Amelia and Robin’s stunning wedding celebration at the exquisite Château du Grand-Luce in Le Mans, France, was a vibrant fusion of cultures and traditions. Reflecting the couple’s unique backgrounds—Amelia from China and Robin from France—the four-day event was a beautiful tapestry of love, laughter, and unforgettable moments.
Day 1: Welcome Outdoor BBQ in the Orangery
The Orangery was the setting for the welcome bbq for guests. We decorated in very neutral earthy tones. We mixed in classic place settings with terracotta pots and candles. Outdoors had some mixed lounge furniture and bar to give an overall more informal setting so guests could mingle between the outdoor / indoor event.
The festivities began with a delightful welcome outdoor BBQ in the charming orangery of the château. Family and friends came together to enjoy a delicious BBQ feast. Guests were guided through the Château, down through the gardens and into the Orangery area where food stations were set up ready with an extensive menu of grilled food and charcuterie items. Alongside this were different desserts and a cute gelato cart serving a variety of ice creams. Guests relaxed and chatted through the evening while ambient music played in the background. As the evening drew to a close, in-house guests made their way back up to the Château for a night cap and open bar in Jack Pines.
Day 2: Rehearsal Dinner in the Ballroom
The following evening, a sophisticated rehearsal dinner was held in the opulent ballroom of the château.
The decor for this setup was truly spectacular mixing royal blue (with the plates and candle holders) with bright fuchsia flowers really made this a real visual spectacle. The room held two long tables with fresh white linen with gold accents in the cutlery, glasses and charger plates. One of our favourite setups this year for sure!
Beforehand, guests were treated to a private tour to Château du Lude escorted by one of the Matthew Oliver team. While there, they got to see inside all of the main rooms in their full grandeur, explore the gardens and then enjoy a wine tasting at the end. Following this guests split across two different French restaurants for lunch before heading back to their respective hotels to get ready for the rehearsal dinner that evening.
Guests arrived at the main Château entrance and were greeted with a welcome drink before being called to dinner in the main ballroom. A pianist and live singer played at a grand white piano at the ballroom doors as everyone made their way inside to take their seats. Whilst the different courses were served, heartfelt speeches were made both In English and in native languages to the variety of guests that had travelled from different parts of the world to be there. After dinner guests were able to let loose and show off their vocals as Karaoke was available in the Jack Pines bar and further drinks in the saloon to complete the evening.
Day 3: Wedding Day at the Château
The wedding day started with Amelia, her close family, bridal party and friends enjoying a traditional Chinese tea ceremony which was taking place in the main Château. The event included a lot of special traditions and moments as well as some beautiful dances.
Meanwhile setup was continuing outside with the ceremony space full or beautiful florals down at the front by the steps. Leading up to this was an elegant long white aisle carpet with a dividing wall in the middle which was constructed on site. It was decorated with floral planters and the dinner reception table plan - so it basically doubled up as a reveal and waiting area for the bridal party and Amelia but also a practical element for the table plan.
We got guests seated ready and everything was set and ready to go and then we had one of us planners worst scenarios. The rain….and it came in the bucket loads. We had been keeping a close eye on the weather and risked it - luckily we did get the first look and details shots before quickly escorting everyone back inside the Château. Unfortunately these things do happen but we came up with a plan and involved all suppliers to come up with an agreed plan. Despite the rain, we managed to get back out to complete the ceremony and the day continued as planned - phew!
Whilst cocktail hour was happening inside the Château, final touches were being made to dinner which was taking place in the ballroom. Tables were laid with a beautiful mix of whites, pinks, green and lilac florals. The overall theme had a more romantic feel to it with lots of tapered candles in varying heights, ornate chargers and crockery and timeless designed stationery. Guests enjoyed a 4 course dinner with speeches intertwined. There was plenty to keep guests entertained with a champagne tower, a croquembouche and fireworks out in the grounds.
Whilst the fireworks were happening we took the opportunity to adjust the ballroom ready for the after party. Guests entered the ballroom followed by Amelia and Robin and they entered centre stage to do their first dance which was a touching choreographed number. Then the Sparkle band took to the stage for their DJ live sets through to the end of the night.
Day 4: Farewell Brunch at the Orangery
As the celebrations drew to a close, guests gathered for a relaxed and delightful brunch in the orangery. This final gathering allowed everyone to unwind and reflect on the magical weekend.
The design for brunch had an elegant vintage feel to it. We used beautiful floral charger plates teamed with pink patterned linen, deep purple glassware and gold accents. Outdoor furniture including lounge sets, parasols and a bar completed the layout down in the Orangery area for guests to relax and enjoy. The F&B team had multiple food stations set up with different breakfast items including a live station for fresh crepes!
Photos by David Bastianoni
