Whimsical Countryside Charm at Chateau de la Bourlie, Dordogne

Chloe and Nick's whimsical wedding at Chateau de la Bourlie in the Dordogne featured courtyard vows, a Pronovias gown, and wildflower charm, captured by Susie…

By Elena Moretti | Published 12 September 2014

Whimsical Countryside Charm at Chateau de la Bourlie, Dordogne

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Chloe and Nick chose Chateau de la Bourlie in the Dordogne for a celebration that was whimsical, personal, and deeply rooted in the French countryside. The couple found their venue after two trips through France and fell in love with the estate's warmth, character, and relaxed spirit.

Photography

Susie Lawrence Photography

Venue

Chateau de la Bourlie

Region

Dordogne, France

Couple

Chloe & Nick

Ceremony

A black-and-white wide-angle interior shot of a rustic barn or stone chapel venue, with exposed heavy wooden roof trusses forming a dramatic geometric pattern against white-washed walls and a vaulted ceiling. In the lower portion of the frame, a small group of people — including what appears to be a couple and several guests — stand near sheer white fabric draping that frames a doorway or altar area. A decorative framed display, possibly a seating chart or signage, is visible on the left side. The image has soft contrast with bright highlights on the walls and ceiling, and the composition emphasizes the architectural ceiling detail over the figures below. Potential venue feature image.

A cocktail hour or post-ceremony gathering taking place outdoors in the courtyard of a French chateau, with approximately 20–30 guests mingling in small groups. The venue features warm terracotta-roofed stone buildings on either side and a distinctive conical-roofed tower on the right, with ivy climbing the walls. Guests are dressed in summer attire including colorful dresses and suits, with one woman visible in a yellow hat. The shot is a wide-angle composition taken from ground level looking into the courtyard, capturing both the crowd and the full architectural surroundings. Potential venue feature image.

A black-and-white wide shot taken during an indoor wedding reception, showing a couple seated at a head table in the background, framed by a large multi-pane window that provides strong backlight. The high contrast image renders the foreground guests as dark silhouettes, while the bride and groom are faintly visible at the table in the mid-ground. Rows of what appear to be white Chiavari chairs with dark sashes are visible on either side of the aisle-like space. The venue interior features plain white walls, suggesting a converted barn or chateau outbuilding with a rustic aesthetic.

The ceremony took place in the estate's open-air courtyard, where stone walls and climbing greenery framed the exchange of vows. Guests gathered in an intimate circle as the couple spoke with visible emotion, their words carrying through the quiet afternoon air. The setting felt both sacred and informal, perfectly reflecting the couple's approach to the day.

Bridal Portraits

A couple portrait taken outdoors in a formal garden, with the bride and groom framed by a dense leafy hedgerow archway. The groom stands behind the bride, both smiling, with a dark wooden picket gate visible in the foreground. The bride wears a strapless ivory gown and holds a loose, wildflower-style bouquet featuring coral, pink, and white blooms. The groom wears a white dress shirt, dark navy waistcoat, and a teal tie. The composition is a close-to-medium portrait shot through the natural arch opening, with a garden path visible and softly blurred in the background, giving the image a framed, intimate quality.

A diptych of two outdoor couple portraits taken in the grounds of a French chateau. In the left image, the bride and groom stand with their backs to the camera in a wide shot, embracing on a lawn with a stone chateau tower visible in the background and a wrought-iron decorative bench or arch with white florals nearby; the bride wears a fitted mermaid-style white gown with a ruffled skirt and has her hair half-up with a floral hair piece, while the groom wears a navy suit. The right image is a closer portrait showing the couple facing each other and smiling, with the bride's pink and white floral hair accessory clearly visible and the groom wearing a white boutonniere on his navy lapel. The overall styling is classic and romantic, with a natural garden setting, and the photography has a soft, slightly muted tone across both frames.

A two-image composition featuring a close-up detail shot on the left and a couple portrait on the right. The left image is a close-up of a bridal bouquet held against a white dress, composed of coral and blush hydrangeas, cream white hydrangeas, yellow-green billy balls, white Queen Anne's lace, pink larkspur, and trailing fern and greenery in a loose, garden-style arrangement. The right image shows the bride and groom sharing a close moment, nearly kissing, photographed through a foreground of blush pink hydrangea blooms and dense green foliage, creating a soft, framed portrait effect. The groom wears a navy suit and the couple are surrounded by lush garden plantings, suggesting an outdoor garden or chateau grounds setting.

A couple portrait taken outdoors in a garden setting, with the bride and groom standing close together and touching foreheads in an intimate moment. The bride wears a strapless white gown and the groom wears a dark waistcoat over a white shirt with a light-colored tie. The foreground is filled with out-of-focus yellow marigolds, while soft pink flowers are visible in the background foliage. The image is shot with a very shallow depth of field and strong lens flare creating a soft, hazy glow, giving the portrait a painterly quality. The composition is a medium portrait with the couple centered in the frame amid lush garden greenery.

Susie Lawrence Photography captured Chloe framed by the estate's stone archways, wildflower borders, and green woodland paths. Her Pronovias gown, paired with loose boho curls and flowers woven into her hair, created a bridal style that felt enchanting and free. The bridal party and Nick joined for relaxed portraits across the grounds, their energy matching the effortless beauty of the setting.

