Pearl and Guillaume's Wedding at Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Pearl and Guillaume laughing together in the vineyards of Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Château Smith Haut Lafitte hosts weddings and family celebrations, and this is where Pearl and Guillaume chose to get married.

The bride's make-up being done during preparations, black and white

Smiling bride in a white robe during her make-up session

Make-up artist applying the bride's eyeshadow, in black and white

Bride smiling during final preparations, make-up products blurred in the foreground

An iconic name in the world of wine, just outside Bordeaux, Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a Grand Cru Classé. The Bordeaux vineyards are famous the world over for their exceptional wines.

Pearl in her embroidered wedding dress standing in a bright doorway

Smiling bride portrait against a pale blue shutter

Today, the wine estate also has accommodation and reception rooms for weddings. And it was in this magnificent setting, right in the heart of the vines, that Pearl and Guillaume celebrated their wedding.

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Château Smith Haut Lafitte: the Height of Bordeaux Elegance

Château Smith Haut Lafitte lies south of the Garonne, not far from Bordeaux, in Martillac. In the heart of the Graves, six and a half centuries of history have shaped Smith Haut Lafitte.

Bride posing before flowering oleanders in her embroidered gown and veil

Smiling bride in front of blooming pink oleander bushes

The château has diversified beyond wine and now welcomes a wider clientele, one that is still looking for charm, refinement, authenticity and local craftsmanship.

Bride with a radiant smile in front of a lush green hedge

Smiling bride in the car with a baby's breath bouquet on her lap

Bride gazing out of the car window, black and white photo

Choir and altar of Saint-Jean-d'Illac church prepared for the wedding

Wedding receptions at Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Château Smith Haut Lafitte loves to welcome families for weddings. The château offers couples and their guests the chance to book a room for the wedding meal: the Halle George Smith, which can seat 250 people.

Guests filling the nave of Saint-Jean-d'Illac church during the ceremony

Bride looking down at her baby's breath bouquet during the church service

Bride's veil caught in the church light, in black and white

Beaming bride in a vintage convertible with red leather seats

A short walk from Château Smith Haut Lafitte, the Pavillon du Thil, which belongs to the Smith Haut Lafitte estate, can seat 160 people for the wedding meal, and also offers 9 bedrooms and 2 suites at the Chartreuse du Thil.

Bride and groom raising their arms in a white vintage convertible after the ceremony

The couple's white convertible driving along a road lined with vineyards

A Fine Art Wedding at Château Smith Haut Lafitte

In July 2017, I set off to photograph the wedding of Pearl and Guillaume, a couple I am extremely fond of. Pearl and Guillaume’s wedding photos were not originally Fine Art: at the time, I had not yet taken Christophe Serrano’s Fine Art training. For this article, I have re-edited them in the Fine Art style.

View of Château Smith Haut Lafitte and its tower above the vineyards

Pearl laughing in the convertible with its red seats

Bride and groom walking between the vine rows at Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Smiling bride with a hand in her hair among the vines

Pearl and Guillaume, a Château Smith Haut Lafitte couple

I was immediately taken with these two. They showed me great kindness, especially the gentle and lovely Pearl.

Bride and groom sharing a moment in the vines, groom in a blue suit

Pearl and Guillaume embracing and smiling among the château vineyards

Groom kissing the bride's cheek in the vineyard, black and white

Bride twirling her veil toward the groom in soft summer light

She comes from Saint-Jean-d’Illac, and even though she works in the luxury industry with a very high-end clientele, Pearl has stayed true to herself: simple, elegant, gentle, kind and sincere. This wedding moved me deeply, and they made me laugh a lot too.

Bride and groom bursting into laughter in the vines, black and white

Bride spreading her long veil among the vines of Château Smith Haut Lafitte

I covered their civil wedding, which took place on the Friday at the town hall of Saint-Jean-d’Illac. The next day came the religious ceremony at the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Saint-Jean-d’Illac.

Bride fixing her hair beside the groom, black and white photo

Lookout tower and timber-framed building at Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Guest laughing with tears in her eyes during the drinks reception

Bride and her friends posing before the château's ivy-covered wall

After the ceremony, the newlyweds drove to the magnificent Château Smith Haut Lafitte at the wheel of a superb vintage Porsche.

Group photo of the groom and his friends in front of a green wall

Blonde guest smiling with a glass of champagne at the drinks reception

Bride and groom walking down an ivy-lined path, black and white

Bride and groom smiling up at the sky, black and white photo

During the cocktail hour, and again in the evening during dinner, the guests enjoyed the photo booth I had set up for them. My thanks go to my daughter Margaux and her classmate Amélie, who ran it during the cocktail hour, and to Justine for hosting it during dinner.

Groom holding the bride close in front of the château, black and white

Bride and groom making their entrance down a candlelit staircase for dinner

It was also at this wedding that I met Justine (Pearl’s maid of honour) and Jean-Charles, whose own wedding I photographed two years later at Château de Seguin! It was a chance to see Pearl and Guillaume again and spend time with them, and I still send them my love.

Bride and groom smiling during the dinner speeches, black and white

Reception hall with exposed timber roof full of guests at dinner

Guest trying out the photo booth during the wedding party

Bride and groom raising their glasses beside sparklers at the evening party

Wedding Photographer at Château Smith Haut Lafitte

As a Fine Art wedding photographer in Bordeaux and Gironde, I would be honoured to be your photographer at Château Smith Haut Lafitte and to capture the memory of your wedding day at this renowned venue. Taking wedding photos in such a beautiful, elegant setting is a pure pleasure for me, because the light and the architecture of the Smith Haut Lafitte estate lend themselves so well to the Fine Art style. Pure emotion, soft, diffused light and romantic colours are completely in tune with Château Smith Haut Lafitte and every part of the estate. Get in touch through my contact page and tell me about your wedding plans today.

Bride and groom's first dance beneath colourful party lights

Bride raising her arm while dancing opposite the groom

Bride and groom holding each other close during a slow dance, black and white

Bride and guests dancing energetically on the dance floor

Tristan

Bride and her friends goofing around for the camera at the party

Another wedding at the same château: Sonia and Aurélien’s Jewish-Catholic wedding at Château Smith Haut Lafitte.

Pearl and Guillaume’s wedding suppliers at Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Château Smith Haut Lafitte?

In Martillac, south of the Garonne, not far from Bordeaux, in the heart of the Graves; it is a Grand Cru Classé.

How many guests can you host for a wedding at Château Smith Haut Lafitte?

The Halle George Smith seats 250 people for the meal; a short walk away, the Pavillon du Thil seats 160, and the Chartreuse du Thil offers 9 bedrooms and 2 suites.

Planning your wedding in France?

I photograph Fine Art weddings at Château Smith Haut Lafitte, at other vineyard venues around Bordeaux and across France; drone photos are included in my wedding collections. Discover my wedding collections, or tell me about your day.

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