French Wedding Style

Galia Lahav Bride’s Dream Wedding at Jardin du Vert Bois

Published 6 September 2024
Galia Lahav Bride’s Dream Wedding at Jardin du Vert Bois

At a Glance

Autumn (2024)

A Summer Celebration at Jardin du Vert Bois in Lille

Family and friends gathered at this 18th century, private residence in Lille which exclusively hosts small weddings for 15 to 20 people. The couple’s story began years earlier in Los Angeles, paused for a quiet civil ceremony during the pandemic, and culminated in this summer gathering in northern France. The soft palette of ivory and blush read gently against stone paths and leafy courtyards, while metallic accents caught the glow of late afternoon. Guests moved between ceremony, cocktails and dinner with ease, each space reflecting the venue’s mix of gardens and heritage architecture, and a focus on connection above all.

Ceremony Poise, Couture Detail and Aisle Theatre

Sydney wore the Galia Lahav Catalina, a scoop-neck mermaid gown with delicate 3D florals and petal-touched straps that caught the indoor light. The look balanced structure and softness, ideal for portraits near the manor’s tall windows and carved stairways. For the ceremony, aisle petals lifted the room while greenery added texture without crowding the view. After vows, guests stepped into the courtyard of Jardin du Vert Bois where candles steadied the tables and the air cooled across the stone. Music rose for the first dance, and conversation carried between the bar, tables and a corner set for cake and toasts.

Direction, Images and Practical Notes for Northern France

The day came together through the direction of Noce Machine, one of France’s leading wedding planners, who guided transitions, guest flow and lighting across the property. Marion Jendrzejak, among the talented wedding photographers in northern France, documented the gown’s intricate details and the quiet exchanges that shaped the ceremony. Their collaboration highlighted how Jardin du Vert Bois suits intimate gatherings with sheltered gardens, flexible indoor options and easy access from Lille. As evening settled, the courtyard glowed with candlelight and steady voices, closing a day rooted in warmth, precision and shared celebration.

For more French Wedding inspiration

The Ceremony

The Bride and Groom

The Bridal Party

The Reception

The Environment

The Cake and Party

Discover More French Wedding Inspiration

Ceremony

Bride in sheer floral applique gown and cathedral veil holding hands with groom during outdoor ceremony vows
Bride in lace gown and groom at ceremony with white hydrangea backdrop before chateau facade
A close-up portrait of a bride during an outdoor ceremony, facing the groom whose back is partially visible on the right edge of the frame. The bride is smiling and looking toward the groom while he appears to be placing a ring on her hand. She wears a form-fitting sheer lace gown with white floral and butterfly appliqués, a plain cathedral-length veil, a delicate pearl or diamond necklace, and stud earrings. Her dark hair is worn down in loose layers. The setting is a garden with trimmed hedges and leafy trees in the background, photographed in bright natural daylight. The overall styling is classic and refined.
An outdoor wedding ceremony setup on the lawn of a French manor house, photographed before guests have arrived. White folding chairs are arranged in rows on either side of a grass aisle, with tall white florals on slender stems lining the aisle. The altar area features a large low arrangement of white blooms — including what appear to be white hydrangeas and peonies — placed directly on the ground in front of a low stone garden wall and hedgerow. The venue is a three-storey French manor with pale stone façade, mansard roof, brick chimney stacks, and white shuttered windows. The overall decor palette is all-white with a classic, garden-style aesthetic. Wide shot taken from behind the guest seating looking toward the altar and manor building. Potential venue feature image.

