This past fall we spent two days in the French countryside documenting Amélie and Beaufort’s love story at the elegant beyond words Château du Grand-Luce, and today it’s my pleasure to share that their wedding has been featured on Ruffled and on Style Me Pretty! As a Chateau Grand-Luce wedding photographer, it was an absolute dream to explore the stunning Neoclassical castle with Rachael Ellen Events, creating stunning imagery of Amélie in couture bridal fashion amongst the pastel-dreamland that would have even Marie Antoinette swooning. Scroll down for all of the beauty and for the full story.
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The smell of warm croissants, the touch of antique velvet curtains, the crisp Loire Valley Autumn air…traveling in France is nothing short of an overwhelmingly beautiful sensory experience. Among the stunning châteaux of the region, the gorgeous Château du Grand-Lucé is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the beautiful ambiance that is France. The property allows you to take a step back into a time where days are spent wandering the rose gardens, enjoying tea in the grand salon, and admiring the many statues given as housewarming gifts by Louis XV.
Such a beautiful space deserves to be paired with – and only with – couture fashion. The pastel neoclassical decor served as our bride’s inspiration for her wedding weekend. Before the guests arrived, Amélie stepped back in time – trying on gowns fit for a queen – and exploring a château all to herself. Each room begged for a different look with their distinctive touches of feminine luxury. It is a childhood fantasy – dressing up in couture gowns, running barefoot through an entirely pink dining room, jumping on beds draped in fine brocade fabric.
When we first saw Amélie’s three unbelievably gorgeous couture gowns, we immediately decided to pair each dress with a specific room in Château du Grand-Luce to create an entirely monochromatic look. The first gown, a billowing fluffy confection in the perfect shade of French blue, was absolutely made for Le Grand-Lucé Suite, a lavish room with a canopy bed, paneled walls, and original point de Hongrie patterned oak flooring.
Of course, we had to take a few moments outside to explore Château du Grand-Luce’s 80-acres of manicured French gardens. I especially love the way that Amélie’s fluttering, flowing gown looked against the clean lines and statuesque shapes of the Neoclassical Stables.
The talented beyond words Nicole of Every Little Letter created the gorgeous paper suite Amélie & Beaufort’s château wedding. Mixing French blue, rose, pink, and caramel, the suite felt luxurious yet playful – perfect for our bride. I absolutely love the way she mixed and matched textures, wax seals, tassels, and floral prints to create this custom chateau design.
For Amélie’s last look, she chose a sheer blush gown which we featured in her intimate boudoir session. I love the way the fluttering petals and ethereal textures ever so softly caught the late afternoon sunshine that was streaming through the windows.
Amélie and Beaufort’s intimate wedding ceremony, planned by Rachael Ellen Events, was elegant, heartwarming, and filled with love. For their Chateau du Grand-Luce wedding, Rachael chose the back stairs of the Neoclassical facade and I love the way her floral designs perfectly balanced the statuesque symmetry of the chateau.
For Amélie’s wedding look, she wore a gorgeous Monique Lhullier gown – perfect for the romantic setting. While grand and elegant, it also made a refined feminine statement with the low back and bow shoulder details.
Amélie’s hair was styled in a classic french chignon and she wore natural, dewy makeup. Her handsome groom, Beaufort, wore a classic tux – the perfect counterpart to her bridal look.
After their ceremony, Amélie and Beaufort opted to spent the afternoon together, quietly basking in their newlywed bliss and soaking up the stunning surroundings of the chateau.
Of course, we had to take some time to explore Château du Grand-Luce’s 80-acres of manicured French gardens. I especially love the way the leaves had just slowly begun to change colors. The Loire Valley in autumn is nothing short of magical.
Finally, we traveled to the formal dining room, filled with oil-painting portraits from three centuries including an original portrait of Napoleon III. With its stunning gilt mirrors and frames and pink color palette – it was the perfect backdrop to showcase the beauty of the bride.
The wedding table was adorned with the same romantic tones as seen throughout the house and in Rococo paintings. Caramel, rose, and mauve taper candles gave the table setting height while overgrown florals added the perfect sense of romance. The blush linen was topped with a romantic chiffon runner and paired with velvet rose napkins to balance the caramel velvet chairs. Rachael Ellen Events chose rose petal chargers to pair with the chateau china and vintage French glassware. With Loire Valley charm and French refinement, Amélie and Beaufort’s wedding was truly fit for a Queen.
Chateau du Grand Luce Wedding Photography: Molly Carr Photography | Planning, Design, Styling, & Florals: Rachael Ellen Events | Venue: Château du Grand-Luce | Paper Goods: Every Little Letter | Jewelry: J. Brooks Jewelers | Gown: Monique Lhullier | Hair & Makeup: Jen Lagers | Tuxedo: The Black Tux | Linens: BBJ Linen | Cake: Synies
