This Château Comtesse Lafond wedding day in Champagne, France was a majorly stylish affair filled with tonnes of emotion followed by an EPIC party into the early hours. I had so much fun shooting this wedding with a big thank you to my colleague and friend Franz Ladouce who kindly second shot for me.
Getting Ready + First Look at Chateau Comtesse Lafond
When I first arrived at the Château Comtesse Lafond in Epernay, Anika was busy getting ready in the Pink Bridal Suite with the help of MUA Iryna Schreiber, alongside her 4 bridesmaids and Mom.
Anika then slipped behind the screen to the balcony area of the suite where the sunlight was streaming in through the window as stepped into her Aire Barcelona dress. One unfortunate downside to this venue (there arent many!!) is that there is no full length mirror anywhere on the property, not even in the Bridal suite! I’ve worked at this venue many times and at every wedding the Bride struggles to see her final look, so I often step in and spend a few minutes taking some portraits just so that my Brides can see themselves fully before walking down the aisle!
Once Anika was ready, we went ahead with the First Look which we decided to shoot in the Pink Bridal Suite as guests were beginning to arrive and we didn’t want them to see Anika before the outdoor ceremony. We whisked Anika away for a few portraits in the corridors of the Chateau whilst Franz positioned Tim in the Bridal suite, and then I brought Anika back in for the big reveal! It worked really well!
Chateau Comtesse Lafond Wedding Ceremony
It was soon time for the ceremony which Anika + Tim chose to hold outside in the gardens facing the Chateau – which provided a stunning backdrop! They decorated the space with a blue, white and blush floral arch courtesy of Lucie from Safran florals, which coordinated beautifully with the Bridesmaids deep blue dresses.
A question I am regularly asked regarding this venue is how the Bride can do her entrance down the aisle if the ceremony is facing the Chateau. And the answer is simple! In order to have a great entrance without having to walk back on yourself, I recommend the following; park the Bride’s car behind the Chateau next to the terrace, so that she can easily leave via the back door and climb into the car without being seen by guests. The car then escorts her out of the gates and turns left, drives her up to the second gate (the car park entrance), and takes her down the driveway on the left of the grounds, parking behind the trees. She’s then free to get out and walk up the aisle in the right direction – which is exactly what Anika did for her wedding day!
Their Chateau Comtesse Lafond wedding ceremony was led by two of their close friends, in both French and English, and concluded with a beautiful confetti toss ceremony exit and dip kiss! (If you want to know my favourite confetti company for the best photos, then click here).
Chateau Comtesse Lafond truly has endless location possibilities for couples photos – it’s amazing! One location I ALWAYS suggest to my couples is to take photos up on the balcony – so iconic!
Cocktail Hour – Drinks Reception
After the Ceremony, guests were served fresh champagne (of course!) and canapés courtesy of Marc Morel out on the terrace behind the Chateau whilst we took family photos and some couple portraits out front. The Best Man and Maid of Honour gave speeches on the terrace before leading guests down to the Caveau for dinner and dancing!
Chateau Comtesse Lafond Caveau Reception
One thing I love about this venue is that its so versatile and has many different options for hosting your ceremony, dinner and dancing. Anika + Tim opted to host both the dinner + dancing portion of the evening down in the Caveau, a huge wine cellar with vaulted ceiling, and decorated the space with hundreds of candles along with Rose Biscuits (the speciality of the region) as wedding favours. Following the meal and a dress change from Anika, the couple cut into their huge “Piece Montée” (a Croquembouche wedding cake by Dallet) and led guests outside for an epic firework display, followed by their glow-stick dance party in the Caveau which in all honesty was a LOT of fun for me to photograph. Dance floor props for the win!
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Rachel Pietri
Planning + Styling: Un Chouette Event
Florals: Safran
Venue: Chateau Comtesse Lafond
MUA: Iryna Schreiber
Brides Dress: Aire Barcelona
Bridesmaids Dresses: Oasis
Groom’s Tux: Hawes & Curtis
Wedding Cake: Dallet
Entertainment: Regency Events
HI, IM RACHEL!
FRANCE BASED DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
I’m from the UK, but live and work in France. With my mixed background, I’m the bridge between cultures you’re looking for. If you’re planning a destination wedding in France, I would love to be a part of your wedding team. Let’s create the most memorable day imaginable!
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