Cocktail Hour

Crystal coupe champagne tower pyramid with golden champagne and bride holding glass in soft background

Reception

Orangery reception with ghost chairs, fairy lights, tall white floral centerpieces, and iron windows
Couple cutting two-tier ruffled fondant cake with figurine topper at dimly lit indoor reception
Couple dancing energetically on reception dance floor with guests behind in black and white
This black-and-white image captures a bride and groom dancing and laughing together during what appears to be an indoor evening reception, with a large white-framed window visible in the background. The groom wears a black tuxedo with a bow tie and satin lapels, and is caught mid-move in a playful, energetic dancing pose. The bride wears a strapless tiered ball gown with three-dimensional floral appliqué detailing throughout, accessorized with a delicate necklace and hoop earrings, with her long dark hair worn loosely down. The image has high contrast with deep blacks and bright whites, and is shot as a close-up portrait capturing the genuine, joyful expressions of both the bride and groom on a cobblestone floor.

Couple Portraits

Couple walking toward French chateau on cobblestone path, bride in 3D floral applique gown with open back
Bride in floral applique gown kissing groom holding rose champagne against chateau doors
A couple portrait taken outdoors on stone steps in front of a classical French château or mansion facade, featuring large white-framed glass doors and a carved stone figurative sculpture on a pedestal. The bride, with dark shoulder-length hair, wears a fitted ivory spaghetti-strap gown with 3D floral lace appliqué detailing and a delicate diamond tennis necklace. The groom sits behind her in a black tuxedo with a black bow tie and a white rose boutonnière with green accents. He has his arms around her as she leans back against him, both looking at each other. The styling is classic and formal. Close-up portrait composition shot from a slightly elevated angle.
A couple poses hand-in-hand on an indoor grand staircase, likely inside a château or historic manor, captured in a mid-length portrait shot. The bride wears a fitted, semi-sheer white gown with 3D floral appliqués covering the length of the dress and thin strap detailing at the shoulders, paired with a delicate silver necklace. The groom wears a black tuxedo with a black bow tie, white dress shirt, and a small white floral boutonnière. The interior setting features gilt-accented classical columns, ornate wall-mounted tapestries with figurative scenes in terracotta and muted tones, and black wrought-iron stair railings with gold-toned newel posts. A large dried floral arrangement of pampas grass and dried foliage in warm beige and white tones is positioned at the base of the staircase to the right, contributing to a boho-classic styling mix.

Bridal Portraits

Bride seen from behind wearing lace-edged cathedral train and veil in walled garden of French brick manor house
Black-and-white bridal portrait by window, bride in fitted floral applique gown with pearl necklace
Bride smiling in low-back gown with 3D floral appliques and delicate back necklace on gravel path

Design and Details

Close-up of a reception table centerpiece with white garden roses, delphiniums, anemones, and green foliage in glass vases
Black charger place setting with overflowing white rose and trailing amaranthus centrepiece under fairy lights
An outdoor garden setting featuring a large low floral installation arranged directly on the lawn, with no people visible. The arrangement is composed primarily of white hydrangeas, white delphiniums, white stock flowers, and green bells of Ireland, accented with soft dusty pink astilbe or similar feathery blooms and trailing greenery. The installation is horizontal and ground-level, spanning roughly two meters wide, designed in a natural, loosely structured style. The wide shot captures the floral display against a backdrop of mature garden hedging and trees, shot in full daylight.
Close-up detail shot of a wedding reception tablescape inside an industrial-style venue with exposed brick walls and Edison bulb string lights. The centerpiece consists of multiple individual white roses on long green stems, each placed in separate tall clear glass cylinder vases, mixed with small floating candle holders containing lit white tea lights. The table is covered in a white linen cloth and set with wine glasses and black bread plates holding sliced baguette. In the background, additional round guest tables are visible, similarly decorated with white floral arrangements and candlelight, with ghost-style chairs partially visible. The overall decor palette is white and clear glass with a modern, minimal aesthetic.

