A 3-Day Dordogne Elopement, Fully Planned and Photographed
Chateaux, medieval villages, a candlelit ceremony at sunset, and a vineyard to close it out. This is what a Dordogne elopement can look like when every detail is handled for you.
Start Planning YoursWhy Couples Choose the Dordogne for Their Elopement
The Dordogne valley holds more than a thousand castles. Its medieval towns have remained almost unchanged for centuries. The landscape switches between limestone cliffs, dense walnut forests, and wide river bends that glow gold in afternoon light. For couples who want their elopement to feel genuinely transported, not just scenic, this region delivers.
Haleigh and Kyle came to me knowing they wanted France, a chateau, and vows that felt completely theirs. The Dordogne was the obvious answer. Over three days we covered its finest corners: cliff-top castles, garden mazes, a private ceremony chateau, and a morning on the river by kayak before finishing at a working Bordeaux vineyard. Every single detail was planned in advance so they could simply show up and live it.
What a Dordogne Elopement Actually Gives You
Private Chateau Ceremonies
Dordogne has privately owned chateaux that open their grounds exclusively to elopement couples. Ceremony arches, violinists, chef-prepared dinners under the stars, all on-site.
UNESCO-Level Scenery
From the cliff-top Chateau de Beynac to the manicured topiary gardens of Marqueyssac, the region is dense with photographic locations that are genuinely extraordinary.
Bordeaux Vineyards at the Door
The Dordogne sits right alongside Saint-Emilion and Pomerol country. A private vineyard tour and tasting make a natural, unforgettable closing chapter to a multi-day adventure.
What Three Days in Dordogne Look Like
Every itinerary is built around you. This is Haleigh and Kyle’s actual schedule, shared as a window into what’s possible. Exact location names are kept private in line with my Leave No Trace commitment.
Arrival, Castles, and the First Golden Hours
We meet near your hotel in the morning and set off together into the Dordogne valley. The first stop is lunch at a terrace restaurant overlooking a medieval chateau, then an afternoon exploring its ramparts and cobbled interior. From there, a visit to Josephine Baker’s former chateau is on the schedule, followed by the spectacular bird of prey display at dusk. The day closes at the Jardins de Marqueyssac, where perfectly sculpted boxwoods frame panoramic views of the river valley. We photograph until the light goes, then drive to Sarlat for dinner and the night.
Elopement Day: Medieval Streets, Private Chateau, Ceremony at Sunset
The morning starts with a walk through Sarlat’s medieval quarter, photographing in the golden stones before the summer heat peaks. Then we drive to the intimate village of Saint-Jean-de-Cole for lunch at one of the best tables in the region. By mid-afternoon we arrive at the private ceremony chateau where you check in, unwind, and let me handle the florist, the arch, and the setup.
4:00 pm Getting ready in your room
6:15 pm First look in the chateau courtyard
6:30 pm Couple portraits around the grounds
7:45 pm Ceremony at sunset, in a tree-lined Charmille with live violin
8:30 pm Dinner with southwest specialties, champagne, and the first dance
9:30 pm Short shoot at last light, then blue-hour cake cutting with sparklers
You stay the night in the chateau.
Kayak Through Brantome, Post-Wedding Shoot, and Bordeaux Wine Tasting
The final morning starts on the water: a kayak tour through Brantome, the Venice of the Perigord, while I photograph from the bridges and banks. Lunch follows in the old town, then we head to a private chateau for a post-wedding session and a personal tour with the owners. The afternoon closes at a Bordeaux-region vineyard near Pomerol and Saint-Emilion for a guided estate visit and tasting of three house wines, including the full story from vine to bottle. The day ends back in Bordeaux around 7:00 pm.
A Forest Ceremony with Live Violin, in the Heart of Dordogne
Haleigh and Kyle said their vows in a Charmille: a tunnel of ancient trees opening onto a long, grassy aisle where the arch waited. A violinist played as they walked in. The celebrant had crafted every word specifically for them. When they exchanged their vows, the sound carried into the surrounding forest.
This is exactly what a Dordogne elopement ceremony can be when location scouting, vendor coordination, and timing are handled in advance. You arrive and it is simply there, exactly as you imagined it.
- 6:15 pmFirst look on the chateau steps
- 7:45 pmLive violin ceremony in the Charmille
- 8:30 pmCandlelit dinner with local dishes
- 9:45 pmBlue-hour cake cutting and first dance
We could not have imagined a more perfect elopement in Southwest France. The entire experience was beyond our dreams, from the stunning locations to the photos that captured every moment. Exploring the charming villages, the ceremony in the forest, the vineyard at the end. We are forever grateful.
Haleigh & Kyle · Dordogne Elopement, Southwest France
How This Dordogne Elopement Came Together
Haleigh and Kyle came to me a year in advance, totally open on location within France. They had one clear vision: something intimate, classy, and centered on a chateau ceremony. I sent them six options across different French regions. The Dordogne won on the strength of what you can actually do over multiple days. With more than a thousand castles, the gardens of Marqueyssac, Sarlat, Brantome, and Bordeaux vineyards all within reach, it offered the richest adventure itinerary of any region I work in.
On a beautiful Friday morning we met near the Bordeaux train station. Haleigh and Kyle climbed into my car and we drove east together into the Dordogne valley. Our first stop was the Chateau de Beynac, a medieval fortress perched above the river. We climbed the steep streets of the village below it, then explored its ramparts with panoramic views stretching across the valley in every direction.
That afternoon: Josephine Baker’s former home (no photos allowed, but the bird of prey spectacle was extraordinary), then the topiary gardens of Marqueyssac as the sun started to lower. We photographed for hours in the sculpted corridors of boxwood, dark forest paths threading between them. Eventually we drove to Sarlat for dinner and sleep before the big day.
Saturday morning was calm. A walk through Sarlat’s ancient streets before the heat came, then a long lunch in Saint-Jean-de-Cole. By mid-afternoon we pulled into the ceremony chateau’s courtyard and everyone went quiet for a moment. The place was exactly right.
While Haleigh had her hair and makeup done, I coordinated the florist and arch installation. Then getting ready shots, laughter in the room, great music. The first look at the bottom of the chateau stairs was emotional, stumble and all. A soft tap on Kyle’s shoulder, a turn, and then the kind of silence that says everything.
The ceremony in the Charmille was unhurried and deeply personal. The celebrant Debbie had written every word for this specific couple. When they exchanged their vows among the trees with the violin playing, it was one of the most quietly moving moments I have witnessed in 13 years of doing this work. Dinner came after: local dishes, champagne, a first dance under the stars. The last shoot was at blue hour with sparklers.
Sunday: kayaks through the canals of Brantome, a private chateau visit with an exceptionally generous owner, then a Bordeaux vineyard near Pomerol for wine tasting and a tour of the cellars. By evening we were back in the city. Three days, gone in what felt like a single breath.
You show up. I handle the rest. Vendor sourcing, venue research, timeline building, ceremony coordination, logistics on the day, and complete photography coverage. All in one package, built around your vision.
Photos from This Dordogne Elopement
All images are arranged chronologically, from the first morning at the Dordogne castles through the final hours at the Bordeaux vineyard. Click any image to view it full-screen.
Awards & Publications
Zephyr & Luna work has been featured internationally across luxury travel and wedding publications. Click to view full size.
