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A Wedding at the Chartreuse des Eyres, Podensac

Real Weddings
The smiling bride in a silk camisole, leaning back in the Chartreuse des Eyres reception room

The Chartreuse des Eyres is a wedding venue I discovered for the first time thanks to Iris and Laurent, my couple. Let me take you to this family-run estate, elegant and contemporary in style, south of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Garonne.

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A Wedding at the Chartreuse des Eyres

The Chartreuse des Eyres is a former wine estate of the Lillet family, dating from the 18th century, in Podensac on the Graves and Sauternes wine route.

The facade of Bordeaux town hall and its square on the civil wedding day
Portrait of the bride in a houndstooth dress before the civil ceremony
Close-up of the bride's made-up eyes, wearing her houndstooth dress
The bride seated in her houndstooth dress while getting ready in Bordeaux
The couple and their family crossing the square in front of Bordeaux town hall
The groom in a grey three-piece suit, hands in pockets, in Bordeaux

Today, Valérie Lemonnier is its happy owner! Valérie has brought a modern touch to the elegance of the house while keeping its old-world charm.

Detail of the groom's Blandin et Delloye suit and bow tie
The bride and groom walking hand in hand through Bordeaux after the town hall
The wedding hall of Bordeaux town hall with its red and gold chairs
The salons of Bordeaux town hall with their crystal chandelier
The couple sharing a knowing look during the civil ceremony, in black and white
The groom smiling at the bride during the civil ceremony at Bordeaux town hall

The blend of old and contemporary styles brings this charming place back to life and makes it even more beautiful. The Chartreuse des Eyres keeps its architectural identity: ceiling mouldings, herringbone parquet floors, generously proportioned rooms, exposed stone, wrought iron and attic rooms. Valérie has paired them with contemporary design: designer pieces, touches of black, clean lines and decorative objects that are both vintage and contemporary.

Stone facade of the Chartreuse des Eyres and its wooded grounds
White vaulted room at the Chartreuse des Eyres set up for the celebrant ceremony
The bridal suite at the Chartreuse des Eyres with its wrought iron headboard
The bride's glittery silver shoes on the wooden floor

Valérie loves hosting wedding receptions, as well as celebrant-led ceremonies in her park with its century-old trees. The Chartreuse des Eyres has a stone-vaulted room for the evening reception, and an orangery for the cocktail hour, or for the ceremony if the weather is unsettled.

The hairdresser putting the finishing touches to the bride's hair
The bride in a flowing white blouse and pencil skirt for a winter wedding
The smiling bride holding her pastel bouquet in front of a bookcase
Bright corridor at the Chartreuse des Eyres with a chandelier and panelling
The bride stepping out onto the stone porch of the Chartreuse des Eyres
Guests seated during the celebrant-led ceremony, seen in black and white

The house is also a bed and breakfast, with five guest rooms, all decorated with class and taste. They have made it into Le Figaro’s list of the 200 most beautiful bed and breakfasts!

A guest singing "Les mots bleus" into the microphone during the ceremony
The radiant bride touching the groom's cheek in the grounds
The groom tenderly cradling the bride's face in his hands
The bride and groom walking hand in hand in the Chartreuse des Eyres grounds

Iris and Laurent: how we met

Iris, Laurent and I met thanks to a kitten! And not just any kitten: it was a Sacred Birman kitten from my own cattery. My wife Magali and I share our home with several Sacred Birman cats; we have ten beautiful Birmans in our house in Bordeaux. We regularly take part in international cat shows, and some of our Birmans are French and International champions! Our cattery is called the Chatterie des Innamorati.

The groom in his Blandin et Delloye suit leaning against the stone wall
The bride and groom kissing in front of the Chartreuse's stone facade
The couple looking at each other across the wrought iron railing
The bride and groom leaning on the outdoor staircase railing at the Chartreuse
Cocktail hour buffet with paper cones and greenery against the stone wall
Guests helping themselves to the smoked salmon station during cocktail hour

Iris and Laurent got in touch two years before their wedding to adopt a Sacred Birman kitten. Iris came to visit and fell for Nasko, an adorable little kitten she loved at first sight.

Retro video booth set up on wooden crates for the guests
The bride and groom bursting into laughter as they arrive at cocktail hour
Three guests taking a selfie under the purple lights of the party
A chef carving ham by hand at the cocktail hour buffet

Iris and I always stayed in touch about Nasko. Then, a year and a half after the adoption, I had the lovely surprise of receiving a photo from them of Nasko holding an engagement ring between his little teeth.

Vaulted stone reception room laid with white tables for dinner
The bride and groom discovering the reception room, drinks in hand
Round white-clothed tables and a hanging floral piece in the vaulted room
The bride posing with Alexandra Ambert in the reception room
The bride in a silk camisole with a flower in her hair, looking down
The bride smiling as she gazes across the fairy-lit reception room

That is when the couple told me about their plans to marry six months later, in autumn 2019! I was overjoyed to learn that I would be their wedding photographer. And above all, what a joy to photograph another winter wedding.

Dried flower installation hanging above the tables in the reception room
The bride, eyes closed, reaching out her hand during a guest game
Lime shot glasses lined up beneath a chalkboard sign at the party
The bride raising her arms as she enters the room, in black and white

A Chartreuse des Eyres Wedding in Podensac

A celebrant-led ceremony at the Chartreuse des Eyres

I had recommended the decorator and wedding planner Alexandra Ambert to Iris and Laurent, so that she could help them organise their wedding in the time available. Alexandra rose to the challenge brilliantly, and the result was superb! The theme was autumnal, with floral design by Fanny of L’Instant F.

The bride and groom entering the vaulted room to guests' applause
The groom laughing heartily at the table beside the bride, in black and white
The couple and their guests reacting to a surprise prepared for them
A cabaret dancer in black tights performing under pink lights
The cabaret dancer hugging the bride on the dance floor under pink lights
The bride and groom partying on the dance floor, in black and white

After making their union official at Bordeaux City Hall, the newlyweds and their families went to the Chartreuse des Eyres to celebrate their wedding with a celebrant-led ceremony. It took place under the porch, because it was raining at that moment. Fortunately, a dry spell after the ceremony gave us time for the couple photos.

The bride and groom holding sparklers in front of the wedding dessert
Choux pastry tower with sparklers on the dessert table
DJ Boujou at the decks under the blue lights of the party
The bride and groom dancing in front of the dessert tower beneath the lit vault

In November the sun sets in the late afternoon, so we carried on the celebrations indoors. The evening was festive and joyful, because Iris and Laurent both love a good party. All the guests had a wonderful time, and the happiness showed on their faces. Nobody noticed the time passing: it was an unforgettable day!

Iris and Laurent’s wedding suppliers at the Chartreuse des Eyres

See also Émilie and Aurélien’s wedding at the Chartreuse des Eyres, at the start of summer.

Planning your wedding in France?

As a Bordeaux wedding photographer, I photograph weddings at the Chartreuse des Eyres, south of Bordeaux, and throughout France, in every season: see also this autumn wedding at Château de Garde. Discover my wedding collections, or tell me about your day.

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