Maria & Fred

La Bastide des Terres wedding, Drôme

Maria and Fred kissing among cypresses in the courtyard of La Bastide des Terres

Morning

Maria got ready with her bridesmaids in the salons of the bastide: her dress in a tall window, matching robes, champagne and plenty of laughing on the red sofas. Then the dress went on, with friends helping with the skirt, the shoes and the long veil.

Maria’s wedding dress hanging in a tall window of the bastide

Wedding shoes, rings and a white flower on a dark table

Maria in a blue top writing at an antique roll-top desk in her room

Hair and make-up under way in a vaulted salon, seen through an arched glass door

A hairdresser in red backcombing Maria’s hair as she sits in a blue top

Black and white of hair and make-up in the salon under a lantern and arched windows

Maria’s sleek low bun seen from behind, her blue halter top tied at the neck

Maria laughing behind a curly-haired friend in pink during hair and make-up

Maria’s face reflected in a small mirror above an open eyeshadow palette

Maria in a white robe sipping champagne on a red armchair

Maria and her bridesmaids in matching robes on the red sofas of the salon

Maria and her bridesmaids raising their champagne glasses in a circle, seen from below

Maria laughing on the red armchair as bridesmaids hold champagne flutes around her

Maria and her bridesmaids in silky robes toasting beneath a framed portrait

Maria and her bridesmaids laughing in robes beneath a round gilt mirror

Maria and her bridesmaids posing playfully in their robes on the striped sofa

Maria and her bridesmaids in robes reflected in a gilt mirror at the foot of the stairs

Maria in her robe by a sunlit window, in black and white

Maria in her robe walking past her dress hanging from the wardrobe

Maria from behind in her open-backed dress, looking out of the tall window

Two bridesmaids spreading out the skirt of Maria’s dress in her room

A bridesmaid in grey helping Maria with her shoes

Maria slipping her foot into a white heel under the full skirt of her dress

Two women fixing Maria’s long veil, in black and white

Black and white close-up of Maria smiling through her veil, drop earrings catching the light

Maria in her dress and veil in a bright room with a vaulted ceiling

Maria standing at the far window of a long vaulted room, her skirt spread on the rug

Fred’s dinner jacket hanging in the window above his shoes on a wooden chair

The groom’s friends buttoning their white shirts in a salon with a green armchair

Black and white of the groomsmen changing into their white shirts in the salon

Fred and his friends

Fred and his groomsmen dressed in a salon with old portraits on the walls: white shirts, socks and shoes on the striped rug, and a lot of joking. They put on their dinner jackets in the library and walked out across the courtyard together.

Fred and his groomsmen in white shirts laughing together in the salon, in black and white

The groomsmen in white shirts sitting along a green sofa under plates on the wall

An older guest laughing with the groomsmen as they dress on the green sofa

The groomsmen putting on their socks and shoes on a striped rug

Two of the groom’s party doing up their collars beside an old oil portrait

Fred and his groomsmen buttoning their dinner jackets in a row under the portraits

Fred and his groomsmen seated on a sofa behind a glass table in the library

The groomsmen in dinner jackets around an older man in a green armchair in the library

Fred in his dinner jacket leaning against a bookcase in the library

Fred sitting forward in a green wing chair in the library, hands clasped

Fred and his groomsmen walking across the courtyard in front of the ivy-covered house

First look

Before the ceremony Maria and Fred saw each other in the garden, with the wooded hills of the Drôme behind them. He turned round, and for a few minutes it was just the two of them on the lawn.

Maria walking up behind Fred in the garden, with wooded hills of the Drôme beyond

Fred turning to see Maria for the first time on the garden terrace

Maria smiling over Fred’s shoulder at the first look, in black and white

Maria and Fred embracing on the lawn in front of the bastide

Maria and Fred forehead to forehead beside a vine-covered wall and cypresses

Close-up of Maria’s hand with her ring resting against Fred’s dark sleeve

The ceremony

They married on the lawn in the shade of the old trees, under a white canopy with white flowers. The bridesmaids wore grey, two flower girls led the way, and Maria walked down the aisle with her bouquet. Rings, a kiss, and they walked back up the aisle together.

Bridesmaids in grey walking down the aisle on the lawn as guests take photos

Two flower girls in white walking down the aisle on the lawn

What couples say

“Dina was our Photographer in June '25 in the Dordogne, and she was amazing. So easy to meet her online, organise all of the details easily, and then send her photos we wanted in preparation. She also worked really well with our videographer, and made sure we got every photo we needed. Highly recommend!!”

