The First Wedding at Hount Dessus Vineyard, Gascony

Nelson and Courtney's vineyard wedding at Hount Dessus in Gascony with rustic charm, panoramic views, and golden light, planned by Matthew Oliver Weddings.

By Elena Moretti | Published 4 March 2019

The First Wedding at Hount Dessus Vineyard, Gascony

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Nelson and Courtney became the first couple to marry at Hount Dessus, a working vineyard in Gascony. Planned by Matthew Oliver Weddings, their celebration unfolded among the vines with panoramic views, rustic charm, and golden evening light that defined a relaxed yet elegant destination wedding in Southwest France.

Photography

Venue

Hount Dessus

Region

Gascony, France

Couple

Nelson & Courtney

Getting Ready

A bride stands outdoors in front of a traditional French stone building with powder blue shutters and a matching blue door, appearing to have a candid moment before the ceremony. She is wearing a full-skirted ivory ballgown with a structured bodice and has her hair styled in an updo. A woman in a fitted raspberry-red knee-length dress stands in the open doorway watching the bride, while a man in a suit is partially visible through one of the open windows to the right. The wide shot captures the rustic facade of what appears to be a French country property or small chateau, with the bride's voluminous dress train spread across the gravel courtyard. Potential venue feature image.

A detail close-up shot of a small wooden side table holding a bottle of Montuc Brut Chardonnay sparkling wine alongside a glass vase arranged with blush pink and ivory roses, eucalyptus, pink waxflower, and greenery, tied with a soft grey-blue ribbon. A piece of lace fabric is tucked beside the vase on the table surface. The warm indoor lighting and getting-ready setting suggest this is part of a bridal preparation scene. The overall styling palette is soft blush, ivory, and grey-blue with a romantic, classic feel.

The morning unfolded inside the stone farmhouse, where a bottle of Montuc Brut Chardonnay sat on a wooden table beside bridal accessories. Courtney's preparations had an unhurried rhythm, with natural light pouring through the windows as the vineyard setting began to take shape outside.

Ceremony

A bride and groom walk back up the aisle together immediately after an outdoor ceremony set within a vineyard, with rows of grapevines visible on either side. The bride wears a deep V-neck, full-skirted ivory gown and carries a loose bouquet of cream and white blooms with greenery, while the groom wears a navy three-piece suit with a light gold tie and a boutonniere. Roughly 30–40 guests seated on cross-back wooden chairs line the aisle, many smiling and applauding. The shot is a wide candid portrait taken at ground level in bright natural sunlight with warm golden tones.

The bride and groom share a kiss while seated outdoors beneath a large tree in a styled vignette setting. The bride wears a voluminous ivory/cream ball gown with a full skirt, while the groom is dressed in a cobalt blue suit with brown leather oxford shoes and a light blue pocket square. They are seated in vintage-style chairs draped with white fabric, accompanied by a white classical bust sculpture, creating an eclectic, artistic aesthetic. A hoop arch decorated with white fabric streamers and small floral accents frames them from above, and a vintage tractor is partially visible to the left; the overall styling blends boho and vintage-romantic elements. Wide portrait shot taken in bright midday sunlight in an open rural landscape.

The ceremony took place among the vines, with rows of grapevines framing the aisle on both sides. Nelson and Courtney walked back together through the green corridor as the first couple to marry at Hount Dessus. Matthew Oliver Weddings ensured each guest felt considered, from welcome touches to the relaxed atmosphere that defined the outdoor vows.

Bridal Portraits

A couple poses together for a portrait outside a rustic stone building with pale blue wooden shutters. The bride wears an ivory ball gown with a deep V-neckline and holds a loosely arranged bouquet of cream roses, dusty blue thistles, and trailing eucalyptus with ivory ribbon streamers. The groom wears a cobalt blue three-piece suit with a gold tie, white pocket square, and a small floral buttonhole. Both are smiling directly at the camera. The shot is a medium full-length portrait framing both figures against the stone facade and blue shutters.

A couple portrait taken outdoors against a weathered pale ochre wall with a light blue painted shutter door. The bride wears a full-skirted, sleeveless ivory ball gown with a V-neckline and holds a bouquet of white roses and eucalyptus greenery. The groom wears a cobalt blue suit with a pale yellow tie and brown leather oxford shoes. The two are seated on a vintage-style upholstered settee with a gilded wood frame, facing each other and smiling. Lime-green hydrangea bushes are visible to the left. The overall styling has a classic French countryside feel. Medium-distance portrait shot with a slightly soft, natural light finish.