Bridal Party

Wedding party of 16 in black gowns and tuxedos cheering as couple kisses at chateau
A bridal party portrait taken outdoors on the stone steps of a French château, with the building's cream limestone facade, arched windows, and white shuttered doors filling the background. The bride stands at center wearing a fitted, floor-length lace gown with intricate floral appliqué and a long lace cathedral train, paired with a white veil, and holds a large bouquet of white peonies. She is flanked by ten bridesmaids dressed in mismatched black floor-length gowns in various styles — including off-the-shoulder, cape, halter neck, spaghetti strap, and square-neck silhouettes — each holding a smaller bouquet of white peonies. The overall color palette is a high-contrast black and white, creating a modern and polished aesthetic. This is a wide group portrait shot with all subjects facing the camera.
A groom and his nine groomsmen are photographed walking toward the camera on a stone-paved courtyard outside a French château or manor house, with tall arched windows and white shutters visible in the background. The groom stands in the foreground, slightly turned and smiling directly at the camera, wearing a black tuxedo with a black bow tie and a small white and yellow floral boutonnière. All groomsmen are dressed in matching black tuxedos with black bow ties and white dress shirts, some with white pocket squares; they are laughing and walking in a relaxed, candid manner. This is a wide portrait shot taken in natural daylight, with the formal classical architecture of the venue providing a structured backdrop.

Venue

French manor house with square tower reflected in a still pond, formal topiary garden in foreground
Black and white view of French chateau facade with classical stone sculptures and parterre boxwood garden
An outdoor wide shot of a historic French property featuring a red brick outbuilding with white stone quoins, a slate mansard-style roof, and multi-pane arched windows. A decorative white iron bench with swan-shaped armrests sits in front of the building, flanked by a neatly trimmed low boxwood hedge. A pale sage-painted wooden door leads to a walled passage, and an ornate wrought iron gate with scrollwork is visible to the right alongside a clipped topiary sphere. No people are present in the image. Potential venue feature image.
An exterior wide shot of a French château featuring a symmetrical brick and stone facade with white-trimmed tall windows across three floors, a mansard-style slate roof with multiple chimneys, and classical stone statuary flanking the entrance steps. The foreground shows a straight cobblestone pathway leading directly to the entrance, bordered by neatly trimmed low boxwood hedges and cone-shaped topiaries on either side, forming a formal French garden approach. No people are visible in the image. Potential venue feature image.

More Images

A black-and-white group portrait of the groom and approximately eight groomsmen gathered on the stone front steps of a large French manor or château with brick façade and shuttered windows. Two men in the center are giving each other a high-five, with the surrounding group reacting with laughter and smiles, creating a candid, lively moment. All men are dressed in black tuxedos with white dress shirts and black bow ties, styled in a classic formal look. The image is shot in high contrast black and white with deep shadows and bright highlights, captured as a medium-wide shot from a slight low angle.
The groom, dressed in a black tuxedo, lifts the bride over his shoulder in a playful moment inside a formal interior space. The bride wears a white floral appliqué lace gown with a sheer bodice and a flowing skirt, her dark hair loosely falling around her face as she laughs. The setting features gold-trimmed classical columns, a marble floor, and a large ornate tapestry with figurative imagery on the wall behind them. The shot is a mid-range portrait capturing the couple's movement and energy in a classic French château-style interior.

The Wedding Team

Wedding Planning
Photography
Catering
Music & Entertainment
Florals
Bridal Fashion
Hair & Makeup
Hair & Makeup

Love this wedding? There are hundreds more.

Real weddings, venue guides, and planning inspiration — in your inbox every month.

More Real Weddings

A Stunning Wedding at Chateau de Courcelles le Roy in the Loire Valley

A Stunning Wedding at Chateau de Courcelles le Roy in the Loire Valley

A Persian-French Wedding at Château de Saint-Martin-du-Tertre

A Persian-French Wedding at Château de Saint-Martin-du-Tertre

Pastel and Burgundy Wedding Inspiration

Pastel and Burgundy Wedding Inspiration

Floral Splendor Wedding at Chateau de Robernier

Floral Splendor Wedding at Chateau de Robernier

See all real weddings →
Share This Wedding
10 chapters

Planning a Wedding in France?

Our complete guide covers everything from choosing a region to the morning-after breakfast.

Read the Complete Guide