Callum & Fiona

Château du Raysse wedding, Dordogne

Callum and Fiona kissing beside a clipped hedge against the creeper-covered stone wall

Morning in the house

Fiona’s dress hung by the four-poster, and her burgundy heels sat under a lamp in the bedroom. The morning was slow: champagne on the bed, a few minutes on the stone balcony above the garden, then the hairdresser and the curls.

Fiona’s veil and wedding dress hanging by a four-poster bed with dark velvet curtains

Burgundy heels on a wooden table under a lit lamp in the bedroom

A woman in a black satin slip sitting barefoot on the stone balustrade of the balcony

A woman in a black slip looking back over her shoulder on the balcony, gardens behind

A woman in a black slip sitting on the white bed in front of the velvet curtains

Close-up of a hand with an engagement ring holding a champagne coupe

A woman in a black slip holding a coupe of champagne on the bed, in black and white

Fiona in a blue robe on the stone balcony above the arched door, seen from the garden

Fiona’s hair being curled by the hairdresser, in black and white

Burgundy suits

Callum and his groomsmen got ready in a red salon with leather sofas, bookcases and a carved fireplace. Green socks went on under the burgundy suits, ties were fixed for each other, and then they went out onto the lawn, where the groomsmen threw Callum into the air.

Callum and his groomsmen in burgundy waistcoats pulling on green socks in the red salon

Green socks and burgundy trousers on a patterned rug beside a leather sofa

Groomsmen in burgundy waistcoats laughing on the leather sofas, a bottle on the table

A groomsman in a burgundy waistcoat tying his floral tie in front of an old painting

A groomsman pinning Callum’s floral tie to his burgundy waistcoat

Callum buttoning his burgundy jacket by a doorway in the red-walled room

Callum and his three groomsmen in burgundy suits on a leather sofa in the salon

Callum sitting on a leather armchair by a carved wooden fireplace, green socks showing

Callum and his groomsmen walking out of the manor’s arched door onto the lawn

Four men in burgundy suits walking across the lawn below the stone balcony

Groomsmen lifting Callum into the air on the lawn, a palm tree behind

Callum standing on the lawn in his burgundy suit, red creeper covering the wall behind

Friends and details

Fiona’s bouquet of dahlias waited on the balcony in a pair of burgundy wellies. Upstairs the bridesmaids were in robes, laughing in the bathtub with champagne, and there were small gold-capped bottles, one for each of them. Fiona put on her pearls by the window.

A tower of cheeses decorated with figs, grapes and berries on a table in the garden

Fiona’s bouquet of dahlias and roses in burgundy wellies tied with a ribbon

Burgundy heels lying on Fiona’s veil spread over the stone stairs, her bouquet behind

Fiona having her make-up done, seen in a round mirror against toile wallpaper

Fiona in a blue floral robe having lipstick applied, a coupe in her hand

A hand with a coupe of champagne against a blue floral robe

Fiona and her bridesmaids in robes laughing together in a white bathtub

Fiona and her bridesmaids toasting in the bathtub, in black and white

Fiona with her curls done, a coupe in her hand, bridesmaids toasting around her

Open hands holding small gold-capped glass bottles with printed labels

Fiona in a black slip leaning on the stone window frame of her room

Fiona from behind with her hands in her curls, her slip crossed at the back

Fiona looking back over her shoulder by the window, curls falling down her back

Fiona fastening a long pearl necklace against the white stone wall

The dress

The dress came down from its hanger in the bedroom, fitted and off the shoulder, with burgundy heels underneath. With the veil on, Fiona went out to her bridesmaids in champagne satin on the balcony, then down the spiral stone stairs of the tower.

Fiona in her black slip looking up at her wedding dress hanging by the four-poster

A woman in an orange printed dress helping Fiona step into her gown

Fiona smiling as her off-the-shoulder dress is fastened at the back

Fiona in her gown seen through open glazed doors of the bedroom

Burgundy heels under the hem of the white gown beside a gilded chair leg

Fiona looking straight at the camera through the edge of her veil, in black and white

Fiona in her fitted gown and long veil framed by the open glazed doors

Fiona under her veil holding a bouquet of white dahlias and dark red flowers

Fiona and three bridesmaids in champagne satin holding bouquets on the balcony

Fiona with her bouquet on the stone spiral staircase below a tower window

Fiona coming down the spiral stairs, burgundy ribbons hanging from her bouquet

The cypress walk

The chairs were set on both sides of the paved path between the cypresses, with a table of greenery and candles under the old stone arch. Fiona walked down from the house, the vows had plenty of laughter, and they came back up the aisle holding up their rings.

Wooden chairs on both sides of the paved cypress walk leading to the stone arch

White gypsophila tied to a wooden cross-back chair along the aisle

A table with greenery, candles and white flowers set under the old stone arch

Fiona walking along the garden path on the arm of a man in a cream suit

Callum and Fiona facing each other at the arch as the officiant in cream reads

Guests in hats and pale suits seated on the lawn in front of a stone barn

Fiona laughing during the vows, Callum’s shoulder in the foreground

Callum and Fiona holding hands on the paved path between the cypresses

Bridesmaids in champagne satin and guests in linen suits watching the ceremony

Two wedding rings held in an open palm against a burgundy sleeve

Callum putting the ring on Fiona’s finger under the stone arch

Callum and Fiona’s first kiss at the end of the cypress walk

Callum and Fiona walking back down the aisle as guests clap

Callum and Fiona holding up their hands to show their rings in front of the château

Portraits in the red

After the hugs on the lawn, we went up the spiral staircase and out onto the balcony, then round the house. The sky was white and soft, so the red creeper and the burgundy suit carried the colour. Fiona took her heels off, threw her veil into the wind, and the wedding party joined us on the lawn.

