Claire and Mohamed's Wedding at Château Courtade-Dubuc

Real Weddings

Château Courtade-Dubuc was the wedding venue Claire and Mohamed chose for their reception. It was south-east of Bordeaux, on the other side of the Garonne, that I followed them to photograph their wedding.

Discovering Château Courtade-Dubuc for a Wedding in the Gironde

Just beyond the village of Latresne, in Camblanes-et-Meynac, Château Courtade-Dubuc offers couples a reception hall to hire for their wedding.

Apartment building and green hedge under a blue sky in Bruges, where the couple got ready
Seal point Birman cat lying on the wooden floor during the preparations

A charming wine estate near Bordeaux, Château Courtade-Dubuc has a lovely tree-lined park, ideal for outdoor ceremonies. The estate offers two reception halls of different sizes for wedding parties, and the château houses a three-star holiday cottage for a family of four. Its little extra is a panoramic terrace with a 360° view over the park and the surrounding countryside: wedding drinks receptions there are very popular, especially in summer.

Wall poster reading "Rêve ta vie en couleurs, c'est le secret du bonheur"
Groom in a blue three-piece suit and bow tie by an olive tree

Hiring a château for your wedding in the Gironde

Claire and Mohamed chose the wedding hall at Château Courtade-Dubuc to celebrate their marriage with their families.

The bride's bouquet of orange roses, ranunculus and blue thistles
Claire smiling in a pale blue robe, hair in a bun, while getting ready

If you too would like to get married in the Gironde, do ask me for advice: discovering Bordeaux châteaux is something I do all the time.

The bride in a lace gown by a wrought-iron bed, in black and white
The bride looking down at her orange and white bouquet with ochre ribbons

Most of my couples choose a château for their wedding. Why? First, simply because the Gironde is famous for its wine heritage and has a great many wine estates, Château Courtade-Dubuc among them. Second, most are easy to reach from Bordeaux and its main roads. And finally, they can welcome a generous number of guests.

Cedar trees and vines in the grounds of Château Courtade-Dubuc
The bride seated in a black horse-drawn carriage with an orange bouquet

Claire and Mohamed, the Patient Couple

I met Claire and Mohamed in 2019, when Mohamed got in touch to book an engagement photoshoot on Arcachon Bay.

The couple seen from behind walking under the tall trees of the park
Claire and Mohamed posing beneath a large tree at Château Courtade-Dubuc

As it happens, we did that engagement session on 13 March 2020, a few days before the first lockdown. You know the rest...

The bride and groom between two tall pines with vines behind them
Carriage drawn by two black horses crossing the lawn near the vines

So we met again in April 2021 for their civil wedding in Bruges!

Château Courtade-Dubuc and its turret seen through the trees
Outdoor ceremony area under the trees with a welcome sign

The religious wedding and the party should have taken place in June 2020, but that was not possible. And at the civil wedding in April 2021, the same thing happened: no party.

Aisle of white chairs decorated with flowers for the outdoor ceremony
White draped arch with orange flowers at the foot of a large tree

After all these twists and turns, Claire and Mohamed managed to move their wedding celebration to October 2021, and this time everything went right!

The couple moved during the outdoor ceremony, in black and white
The couple under the floral arch during the outdoor ceremony at Château Courtade-Dubuc

Claire and Mohamed had decided on a small outdoor ceremony in the park of Château Courtade-Dubuc. The long-awaited wedding could finally go ahead, and this time without a hitch!

The couple pouring coloured sand into a vase during the ceremony
Guest in a green dress reading a speech at a wooden lectern

The lovebirds arrived by horse-drawn carriage at the entrance to the reception hall, because Claire rides and adores horses.

The bride stroking one of the carriage's black horses
The couple embracing cheek to cheek, orange bouquet in hand

The cocktail hour was set to music from Disney films: you would have thought you were in the wonderfully cheerful, sparkling atmosphere of Disneyland Paris!

Wooden pallet welcome sign showing the wedding dates
The bride on a small wooden footbridge surrounded by greenery

For the decoration, Claire called on the talents of Marie-France of Artmania Fleur, who was very generous with the quality of her arrangements.

Reception hall at Château Courtade-Dubuc set with white round tables
Table with a photo display, orange flowers and a wood and glass card box

The party flowed with Mohamed’s tears and laughter, Claire’s gentleness and calm, and the guests’ joy at finally being part of this beautiful celebration.

Wood and glass wedding card box decorated with baby's breath
Centrepieces of orange flowers and glass bottles on wooden log slices

A Birman kitten from our cattery for my couple

Those two long years of waiting brought us close. This young couple is exceptionally kind, and I greatly admired their unshakeable patience. They never cancelled our contract, and they really wanted me by their side on their wedding day.

Small flower vases and a menu on a log slice, with seashell decorations
Overhead view of a wedding table laid in white, orange and blue

When they found out that my wife and I run a family cattery of Birman cats, they wanted to adopt one of our kittens.

The bride seen from behind on the wooden footbridge in golden evening light
The couple embracing, backlit by the golden sunset

So we entrusted them with "Salazar Serpentard Des Innamorati" two weeks before the wedding! He is the adorable little face with blue eyes that you can see in the photos of Mohamed getting ready.

The bride with her hand on the groom's cheek under a tree at sunset
The couple on the wooden footbridge at sunset

Fine Art Photographer for Weddings in the Gironde

What sets my wedding photos apart is the Fine Art photography style.

Claire and Mohamed forehead to forehead with a ray of sunlight between them
The bride nestled against the groom, bouquet resting on his shoulder

I adopted this style in 2019 and apply it to all my photos; since 2025, my work has also taken a more editorial turn. Fine Art gives photos a bright look with pastel colours and a delicate, romantic rendering. For me, it is the style that best matches my personality and my sensibility as a photographer.

Close-up of the couple almost nose to nose, orange bouquet in the foreground
The couple laughing among the foliage, in black and white

Do not hesitate to write to me to find out more about my Fine Art photography services for all your photoshoots in the Gironde.

The couple's first dance in a haze of smoke, surrounded by guests
Guest in a pink dress dancing under the lights at the party in Camblanes-et-Meynac
Guest in sunglasses dancing energetically during the evening party

Claire and Mohamed’s wedding suppliers at Château Courtade-Dubuc

They helped Claire and Mohamed bring their wedding plans to life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Château Courtade-Dubuc?

In Camblanes-et-Meynac, just past Latresne, south-east of Bordeaux, on the other side of the Garonne.

Can we hold a secular ceremony at Château Courtade-Dubuc?

Yes: its tree-lined park lends itself to one; Claire and Mohamed held theirs there.

What spaces does the château offer for a wedding?

Two reception rooms of different sizes, a panoramic terrace with a 360° view (popular for drinks receptions in summer) and a 3-star gîte for a family of four.

Planning your wedding in France?

As a wedding photographer in the Gironde, I photograph weddings at châteaux and venues near Bordeaux and across France. Discover my wedding collections, or tell me about your day.

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