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A Jewish-Catholic Wedding at Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Real Weddings

In early September, Sonia and Aurélien celebrated their wedding near Bordeaux, in the grounds of Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Their wedding brought together two faiths, Judaism and Catholicism, and it was the first interfaith wedding of my career as a wedding photographer. Here is the story of their day.

Wooden front door of Domaine de Larchey, where the wedding preparations took place
Gold engagement ring resting on a white velvet ring box
Champagne coupes and a bottle of champagne on the bar during preparations at Domaine de Larchey
Pink crape myrtle in bloom in the garden of Domaine de Larchey
Groom in a blue suit tying his shoes while getting ready at Domaine de Larchey
Portrait of the groom in a blue suit, fuchsia tie and boutonniere under a flowering tree
Bride in her lace gown reflected in a tall gilded mirror
Two bridesmaids in fuchsia dresses seeing the bride for the first time while getting ready
Bride wearing a flower crown and holding a bouquet of red and white roses

Two Faiths, One Ceremony

Sonia and Aurélien shared their two religions with great respect and warmth, and they wanted their ceremony to honour the traditions of both. Their guests gathered in the park of Château Smith Haut Lafitte to celebrate with them.

A ceremony led by a rabbi and a deacon

The ceremony was officiated by a rabbi and a deacon. The rabbi represents the Jewish tradition at weddings; the deacon can celebrate interfaith ceremonies at the reception venue. Sonia and Aurélien asked both to be present, so that each faith had its own voice.

It was the first time I had photographed a Jewish wedding ceremony. I particularly loved the warmth, the energy, the singing and the joy that filled the whole ceremony.

Ivy-covered building with red doors at Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Bronze statue in the courtyard of Château Smith Haut Lafitte among cypresses and red planters
Bridesmaids in fuchsia dresses walking along a path through the vineyard
Belvedere tower and red-shuttered building of Château Smith Haut Lafitte under a blue sky
Guests taking their seats for the ceremony on the lawn beside the ivy-clad tower
Ecumenical ceremony arch draped with white fabric and greenery on the château lawn
The bride walks into the ceremony on the arm of a loved one, in front of the château
The couple seated beneath the floral arch during the ecumenical ceremony, surrounded by family
Guests in fuchsia dresses seated on the lawn during the wedding ceremony
Black and white close-up of a pianist's hands on the keys during the ceremony
The officiant seen from behind, wearing a pink kippah, facing the ceremony arch
Groomsmen in pink ties standing on the lawn in front of the château tower
Low-angle view of the timber belvedere at Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Wedding guest seen from behind wearing an embroidered pink kippah
Black and white blessing beneath a prayer shawl held above the couple
The bride sips wine beneath the prayer shawl beside the groom during the ceremony
View across the vineyard to Château Smith Haut Lafitte under a summer sky
The newlyweds leave the arch hand in hand at the end of the ecumenical ceremony
The newlyweds exit under a shower of petals, cheered by their guests outside the château
The belvedere tower of Château Smith Haut Lafitte rising above the cocktail lawn

Getting Ready at Domaine de Larchey

Sonia had her heart set on getting ready at Domaine de Larchey. Her wedding gown was made to measure by Odile Léonard, a Parisian bridal designer, and Aurélien chose his suit from Jonas & Cie in Paris.

Tray of champagne flutes served to guests during the cocktail hour at the château
Family photo with the newlyweds in front of the ivy-framed red arched door
Portrait of the bride and groom by the stone lions and ivy at Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Group photo of cheering guests raising their arms in front of an ivy wall
Ivy-covered building bearing the Château Smith Haut Lafitte sign, with its tower
Handwritten chalkboard hanging on a weathered wooden wall at the reception
Two young guests sitting on a stone ledge during the cocktail hour
The bride and her bridesmaid in a fuchsia dress in front of the red arched door

Sonia designed and created all of the wedding decoration herself: the invitations, the seating chart structure, the table decorations, the lighting in the reception hall and more.

The bride tosses her bouquet on the lawn below the belvedere tower
Guests scramble to catch the bridal bouquet in front of the château tower
The vineyard of Château Smith Haut Lafitte bathed in evening light
Smiling bride under her veil, cheek to cheek with the groom
Black and white portrait of the couple forehead to forehead under the veil
The bride and groom sitting on a stone wall in front of the ivy-covered building
The Château Smith Haut Lafitte winery and its sign seen from the vines
The bride and groom embracing among the vines at sunset

The preparations were festive from the start, beginning around a bottle of Dom Pérignon Vintage 2008.

The couple embracing in the vineyard of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, cypress in the background
The groom holds the bride from behind as she carries her rose bouquet
The newlyweds sitting on the grass in front of the château's belvedere tower
Gravel path leading to the ivy-covered building with its red doors
Seating chart decorated with roses on an easel at the foot of a stone staircase
Close-up of the seating chart with hanging name cards and roses
Reception hall with timber beams set with round tables for dinner
Metal sculpture on a wooden terrace at dusk, facing the vineyard

The Reception at Château Smith Haut Lafitte

After the ceremony, guests gathered for the cocktail hour in the château’s large garden.

Timber-beamed reception hall lit in pink before the wedding dinner
Guests throwing their arms up in the reception hall during the evening party
Guest in glasses laughing heartily during the wedding dinner
Table of guests striking playful poses during the wedding dinner
The groom seated and smiling during dinner beneath string lights
Guest lit by candlelight during the wedding dinner
Guests seated at their table beneath the string lights of the reception hall
The newlyweds make their entrance into the reception hall to applause

We then took the couple’s portraits at sunset, in front of the château and among the vines, just as Sonia and Aurélien had hoped.

Illuminated metal sculpture on the terrace at night, with the tower in the distance
The bride dances, swirling her veil among the guests
Guests dancing and singing along during the wedding party
The groom lifted on a chair by his friends during the traditional dance
Guests gathered outside after dark during the wedding party
The reception hall terrace lit in pink at night, with guests outside
The couple's first dance beneath string lights at Château Smith Haut Lafitte
The bride and groom gaze at each other during their first dance

The evening that followed was extraordinary: incredible energy and enthusiasm from every single guest.

An engagement session before the wedding

In June, three months before their wedding, Sonia and Aurélien trusted me with their engagement session. We met on Arcachon Bay for their couple photos, at the Réservoirs de Piraillan and in the famous fishing village of L’Herbe.

their engagement session

Most of my couples choose an engagement session before their wedding. It gives us the chance to get to know each other, and everyone feels more at ease on the day itself.

Sonia and Aurélien’s wedding suppliers

Planning your wedding in France?

I photograph weddings at Château Smith Haut Lafitte and across Bordeaux and France. Discover my wedding collections, or tell me about your day.

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