Anouska & Duncan’s Chateau de Riell wedding {Languedoc wedding photographer}

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Wedding Photography Languedoc France, Anouska & Duncan were here on a recent cycling holiday and stumbled across this little piece of idyll purely by accident and fell in love with the place and I am so pleased they did. Chateau de Riell is right in the heart of the east Pyrenees in the Languedoc region of France, close to the border with Spain. Amid a plethora of pine trees in an unspoilt corner of South Eastern France, Chateau de Riell is quite exceptional in words that are difficult to convey. It is special, very special indeed. From most rooms, the eyes are treated to exceptional views across the valley to the snow-topped Mont Canigou that will render you breathless. Anouska & Duncan tied the knot in a beautiful al fresco ceremony in the grounds of the nearby Grand Hotel after which the guests returned to Chateau de Riell to sup champagne and munch a delicious brunch in the afternoon sun. Later on, I tempted Anouska & Duncan to brave the hairpin bends (in my Fiat 500!!) to reach the peak of Col De Jou for some wonderful bride and groom shots. Back at Chateau de Riell we were treated to three brilliant speeches, and a veritable mountain of delectable food, some of which actually looked too good to eat. But eat it we did and a good job too, as the night was young and the entertainment continued well into the small hours at the hotel’s subterranean Club de Oubliettes (translation: Club of Dungeon!). Such a wonderful day with some unforgettable memories and some thoughtful touches. I personally loved the wedding stationery which had a cutesy pair of rabbits on a tandem. The rabbits in question were in fact Anouska & Duncan’s pet rabbits, Alife & Lola. Furthermore, it was the groom Duncan who had hand drawn the Alfia & Lola rabbit motif himself in pen and ink (wow!) which subsequently featured across all the stationery. I was also pretty smitten with the bicycle themed table name holders too – very cool and so apt too. And the flowers were all picked locally using only wild flowers. Tres jolie! As the night drew to a close, I was stood of the roof of this magnificent hotel with Duncan and the boys whilst chuffing cigars. I looked skyward and in that moment felt extremely blessed to have been a Languedoc wedding photographer, if only for the day! I for one will not forget this most charming Relais et Chateau hotel and in fact I have promised to return again, though next time with my wife. Many thanks once again to Anouska & Duncan and their respective friends and families for making me so very feel welcome.

Supporting Cast:

Ceremonial venue: Le Grand Hotel, Molitg Les Bains // Wedding reception: Chateau de Riell // Bride’s dress: Pronovias // Bride’s shoes: Rainbow // Groom suit: Boss // Groom shoes: Boss // Celebrant: Raymond Thatcher // Bicycle Table Name Holders: Not On The High Street // Flowers: Bernadette Veran // Cakes: Jen’s Just Desserts // Reading 1: The Velveteen Rabbit – Margery Williams // Reading 2: All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten – Robert Fulgham // Written by photographer Jay Rowden