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Candlelit Ballroom and Fireworks at Chateau Challain, Loire Valley

Antong and Yuting's wedding at Chateau Challain in the Loire Valley, with white florals, a candlelit ballroom, and fireworks. 23 photos by In Love Photography.

By Anne-Sophie Boubals | Published 13 May 2024 | Last reviewed | Photos by In Love Photography

Antong and Yuting chose Chateau Challain, a Gothic Revival wedding castle in the Loire Valley for a celebration that wove Chinese heritage into 19th-century French architecture. Iris Wedding Paris directed every detail, from the rose-adorned gazebo ceremony to the candlelit ballroom reception, at this fairytale chateau wedding venue in the Loire region.

Getting Ready

Black and white close-up of bride in white wrap robe during hair and makeup preparation © In Love Photography
Ivory ballgown with beaded bodice hanging from chandelier against rococo boiserie panels in chateau © In Love Photography
A getting-ready scene shot indoors, showing a bride in a white silk long-sleeve bridal robe with a train reaching up to touch her wedding dress, which is hanging from a gold ornate chandelier. The wedding gown is a full ballgown silhouette in ivory with lace detailing at the bodice and a voluminous tulle skirt. The bride has long dark wavy hair and is viewed from behind. The room features grey and white large-scale floral wallpaper, a distressed white carved wood decorative panel behind the dress, and a cowhide rug on the hardwood floor, giving the space a French romantic interior styling. The composition is a full-length portrait shot that emphasizes both the robe and the hanging gown against the ornate backdrop. © In Love Photography
A getting-ready moment indoors, showing a bride standing while an older woman — likely her mother — adjusts her cathedral-length veil. The bride wears a full ballgown with a beaded illusion bodice and a voluminous white tulle skirt with an extended train; her hair is pulled back in a sleek updo with pearl drop earrings. The older woman is dressed in a pale blue satin qipao (cheongsam) with floral embroidery detail and a small corsage. The room features ornate white rococo-style carved panel screens, grey-and-white floral wallpaper, a Moroccan-style metal chandelier overhead, and a cowhide rug on light wood flooring, creating a classic French interior setting. The composition is a full-length portrait shot with both figures centered against the decorative backdrop. © In Love Photography
Black and white portrait of groom laughing in tuxedo seated on ornate canopied bed in baroque chateau room © In Love Photography
Close-up of groom wearing a white pleated tuxedo shirt with black satin bow tie © In Love Photography

Photo: In Love Photography

Yuting prepared in one of the chateau's upper rooms, where high ceilings and tall windows flooded the space with soft morning light. Her gown hung against dark wood panelling, its train pooling on the parquet floor. Sophie Mua Paris styled a clean, polished look that complemented the structured bodice and open neckline. Louis Vuitton heels sat beside the mirror, and the quiet focus of the room held a sense of anticipation before the day unfolded.


Ceremony

Outdoor ceremony in formal French garden with couple at wrought-iron gazebo, white aisle runner, and box topiaries © In Love Photography
Outdoor ceremony under white-draped gazebo with hydrangea and rose arrangements on formal lawn © In Love Photography
Couple holding hands under iron gazebo with white roses, crystal strands, and rose-gold chandelier © In Love Photography
First kiss on white carpet aisle flanked by boxwood topiaries and stone urns in formal garden © In Love Photography
An aerial wide shot of an outdoor wedding ceremony setup in a formal French garden, with no guests or couple present. A white aisle runner leads toward a wrought-iron domed gazebo draped with white fabric curtains and topped with white floral arrangements, flanked by clipped spherical boxwood topiaries and large arrangements of white hydrangeas and garden roses. White chiavari chairs are arranged in rows on either side of the aisle, accommodating approximately 60–80 guests. In the foreground, formal parterre hedging borders beds of pink and mauve hydrangeas, lavender, and mixed blooms in cream and red. The grounds extend to a large ornamental lake bordered by clipped lollipop-standard trees. The overall styling is classic French formal garden with an all-white and soft blush floral palette. Potential venue feature image. © In Love Photography
A bride is being walked down a white aisle runner by an older man, likely her father, during an outdoor ceremony processional at a French château. The bride wears a full ballgown with an embellished illusion neckline bodice and a long cathedral veil, carrying a cascading bouquet of white blooms and dark green foliage. The château facade features Gothic-Renaissance architecture with pointed turrets, ornate stone detailing, and red-trimmed windows, flanked by pink hydrangea borders and formally clipped box hedging with large white stone urns. A videographer is visible to the right of frame capturing the procession, and the composition is a wide portrait shot taken from ground level along the central garden axis. Potential venue feature image. © In Love Photography

Photo: In Love Photography

Beneath an ornate wrought-iron domed gazebo adorned with white roses, Antong and Yuting exchanged vows in the formal gardens. Guests lined both sides of the aisle as the couple shared their first kiss, framed by clipped hedges and stone urns. In Love Photography captured the recessional walk, the couple beaming hand-in-hand, with evening light softening the Gothic Revival silhouette of the chateau behind them.


