February being the month of love has got us reminiscing. In September last year we hosted a very special wedding, Mattie and Cam’s. They got in touch with us in April 2021 after buying a doer upper house in our village (Salles-Lavalette) they wanted a local and low-key wedding venue for their 43 guests and by September the 12th we’d organised everything down to a tee. 

Their wedding was, and will always remain especially special to James and I, because it was our first ever wedding at Manoir Beaulieu – and it truly couldn’t have gone any better!

Sunday 12th September 2021. All week we’d been checking the weather every 5 minutes. The week before it had said 90% chance of rain and storms. We remained positive, everything was in place for an under cover barn wedding but we so longed for it to happen outside and beside the pool. The morning before the forecast changed to 28oc and 0% chance of rain! We couldn’t believe it. The weather could not have been more perfect!

The wedding party began to arrive at 16:00, there were welcome drinks in the courtyard and music in the barn. Mattie, who is originally from Italy and Cam from the UK, had a 50:50 ratio of English and Italian wedding guests who all started to mingle. For some of the guests this was the first time they’d seen each other in two years and the energy and buzz in the MB courtyard was truly electric. 

Once they’d said their hellos they were ushered down the secret garden path to the ceremony location: under the stunning mirabelle tree and in front of the magical French countryside. The flower arch is ours for all wedding couples to use and was dressed by the exceptionally talented Diana Ratcliffe of Atelier Florum. Cam and his mother made their grand entrance to a spine-tingling Ella Fitzgerald, “Dream a little dream of me” whilst the guests settled, in anticipation for Mattie’s arrival.

I snuck into the house to give Mattie the nod and found her and her father perched and ready in the dining room. We both looked at each other and said nothing, the moment utterly spoke for itself and she knew it was time to make her entrance. She looked absolutely stunning. 

After the ceremony there were canapés and drinks by the pool and ceremony area, as we made our final preparations for dinner. Wedding food at Manoir Beaulieu is simple, seasonal and oh so delicious. We utilise the impressive wood fired oven as much as can, to give food that flamed smokey taste that sets it apart. Dinner began at 7pm and continued into the night, before they all made their way to the grand barn for dancing and cake!

It’s hard to describe what we felt that day. Exhaustion, exhilaration, excitement, utter contentment. All the things we saw in Manoir Beaulieu for weddings came true that day and we can’t wait for this house to host more and more over the years. 

If you’d like to find out more about weddings at Manoir Beaulieu please get in touch, we love meeting and chatting to newly engaged couples. We only host a handful of weddings each year to make sure each one is exceptional – so book yours in today!

Until next time,

Lauren & James