The iconic Château du Grand-Lucé truly exemplifies the absolute best of French design and Art de Vivre and, for our France Retreat, we drew our inspiration directly from the core of all design in France—fine art. We chose three separate artistic movements to use as our inspiration for the overall aesthetic, fashion, colors, and feeling that we wanted each of our designs to evoke. Today, I’m thrilled to share that our Retreat and our Chateau Grand Luce wedding photography have been published both on Over the Moon and Style Me Pretty!
Built in 1760 and located south of Paris in the Loire Valley, Château du Grand-Lucé is a neoclassical French icon has been exquisitely restored. With a vigilant attention to detail, its unapologetically opulent interiors are a stunning tribute to its noble provenance and are a gallant steward of its rich history. Named one of the ‘Best Hotels in the World’ by Condé Nast Traveler, Tatler, Travel + Leisure, & more, the property sets the bar in five-star hotel design. With eighty acres of private parkland that include a formal French garden, lake, meadows, and historic white oak forest—Château du Grand-Lucé is one of the most exclusive and high-end wedding destinations in Europe.
Planning your destination wedding in France and searching for your Château du Grand-Luce wedding photographer? Contact us to schedule your complimentary consultation! Looking for more wedding inspiration at Château du Grand-Luce? See a couture bridal shoot and an luxe intimate wedding.
Impression was the inspiration behind our engagement shoot. This movement focused on light, shifting color, and the natural way that forms move throughout their unique spaces. There is something very romantic and free about this movement. We wanted the fashion to feel soft yet bold and the details we brought in to give an air of elegant yet casual romance. For our arrival scene, we added a chic lavender trench from Alexandra Pijut to bring the classic Impressionist color palette into focus. The soft pastels paired with vintage-inspired Steamline Luggage made for the perfect step-back-in-time arrival to Château du Grand-Lucé.
We designed a classic picnic in a field of flowers, brought in fine details like Christian Dior Lily of the Valley China, and paired it with chic fashion picks from Alexandra Pijit and Rives Paris for our bride and groom.
The next day was our Regency inspired welcome party and rehearsal dinner. For this shoot, we drew much of our inspiration from the pink dining room at the château. Bold colors, fine drapery, Wedgewood moldings, and pure grandeur were our canvas upon which to draw inspiration. The fashion perfectly echoed the Regency style with the bride donning looks from both Alexandra Pijut and Bretagne Studio.
The welcome party tabletop was designed in partnership with Charles Mayer & Co. to evoke the balance between opulence and frivolity versus the structure and formality of the period. Coquette bows tied up hand-embroidered linens from Reverie Social while the table was set with china from French house Gien, glassware from Baccarat, and flatware from Christofle. Candelabra florals added the right amount of height and drama to the setting paired with vases of single type roses and peonies. Ink & Press Co. created the most stunning menu cards that mimicked the details and colors in the ceiling of the room. Scrolled name cards brought an old-world feel back into the table and ensured that the design felt true to the space.
The shoot culminated in our wedding inspired by the Rococo Era, which is the most fitting for Château du Grand-Lucé and the time period during which it was built. Rococo design is focused on ornamental details that we wanted to shine through in the paperie and grandeur of the china. We chose a simple yet elegant lace gown from Monique Lhuillier and paired it with an opera coat and lace cape for different looks throughout the day. Our groom wore a chic black tuxedo throughout the ceremony and dinner.
he ceremony design was a triple arch outlooking the vast Loire Valley that donned hundreds of spring blooms with exposed arch forms to emphasize the ornamental feel of the triple structure.
The wedding dinner table featured a stunning vintage floral print linen from Reverie Social paired with china from Royal Limoges, flatware from Christofle, and glassware from Baccarat, all sourced through Charles Mayer & Co. Shasta Bell created stunning tea-dyed menu cards paired with ornamental chinoiserie boxes that doubled as guest name cards. Florals focused on the natural setting arranged in structured Rococo style compotes.
After dinner, our bride changed into a sequined Monique Lhullier after party gown and our groom into a white dinner jacket for their traditional French champagne pour and cake cutting. The cake, designed by the talented Mon Annie Cakes, was a work of art itself. Featuring arches and floral details, the cake was made for the château.
A Chateau Grand Luce wedding is never complete without a honeymoon shoot in Paris, and we spent the evening with our bride, groom, and their beloved dog in their favorite places in the City of Light.
Chateau Grand Luce Wedding Photography Molly Carr |Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Mon Annie Cakes | Reception Venue: Chateau du Grand Luce | Groom’s Attire: Rives Paris | Fashion (Lily of the Valley dress, pink dress, lilac trench): Alexandra Pijut | Fashion (Mint Green Gown): Bretagne Studio | Tabletop: Charles Mayer & Co | Styling Surfaces: Chasing Stone | Gloves: Cornelia James | Invitations (Welcome Party): Ink & Press Co. | Beauty: Jen Lagers | Invitations (Wedding): Shasta Bell Calligraphy | Luggage: Steamline