A couple poses outdoors against a weathered stone wall featuring a pale blue wooden door, with the bride seated on a gold-framed antique loveseat and the groom standing on it behind her. The bride wears a full-skirted white ballgown with a V-neckline, her heels discarded on the grass nearby, and she laughs toward the camera in a relaxed pose. The groom wears a cobalt blue suit with a white dress shirt and holds the bridal bouquet, which features cream and white blooms with trailing ribbons. The styling has a relaxed, classic French countryside feel, and the shot is a medium-wide portrait capturing both figures and the decorative seating prop.

Nelson and Courtney posed against a weathered ochre wall with a light blue shutter door, the warm afternoon light falling across them. The portraits then moved into the vineyard, where symmetrical rows of grapevines stretched on either side of the couple, adding depth and texture to each frame.

Reception

A bridal party portrait taken outdoors on a gravel courtyard in front of a stone building with pale blue-painted shutters, likely a French chateau or farmhouse. The bride sits center on a rustic wooden bench wearing an ivory ball gown with a V-neckline, flanked by two bridesmaids in navy blue floor-length dresses with pearl necklaces, all three laughing expressively; one bridesmaid raises her bouquet in the air. Two groomsmen stand behind in navy suits with yellow ties and boutonnières featuring small white flowers. The bouquets consist of ivory and cream blooms with eucalyptus and green foliage. The shot is a mid-range portrait with warm golden-hour lighting casting a warm tone across the group of five.

An outdoor wedding reception setup in the courtyard of a Provençal stone farmhouse with pale blue shutters and terracotta roof tiles. Multiple long wooden farm tables are arranged in rows, surrounded by natural wood cross-back chairs, set for approximately 60–80 guests. The tables are dressed with low greenery and white floral garland runners, white plates, and glassware. String triangle bunting and fairy lights are strung between poles across the courtyard, and a PA speaker system is visible on either side. The decor palette is natural and rustic, combining warm wood tones with soft white and green florals. Wide establishing shot capturing the full reception layout and venue facade. Potential venue feature image.

A bridal party portrait on the gravel courtyard opened the reception, with the stone building and pale blue shutters behind them. Dinner was set on rustic wooden tables with gold-rimmed plates, rolled linen napkins, and soft candlelight. Speeches and toasts carried the evening toward dancing as the Gascon sunset faded to warm dusk.

Flat Lays

An outdoor wedding reception setup in the courtyard of a stone Provençal mas or farmhouse with pale blue shutters and terracotta roof tiles. Multiple long wooden farm tables are arranged in rows, lined with natural cross-back wooden chairs and dressed with lush greenery garland runners featuring white and soft-toned blooms, glassware, and white plate settings. String fairy lights and white triangle bunting are strung between posts above the dining area, and large white market umbrellas are visible to the right. The overall styling is relaxed rustic-Mediterranean with warm natural wood tones, greenery-forward florals, and a casual open-air feel. Wide establishing shot capturing the full reception layout. Potential venue feature image.

A collage of eight wedding photographs from a vineyard venue in France, showcasing multiple moments and details from the same wedding. Top left: a close-up detail shot of a bridal bouquet featuring cream roses, white blooms, and greenery, resting on a rustic wooden surface. Top right: a portrait of the bride in a low-back ivory ballgown holding her bouquet, standing beside a stone building with pale blue shutters and climbing vines. Middle left: the couple walking hand-in-hand through the vineyard after the ceremony, with seated guests visible in the background on wooden cross-back chairs; the bride wears an ivory ballgown and the groom wears a navy suit. Center left: an exterior wide shot of a French stone farmhouse with pale blue shutters and a tower, showcasing the venue architecture. Center right: an outdoor reception setup in front of the stone building, with long wooden tables, cross-back chairs, string lights, and floral centerpieces arranged in a courtyard. Bottom left: a close-up detail of the tablescape featuring a wooden farm table set with white plates, pale blue glassware, and a lush garland runner of eucalyptus, dusty pink dahlias, and soft yellow blooms. Bottom center-right: a wide portrait of the couple embracing in the vineyard at golden hour. Bottom right: the couple standing beneath a circular floral arch decorated with greenery and pale blue and purple blooms at the vineyard ceremony site. The overall styling is rustic-romantic with a palette of ivory, navy, pale blue, and soft blush. Potential venue feature image.

Blush pink bridal flats rested on a light wood floor, their delicate crystal embellishments catching soft morning light. Nearby, the stationery suite and a single place setting with gold-rimmed plate and rolled linen napkin completed the collection of carefully considered details.