A Renaissance Celebration at Chateau d'Esclimont near Paris

Victoria and Artem's wedding at Chateau d'Esclimont near Paris featured a Zuhair Murad gown, a pink rose ceremony arch, and gold-accented dining, captured by Alina…

By Elena Moretti | Published 30 January 2022

A Renaissance Celebration at Chateau d'Esclimont near Paris

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Victoria and Artem's celebration unfolded at Chateau d'Esclimont, a Renaissance estate set across 60 hectares of parkland one hour from Paris. CTH Events Paris crafted a refined event with full French detail, from the floral ceremony arch of nine shades of pink roses to the gold-accented reception that followed.

Photography

Alina Sepp

Venue

Chateau d'Esclimont

Region

Ile-de-France, France

Couple

Victoria & Artem

Getting Ready

The bride is preparing to toss her bouquet during the indoor wedding reception, standing on a black-and-white diamond-patterned marble floor with a group of approximately ten female guests lined up behind her in anticipation. The venue is a formal ballroom or chateau reception room featuring wrought-iron candelabra-style chandeliers, mounted deer antler wall decor, and white walls bathed in deep pink and magenta uplighting. The bride wears a fitted, heavily beaded and lace cap-sleeve gown with a deep V-neckline, pearl drop earrings, and a matching necklace; she holds a small bouquet of blush and pink roses with white peonies. The guests behind her are dressed in a mix of vibrant formal wear including teal jumpsuits, red gowns, and coral and jewel-toned dresses. The shot is a medium portrait taken from a low angle slightly in front of the bride, with the assembled guests softly out of focus in the background.

A black-and-white portrait-style shot of a couple sharing their first dance indoors during a wedding reception. The groom wears a dark suit with a bow tie, and the bride wears a full ballgown with a lace-embellished bodice, cap sleeves, and a voluminous skirt; her hair is styled in an updo and she wears drop earrings. The bride is smiling and facing the camera while the groom leans close to her. The setting appears to be a formal interior room with an ornate decorative wall medallion or coat of arms mounted above them, and DJ or audio equipment is visible in the background to the right. The image has strong contrast with soft highlights on the bride's dress and face.

A bridal portrait taken indoors, likely in a getting-ready room, with the bride framed between soft out-of-focus foreground elements suggesting a doorway or curtain. The bride wears a fitted, heavily beaded or sequined white gown with short cap sleeves and looks downward at her bouquet. Her hair is styled in an upswept chignon adorned with a gold ornamental headpiece, and she wears drop pearl earrings. She holds a rounded bouquet of blush pink roses, pale pink freesias, and soft lavender blooms with green foliage. Behind her, floor-length curtains in a classic floral toile pattern in pink, red, and green on a cream background are tied back with a striped blush tie, suggesting a formal interior setting such as a chateau or manor house. The image is a medium portrait shot with a shallow depth of field and warm ambient window light.

A close-up portrait of a bride indoors, likely during a getting-ready or pre-ceremony moment, holding a smartphone in both hands. She is wearing an ivory sequined lace gown with a white satin bow belt at the waist and a dotted tulle cape or veil draped over her shoulders. Her accessories include drop earrings featuring pearl and crystal details and a pearl ring. Her brown hair is styled in an updo. In the soft background, a woman in a teal sleeveless dress with a necklace is visible, likely a bridesmaid or family member. The setting appears to be an interior room with warm, patterned decor visible in the background.

Victoria prepared in the chateau's bridal suite, where her sequin-embellished Zuhair Murad gown with detachable skirt took centre stage. The gown's design allowed a graceful shift from day to evening, its intricate beading catching the light as Alina Sepp captured every moment. Hair and makeup came together with precision, reflecting Victoria's strong personal design vision.

Bridal Portraits

An outdoor portrait capturing a candid moment between a bride and groom, with the bride laughing openly toward the groom whose back is partially visible in the foreground. The bride wears a white lace gown with a sheer illusion neckline decorated with floral appliqués and cap sleeves, paired with a long veil and a decorative hair accessory; she also wears pearl drop earrings. The setting appears to be a garden or estate grounds with ivy-covered walls visible in the background. The shot is a close-up portrait with a shallow depth of field, keeping focus on the bride's expression.

A couple portrait taken outdoors, with the groom seated in a vintage white convertible car kissing the bride's hand through the open window. The bride leans over the car door, smiling, wearing a heavily embellished ball gown with a cathedral-length veil, a cream fur stole draped over her shoulders, and carrying a bouquet of blush pink roses, white ranunculus, and small mixed blooms. The groom is dressed in a dark suit. The styling has a classic, old-Hollywood aesthetic. Medium portrait shot with a shallow depth of field, taken in a garden or estate setting.

A couple portrait taken outdoors on the grounds of a French chateau, visible in the background across a reflective pond. The groom, wearing a black tuxedo with a white boutonniere, lifts the bride's long cathedral-length veil as she looks down. The bride wears a heavily embellished ball gown with a white fur stole wrap and carries a small bouquet of blush and white florals. A classic white vintage car is partially visible behind them. The styling is formal and classic. Medium portrait shot.

