Destination Wedding in Nantes France

7 Jun

Some weddings are beautifully planned. Others feel like they’ve been handed over to the elements a bit, and instead of fighting it, everyone just leans in and has a much better time because of it. Val & Mel’s wedding in Nantes was firmly in the second category. Wind, rain, sun, vineyards, a bit of chaos… and somehow it all came together into something that felt completely effortless.

They chose their venue, Seigneurie du Bois Benoist, because it sits just outside the village where Val grew up, which already gives it a different kind of weight. It’s not just a pretty place, it means something. And it really is a beautiful one. Open grounds, old stone buildings, glass greenhouses, vineyards stretching out around it, the kind of setting that doesn’t need dressing up. Everything happens in one place, which gives the whole day this lovely sense of flow, no rushing around, no breaking the atmosphere.

Val & Mel met at a running club in London, which feels very on-brand for a couple who start the day with a run around the surrounding countryside. Val apparently leaned heavily into his French accent and came armed with jokes and idioms, which, fair play, worked. From there it was runs, dates, and eventually a proposal on La Réunion island, mid-run again, because consistency is important.

The wedding itself was this brilliant mix of Greek, French, and English culture, blending into one slightly chaotic, very joyful atmosphere. Exactly what you want from a destination wedding. Not polished, not overly curated, just people properly showing up and being part of it.

The outdoor ceremony very nearly didn’t survive the weather. A sudden windstorm swept in like it had somewhere better to be, threatening to take the entire setup with it, including the arch. Chairs shifted, hair went everywhere, guests braced themselves… and Val & Mel just laughed. No panic, no stress, just fully embracing the moment. It set the tone for the entire day. Nothing was going to derail it.

Afterwards, the confetti walk happened under this huge oak tree that looked like it had been waiting there specifically for this moment. Big, joyful, slightly chaotic energy. Petals everywhere, people cheering, the kind of scene that feels bigger than it actually is.

Then, because the weather wasn’t done yet, a proper torrential downpour hit just as cocktail hour was getting going. Everyone piled inside, drinks in hand, laughing about it, adjusting without missing a beat. This is the thing with weddings like this, when the couple doesn’t mind, no one else does either.

As a documentary wedding photographer, these are the days I love most. Nothing goes exactly to plan, but everything feels real. You’re not chasing perfection, you’re just responding to what’s happening; wind, rain, light, people moving, reacting, living in it.

We shot across digital and 35mm film, which felt right for a day that had so many shifts in mood. Film for the softer, nostalgic frames, the ones that feel like they’ve already aged slightly by the time you see them. Digital for everything fast, unpredictable, slightly chaotic (so… most of it). As a 35mm film wedding photographer, it’s that mix that really tells the story properly.

At some point, the rain eased just enough for us to head out into the vineyards. Golden hour was technically happening, but with clouds still hanging around and the ground soaked through, it wasn’t your typical version of it. Val & Mel didn’t hesitate, straight out into the vines, running, laughing, not remotely concerned about getting wet. Those are the moments that stick. Slightly wild, completely unfiltered, and very, very them.

Back inside, things only escalated. The speeches had everyone in stitches, proper laughter, the kind that cuts through the room and lingers. Then came the cake moment, lit up with sparklers, which felt like a turning point into full party mode.

And the band, Maracuya, did not hold back. The dancefloor filled instantly, stayed full, and then, somehow, people started crowd surfing. At a wedding. In rural France. Which feels like something that shouldn’t happen but absolutely did, and was incredible.

They’d chosen the venue because it was close to family, beautiful without being over the top, and allowed everything to happen in one place. And it delivered exactly that: a space where the day could unfold naturally, whatever the weather decided to do.

When I asked what they were most excited about, it was simple: more adventures, more travel. Which tracks. This whole day felt like the start of something ongoing rather than a single event.

As a destination wedding photographer, and as someone who works as both a documentary wedding photographer and 35mm film wedding photographer, this is the kind of wedding that stays with you. Not because everything went perfectly, but because it didn’t, and no one cared. They laughed through it, ran through it, danced through it, and ended up with something far better than a perfectly controlled day.

Just a really good one.