A Last-Minute Château du Raysse Wedding in the Dordogne

The Message That Changed the Weekend

I was busy setting up the beach tent and a lake in South-West France with my family. We’d only just arrived that morning and were unpacking when i recieved a message from a photographer in the Dordogne was ill and needed someone to step in to cover a wedding the very next day! It was at Château du Raysse, a place I’d shot before, but that didn’t make the timing any less ridiculous.

My first thought was simple: there’s no way.

We were two and a half hours from home, I had none of my kit, and it was already lunchtime.

Working Out the Logistics on a Beach

I told my wife, expecting a sensible “don’t even think about it,” but instead we sat there working out whether it was possible. And within ten minutes it somehow was. If we drove home that evening, the boys would sleep in the car (always a win), I’d have time to pack and charge batteries, and I could set off early in the morning. So I messaged back and said yes.

We left the campsite around six, got home for eight, put the kids straight to bed, and I went upstairs to rebuild a wedding kit bag from scratch. By midnight everything was charged or charging. I still had no timeline, no couple’s names, no details at all — just an address and a start time.

Driving to a Wedding With No Information

I was on the road early the next morning, still with very little to go on. Around 9am, mid-drive, the wedding questionnaire came through, so I pulled over, skimmed it, and at least had a rough sense of the plan.

Ellie, the Bride, texted around 11am to check I was on my way (I didn’t see it while driving), and a few minutes later the maid of honour called to confirm everything. The basics were starting to come together.

The original photographer had planned to start around 1:30pm for prep, but I like to arrive early, especially when stepping in last-minute. So I aimed for midday and got there just before twelve.

Chris, the Groom, met me at the door, friendly and calm, and talked me through what he could. It was the first time I’d spoken to either of them, which is a strange way to begin a wedding day. No prep calls, no shot list — just walk in, deep breath, and start shooting.

Heat, Timings, and Keeping Calm

And it was hot. My first wedding at this venue was 40°C; this one reached 42°C. Everyone took a couple of extra beats, water was being consumed in waste amounts, and guests hugged the shade. I found myself working closely with the catering team at one point — the starter needed to go out quickly because of the heat, so I helped keep things on track with the team from Party in France. I see it as part of my role, if something’s slipping and you can help, you help.

There were some lovely details throughout the day as well — florals from Kilda Meadows Flowers, table styling from Le Petit Pichet, and makeup by Kelly Hayman. It all came together beautifully despite the chaos the day before.

Settling Into the Day

The whole thing felt instinctive from the moment I stepped out of the car. Without the usual planning, you rely much more on experience. You pay attention to how you approach people, how you keep things moving, and how you stay calm so everyone else can stay calm too. They had been through quite a shock the day before, so the last thing they needed was someone arriving nervously and panicking.

We did a quiet golden hour session later in the evening, just the two of them with the sun dropping behind the trees. One of my favourite frames of the day came from that moment. Earlier in the day, Ellie had shared a brilliant moment with her dad just after she finished getting ready, full of pride and nerves. Later, after the ceremony, I caught Chris and Ellie walking back down the aisle together, hand in hand and laughing. That shot sums them up perfectly.

A Moment I Won’t Forget

Towards the evening, Ellie’s dad came over and said something that stuck with me:

“I didn’t realise you weren’t the original photographer. I thought you were the one they booked.”

That meant a lot.

The End of a Very Long Day

I stayed in a hotel nearby that night; by the time the dancing finished I’d been on the move for about 18 hours in extreme heat. When I finally stopped, I was a spent force but filled with happiness and pride. I knew I’d helped turn a stressful situation back into the day it should have been.

A couple of days later, Ellie emailed me after seeing her gallery:

“We would have been completely devastated at the situation if you hadn’t stepped up. We’re endlessly grateful. The photos are amazing.”

What This Day Reminded Me

That’s why I do this job. Whether I’ve had three months of prep or 24 hours, my job’s the same: show up, stay steady, make people feel looked after, and bring back photographs that let them relive the day.

Château du Raysse is one of those venues that always delivers. The setting does half the work for you: the warm stone, the quiet corners, the way the light moves around the courtyard as the day goes on. I’ve photographed two weddings there now, both completely different, and the place seems to adapt to each couple without losing any of its character. It’s a spot that makes my job easier, even on days like this one when everything else is unpredictable.

If you’re planning a wedding in the Dordogne or anywhere in southwest France, I’m always happy to talk through how photography fits into your plans. Ideally with a little more notice than twenty-four hours, but this one proved that anything is possible.