calligraphed menus to hand-addressed envelopes. Bridal accessories were arranged with care against soft linen, each element reflecting the couple's understated taste. A floral flat lay of soft blooms and greenery tied the palette together with natural Basque textures.