A Loire Valley Wedding at Château Allure du Lac
This Loire Valley Wedding felt like magic. Sara and Austyn brought their closest people to the Loire Valley for a week of joy, laughter, and good food. And they did it all at the stunning Château Allure du Lac.
France wasn’t a random choice—but it also wasn’t planned from the start. While traveling in Greece, before they were even engaged, the idea just came to them. They were with family, staying in a villa by the sea. And they both thought: This is how we want to get married. Simple, beautiful, surrounded by love.
It also tied back to something Sara’s dad used to say: “Don’t defer joy.” After his cancer diagnosis, that became a guiding phrase. This whole trip—this wedding—was a way to live by those words. To travel, eat amazing food, and celebrate life together.
This wasn’t just a one-day event. Sara and Austyn rented the entire château for the week. They wanted to live in the moment. Sleep in. Share coffee in pajamas. Let the people they love settle in and enjoy France together.
Think quiet mornings, colorful flowers, and dinner under the sunset. Add in a sapphire engagement ring, French onion soup, and a linen mix-up—and you’ve got a day we’ll all remember.
Château Allure du Lac made that easy. It sits right by the water, surrounded by trees. With vintage charm and space for everyone, it felt like home, but way more romantic.
The Wedding Vision and Details
From the start, they knew what they wanted for this Loire Valley Wedding. A laid-back morning. A whimsical and romantic ceremony. No pressure. Just love.
The flowers created by Clementine at Expressions Floral Designs were full of soft pastels with pops of blue. That blue tied everything back to Sara’s sapphire ring. It was such a sweet detail. You could see it in the florals, the table accents, even in little pieces throughout the day.
They didn’t want anything too stiff or formal. Just good energy. And that’s exactly what they got.
Of course, no wedding is complete without a tiny surprise. Leading up to the wedding day, Sara had several issues with picking up the linens. An international shipment issue with a hidden fee caused some back and forth for weeks.
Cue the panic.
For a moment, it looked like the tables might be bare. But everything came together just in time. Sara was able to get her linens just HOURS before the ceremony finally. And now it’s one of those stories they’ll tell forever. (And honestly? The tables looked so good.)
Loire Valley Wedding Ceremony
Sara and Austyn choose to have their wedding ceremony on this little island that is accessed by a small bridge on site. Just next to the water, with great views and beautiful soft green trees. As you enter the aisle, you are welcomed with flowers on each side. Beautiful flowers also were decorated on the open gazebo.
For their ceremony, Sara’s sister Meg officiated in replaced of her father, who passed away a few months ago. Meg spoke the words here father had written down for their wedding ceremony. Hearing what he would have said was warming to the heart. I know, was also emotional for many.
A tradition they did for the ceremony was passing the rings around to each guests. Where they got to hold the rings, and make a wish or prayer for the couple. Something I thought was really special and unique.
The ceremony ended with personal vows (where during this, Meg held onto the veil because it kept blowing in the way), a kiss, and the classic dip down the aisle! A ceremony that was about 10 minutes, and perfect for this wedding couple and their guests.
The Dinner Reception
Dinner at this Loire Valley Wedding was such a highlight. French food is Austyn’s favorite, and he was in heaven. They even made sure to try the real-deal French onion soup as part of their five-course meal—he’s been ranking them back home in Boston for years.
Guests gathered under soft lighting and toasted with local wine. The atmosphere was cozy, heartfelt, and full of connection, and everyone felt part of something bigger.
For 10 minutes, we snuck away to get some bride and groom wedding portraits down just in front of the chateau. Truly a beautiful spot for these two to have some quiet time to have these special photos taken.
Final Reception Moments
Sara and Austyn aren’t big dancers. But they still had one sweet first dance. It was just enough. Then they let the night unfold. Some people danced. Others stayed at the table, laughing and talking. No pressure to “perform.” Just space to enjoy.
They built a playlist for the night, filled with songs they loved. It set the mood perfectly.
This wedding was never about perfection. It was about presence. About taking time. About feeling everything.
Sara and Austyn created space for every laugh, every hug, and every late-night chat. And the Loire Valley—peaceful, timeless, romantic—was the perfect place to do it.
A Loire Valley Wedding like this remind me what it’s all about. Not just the photos. Not just the timeline. But the people. The feeling. The experience.
And this one? It’s a story I’ll carry with me forever.
France Wedding Photographer
Hey, there! My name is Dana and I am a wedding photographer who loves photographing weddings in the South of France, Provence, and throughout the Loire Valley. Since 2018 I have photographed over 200 weddings and elopements all over the U.S. France, and Italy. I love serving couples who want that joyful, authentic yet personable experience when it comes to photography. Getting to photograph this Loire Valley Wedding for Sara and Austyn brought me such joy, and I hope to one day serve you the same way. To learn more. click HERE to get information.
