Wedding at Château de la Roque, Théreval — Alexandra & Benjamin | Arnaud Chapelle, Wedding Photographer in Normandy

Some weddings tell you, from the very first hour of the morning, that the day is going to be brimming with life. Alexandra and Benjamin's was one of them.

They were married at Château de la Roque, in Théreval, ten minutes from Saint-Lô. Alexandra was pregnant: on that day, a family was already being born.

I followed the day as a documentary photographer, staging nothing, from getting ready to the last dance. Here is what it left in pictures.

The schist facade of Château de la Roque under a stormy sky, in black and white — Théreval (Manche) — Arnaud Chapelle

Guests arriving on the ivy-covered stone steps — wedding at Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

A stone château, a morning of celebration

La Roque is a long schist facade covered in ivy, a flight of stone steps, bedrooms with exposed beams and red fabrics. In the morning, everyone gets ready there in high spirits.

Hair and make-up happen in the drawing room. The dress waits, hanging from the canopy bed. The best men, in beige suits, help Benjamin adjust his braces.

In front of the steps waits a British racing green vintage car, covered in flowers. It sets the tone: the day will be elegant, but never stiff.

The wedding dress glimpsed behind the garden flowers — getting ready at Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

Alexandra's dress being buttoned up, in the red bedroom — getting ready at Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

Alexandra puts on her earrings, reflected in the mirror — getting ready at Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

Benjamin adjusts his braces, in black and white — the groom getting ready at Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

Two open windows in the schist facade, the bride and her loved ones at the windows — Château de la Roque, Théreval — Arnaud Chapelle

The château, its garden and the green vintage car on the morning of the wedding — Château de la Roque, Théreval — Arnaud Chapelle

A yes in Tourville-sur-Sienne

Before the town hall came the first look, in the rose walk of the grounds: Benjamin with his back turned, Alexandra walking up to him, and that moment when he turns around.

Then off to the town hall of Tourville-sur-Sienne. The mayor married them in front of a packed room, between applause and moist eyes.

Alexandra and Benjamin in front of the château facade, under the rose arch — Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

A kiss through the foliage of the grounds — wedding at Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

The dress and the bouquet in a reflection in the grounds — wedding at Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

Leaving for the town hall: the green vintage car at the foot of the château steps — Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

Inside the vintage car, reflections in the window before leaving for the town hall — wedding at Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

The mayor wearing his tricolour sash, the couple kissing in front of a packed room — town hall of Tourville-sur-Sienne — Arnaud Chapelle

The grounds, then L'Orangerie

Back at La Roque, the drinks reception settled into the grounds, facing the château. Guests gather on the lawn, and the bouquet takes flight.

For dinner, everyone moved to L'Orangerie, the estate's large glasshouse: round tables, wooden chairs, pale flowers and hydrangeas. A room that holds on to the daylight.

The couple in the château grounds, near a statue, between clipped hedges — Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

The bouquet flies during the drinks reception, in front of the château — wedding at Château de la Roque, Théreval — Arnaud Chapelle

L'Orangerie, the estate's large glasshouse, seen from outside — Château de la Roque, Théreval — Arnaud Chapelle

The L'Orangerie room set for dinner, under the glass roof — Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

A round table laid for dinner, wooden chairs and pale flowers — dinner at L'Orangerie, Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

The centrepiece, hydrangeas and glasses — dinner at L'Orangerie, Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

Guests at their tables under the glass roof of L'Orangerie — wedding at Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

An evening full of life

When night fell, the glasshouse changed its face: lasers, colours, improvised wigs, and a dance floor that never emptied. Alexandra and Benjamin in the middle, and me right in the thick of it.

The couple's entrance into L'Orangerie, guests raising their arms — Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

Guests in a circle around the dance floor, red and blue lights — evening at Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

A guest in a wig under the lasers — wedding party at L'Orangerie, Château de la Roque — Arnaud Chapelle

Alexandra and Benjamin dancing, trails of light — evening at Château de la Roque, Théreval — Arnaud Chapelle

And afterwards

This wedding remains a lovely memory for me. And the story didn't end there: some time later, I had the pleasure of seeing Alexandra and Benjamin again, for their family photos.

It is one of the finest things about this work: following a family from one day to the next.

Thank you to Alexandra and Benjamin for their trust, and for a day full of life and love.

Venue: Château de la Roque, Théreval (Manche) — my page about the venue · all wedding venues and estates in Normandy
Town hall: Tourville-sur-Sienne

Arnaud Chapelle — Documentary wedding photographer
Saint-Lô · Normandy · France · English-speaking

This wedding is also available in French: Mariage au Château de la Roque, Théreval — Alexandra & Benjamin.

Alexandra & Benjamin

A stone château, a morning of celebration

A yes in Tourville-sur-Sienne

The grounds, then L'Orangerie

An evening full of life

And afterwards

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