Fairytale Wedding at Chateau le Mas de Montet | Frances Mary Sales

Published 23 May 2024 | Photos by Frances Mary Sales

At a Glance

Spring (2024)

Fairytale Wedding at Chateau le Mas de Montet in Perigord

Jake and Remy’s story began at school, continued years later on a ski trip, and led them to celebrate surrounded by friends and family in the South of France. Their engagement in Paris at the Four Seasons George V, marked by a tasting menu and a cloche reveal, set the tone for a wedding that combined sentiment with sophistication. Arriving through the gates of Château le Mas de Montet, guests found themselves in a setting of formal gardens, music, and conversation. As daylight softened, candlelight took over, illuminating courtyards and terraces where glasses clinked, laughter carried through the air, and the evening settled into calm, golden warmth.

Château Charmant, Neutral Tones, and Dinner Beneath the Lights

Also known as Château Charmant, the estate offered a refined yet welcoming atmosphere - formal gardens for the ceremony, shaded paths for portraits, and a courtyard perfectly suited for dinner under string lights. The design followed a palette of whites, creams, and soft golds, complemented by bridesmaids in oyster-toned dresses carrying delicate gypsophila. Tables dressed in pale linens and candlelight mirrored the château’s warm stone façade, creating a visual harmony that felt timeless. Guests enjoyed regional dishes as fairy lights glowed above, while the gentle breeze carried the scent of herbs and summer air. Every detail reflected balance between formality and familiarity, design and ease.

Music, Movement, and a Team That Set the Rhythm

Music defined the day’s rhythm from the start. A string quartet played Pachelbel’s Canon for Remy’s entrance, followed by Can You Feel the Love Tonight during the signing and Sir Duke for the recessional. The evening flowed into a joyful dinner entrance to Sunchyme, a first dance to My Girl, and an open dance floor that kept energy high. Marry Me in France, among the top luxury wedding planners in Dordogne, coordinated logistics, supplier timing, and atmosphere, ensuring every transition remained smooth. Frances Mary Sales, one of the most creative wedding photographers in Dordogne, captured the story through glowing tablescapes, intimate portraits, and late-night laughter reflected in glass and stone. The result was heartfelt, musical, and distinctly French an elegant countryside celebration that felt as warm as it looked.

Discover More French Wedding Inspiration

Getting Ready

Black and white portrait of bride from behind showing open-back gown with bow detail near French window
Minimal ivory gown hangs before multi-pane window with gilt rod and antique chairs in chateau room
A getting-ready portrait of a bride standing alone in a bedroom, shot from behind at a three-quarter angle. She wears a white satin gown with a deep open back, oversized bow detail at the waist, long cape-like sleeves, and an extended train pooling on the floor. Her blonde hair is styled in a low ponytail, and she wears drop earrings. The room features a dark wood four-poster bed with green and white floral canopy curtains, a warm honey-toned wooden armoire, framed artwork on cream-colored walls, and a bust sculpture on a side table. The overall styling is modern and minimalist. Full-length portrait composition.

Photography: Frances Mary Sales


Ceremony

Pre-ceremony setup Napoleon chairs white hydrangea pedestals cream umbrellas before multi-turreted slate-roofed chateau
Couple kissing down aisle past 50 guests on white chairs before multi-turreted limestone chateau
The bride and groom walk hand-in-hand through a confetti exit on the grounds of an outdoor venue, surrounded by approximately 20 guests lined up on either side throwing white flower petals. The ceremony has taken place outdoors on a lawn in bright summer sunlight, with a classic, modern aesthetic. The bride wears a sleeveless, fitted ivory satin gown with a front slit and train, carrying a bouquet of white blooms and eucalyptus; the groom wears a light sand-colored suit with a white shirt, no tie, and a white boutonniere. Guests are dressed in colorful summer attire including coral, peach, and floral-print dresses, with some holding white hand fans, suggesting a warm-weather wedding. The shot is a medium-wide portrait-style image taken at eye level, capturing the couple in the foreground with guests framing them on both sides.
The bride and groom walk back down the aisle together following an outdoor ceremony on the lawn of a French château, with the multi-story stone building featuring pointed turrets and slate roof visible directly behind them. The bride wears a sleek white column dress with a front slit and carries a bouquet of white flowers including what appear to be peonies, hydrangeas, and eucalyptus, while the groom wears a light beige linen suit with sunglasses and white sneakers. Guests seated on white chairs line both sides of the grass aisle, with small clusters of baby's breath tied to the chair ends as aisle decor; tall black iron stands topped with white floral arrangements mark the ceremony space. The overall styling is relaxed and warm-weather classic, with guests dressed in colorful summer attire and some holding white paper fans, shot as a wide portrait-oriented image capturing both the couple and the château façade in full.