Fiona hugged by a guest in sunglasses on the lawn after the ceremony

Callum embraced by a groomsman as guests chat on the lawn

Callum and Fiona kissing on the spiral stone stairs, seen from above

Fiona looking up from the curve of the spiral staircase, her dress spread over the steps

Fiona and Callum kissing on the stone balcony, her veil lifting in the wind

Callum spinning Fiona on the lawn below the stone balcony and the palm tree

Callum lifting Fiona off the ground in front of the manor’s tall windows

Fiona resting her head on Callum’s chest, his burgundy jacket around her

Fiona holding her burgundy heels in one hand, barefoot under her gown

Fiona laughing as she climbs onto Callum’s back, heels in his hand

Fiona leaning against an old wooden door in a stone wall, heels in hand

Callum smiling in the foreground with Fiona behind him by the old door, in black and white

Fiona throwing her veil into the air on the lawn as Callum waits by the house

Fiona’s veil flying across the garden in front of the manor, in black and white

Fiona looking up as her veil floats above her on the lawn

Callum holding Fiona close below the wall of red creeper

Fiona running across the lawn towards Callum below the red walls

Callum, Fiona, the groomsmen and bridesmaids posed on chairs on the lawn

The groomsmen and bridesmaids laughing around Callum and Fiona on the lawn

Bridesmaids in champagne satin teasing Callum as he sits on a chair

Fiona with her bridesmaids in champagne satin on the lawn below the red creeper

Bridesmaids fixing Fiona’s train on the path beside the creeper-covered tower

Dinner under the beams

The long tables were set under the roof beams with ivy, dahlias and pink vases, and oysters were opened outside. A last few minutes on the cypress walk and the terrace, then Callum and Fiona walked in to applause. There were napkins in the air, speeches, and a tower of cheeses instead of a cake.

A place setting with dark red flowers, ivy and a glass carafe on the dinner table

A glass carafe and a pink vase of white flowers on the wooden table

Long wooden tables set under the roof beams with ivy and small bunches of flowers

White plates and wooden chairs along the dinner table, flowers in pink vases

Dahlias and roses in a silver urn on the dinner table

Oysters being opened over a crate of ice on the lawn

Fiona standing alone at the end of the cypress walk below the stone arch

Callum kissing Fiona’s hand on the terrace, the red-covered towers behind

Fiona leaning back on the iron railing of the terrace as Callum watches

Callum and Fiona walking into dinner under the beams, hands raised, guests clapping

Fiona laughing as she walks into the dinner room, in black and white

Callum and a guest in a cream suit waving napkins above their heads at dinner

Callum and Fiona from behind at their places, a heart on her chair

Callum and Fiona holding hands between their chairs at dinner

Guests along the long table under the beams with Fiona at the far end

Fiona laughing at the table as a bridesmaid hides behind a menu

Fiona laughing at the dinner table under the string lights

Callum standing to speak at dinner, pointing down the table as guests laugh

Guests and Fiona on a terrace with an iron railing above the tiled roofs

Fiona with a knife raised, laughing behind the tower of cheeses, in black and white

Dancing

Fiona changed into a short white dress for the evening. The dance floor was under the same beams, with string lights and a few coloured lights, and the groomsmen in burgundy waistcoats were in the middle of it.

Callum dipping Fiona, now in a short white dress, on the dance floor

A groomsman lifting Callum on the dance floor as friends cheer

Callum and friends dancing with their arms up under the string lights

Groomsmen in burgundy waistcoats singing on the dance floor

Fiona dancing with guests under the beams, a groomsman cheering behind her

Photographing at Château du Raysse

Château du Raysse with red autumn creeper on its towers and cypresses along the terrace

The estate.

The house is regional stone with restrained detail, and the creeper on the walls changes the whole palette with the season, green in early summer and deep red in autumn. In October, for Callum and Fiona, it was red from the towers to the hedges. Inside, the spiral stone stairs in the tower and the stone balcony above the arched door are good places for portraits if the weather turns.

The ceremony walk.

The cypress path is narrow and straight, ending at an old stone arch. It frames the couple from the back of the aisle and keeps the guests close on both sides.

Light.

The lawns are open and the light is fairly even through the day, so group photos rarely need moving. Against the dark stone, white dresses keep their detail, even under a white October sky.

When to marry.

Late May to September is the most reliable stretch here, with June and September the most comfortable for guests. October brings the red walls, as these photographs show.

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Questions

Have you photographed at Château du Raysse before?

Yes: Callum and Fiona’s wedding on this page. I know the cypress walk to the stone arch, the spiral stairs in the tower, the stone balcony above the arched door and where the red creeper is thickest on the walls.

Is Sarlat too far for you?

Not at all. Travel within France is included in every package, Sarlat as much as Bordeaux.

How far ahead should we book?

Most couples book six to eighteen months ahead. Autumn dates here are worth asking about too, for the colour on the walls.

When do we get our photographs?

A preview within 10 days and the full gallery within three months at most.

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