A Heatwave, Wine-Red Florals and Fireworks at Château de Vallery

The groom got ready in the château's dovecote, the largest in France. The bride prepared in one of the château's bedrooms, with hair and makeup by Khristine Beauty Lab. They then met in the gardens with their bridal party.

The ceremony was held high above the grounds, beneath the shade of the trees, a welcome respite from the heat, with the château in view in the distance. By the photographer's account, the bride's laughter punctuated the ceremony, along with anecdotes from the couple's story. The guests were visibly moved as Katie and Justin exchanged vows, and when the couple walked back down the aisle, they answered with cheers, laughter and embraces.

The gardens were the setting for the cocktail reception. For dinner, the couple chose a French menu. It began with small bites in different textures and continued with beef. A traditional croquembouche followed, surrounded by petits fours and bite-sized pastries, among them raspberry pastries and choux in several flavours.

When Katie and Justin entered the dinner reception, they invited everyone onto the dance floor, and the guests rose together to fill it, dancing despite the heat. One of the château's grand salons was set up as the dance floor for the party.

The gardens were also the setting for the fireworks. In the photographer's words, the long summer day was an advantage, and the blue hour benefited the fireworks.

Katie and Justin chose a palette of wine red and rich shades of green. It appeared in the floral arrangements, the bridesmaids' dresses and the stationery.

In the floral arrangements, the wine red and green were softened with touches of white. The shapes and volumes contrasted: the bridal bouquet had delicate, cascading forms, while other arrangements held branches reaching upwards.

Château de Vallery is a 16th-century Renaissance château designed by Pierre Lescot, the architect of the Louvre. It stands in Vallery, in the Yonne, on the border of Burgundy and the Île-de-France, about an hour from Paris. It is hired for exclusive use, its 28 bedrooms sleep 56, and it hosts weddings of up to 500 guests.

Its cellars, where the wine tasting was held, are vaulted and date from the 12th century. The château is one of the wedding venues in Burgundy we feature. Our guide to wedding venues across Burgundy covers the wider region.