Photography: Frances Mary Sales


Cocktail Hour

Bride seen from behind through French doors wearing open-back white gown and holding hand fan during cocktail hour
Bride and guests sitting by the pool with feet in the water during cocktail hour at a French country chateau
Outdoor cocktail hour on a sunlit lawn beside a rustic French property with guests mingling under trees
20 guests at round tables with cream parasols on chateau lawn with globe lights and pink hydrangeas

Photography: Frances Mary Sales


Reception

Round tables with white linens and Chiavari chairs under cream umbrellas with fairy lights in garden
Couple enters garden reception from behind as standing guests wave white napkins under cream parasols
Round tables under cream umbrellas on lawn beside chateau with conical-roofed tower in afternoon sun
Round white-clothed tables under cream umbrellas with globe lights beside pool at French garden reception

Photography: Frances Mary Sales


Couple Portraits

Bride raising bouquet and groom in grey linen suit on chateau lawn with turreted stone facade at golden hour
Couple kissing on gravel path through lavender and rose garden at golden hour
Bride and groom walking from behind along ivy-covered chateau with lavender border and gravel courtyard
A couple portrait taken outdoors in a lavender field at golden hour, with warm backlit sunlight creating a strong lens flare effect. The bride faces away from the camera, wearing a white open-back gown with draped sleeves and a large bow detail at the lower back; her blonde hair is styled in a low updo. She holds a bouquet of white roses and greenery at her side. The groom, in a light beige suit with a white pocket square and open collar shirt, faces toward the camera with his eyes closed, his hand resting on the bride's shoulder. The foreground and surrounding area feature rows of lavender in bloom, and the background is filled with softly blurred trees illuminated by the setting sun. Medium-distance portrait composition with intentional use of backlight and bokeh.

Photography: Frances Mary Sales


Bridal Portraits

Bride photographed from behind in open-back gown with bow detail standing in doorway of French chateau
Golden hour rear view of bride walking across estate lawn in open-back gown with bow detail, carrying ivory rose bouquet
Bride showing deep open-back gown with bow detail holding hand fan with pool and turret chateau behind
A bride poses alone on the lawn in front of a French château during golden hour, her long ivory veil caught mid-movement as she tosses or adjusts it, creating a sweeping arc of fabric. She wears a sleek, minimalist ivory gown with a bateau neckline, a thigh-high slit, and a train, paired with strappy silver heels and drop earrings. She holds a round bouquet of white roses and green foliage and is smiling downward. The setting is the grounds of a classic French limestone château with steep slate-roofed turrets and tall cypress trees flanking the facade, with a figure faintly visible on the balcony in the background. The composition is a full-length portrait shot in warm late-day light, with a modern, clean styling aesthetic. Potential venue feature image.

Photography: Frances Mary Sales


Design and Details

Garden reception with round tables under market umbrellas, white floral centerpieces, and eucalyptus place settings
A traditional French croquembouche wedding cake is displayed on a round silver cocktail table in the foreground, decorated with small red sugar roses, green sugar leaves, and a heart-shaped gingerbread plaque reading 'Rémi et Jacbe' in white icing. The profiterole tower is finished with caramel and sits on a white paper doily. The setting is an indoor barn-style reception venue with exposed wooden beam ceiling draped with multiple strands of warm fairy lights that cascade down white curtained walls, creating a rustic-warm atmosphere. A music stand and drum kit are visible in the soft-focus background, indicating a live band setup for the reception. The image is a portrait-format detail shot with the croquembouche sharply in focus against a heavily bokeh background.

Photography: Frances Mary Sales


Bridal Party

Bride with four bridesmaids in champagne satin dresses laughing on gravel courtyard before French chateau
Bride in ivory gown walking with four bridesmaids in champagne satin dresses and flower girl on gravel courtyard
Bride and four bridesmaids in champagne satin dresses stand with backs to camera facing a French chateau
Bride and four bridesmaids in champagne satin with flower girl walking on gravel path

Photography: Frances Mary Sales


Flat Lays

Bridal accessories on windowsill gold knotted sandals Le Labo fragrance pearl earrings and silk scrunchie with garden view

Photography: Frances Mary Sales


Venue

Stone chateau with pointed slate towers and cypress trees with white ceremony chairs on lawn
A close-up architectural shot of the exterior facade of a French château, showing two floors of white-painted multi-pane windows with arched detailing on the lower level, set into pale limestone block walls. Climbing ivy with green and rust-toned foliage spreads across the upper portion of the facade. In the foreground, large white snowball viburnum flower clusters bloom densely in front of the arched French doors. No people are visible in the image. Potential venue feature image.
A wide exterior shot of a French château featuring classic architecture with grey slate conical turret roofs, a small bell tower, and cream-toned stone facades with tall arched windows. In the foreground, a rectangular outdoor swimming pool is flanked by a wooden deck with dark sun loungers, a large black spherical planter holding pink flowering plants, and neatly trimmed topiary shrubs. No people are visible in the image. The shot is taken in bright daylight and captures the full rear or side elevation of the building along with its landscaped garden grounds. Potential venue feature image.
An outdoor wide shot of a French château viewed from its garden grounds, featuring cream-colored stone architecture with dark slate pointed turret roofs, dormer windows, and a central belvedere. The foreground includes a rectangular outdoor swimming pool with a wooden deck surround, sun loungers, a pergola structure draped with flowering plants in pink and red, and a large potted topiary shrub. No people are visible in the frame. The shot appears to be taken before or between wedding events, showcasing the property's grounds including manicured lawn, flowering shrubs, and planted borders. Potential venue feature image.

Photography: Frances Mary Sales

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