The bride and groom are sharing a kiss inside a vintage white Mercedes-Benz convertible, shot from behind and slightly above in a close portrait composition. The groom is wearing a dark navy or black suit jacket, and the bride's full white tulle veil and voluminous ball gown skirt cascade over the cream leather interior of the classic car. The vintage Mercedes dashboard and steering wheel are clearly visible, adding a retro styling detail to the image. The setting appears to be an outdoor road or driveway with autumn foliage visible in the background.

Alina Sepp captured Victoria against Chateau d'Esclimont's Renaissance facades, formal gardens, and tree-lined avenues. The Zuhair Murad gown's sequin embellishment shimmered in the soft light, creating portraits that balanced the scale of the 60-hectare estate with the intimacy of the bride's expression. The autumn colour palette of yellow, red, and green foliage provided a natural warmth.

Reception

Indoor wedding reception dinner scene captured from a medium shot, showing guests seated at round tables raising champagne glasses in a toast. The ornate ballroom features pink-purple uplighting on decorative wall moldings and archways, creating a warm ambient glow. Table decor includes tall candelabras with white taper candles, crystal glassware stacked in a tower arrangement, white and pink floral centerpieces, gold/copper accent vessels, and votive candles on ivory linen tablecloths. Guests visible include a woman in a teal ruffle-sleeve dress and another in a red dress in the foreground, with a full room of approximately 50 or more attendees visible in the background, suggesting a large-scale formal reception in a chateau or palace-style venue.

The bride and groom are dancing at their indoor wedding reception, surrounded by guests who are also dancing and watching. The bride wears a full ballgown with a lace-appliquéd tulle skirt, cap sleeves, and a low open back, with her hair in an updo; the groom is in a dark suit with a black bow tie and a white boutonniere. The ballroom walls are lit with vivid magenta/hot pink uplighting, and decorative stag antler mounts are visible on the walls alongside a wrought-iron chandelier overhead. The floor features a geometric tile pattern, and guests in the background are dressed in varied formal attire including a black-and-white zebra-print gown and a coral/red dress; the shot is taken from behind the couple at a medium distance, capturing the full sweep of the bridal gown.

Inside the chateau, gold accents and clean symmetry shaped the reception tables, guided by Victoria's strong design vision. The menu featured French cuisine that honoured the estate's culinary tradition, while speeches and toasts carried warmth and humour through the evening. Dancing followed beneath the Renaissance ceilings as the celebration gathered its full energy.

Flat Lays

Close-up detail shot of a ring exchange moment during a wedding ceremony, with the groom placing a ring on the bride's finger. The bride is wearing a heavily embellished white lace and beaded cap-sleeve dress with a pearl and crystal necklace, and holds a bouquet with pink flowers partially visible. The groom is dressed in a dark suit. The composition is tightly framed with soft foreground blur framing the hands at center, giving a candid, intimate feel.

Indoor reception detail shot of a sweetheart or head table inside what appears to be a chateau ballroom or grand salon. The round table is draped in a pale grey linen and decorated with an abundant arrangement of blush pink, mauve, and white flowers including garden roses and hydrangeas, flanked by tall gold candelabras with lit taper candles and scattered gold votive candle holders. The table is positioned directly beneath a large oil painting in a gilt-edged frame depicting a woman in a Victorian-era white gown with a child, hung on a warm pink-toned wall. On either side of the painting are mounted white painted stag heads with ornate decorative brackets, and soft purple uplighting illuminates the wall on both sides. The floor features a classic geometric tile pattern in terracotta and dark grey. The overall decor palette combines blush pink, gold, and grey in a classic, chateau-appropriate style. Wide shot capturing the full table and wall backdrop.

A collage of seven wedding photographs from a French château wedding. Top left: a wide exterior shot of a large French château reflected in a calm lake, surrounded by autumn trees — Potential venue feature image. Top right: an indoor getting-ready scene showing the bride seated at a mirror while two attendants style her hair, with pink and white floral arrangements visible in the background. Middle left: a close-up detail shot of a ring exchange during the ceremony, showing the groom placing a ring on the bride's finger, with the bride wearing a beaded ivory lace gown. Middle right: an outdoor portrait of the smiling bride in a full ball gown with intricate beading and a cathedral veil, wearing a white fur wrap and holding a bouquet of pink and white blooms, standing with a guest or groom in a black suit against an autumn garden backdrop; paired with a close-up detail of the back of the beaded ivory ball gown. Bottom left: a couples portrait outdoors with the bride in a deep V-neck beaded ivory gown and long veil, and the groom in a black tuxedo, framed by blush pink and ivory garden roses in soft focus. Bottom right: the bride seated in a vintage white Mercedes-Benz 190SL convertible parked alongside the stone exterior of the château, wearing her veil and gown.

Close-up detail shot of a bride being helped into her wedding dress during the getting-ready portion of the day. The gown is heavily embellished with iridescent white and silver sequins across a tulle base, featuring a fitted bodice with a defined waist seam and a full skirt. A second person's hands are visible fastening the back zipper closure, and they are wearing a statement ring with a large emerald-cut green stone surrounded by a diamond halo. The composition is a tight detail/close-up focusing on the back bodice and waist area of the dress.

Detail compositions showcased the celebration's refined aesthetic in miniature. Calligraphed stationery, gold-edged menus, and delicate ring shots were arranged alongside the bride's accessories and floral sprigs of pink roses. Each flat lay reflected the gold-accented design language that Victoria had envisioned for the day.