Madeline and Thomas knew they were soul mates from the beginning, they planned their destination wedding in a location they felt deeply connected to and immersed their 140 guests in their one-in-a-lifetime special occasion. The couple held their three-day wedding celebrations in the Loire Valley, France. The valley is a quaint town they traveled to from Melbourne, Australia for the big day. It was the perfect place to reflect the romance, beauty and history that draws them to France – something they wanted their guests to experience as well.
The celebrations began on a Friday night at the beautiful Château d’Amboise. As the sun set, the couple planned a standup cocktail event. Here, there were cooking stations showcasing the delicious fresh produce from the area
“It was a big deal that so many people had traveled so far, so we really wanted our guests to feel immersed in the history and beauty that the Loire Valley had to offer, and we thought there was no better venue than this,” said Madeline.
The Destination Wedding Day
Their wedding day was also a recovery day after the welcoming event. The ceremony took place at Thomas’ family chateau- somewhere extremely special to the couple. It was a perfect French summer day. Both the bride and the groom got ready here, leading into a late ceremony at the Château’s gorgeous private church. After their first kiss as a married couple, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres began on the front lawn as a string quartet played in the background, creating a memorable and magical atmosphere.
Advice From The Couple
“Everything goes so quickly – don’t forget to take a moment to pause with your partner and just take it all in! It’s so nice to step away from the action and have a moment just you two. And everyone says this, but no one knows the exact plans and run sheet for the day – so just go with it on the day.”
As the evening approached, the couple hosted a candlelit dinner at the back of the Château. This is where their guests sat together at two long tables under the stars. “We had antique silver cutlery with antique gold and white plates adorned with white florals and divine greenery. We wanted dinner to feel intimate and our guests to feel the romance and love.”
The night would not be complete without a show-stopping end. Once dinner was over, guests were treated to a magnificent fireworks display followed by a night of dancing in the Château’s underground caves! “We wanted this part of the night to feel like a big party – I think we definitely got that!”
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