Hannah and Guy, wedding at Château d’Oche, DordogneSee wedding

The bridesmaids in grey lined up beside the white canopy of flowers

Maria walking arm in arm across the lawn in the shade of tall trees

Maria with her white bouquet beside a woman in lilac at the start of the aisle

Fred waiting at the canopy with his groomsmen and a flower girl as Maria approaches

Maria arriving at the canopy where Fred waits, the bridesmaids in a line behind

Guests on folding chairs on the lawn watching the ceremony, one in a red dress

Fred waiting with his hands behind his back as Maria reaches the canopy

Maria and Fred under the white canopy with the officiant, flowers on either side

Fred placing the ring on Maria’s finger beside the white flowers of the canopy

Maria and Fred kissing under the white canopy on the lawn

Fred and Maria facing each other at the canopy with the seated guests behind

Maria and Fred at the canopy seen past guests in the front row

Guests in the front rows smiling during the ceremony, one in a red bow tie

Maria and Fred walking back up the aisle under the old trees

Guests on their feet and clapping in the shade as the ceremony ends

Cocktail hour

Drinks were in the garden, around the long pool with its clipped hedges. Friends queued up to hug Maria, the bridal party cheered in front of the house and the bridesmaids spread her skirt across the stones. In between, we took a few quiet minutes by the old lion fountain.

The long garden pool framed by clipped hedges, with guests at the far end

A guest raising his glass to Maria in the garden after the ceremony

Guests in suits chatting in the garden in front of the bastide

A guest in sunglasses filming as Maria greets friends in the garden

Maria laughing with friends around her after the ceremony

The bridesmaids and groomsmen cheering with Maria and Fred in front of the house

Maria and her bridesmaids in grey lifting their bouquets in front of the house

Bridesmaids in grey spreading Maria’s skirt across the courtyard stones

Maria seated in the courtyard surrounded by her bridesmaids and groomsmen

Maria and Fred sitting together by the old lion fountain on the garden steps

Maria and Fred walking arm in arm towards the house along the gravel path

The seating plan framed by dried grasses and greenery in the garden

Dinner in the courtyard

Dinner was at long wooden tables in the courtyard, set with white flowers and greenery, with the house behind. It was a gourmet dinner and a loud, happy one: Fred put a napkin over his head, and Maria laughed into her hands.

White flowers and greenery on a wooden dinner table with glasses

Glasses, a white runner and olive greenery along a wooden dinner table

A long wooden table set for dinner in the courtyard, the garden beyond

Maria at the dinner table in the courtyard, seen through a dark open doorway

Fred and Maria raising their glasses at the top table in front of the house

Guests raising their glasses at the tables in the garden

Fred with a napkin over his head, making Maria laugh at the dinner table

Fred hugging Maria tightly at the dinner table in the courtyard

The dinner tables in the courtyard seen from above

Into the night

Maria changed into a lighter dress for the first dance, under a marquee strung with lights. Then everyone joined in, the cocktails went round, and the cake came out: white tiers with pink roses and several fillings, one for every taste in the room.

Maria in a lighter dress dancing with Fred under the marquee lights

Fred twirling Maria during their first dance as guests watch under the lights

Guests dancing under strings of lights in the marquee

Maria clapping and laughing with friends on the dance floor

Friends laughing with red cocktails under the lights

Black and white of Maria dancing with her arms up among guests under the marquee

The tiered wedding cake with pink roses, lit in warm orange light

Maria and Fred cutting the white tiered cake decorated with pink roses

Fred feeding Maria a piece of cake beside a white wooden door

A knife lifting a slice from the wedding cake to show its layered filling

Photographing at La Bastide des Terres

Guests at long tables for dinner in the courtyard in front of La Bastide des Terres

The estate.

An 18th-century house in the village of Mirmande, restored in a mix of traditional and modern styles. The salons and the library are full of old furniture and portraits, so every room works for getting ready.

The gardens.

Old trees, cypresses, clipped hedges and a long pool give plenty of room to roam. Maria and Fred married on the lawn in the shade, under a white canopy.

The lion fountain.

An old stone fountain on the garden steps, half hidden by greenery. It is a quiet corner for portraits in the middle of the cocktail hour.

Dinner.

Long tables in the stone courtyard in front of the house, with room for up to 170 guests, and the dancing under lights afterwards.

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Questions

Have you photographed at La Bastide des Terres before?

Yes: Maria and Fred’s wedding on this page. I know the shaded corners of the garden for the ceremony and where the courtyard glows at dinner.

How far ahead should we book?

Most couples book six to eighteen months ahead. Summer Saturdays go first.

Do you charge for travel to the Drôme?

No. Travel within France is included in every package.

I’m excited to go wherever your love story is taking me and looking forward to hearing from you!