AN Intimate wedding at château cop choux in the loire valley
Tayler + Daniel
Tayler + Daniel
Tayler and Daniel’s wedding unfolded over three summer days at Château Cop Choux in the Loire Valley, surrounded by their closest friends and family traveling from France and abroad.
The wedding began with a relaxed welcome dinner filled with champagne, pizza and sunset portraits in the château gardens. It ended with a laid-back brunch and pool party. Three days that gave everyone time to slow down, reconnect and truly enjoy being together.
A Slow Afternoon at Château Cop Choux
I returned to the château around midday the following day, beginning as I always do: documenting the place, the atmosphere and all the little details before the day really starts.
Daniel got ready surrounded by his groomsmen and Tamara, their little cocker spaniel, who quickly became a recurring character throughout the photographs.
Meanwhile, I joined Tayler and her bridesmaids as she got dressed. It was an emotional moment filled with laughter and a few tears, with plenty of time for portraits together before the ceremony. And, of course, Tamara made another appearance.
Rather than seeing each other for the first time at the ceremony, Tayler and Daniel chose to share a private first look inside the château. Tayler walked down the staircase to meet Daniel for a quiet moment that belonged entirely to them. We stayed inside for portraits, moving through several rooms of Château Cop Choux and playing with its light, architecture and interiors. The result was a mix of editorial portraits and imperfect, nostalgic film photographs, two approaches that would continue to intertwine throughout the day.
An Outdoor Ceremony and Cocktail Hour in the Loire Valley
Their ceremony took place outside, beneath the shade of the trees in the château grounds, and was officiated by Daniel’s brother. It was tender, joyful and deeply personal. Tayler and Daniel exchanged their vows before their closest friends and family, with their rings carried down the aisle by Tayler’s nephew. The ceremony ended with a petal toss as Tayler and Daniel walked back down the aisle, surrounded by cheers and applause from their guests. Everyone then gathered for cocktail hour.
A live jazz band set the mood while guests enjoyed drinks, speeches and time together in the park. There were more than a few tears during the toasts. Followed by a bouquet toss (caught by one of Tayler’s bridesmaids) and relaxed family and group photos.
Golden Light, a Laid-Back Dinner and a Fun After-Party
As the guests began making their way inside for dinner, Tayler and Daniel stayed outside for a few more portraits. The sun was getting lower over the countryside. Their little dog followed along, seemingly determined to find her way into as many photographs as possible.
Dinner unfolded slowly inside. Speeches continued between courses. Guests talked across the tables while people laughed and sang. Tayler and Daniel eventually cut their wedding cake. The evening became one of my favorite parts of the entire gallery.
I photographed several rolls of film using direct flash throughout dinner, capturing all the details the couple designed. I embraced the little imperfections that make analog photographs feel so alive. The resulting images are romantic, slightly vintage and wonderfully imperfect, somewhere between editorial wedding photography and completely unposed documentary moments.
That balance feels particularly representative of this wedding: laid-back yet elegant, intentional without ever feeling overly staged.
As dinner came to an end, Tayler and Daniel shared their first dance before the night turned into a fun, intimate after-party. Everyone gathered in the outdoor lounge for cocktails, cigars, mini burgers and lots of laughter. Later, they headed back to the dance floor.
A Wedding Captured on Film, Digital and Super 8
Photography was only one part of the story. Throughout the wedding day, my partner was alongside me documenting everything on Super 8 while I moved between digital and film photography. Together, we were able to preserve the same moments through still and moving images, blending digital photography with the texture and imperfections of analog film.
Pure nostalgia.
Curious about my approach to analog photography? Explore my film photography here →
One Last Day: Brunch and a Pool Party
I returned to Château Cop Choux the following day for one final chapter: brunch and a pool party. After the emotions and celebrations of the previous day, everything slowed down. Swimsuits replaced wedding clothes and everyone gathered around the pool. There was finally time to decompress, share stories from the night before and say goodbye. It was the perfect ending to three days together.
This is also one of the things I love about destination weddings and celebrations where families are traveling from different places. Extending a wedding beyond a single day creates a full experience. There is more time to be together, fewer moments spent rushing from one thing to the next, and so much more of the story to remember.
Planning your wedding in a château in France?
Looking for more wedding inspiration?
Discover more real celebrations and stories on the Journal, or get in touch if you're planning your own wedding in France.
Looking for more wedding inspiration?
Discover more real celebrations and stories on the Journal,
or get in touch if you're planning your own wedding in France.
