A Winter Wedding at Chateau Saint Joseph

Winter is upon us with its shorter days, colder weather, and barren nature. However, there seems to be a place in the south of France nestled in the Pyrénées where cold, darkness and barrenness doesn’t seem to exist and the winter months here only mean an opportunity to welcome in the light and warmth of love. At Chateau Saint-Joseph, a stunning winter wedding is unfolding.

Alejandra slips into her ruffled couture gown created by Cynthia Grafton-Holt. The delicate layers of tulle drape around her legs, feminine ruffles graze her shoulders, and long romantic sleeves cover her arms. A white and gold handcrafted crown is softly placed in her hair, and a soft veil covers her face. She looks at herself in the mirror, and the corners of her mouth softly turn upwards as she thinks of her husband-to-be. As she stands there in the bridal suite looking in the mirror, she looks like a princess of times gone by.

This shoot was planned and directed by Jeanette Merstrand Photography and Chateau Saint Joseph in an effort to inspire couples to consider the beautiful winter months when planning their wedding, and to showcase how truly stunning and inviting winter weddings can be. There is a feeling of cozy and closeness that seems to be magnified during the winter months, a softness to the light of the day, and the opportunity to be inspired by stunning winter colors like the dusty light blue and white tones chosen for this wedding.

Every detail of the wedding was inspired by the blue and white wintery tones of the season, as well as the old world aesthetic of the founding years of Chateau Saint-Joseph.

The stationery by Pen to Paper, complete with a custom hand illustration of the chateau, embodied the wintery tones perfectly. Handwritten calligraphy helped preserve the old-world feel of the wedding.

The table was set up in the winter garden, a place to keep the couple and guests warm, while still with its large glass facade, inviting the outside light and scenery in. A ceiling of chandeliers and a table adorned by large brass candle holders ensures that even after the sun has set, this will be a celebration filled with light!

Sustainability and staying true to the season was important when it came to the florals. Victoria Engelen incorporated as many seasonal flowers as possible, with white ranunculus and anemones serving as some of the main florals. Light blue delphiniums add soft touches of color to the wintery whites, and ferns as well as other dried florals add some texture as well as interest to the arrangements and bouquet.

After their I-do’s, Alejandra and Raphael walk around the chateau grounds, hand-in-hand. They stop, and Raphael pulls Alejandra in close and kisses her forehead. They share a few moments alone and then head into the winter garden where their guests soon will join them for an exquisite celebration of light and love.