A Destination Wedding at Manoir de Pontbriand in Brittany, France

Manon Douard

33 minutes ago

3 min read

I’m based in the Loire Valley, but I regularly photograph weddings in Brittany — and I’m certainly not complaining: I spent many summers in northern Brittany and have loved its landscapes since childhood. Here, I accompanied a couple based in Dubai who had chosen to get married in France, where the bride’s family is from. I worked in English throughout the wedding, with one of the groomsmen affectionately renaming me “Champs-Élysées” for the day!

Bridal preparations at the Emeria Hotel in Dinard

The wedding took place at Manoir de Pontbriand, with a stop beforehand at the Emeria Hotel in Dinard for the couple’s preparations. A chance to return to the sea: a beautiful backdrop for the bride’s preparations, and a fitting one, as she was just as calm and serene as her surroundings.

Groom preparations

Things are rather less peaceful with the groom! Fifteen men move back and forth between two rooms, searching for their clothes. With a dress code of “black suit, white shirt, black tie”, nobody really knows where their tie is anymore, or whose shirt that might be. Everyone eventually grabs whatever they can find. A waiter interrupts proceedings with a tray of espresso martinis, which does little to improve overall efficiency. There’s plenty of laughter and teasing, and all this bustle brings a little chaos and a great deal of joy to the photographs.

A first look beneath the trees

Then it’s off to Manoir de Pontbriand. The couple have chosen to see each other privately before the ceremony, beneath one of the property’s large trees. It’s a quiet moment before the emotions of the ceremony ahead, and we take the opportunity to make a few portraits together.

In the early afternoon, I favour the shade and, as I always do for this kind of session, begin with wider shots before gradually moving closer. We do venture into the sunshine for a few portraits of Laura, though. Her long veil gives us textures and contrasts to play with. Together with her lace dress and loose hair, she looks rather like a heroine from a Jane Austen novel.

An outdoor wedding ceremony at Manoir de Pontbriand

The ceremony takes place in the manor’s gardens. I play with different viewpoints and black and white to emphasise the contrasts between the black suits and the bright light.

Drinks on the terrace at Manoir de Pontbriand

The drinks reception is usually when I favour close-ups and portraits, giving the guests their own place in the wedding story. Here, an impromptu introduction to cigar smoking offers an opportunity for wider shots, which I turn to black and white to emphasise the monochrome dress code.

Couple portraits in the gardens

Our couple portrait session finally gives us the chance to explore the grounds and gardens in soft, diffused light. The fresh green of the gardens brings out Laura’s red hair and fair skin. There’s something timeless and romantic about her outfit. For some photographs, I therefore choose black and white and pronounced grain, carrying that feeling of images from another time a little further.

The wedding reception

The reception offers more opportunities for portraits, as well as stronger contrasts, particularly once the dancing begins. I position my two flashes on either side of the dance floor to give the lighting depth and dimension, especially during the couple’s first dance. My coverage ends once the evening dancing is underway, and I leave everyone to enjoy the last of the Breton summer.