No.3 The Château Wedding Photography | Alexa & Tobias
A black tie destination wedding at No.3 The Château in the Cognac region of France, photographed with a relaxed documentary approach and an editorial eye.
A Black Tie Destination Wedding at No.3 The Château
There is something pretty special about arriving at No.3 The Château. Set amongst the vineyards of the Cognac region, the venue has an incredibly clean aesthetic that makes a brilliant backdrop for a wedding, with the architecture, gardens and surrounding countryside all giving the day its own sense of place.
Alexa and Tobias brought around 60 of their closest friends and family together for a black tie destination wedding on 15 August 2026. It was a seriously hot day, but that didn't stop anyone from making the most of the setting or the celebrations.
One of the things I loved most about photographing the weekend was the variety of spaces throughout the property. Guests could move naturally between the Château, gardens and outdoor areas, while each part of the venue offered something completely different visually.
For a photographer, that variety is brilliant. It means the photographs can evolve throughout the day rather than everything feeling like it was photographed in the same place. More importantly, it creates a really good experience for the guests, who can enjoy the venue rather than feeling like they're constantly being moved around for photographs.
The whole weekend had a really effortless feel to it. Everything had been carefully considered, from the black tie dress code and beautiful florals to the food, entertainment and styling, but it never felt overly formal. It felt like a group of people who had travelled to France to have an incredible weekend together.
A Ceremony Among the Vineyards
The ceremony took place outside, with the vineyards stretching out behind Alexa and Tobias and custom draping creating a soft backdrop around them. It was a beautiful setting for the start of the day, with the clean lines of the Château and the surrounding landscape doing so much of the work.
Prit led the ceremony and made it feel incredibly personal, telling the story of how Alexa and Tobias met and sharing their proposal story with everyone there. It was a lovely way to bring their story into the ceremony rather than making it feel like a series of formalities.
There was plenty of emotion, but also a lot of laughter. The kind of ceremony where you could feel how close everyone was to them.
From a photography point of view, I loved being able to move between those bigger moments and the smaller reactions happening among the guests. A smile from a friend, someone wiping away a tear, the look between Alexa and Tobias. Those are the moments that give a wedding gallery its personality.
I always want my photography to feel relaxed and natural, so I'm not trying to manufacture those moments. I'm there to notice them when they happen.
The Château, the Florals and Dinner Under the Summer Sun
The wedding breakfast was set outside directly in front of the Château, and it was probably one of my favourite parts of the day visually. Long tables filled the courtyard, with the Château behind them and the late summer light coming through as everyone sat down for dinner.
The styling worked perfectly with the setting. Le Coeur Sauvage created beautiful florals that brought colour and texture to the tables, while Our Fabulous Things added all the smaller details that pulled everything together. It felt considered and elegant, but still relaxed enough for an outdoor dinner in the middle of the French summer.
Rather than a traditional entrance into the wedding breakfast, Sol & The Gang played as everyone made their way to dinner. It completely changed the energy of the evening. Guests were arriving to live music, drinks were flowing and it felt like the party had already started before anyone had even taken their seat.
Dinner was followed by some incredibly emotional speeches, with the light gradually disappearing behind the Château and the tables becoming lit by candles and lamps as the evening took over.
It's one of the things I loved most about photographing a wedding at No.3 The Château. The same space can feel completely different within a few hours, from bright afternoon sun to a candlelit dinner in front of the Château.
Sunset Portraits at No.3 The Château
Sunset Portraits at No.3 The Château
As the sun started to drop behind the Château, we took a little time away from the celebrations for some portraits of Alexa and Tobias.
We headed around the back of the property, where the light was softer and the heat of the day had finally started to ease. After such a full day, it was nice to have a few minutes where it was just the two of them, away from the noise of the party.
I don't like portraits to feel like a photoshoot dropped into the middle of a wedding. My approach is much more relaxed, giving couples a little direction when they need it and then letting them settle into the moment.
No.3 The Château is such a beautiful backdrop for this. The clean architecture and surrounding landscape give the photographs an editorial feel, while the changing light and the way Alexa and Tobias interacted with each other keep them feeling natural.
These are the photographs that sit somewhere between the planned and the completely unplanned moments of the day. A little more considered than a candid photograph, but still unmistakably them.
When the Party Really Started
By the time the evening rolled around, the energy had completely shifted.
Sol & The Gang had already set the tone during dinner, but once the evening celebrations got going, the dance floor quickly became the centre of everything.
This was a wedding with serious party energy. There was no hesitation from the guests, no awkward first few songs while everyone stood around the edges of the dance floor. Everyone was completely up for it.
And then Alexa got up and joined the band.
Watching a bride pick up a microphone and start singing with the band at her own wedding is exactly the sort of moment you can't plan for. The whole room was behind her, the band were absolutely flying and suddenly everyone was involved.
It's moments like this that are a huge part of why I love documentary wedding photography. You can plan a ceremony, choose the perfect venue and spend months thinking about the details, but you can't manufacture what happens when a room full of your favourite people are completely caught up in the moment.
I was there to photograph it as it happened, moving between the dance floor, the band and the guests and looking for all those little reactions that made the night feel like Alexa and Tobias's party rather than just another wedding reception.
Why No.3 The Château is Such a Special Wedding Venue
Having now photographed a wedding at No.3 The Château, I can see exactly why it works so well for a destination wedding.
The setting is obviously a huge part of it. Being surrounded by the vineyards of the Cognac region gives the venue a real sense of place, but it's the variety throughout the property that really stood out to me.
For guests, the day never felt like it was happening in just one room. The ceremony, drinks, dinner and evening celebrations all had their own atmosphere, while still feeling connected to the Château and its surroundings.
For photography, that variety is brilliant. There are beautiful architectural backdrops, open countryside, the vineyards, gardens and plenty of quieter corners for portraits. It means you can create photographs that feel completely different throughout the day without ever needing to leave the venue.
But perhaps the biggest thing I noticed was how well the venue lends itself to a proper weekend celebration. Alexa and Tobias's guests had space to relax, spend time together and enjoy the setting, while the wedding itself naturally moved from one part of the property to another.
It's easy to see why No.3 The Château has become such an exciting destination wedding venue in France.
Relaxed Documentary Wedding Photography with an Editorial Eye
My approach to wedding photography is a mixture of relaxed documentary photography and an editorial eye.
I want the photographs to feel honest and natural, but I also love creating those slightly more considered portraits that give a wedding gallery a sense of style.
The majority of the day is about being present, watching what's happening and anticipating the moments before they happen. I'm not interested in turning a wedding into a photoshoot or having couples spend hours away from their guests.
Instead, I want you to experience the day properly while I document everything around you.
The quiet moments, the big celebrations, the people you invited, the details you spent months planning and, most importantly, all the completely unexpected things that happen along the way.
Alexa and Tobias's wedding was a perfect example of why I love this approach. From a beautiful ceremony among the vineyards to an emotional dinner, a packed dance floor and Alexa singing with the band, there was so much personality throughout the day.
Those are the photographs that make a wedding gallery feel like yours.
Getting Married at No.3 The Château?
If you're planning your own wedding at No.3 The Château and are looking for a photographer, I'd love to hear about it.
I photograph weddings across France and internationally, combining a relaxed documentary approach with editorial portraits to create photographs that feel natural, stylish and completely personal to you.