The Secret Garden at Chateau Plombis

Making the most of the glorious surroundings, this editorial celebrates the ‘secret garden’. Evoking the child-like joy of exploring, dancing and running free, you get a feel for the energy at this magnificent venue and the 23 hectares of gardens, grounds and hay meadows surrounding it. Keep scrolling for beautiful blooms, fairy-inspired bridal fashion, and lots of wedding magic…

Jo says…

Our ‘Secret Garden’ is a charming place to laugh, play and be free. We are surrounded by wonderful flowers, beautiful colours and birds singing. An enchanted garden perfect for a dreamy and fun wedding in a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere.

Chateau Plombis is like a secret garden itself. Situated in a very peaceful location in South West France, the Quercy region, the chateau offers 23 hectares of garden, woodland and grass meadow. All are surrounded by fields and forests, with an incredible sunset view over a local village. The garden, around the swimming pool, is filled with fragrant and colourful flowers. A perfect private place for all the guests to roam free and undisturbed, with exclusive use of the grounds, swimming pool and the building.

The brides wear beautiful and poetic dresses from French designer Audacious Adelaide. Her dreamy and summery creations are made for modern, creative brides who enjoy every moment and are unafraid to speak their voice. We chose three unique styles for the shoot: a loose design dress that would follow Ambre’s graceful dance and movement. Layla wears a sparkly sequin dress that makes her shine and stand out even more, and Pattie opted for a figure-hugging mermaid-style skirt and a crop top for her tall, hourglass figure.

We completed the bridal looks with handmade, sentimental jewellery to add another layer of magic. Distinctly, Caitlin Designs takes the secret meanings of flowers and turns them into handmade affirmation jewellery. We chose the Marsh Marigold for Grounding, the Spring Gentian for Self-belief and the Daisy for Happiness.

Lila in the Sky usually makes bohemian jewellery inspired by Chinese medicine and stone healing properties. She wanted to bring an aristocratic vibe to boho by working with faceted pearls and polished gemstones. They evoked her memory of reading “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett and other British classics. All the gemstones used promote self-worth, wealth and wholeness.

Annette Carr planned three unique hairstyles for our long-haired bride fairies. Pattie had a side swept fishtail with small, delicate white flowers, plus attractive soft foliage gave an instant bridal feel; for Ambre’s look, volume and texture were created using root texture powder and a little backcombing before securing the crown area with a tiny fishtail braid, lilac flowers and sprigs of fresh thyme. Beautiful Lilies of the Valley were fixed in Layla’s hair, adding excellent colour contrast and magical perfume—a great, modern and simple look for any bride or bridesmaid.

The brides all wore subtle make-up that highlighted their natural beauty. Soft peaches and warm roses match their skin tones and reflect the warm sunny days.

For the table and floral decor, Victoria from The Impeccable Pear wanted to create a magical fairy feel in line with the secret garden theme. She used a mix of vintage and natural tones and pops of colour to create a beautiful contrast. The green moss and foliage were a dominant part of the decor. Victoria used preserved plants for long-lasting, ecological and biodegradable decor that looks beautiful and fresh.