Reception

A black-and-white close-up shot of a traditional French croquembouche wedding cake in the foreground, decorated with small flowers and topped with a bride-and-groom cake topper, with sparklers lit and actively sparkling from the top. The bride, wearing a strapless dress and a hair accessory, stands smiling in the softly blurred background alongside another person, likely the groom. The image is taken at low light during an evening reception, with high contrast between the bright sparkler flash and the dark surroundings. The shallow depth of field keeps focus on the croquembouche while the couple remains out of focus behind it.

Close-up detail shot of two rustic wedding table centerpieces displayed side by side in a split-image composition. Each centerpiece consists of a glass mason jar wrapped with a lace or burlap trim, holding loose arrangements of cream and blush roses, coral blooms, lavender sprigs, thistle buds, and green foliage. Small glass votive candle holders are visible alongside the arrangements. The table is covered with a white linen, and the blurred background suggests a bright, airy indoor reception space styled in a rustic, vintage-inspired theme with a soft pastel color palette.

Dinner unfolded in the courtyard beneath string lights and the Dordogne evening sky. Tables dressed with wildflowers, candles, and rustic linens created an atmosphere of relaxed celebration. Guests moved easily between courses, conversation, and dancing, the warmth of the evening holding everyone together long past sunset.

Flat Lays

Close-up detail shot of a rustic wedding table centerpiece featuring a clear glass mason jar wrapped with a cream lace trim and filled with water. The arrangement includes a white garden rose, blush pink rosebuds, purple lavender stems, white scabiosa, and dried nigella seed pods. The jar sits on a white tablecloth, with blurred glassware and a small plate visible in the background, suggesting an indoor reception setting. The overall styling is rustic-boho with a wildflower, foraged aesthetic.

A close-up detail shot of a wedding guest book or photo display installation, featuring approximately 12–15 instant Polaroid-style photos clipped to strings or a surface using small natural wood clothespins. The photos show individual guests and small groups holding small chalkboard signs with their names written in chalk, including readable names such as 'Kelly' and 'Roxie.' Some guests are wearing novelty props such as oversized glasses and goggles. The display has a casual, boho-rustic aesthetic and appears to be mounted against a plain light-colored wall. The image is shot at a shallow depth of field, with the upper photos slightly blurred and the lower ones in sharper focus, giving a diagonal compositional flow.

Close-up detail shot of bridesmaids seated during an outdoor wedding ceremony, each holding small round bouquets and printed ceremony programs. The bridesmaids are wearing pale sage/mint chiffon dresses. The foreground bouquet contains white hydrangeas, mauve hydrangeas, coral and yellow toned flowers, and fresh mint leaves, while the bouquet in the background includes coral roses, white hydrangeas, and greenery. The styling is soft and garden-inspired with a mixed pastel palette of coral, white, and mauve florals complementing the sage dresses. The shallow depth of field draws focus to the nearest bouquet and program.

Close-up detail shot of a rustic wedding guestbook concept using a wooden wine barrel with silver metal hoops. A small rectangular wooden sign with hand-burned lettering reading 'I am the Guestbook! Please Sign me' is propped inside the open top of the barrel. Guests have signed their names and written messages directly onto the natural wood surface of the barrel in black marker, with several signatures and handwritten notes visible around the lower half. The styling is rustic and vineyard-inspired, consistent with a French wine country wedding aesthetic.

Stationery and detail shots captured the whimsical character of the celebration. Hand-lettered signs, wildflower posies, and ribbon-tied programmes were styled against rustic wood and natural linen. Chloe's ring and accessories completed the flat lay compositions with delicate, personal touches.

Venue

Wide exterior shot of a French chateau viewed from a distance, showcasing the full property set on a hillside. The building features classic medieval architecture with conical-roofed towers, terracotta brick walls, and multiple chimneys. No people or wedding activity are visible in this image; it serves purely as a venue establishing shot. Potential venue feature image.

A diptych image showing two scenes at a French countryside chateau venue. The left panel is a close-up detail shot of a fruit tree branch with small green fruits, with the chateau's conical tower visible softly out of focus in the background. The right panel is a wide shot showing the exterior of a stone chateau with a distinctive round tower and terracotta-tiled conical roof, where three musicians — one playing double bass, one playing violin, and one seated at an upright piano — are being transported on a flatbed trailer pulled by a green John Deere ride-on tractor across the gravel courtyard, likely arriving to perform at the wedding. The candid, humorous scene adds an informal character to the venue arrival. Potential venue feature image.

An outdoor wedding venue setup showing a row of large cream-colored canvas marquee tents with pointed peaks and yellow trim details, arranged across a lawn area. The tents appear to be traditional-style tipi or sperry-type structures used for wedding receptions or accommodation, with metal lanterns placed on the grass nearby. The shot is framed through foreground foliage, creating a wide environmental view of the tent arrangement. Potential venue feature image.

Chateau de la Bourlie revealed its character across the day, from the sun-warmed stone courtyards to the shaded woodland paths and wildflower meadows. The property's patina of age and countryside simplicity gave every moment a sense of place. Its intimate scale and natural beauty made it the kind of venue where every corner offered a new backdrop.