My First Wedding in France – Christian and Leonnie at Château du Raysse

21 June 2025 | Château du Raysse, Dordogne

As my first wedding in France, this one will always stand out. It was everything I had hoped for: a beautiful château, a wonderful couple, and the best group of family and friends you could wish for.

The Setting

Château du Raysse sits on a hill just above the Dordogne valley. You cannot see the river from the grounds, but the landscape stretches for miles. It is peaceful and full of character, with old stone walls, shaded courtyards, and rooms that somehow stay cool even when the air outside feels like an oven.

The heat gave the day its own rhythm. Guests moved slowly between the shade and the two swimming pools, which became a popular spot later on. The venue handled everything well. The food was excellent, the layout worked perfectly, and the whole place had an easy, welcoming feel to it.

The Day

I was second shooting and covered the groom preparations, ceremony, portraits, groups, and the evening. Apart from the bride getting ready, I had most of the day. It was a great way to start my French chapter.

The morning began in one of the château’s darker rooms, which was a good challenge to get my head back into the job after a few years away. Once the ceremony began, everything found its flow again.

The ceremony was outdoors with family and friends gathered around Christian and Leonnie. It was a relaxed, happy crowd. The heat kept everyone moving slowly, but it didn’t take away from the atmosphere. The celebrant and I ended up chatting before things began, and we discovered we were both twin dads. His twins were just six months old, and it was one of those lovely conversations that reminds you how easily you can connect with people on a day like this.

A few moments stood out. Leonnie’s dad gave a very moving speech, and later the grandchildren performed a song from The Lion King for their grandparents — one of those moments where everyone smiled at once. Christian’s best man also gave one of the most animated and funny speeches I’ve heard, sailing perfectly close enough to the wind without ever going too far.

The light through the day was as good as I’d hoped for in this part of France. Bright and warm for most of it, softer in the shade, and long into the evening. Photographing in that kind of light is why I wanted to work here.

By the time the speeches and dancing began, the heat had eased but the energy hadn’t. I remember looking outside around nine o’clock and it was still daylight. That long summer light in the Dordogne gives you so much more to work with.

It was a long day, but I found myself right in the middle of it — chatting with guests, helping where needed, and soaking up that mix of laughter and chaos that always comes once the dance floor opens. It reminded me how much I enjoy being part of the day, not just photographing it from the sidelines.

Reflection

This wedding reminded me why I do this job. It had been a few years since my last one, and to be back in the middle of a day like this, surrounded by good people, felt right.

Driving home that night, halfway between Bordeaux and the Dordogne, I stopped for an hour’s sleep at a service station. It had been a long day, but I couldn’t have been happier about it.

It was my first wedding in France and the first step in building my photography work here in the southwest. The combination of the light, the setting, and the people confirmed everything I’d hoped for about shooting in this part of the world.

This wedding was photographed alongside Lydia Taylor-Jones.

If you are planning your own wedding in France and want to know what it is like to get married in a place like this, you can explore my portfolio or get in touch to find out more.