Chinese wedding at Domaine de la Fauconnie in Dordogne

The day started inside the manor at Domaine de la Fauconnie.

Metin got ready in the beautiful living room downstairs, surrounded by his friends and groomsmen. The relaxed atmosphere made it a perfect place to photograph those first moments of the day: putting on the final details, sharing a few laughs and slowly realising that the wedding was really about to begin.

Upstairs, Traci was getting ready in the spacious master bedroom with her friends and family.

Hair and makeup were an important part of the day, as Traci had planned several different looks to accompany the different moments and traditions of the wedding. Photographing the preparations already gave me a glimpse into everything they had planned, and I was excited to see the rest of the day unfold.

Once everyone was ready, it was time for one of the most entertaining parts of the morning: the Chinese wedding door games.

Traditionally, the groom and his groomsmen have to complete a series of challenges organised by the bridal party before the groom is allowed to see his bride.

For Metin and his friends, this meant recreating some very funny choreographies and answering questions about Traci. Wrong answers came with their own challenge, including having to eat vegetables!

After successfully completing the door games, Metin was finally able to see Traci.

They shared their first look behind the manor, away from the excitement for a few quiet minutes together. We used this opportunity to take a handful of relaxed couple portraits before moving on to one of the most meaningful moments of the day: the Chinese tea ceremony.

The first tea ceremony was held with Traci’s parents. The couple served them tea as a sign of respect and gratitude, before receiving their blessings and red envelopes. It was a very intimate and emotional moment to photograph.

After a few family portraits, they continued the tea ceremony with Metin’s mother. Once again, there were plenty of emotions, hugs and beautiful interactions between the families.

I love photographing traditions like these because they add so much meaning to a wedding gallery. Beyond documenting how the day looked, they tell the story of the families, cultures and people coming together.

After the tea ceremony, it was time to join the rest of the guests for their symbolic wedding ceremony.

The ceremony took place outside in the park of Domaine de la Fauconnie, surrounded by the estate’s impressive trees. On such a hot summer day, the shade was very welcome!

Friends and family gathered to watch Traci and Metin exchange their vows, creating a completely different atmosphere after the fun and energy of the morning.

Once the ceremony was over, everyone could relax during the cocktail hour. It was the perfect opportunity for candid photographs of guests reconnecting, laughing and enjoying the beautiful surroundings of the Domaine. With so many people having travelled from different countries to be there, there was a real feeling of reunion throughout the afternoon.

And of course, no celebration would be complete without a champagne tower.

One of my favourite things about photographing a wedding at Domaine de la Fauconnie is the variety of locations available for couple portraits without ever having to leave the estate.

During the afternoon, we took a few photographs in the park and around the beautiful ivy-covered manor.

Rather than organising one long photoshoot, we kept the portrait sessions short and spread them throughout the day. This allowed Traci and Metin to spend as much time as possible with their guests while still creating a varied collection of couple photographs.

Later, during dinner, we slipped outside again for a second session at golden hour.

Despite the heat still lingering in the evening, the light was absolutely beautiful.

We walked towards the cypress avenue and the swimming pool, making the most of the last warm sunlight of the day. The long lines of the trees, the reflections around the pool and the elegant architecture of the estate created some of my favourite images from their wedding.

Dinner took place inside the stunning Orangerie at Domaine de la Fauconnie. And after a day at 42°C, we were all extremely grateful for the air conditioning!

The evening was filled with emotional speeches, laughter and stories about the couple.

After dinner came the cake cutting, followed by Traci’s bouquet toss and the couple’s first dance.

Soon their guests joined them on the dance floor and the evening turned into a joyful party, the perfect ending to such a memorable destination wedding.