Bridal Portraits

Bride in long-sleeve white gown seated on damask chaise longue in baroque-style French chateau room © In Love Photography
Bride in beaded ball gown lifting sheer tulle veil against white panelled wall in French chateau interior © In Love Photography
Bride in white ball gown with beaded bodice and cathedral veil on marble staircase inside ornate chateau interior © In Love Photography
Bride from behind in ball gown with cathedral veil on terrace facing formal chateau garden with horse-drawn carriage © In Love Photography
A bride stands facing away from the camera in the entrance hall of what appears to be a French château, framed by tall, wide-open dark wood double doors that open onto a formal garden. She is wearing a full-volume ivory ballgown with a cathedral-length train that spreads across the marble-inlaid floor, paired with a long single-tier veil and a delicate headpiece. The interior space features cream-painted walls, ornate gilt-legged side tables, a classical marble bust on a pedestal to the right, a Louis XV-style chair, and a fire safety plan posted on the left wall. The composition is a full-length portrait shot from behind, centered symmetrically in the doorway, with the bright garden providing strong backlight that highlights the layers of the tulle gown and veil. © In Love Photography

Photo: In Love Photography

In Love Photography captured Yuting alone against the chateau's white limestone facade, where pointed turrets and tall windows framed each shot. Her gown, a fitted silhouette with a long train, swept across the manicured lawn as she walked slowly toward the formal gardens. The evening light gave the stone a warm, golden cast. Inside the grand entrance hall, black-and-white frames used the ornate stone staircase and arched ceilings to dramatic effect, the scale of the architecture making every portrait feel like a painting.


Couple Portraits

Bride and groom with foreheads touching on formal lawn before Gothic chateau with turrets and boxwood hedges © In Love Photography
Black and white candid of groom lifting bride in lace gown inside ornate chateau entrance hall © In Love Photography
Black and white groom lifting laughing bride in lace mermaid gown in chateau hall with curved staircase and wainscoting © In Love Photography
Groom lifting bride's cathedral veil in chateau grounds, both smiling, white ball gown and charcoal suit © In Love Photography
Couple in horse-drawn carriage with white horse on chateau gravel forecourt with lavender borders © In Love Photography

Photo: In Love Photography

In Love Photography guided the couple across the chateau's white limestone facade, pointed turrets, and manicured lawns for an extended portrait series. A horse-drawn carriage on the gravel driveway provided one of the most cinematic frames. Black-and-white images inside the grand entrance hall used the stone staircase and ornate archways to dramatic effect, while candid shots along garden paths captured Antong and Yuting mid-laugh.


Reception

Reception dining room in wood-panelled chateau with long tables set in blush pink and gold with rose centerpieces © In Love Photography
Couple watches fireworks from a torch-lit stone pathway leading to a floral-draped gazebo in a formal garden at night © In Love Photography
Couple toasting red wine at sweetheart table with crystal candelabras before carved Gothic fireplace © In Love Photography
The bride and groom make their grand entrance into a formal indoor reception room, walking together through an ornate carved dark wood doorway as seated guests applaud. The groom wears a black tuxedo with bow tie and a cream boutonniere, while the bride wears a ballgown with a beaded illusion bodice, full tulle skirt, and a veil. A woman in a cream blazer follows closely behind them. The reception room features gold damask wallpaper, dark wood paneling, a crystal chandelier overhead, and herringbone parquet flooring, with a classic and formal decor style. In the foreground, reception tables are set with white linens, blush peach napkins, gold cutlery, crystal glassware, silver candelabras, and low floral centerpieces of pale peach roses and greenery; tall candles are lit along the table. Wide-angle shot capturing both the couple's entrance and the table setting in the foreground. © In Love Photography
The bride and groom are raising champagne glasses during a toast at their indoor reception, seated at a sweetheart table in front of an ornate dark wood fireplace with elaborate carved detailing. The bride wears a sleeveless lace gown with a cathedral veil, and the groom is dressed in a black tuxedo with a black bow tie and a white floral boutonniere. The sweetheart table is decorated with gold candelabras holding lit taper candles and low floral arrangements featuring ivory and blush pink roses with greenery. Several guests are visible in the foreground, slightly out of focus, watching the toast. The setting is a château or manor ballroom with richly carved wood-paneled walls and damask wallpaper, styled in a classic, formal aesthetic. Medium-distance portrait-style shot. © In Love Photography
A wedding reception room set up inside a château ballroom featuring ornate dark walnut carved wood paneling, a crystal chandelier, and tall arched windows with draped cream valances. Multiple long rectangular tables are dressed in white floor-length linens with gold chiavari chairs fitted with blush pink cushions and white sash ties. Table settings include gold charger plates, blush pink linen napkins, crystal glassware, and gold cutlery. Centerpieces consist of blush and cream roses with white blooms and greenery arranged in antique gold urn vases, paired with tall white crystal candelabras holding lit ivory taper candles. The overall decor palette is white, blush pink, and gold with a classic formal style. Wide-angle interior shot showing the full room layout. Potential venue feature image. © In Love Photography

Photo: In Love Photography

Inside the dark wood-panelled ballroom, crystal chandeliers illuminated long tables set with white floral centrepieces and tall taper candles. Iris Wedding Paris orchestrated the flow from toasts to dancing, with Antong and Yuting raising champagne glasses beneath carved walnut ceilings. Dragon Rouge Artifice closed the evening with a fireworks display over the formal gardens, the couple watching from a stone pathway as colour burst above the treeline.


More from the Day

Reception table with blush roses in brass urn, crystal candelabras, gold flatware, and black charger plates © In Love Photography
A wide-angle exterior shot of a large French Gothic-Renaissance château, featuring cream-white stone façade, dark slate-roofed pointed turrets, ornate carved stonework, and dark burgundy-painted doors and window frames. A bride in a long white gown with a cathedral-length veil and a groom in a dark suit stand together at the base of the château's grand entrance steps, viewed from behind, small in scale against the imposing three-story building. The foreground is filled with white flowering shrubs — likely white roses and white hydrangeas — creating a lush border that frames the couple. The composition is a centered wide shot taken from a slightly elevated angle, emphasizing the full architectural scale of the venue. Potential venue feature image. © In Love Photography

Photo: In Love Photography

Aesthetic
Heritage, Elegant
Guest Count
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Budget Range
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Bride's Dress
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The Venue

The couple chose Chateau Challain, a chateau in Pays de la Loire.

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