Filming Love Abroad: A French Wedding at Château de Cazenac
Join me on an unforgettable journey as I ventured abroad for my first destination wedding. The picturesque Château de Cazenac in the Aquitaine region of France was the backdrop for a magical celebration of love.
First, the boring stuff: Since Britain left the EU, it has been necessary to take a carnet when travelling with equipment that may be used for professional purposes. With that in mind, I ensured I had this essential bit of paperwork ready for customs as I left security at Manchester Airport. Landing in Bordeaux, I again presented it to customs. The journey into France went smoothly, but once I arrived, there was a nasty surprise in store as my arranged car hire crumbled. Thank goodness for mobile internet, which meant I was able to arrange alternative transportation. I’m not sure what people did before we had the internet in the palm of our hands!
I swiftly organised an alternative plan (with the help of my wife as well as mobile internet), boarding a train from Bordeaux to Siorac-en-Périgord, a charming town near the coveted chateau.
Wasting no time, I went straight up to the chateau upon arrival, eager to maximise every opportunity this beautiful area of France had to offer for capturing extraordinary footage. The evening glow provided the perfect backdrop for capturing enchanting establishing shots and awe-inspiring drone footage.
The next day, the temperature quickly climbed to a balmy 29-degrees. Although bride, groom, guests and suppliers were extremely hot, the wedding unfolded very smoothly. Although the setting was a different one for me, my approach to filming remained steadfast and I ensured every cherished moment was captured and immortalised on film. The resulting footage promises to encapsulate the Stacey and Daniel’s love story in all its splendour.
Embracing the challenge of collaborating with a diverse team of wedding suppliers, some whose first language wasn't English, proved to be a great experience. Despite linguistic barriers, their friendliness and assistance prevailed. It helped that their English was much better than my French! Notably, Justine, the wedding organiser, played a pivotal role in ensuring a seamless event. It was also lovely that, when it came time for the suppliers to eat, we all sat down together to share food, which gave me a chance to converse with and learn about the other people I was working alongside. I’m only marginally jealous of the suppliers native to England and Wales who live and work out in such a beautiful area of France.
As the sun gracefully set over Château de Cazenac, the culmination of my maiden international wedding venture left an indelible mark on my professional and personal journey. From navigating unforeseen obstacles to capturing the essence of love amid a foreign landscape, this French fairytale wedding epitomised the magic that lies within destination celebrations. My thanks go out to Stacey and Daniel for asking me to come along to their amazing wedding - I hope it’s not long before another soon to be married couple stumbles across my business and asks me to join them on another destination wedding!
