Vineyard Vows: A Foodie Fairy-tale Wedding in the South of France

When it comes to weddings, there are few settings more romantic and enchanting than a chateau in the south of France.  And for one lucky gay couple, this dream became a reality as they said “I do” in a breathtaking ceremony that combined the beauty of the French countryside with the rich traditions of Jewish and gay heritage coupled with their love of food and wine.

The couple, Geoffrey and Ludovic, met in Montpellier several years ago and quickly fell in love.  Geoffrey, a Jewish American from Tennessee, had moved to France to pursue his passion for wine and had found success working for a prestigious vineyard in the region.  Ludovic, a native Frenchman, is a skilled amateur chef who had captured Geoff’s heart with his charm and talents.

As their relationship blossomed, the couple knew that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.  And what better way to celebrate their love than with a fairy-tale wedding at a chateau in the picturesque countryside of southern France?  They chose Château de Granoupiac, a stunning 17th-century estate nestled among rolling hills and vineyards, with towering cypress trees lining the driveway and a manicured garden that provided the perfect backdrop for their ceremony.   The Chateau is located just outside of Saint-André-de-Sangonis, a picturesque village with a wealth of history.  The couple fell in love with the rustic charm of the chateau and knew it was the ideal setting for their special day.

The wedding planning process was a labor of love for Geoff and Ludovic, who worked very closely with me as we curated every detail to reflect their unique personalities and heritage.  From the elegant invitations reflecting the beauty of the south of France to the custom-made table settings of wood and natural leaves, every aspect of the wedding was a blend of their two cultures.

On the day of the wedding, guests arrived at the chateau to find themselves transported to a world of beauty and elegance. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and the scent of lavender filled the air as friends and family gathered to witness Geoffrey and Ludovic exchange their vows in the garden.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was a heartfelt and emotional affair, as they were married by a close friend/guncle (gay uncle) who spoke eloquently about their love and commitment, as well as the history and significance of gay marriage and the importance of inter-generational gay friendships.  He presented them with a mortar and pestle so they may forever blend their spices together.  The couple stood in front of a beautiful arch adorned with flowers and vines.  They had two sets of witnesses who delivered heart-warming messages leaving not a dry eye in the house.  They recited traditional Jewish blessings as well as modern readings and exchanged rings, sealing their commitment to each other with a kiss that echoed through the chateau grounds to the delight of the 130 guests in attendance.  As the newlyweds walked hand in hand down the aisle, their guests erupted into applause and cheers, showering them with love and well-wishes.

The Food

The celebration continued with a lavish reception in the chateau’s courtyard.  As both of these gentlemen are major foodies, we chose Traiteur L’Evidence based out of Lattes (near Montpellier) for the catering and they really outdid themselves.   While Geoffrey and many of his family are pescatarians and Ludovic’s family are more traditional French food, the catering was a blend of the two worlds.  As the couple wanted a longer than normal reception, we choose a larger number of canapes and they were simply out of this world.  It started with mint infused ricotta, black radish and Granny Smith apple served on a Parmesan shortbread, Beef tataki on a spoon with egg yolk confit and balsamic vinegar sauce, a pepper Tartlet with Mackerel Rillettes, Red Mullet fish marinated in herbs served in a taco, Veal gravlax with an aubergine cream, Salmon Gravlax with whipped cheese and horseradish, Crab Accras with citrus, Beef Samosas and a Pizzetta with truffled ham.  They also had four, live serving stations serving up smoked salmon with lime cream on focaccia, Serrano Ham and fresh oregano on Focaccia, Tataki of Duck Breast with a Teriyaki, sesame and coriander sauce and Gnocco fritto, Mozzarella Di Buffala and a tomato confit.    They served rosé from large Jéroboam bottles and white wine from Domaine Montrose, where Geoffrey works, and the bubbly was from the region where Ludovic was raised and where his family continues to live – Saumur Fines Bulles Blanc Brut from Domaine des Martin in Poitou Charentes.

Once the reception drew to a close and the sun started to set, the guests took their seats in the main dining room located beside the chateau, where guests were then served a delicious appetizer of cold pea soup with mint, a quail egg and bacon crisps (without crisps for vegetarians).  Then main course was a perfectly crusted Sea Bass from Corsica, citrus beurre blanc, potatoes cooked risotto-style and braised fennel.  I really want to complement the caterers as it is not easy to serve hot fish to 130 people.  They did and they did it very well.  For the cheese course, they complemented the caterer’s excellent local cheeses with some beautiful goat’s cheese (chevre) that Ludovic’s parents brought from Poitou Charentes.  They then had a traditional French dessert table with a variety of miniatures including an apple tartlet with thick cream, Lemon tartlet, Hazelnut praline brownie and a cheesecake with tonka bean and kalamansi lemon gel on a Brittany shortbread and a Piece Montée with chocolate and pistachio cream.

The Decor – Vineyard Chic

In the spirit of their love of wine, the seating chart we designed named each table after a type of grape, and used bottles of wine to indicate the seating plan.  Each table then had a wine bottle with lights in it, indicating the name and number of the table, surrounded by a garland of regional greens.  For the individual place settings, we designed a cute and simple corkscrew and card, along with a napkin, menu and sprig of fresh rosemary as a garnish.    We also placed individual flowers in bud vases along with tiny lights to add a little spark to the table.  

This wonderful celebration of people and food continued in the traditional French style to the wee-hours of the morning, thanks to the music stylings by DJ James Carr, a perfectly bilingual British-French DJ based in France.

The next day, all the guests were welcome back for brunch served by sisters Sophie and Claire of La Fabrique Food Truck in Pézenas.  They served up three different delicious sandwiches and salads, followed by delicious homemade ice cream and brownies.  What a perfect ending to a perfect foodies wedding.

The couple’s story was a testament to the power of love and the beauty of two souls coming together to create something truly magical. As they looked out over the vineyards and rolling hills of southern France, Geoffrey and Ludovic knew that they were exactly where they were meant to be – in each other’s arms, surrounded by the people they loved most.  I also need to tell you about the wonderful bilingual photographer, Gregory Lockner of Versatile Productions who photographed all of these lovely photos that you see here in my blog. 

And so, as the sun set on their perfect day, the couple toasted to a lifetime of happiness and joy, knowing that their love would only continue to grow stronger with each passing day. As they danced, surrounded by the beauty of the French countryside, Geoffrey and Ludovic knew that they were truly blessed to have found each other – and to have celebrated their love in such a magnificent setting.  It was an honour to work with these two very accomplished young men and a pleasure to make their wedding dreams come to life.

In the end, their wedding at the Château de Granoupiac in the south of France was a day that they would never forget – a day filled with love, laughter, and the promise of a future together that was as bright and beautiful as the sun-drenched vineyards that surrounded them.  And as they looked forward to the adventures that lay ahead, Geoffrey and Ludovic knew that their love story was only just beginning.

Happy Planning