Intimate Wedding at Château La Gauterie
Dordogne Wedding Photographer & Videographer

Planning a wedding in the south west of France often leads couples to one place in particular: the beautiful region of Dordogne. With its rolling countryside, golden stone villages, and elegant châteaux, it has quietly become one of the most desirable destinations for couples planning a France wedding.

As a Dordogne wedding photographer and videographer, we often work in château venues across South West France capturing intimate destination weddings.

This intimate celebration at Château La Gauterie in late May was a perfect example of why couples from around the world choose this region. A small group of family and friends gathered under the Dordogne sun for a wedding filled with laughter, heartfelt moments, and a lot of personality.

For couples searching for a Dordogne wedding photographer and videographer, weddings like this show exactly what makes this corner of France so special.

A Charming Château Wedding in Dordogne

Hidden in the countryside of Dordogne, Château La Gauterie offers the kind of atmosphere many couples imagine when they dream of a destination wedding in France.

Located near Ribérac on the Dordogne–Charente border, Château La Gauterie is a romantic countryside estate surrounded by private parkland and historic architecture. Built in the 19th century, the château offers elegant accommodation and beautiful outdoor ceremony spaces, making it a popular venue for destination weddings in South West France.

The château combines historic French charm with a relaxed countryside feel. Stone walls, elegant gardens, and wide balconies overlooking the landscape create multiple beautiful spaces for different moments of the day. The ceremony can take place with the château itself as the backdrop, cocktails can spill onto the balcony, and the gardens glow beautifully during golden hour.

For couples planning a wedding in south west France, venues like this offer something rare: a sense of privacy and intimacy, perfect for smaller weddings where every guest feels part of the celebration.

The Preparations at the Château

The day began quietly inside the château.

Chloe got ready in one of the bright rooms overlooking the gardens, sharing the morning with her mother. The atmosphere was calm but full of excitement — the kind of anticipation that builds slowly as the day begins.

Before the ceremony, she met her father for a first look. The moment was simple and genuine: big smiles, a long hug, and a few emotional tears.

Elsewhere in the château, Tom was getting ready with his best friend. The mood was relaxed and steady, a quiet contrast to the emotional moments happening downstairs.

A Heartfelt Ceremony with the Château as a Backdrop

The ceremony took place outdoors with Château La Gauterie rising beautifully behind the couple.

As the bride walked down the aisle, Tom couldn't hide his emotions. It was one of those moments where the entire atmosphere shifts — a mix of joy, nerves, and overwhelming happiness.

The ceremony itself struck the perfect balance between heartfelt and joyful. Families wiped away tears during the vows, while moments of humour kept everyone smiling. Laughter travelled easily through the small group of guests, making the ceremony feel incredibly personal.

And when it was time to celebrate the newly married couple, the ceremony ended in the most unexpected way: limoncello shots for everyone. Glasses raised, cheers echoing through the gardens — a perfect start to the celebrations.

Cocktail Hour on the Château Balcony

After the ceremony, guests moved to the balcony overlooking the grounds of Château La Gauterie.

With the sun still shining, cocktail hour quickly turned lively. Conversations flowed, laughter filled the air, and the small guest list made it feel like a long-awaited reunion between friends and family.

This is one of the reasons many couples choose a wedding in Dordogne: the pace naturally slows down, allowing everyone to enjoy each moment together.

A Joyful Dinner Celebration

As the evening approached, guests gathered in the dining area for dinner.

Chloe & Tom made their entrance to a wave of cheers — guests swirling napkins in the air while welcoming them to the table. It set the tone immediately: this was going to be a joyful evening.

Speeches from family and friends followed, filled with stories, heartfelt words, and plenty of laughter. The atmosphere stayed light, emotional, and full of warmth.

Golden Hour Couple Portraits

Later in the evening, we slipped away for a short portrait session in the gardens surrounding Château La Gauterie.

At first the newlyweds felt a little shy in front of the camera — something very common. But it didn’t take long before the awkwardness turned into laughter. Trying to stand close together without laughing only made things funnier.

Soon the golden light began to spread across the gardens, creating the kind of soft glow photographers love. Chloe & Tom walked slowly through the grounds, laughing, talking, and enjoying a quiet moment together away from the party.

Espresso Martini Tower on the Balcony

Back on the château balcony, the celebration continued with a signature moment: an espresso martini tower.

It’s the couple’s favourite drink, and it quickly became one of the highlights of the evening. Guests gathered around, phones out, cheering as the tower came together before the drinks were shared.

It was stylish, fun, and perfectly matched the couple’s personality.

First Dance and a Lively Party

As night fell, everyone moved to the party tent.

Chloe & Tom shared their first dance together, surrounded by the people who had travelled from across the world to celebrate with them. Soon after, the dance floor filled up.

The rest of the evening was exactly what a great wedding party should be: guests dancing, singing along to music, and celebrating long into the night.

Our Approach as a Dordogne Wedding Photographer and Videographer

We photograph and film weddings across France, but intimate destination weddings like this one hold a special place for us.

Rather than focusing on staged moments, our approach is documentary and story-driven. We capture the real interactions: the laughter between friends, the quiet emotional moments between family members, and the small details that often go unnoticed during the day.

Because many of our couples travel from abroad, we also help them plan photo moments around the venue and landscapes, making sure they can fully enjoy the setting they chose.

Video for Intimate Weddings

In addition to photography, we also create cinematic wedding films.

For intimate weddings, video can be particularly powerful. Smaller guest lists often mean deeper conversations, heartfelt speeches, and emotional moments that deserve to be remembered in motion.

Many couples who travel for a destination wedding in France choose to combine both photography and video so they can relive the atmosphere of the day long after it ends.

As a Dordogne wedding photographer and videographer, we often work in château venues throughout the region including Château La Gauterie, Château du Doux, Château du Raysse and other beautiful estates across South West France. Destination weddings here often gather guests from the UK, Europe, USA, and beyond, creating relaxed multi-day celebrations surrounded by vineyards, villages and rolling countryside.

Planning a Wedding in Dordogne

Planning a destination wedding in the Dordogne countryside is about slowing down and celebrating with the people who matter most. Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a multi-day château celebration, the region offers some of the most beautiful wedding settings in France.

If you’re looking for a Dordogne wedding photographer and videographer to capture your celebration at Château La Gauterie or elsewhere in South West France, we’d love to hear your story.

→ See a complete wedding gallery of Chloe & Tom at Château de la Gauterie

→ Explore more weddings in Dordogne and in other parts of France

→ Discover more beautiful wedding venues in Dordogne