A Spring Wedding at Château Pape Clément

Dream Weather for Hélène and Christophe’s Wedding

It is always difficult, not to say impossible, to know what the weather will be like on your wedding day. Even so, the summer months are often kinder than early spring. So it was at the end of April that Hélène and Christophe chose to celebrate their wedding at Château Pape Clément, in Gironde, as Andréa and Jérôme had done two years earlier, and Floride and Benjamin the year before.

Château Pape Clément has not hosted weddings since 2025: this is the story of a wedding I had the joy of photographing there. More of those days are gathered on my Château Pape Clément wedding photos page, among them Caroline and Giovanni’s wedding.

CHECK MY DATE SEE MY PRICES

And in the end, the French saying "En avril, ne te découvre pas d’un fil", our cousin of "ne’er cast a clout till May be out", did not come true. Despite a changeable forecast, the weather turned out to be glorious all day long.

Gothic Revival facade of Château Pape Clément and its olive tree under blue sky

Papal coat of arms carved into the stone gable of Château Pape Clément

The Pope's Salon with wood panelling and crystal chandelier at Château Pape Clément

Display of violins against a red backdrop in the Pope's Salon

A Day Full of Emotion at Château Pape Clément

Hélène and Christophe come from the lovely region around Limoges, and they wanted to say "I do" in this majestic setting, in a beautiful celebrant-led ceremony that was even more moving than they had imagined. Hélène also made choices many brides would dream of. She called on what I consider the top ten wedding professionals in the Bordeaux area: she fell for a dress by Elise Martimort, and she was right to trust the talent of Avril Mai for the flowers and the lovely Christel Bize for her hair and make-up.

Hélène looking thoughtful in a floral blouse while getting ready

Ceremony arch of coral roses, peonies and ranunculus

Colourful flowers in a glass jar hung on a white ceremony chair

Bride facing the make-up artist's lighted mirror while getting ready

Groom adjusting his white shirt and watch, in black and white

Groom and a relative getting ready in a wood-panelled château room

Hélène in a lace gown holding her coral bouquet in a château salon

Smiling bride standing before an antique wooden wardrobe

Bride holding her bouquet with orange ribbons beside a fireplace

Everyone then enjoyed the delights of Maison Dulou Traiteur during the cocktail hour and the evening, an evening also livened up by a photo booth that was busy all night, and by the dancing, which won the guests over completely!

Bride walking in on a loved one's arm through the wooded grounds

Outdoor ceremony beneath the great trees of the Château Pape Clément grounds

Bride and groom posing with loved ones beneath the floral ceremony arch

Hélène walking toward Christophe as he waits in the ceremony aisle

Thank you

Thank you once again to Hélène and Christophe for their trust. It was a pleasure to share such powerful moments with them both.

They also chose to treat themselves to one of my luxury albums. Their album was in production as I wrote these lines, and I was sure they would love it!

You can also find more of my wedding stories in my wedding journal.

Bride and groom laughing in an embrace beside the white ceremony chairs

Smiling bride and groom beneath the floral arch at Château Pape Clément

Bride hugging the groom as he holds her vibrant bouquet

Hélène and Christophe cheek to cheek beside the flower arch

Bride and groom hugging and laughing, orange bouquet in hand

Bride and groom kissing, framed by the floral arch at Château Pape Clément

Guest in a floral dress smiling beneath the trees in the grounds

Guest in a long pink dress posing before a flowering shrub

Guest in a floral dress holding a glass of champagne at the cocktail hour

Bride and groom embracing in the middle of the Château Pape Clément gardens

Bride wrapping her arms around the groom on the lawn

Close portrait of the smiling bride and groom before an old tree

Bride and groom laughing beneath an ancient olive tree in the grounds

Groom kissing the bride seated on a wrought-iron bench among flowers

Bride and groom sitting on a wrought-iron bench behind allium flowers

Wedding cocktail hour in front of the orangery and its wrought-iron arch

Red reception room with gilded chandelier set for the wedding dinner

Round table set with an orange flower centrepiece

Wedding table detail with crystal glasses and coral flowers

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Château Pape Clément still host weddings?

No, not since 2025. This article tells the story of a wedding I photographed there; you will find others on my Château Pape Clément page.

What was the weather like for this late-April wedding?

Despite an uncertain forecast, the weather was glorious all day.

Which suppliers did Hélène and Christophe choose?

A gown by Elise Martimort, flowers by Avril Mai, Christel Bize for hair and make-up, and Maison Dulou Traiteur for the cocktail hour and the evening.

Planning your wedding in France?

As a Bordeaux wedding photographer, I photograph weddings in the châteaux of Bordeaux, celebrant-led ceremonies like Émilie and Aurélien’s at the Chartreuse des Eyres, and weddings throughout France; drone photos are included in my wedding collections. Discover my wedding collections, or tell me about your day.

SEE MY WEDDING COLLECTIONS

SHARE THIS ARTICLE