A Ring Warming and Bow-Tie Seating at Château Gassies

Kendra prepared at Château Gassies, where her gown, veil and shoes were arranged beside a wooden armoire. IMAN BE Make-up was responsible for her hair and make-up, while the bridal preparations also included her bridesmaids in long dresses of different colours and patterns.

Beaded evening bags hung alongside the dresses. In his own room, Brandon prepared in black tie, with a white dinner jacket for the evening hanging on the armoire. His details included a watch and monogrammed cuffs, while his groomsmen also wore formal black-tie attire.

The ceremony took place on the lawn in front of Château Gassies, where the chairs were arranged in an unusual bow-tie formation. Two curved sections of bentwood chairs fanned out on either side of the central aisle, bringing guests around the ceremony rather than placing them in conventional straight rows.

At the ends of the rows, arrangements of red and white flowers with hydrangeas introduced the colours that would return at dinner. The château's pale stone façade and surrounding grounds remained visible behind the ceremony setting. A close friend officiated, and Kendra and Brandon included a ring warming. In this ritual, guests hold the wedding rings briefly and offer a wish for the couple's marriage.

Kendra wore a strapless wedding gown with a long veil, and her bridal portraits were taken inside Château Gassies and around its grounds. The settings included a window and a gilded Rococo-style mirror that reflected her gown. Her bouquet brought together red anthuriums, green chrysanthemums and blue flowers, with long stems and greenery trailing below her hands. Created by Wild & Green, it carried the stronger colours of the wedding against her white dress.

Kendra and Brandon spent part of their wedding day in the gardens at Château Gassies, including the lawn and the fountain. Their portraits included a walk across the grass, photographs beside the water and a railed upstairs window, with Kendra's veil trailing down the stone wall below. Brandon wore black tie for the day's portraits and changed into his white dinner jacket for the evening, while Kendra stayed in her strapless gown.

The bridesmaids wore long dresses in different colours and fabrics, including burgundy, gold and pale blue floral prints. The group gathered with Kendra outside against the château's stone walls. Brandon's groomsmen wore black tie and were photographed walking past the formal pond, and the whole bridal party gathered with the couple for group photographs.

Throughout the day, cocktails were an important part of the celebration. Danielle Villarreal remembers "martinis around the clock", with Sunset Spirit among the suppliers responsible for the drinks. Kendra and Brandon joined their guests on the lawn, Kendra holding a martini glass while Brandon carried an amber-coloured drink in a tumbler. Her bridesmaids also gathered with drinks during the outdoor reception.

Dinner moved inside Château Gassies, where white fabric was draped between the ceiling beams and gathered beside the tall arched windows. Crystal chandeliers hung above round tables dressed with tall candles and low arrangements of anthuriums and hydrangeas. The flowers continued the ceremony palette, combining red and blue with greenery against the white drapery.

Humblot and Ben's Food Truck handled the catering, with the wedding cake created by Arts Sucrés. Music continued throughout the reception, with singer Marie Carrié and Mixology Sax & DJ performing, and Kendra danced on the crowded floor in her wedding gown.

The floral palette centred on deep bordeaux red and blue, with white and green appearing throughout the arrangements. At dinner, red anthuriums and blue hydrangeas were arranged low along the round tables, between tall candles. The combination brought together the broad shapes of the anthuriums with clusters of hydrangeas, while the white drapery and table settings provided the background.

Our Fabulous Things and Glam Events were responsible for styling the reception spaces, with tableware supplied by Bois Event. The drinks list was presented on an oval silver tray beneath the words "Sip Wisely".

The wedding details included stationery featuring a Bordeaux postcard and handwritten notes, alongside Kendra's accessories. A beaded bridal bag, perfume, calla lilies and a ceramic swan were arranged on grass for the detail photographs. Another arrangement included perfume, a cup of tea and a handwritten guest check on marble.

Our guide to wedding venues in Bordeaux covers the wider region. Château Gassies stands on the heights of Latresne above the Garonne, approximately five minutes by car from Bordeaux.

The 18th-century Château Gassies wedding venue extends across 14 hectares, with gardens, formal water features and accommodation within the property. The château can host weddings of up to 150 guests, with accommodation for 43 people across six suites and three guesthouses. For Kendra and Brandon's wedding of 78 guests, the grounds provided space for the outdoor ceremony and cocktails, while dinner and dancing moved into the château's reception rooms.

The ceremony was arranged on the lawn between the château's pale stone façade and tall cypress trees. Elsewhere, the formal pond and fountain were used for bridal party and couple portraits, while Brandon prepared in one of the bedrooms.

For couples travelling to France to marry, photographer Danielle Villarreal recommends hiring a planner with experience in the country. Kendra and Brandon worked with Pétillante Weddings, an English-speaking planning team based in Bordeaux. She also advises considering transport for guests when choosing a venue outside the city and arriving early enough to recover from jet lag before the wedding.