An Otherworldly Wedding in Aubeterre-sur-Dronne

Set in the storied village of Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, Rachael and Guy’s wedding unfolded inside the Monolithic Church, a cavernous 12th-century structure carved into limestone. Both ancient and otherworldly, the space carried its own drama with vaulted heights and an almost subterranean stillness.

For the ceremony, white florals lined the stone aisle in quiet repetition, leading to an open arch that framed the altar without distraction. 

Restraint gave way to color for the reception, where tables spilled with meadow-inspired arrangements that were playful, varied in height, and artfully scattered.

As stark stone dissolved into a reception alive with color, the effect was a stunning balance of grandeur and exuberance.

Our Story

Names / Rachael Leach & Guy Towers

Location / Aubuterre-sur-Dronne, France

Wedding Date / September 7th, 2024

Guest Numbers / 118

How We Met

We met in the middle of the dance floor at a party in Manchester. I saw Rachael through the crowd and took my chance on introducing myself. We danced and chatted the night away. I wasn’t sure if I was going to see her again, but luckily she agreed to meet a week later, and the rest is history.

Our Engagement Story

I decided to hike to a special location in the Lake District, a place that holds a lot of meaning for us. It’s where we went on our third date, hiking up to a stunning vantage point in a quiet, private spot that’s dear to our hearts. We spent a beautiful evening there, just the two of us, in a place that will always be treasured.

What we love most about each other…

Guy truly embodies everything I could ask for. He’s supportive, honest, and has this incredible sense of humor that brightens every day. His loyalty is unmatched, and he’s always there for the people he loves. When he sets his mind to something, he accomplishes it with such ease. Honestly, he’s made me a better person just by being a part of my life.

Rachael inspires me to be a better person every single day. She’s incredibly caring, warm, and has this amazing sense of humor that makes life so much brighter. I feel truly lucky to know that I get to spend the rest of my life with her.

The Setting

Wedding Location

We’ve always loved France, and the charming village of Aubeterre-sur-Dronne perfectly captured everything we adore about the country. It felt quintessentially French in every way. Stepping into the Monolithic Church was like entering another world. It truly had that unforgettable wow factor, something we knew ourselves and our guests would remember for a long time.

Aesthetic

We wanted to highlight the venue’s rustic charm while introducing pops of color to add a modern twist. Inspired by minimalist design, we embraced the idea that less is more, allowing the beauty of the space to speak for itself.

Preparation

The morning was perfect. I got ready alongside my bridesmaids, my mom, and my mother-in-law, creating such a special atmosphere. We shared pastries from the local bakery and exchanged gifts before starting our makeup. Thankfully, we did it early, as there were plenty of happy tears!

Photography

Our photographers, Bowness Film, truly brought our wedding to life. They understood exactly what we envisioned and supported us every step of the way. Many of our ideas were inspired by their previous work. Their attention to detail, distinctive style, and overall finesse felt completely unmatched. We feel incredibly lucky to have met Sarah and Tom. They’ve captured our day so beautifully, and we know we’ll treasure them for a lifetime.

Videography

The perfect blend of personalities is how our video was captured. The fun and iconic essence of the wedding party blended with the romance of the love between Guy and me, and our friends and family. A true representation of the day.

“It felt quintessentially French in every way. Stepping into the Monolithic Church was like entering another world. It truly had that unforgettable wow factor, something we knew ourselves and our guests would remember for a long time.”

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

The Monolithic Church felt so special that we didn’t want anything to distract from its natural beauty. We chose a simple arrangement of white florals lining the aisle, leading to an open arch that subtly drew the eye toward the altar. To maintain our modern minimalist aesthetic, we kept the stationery elegant and understated, placing it alongside a personalized wooden fan on each guest’s seat.

Reception Décor

The reception felt like the perfect opportunity to add a vibrant pop of color, reflecting the joyful energy as the day transitioned into night. We carried this color palette through to the stationery, which subtly nodded to French elegance. Each table was named after a location that holds special meaning to us, beautifully illustrated with hand-drawn landmarks.

Flowers

The bouquets featured Playa Blanca roses and hydrangeas, with natural stems left long and bound at the center with a satin ribbon to form a simple, elegant handle. I wanted to create a look that felt both sophisticated and timeless, perfectly complementing the bridal and bridesmaids’ dresses.
For the reception, the inspiration was a wild meadow floral design. Each table featured a unique arrangement of flowers in varying sizes and lengths, creating an organic and whimsical feel.

Stationery

Our save-the-dates and invitations reflected our modern minimalist theme. We were incredibly lucky to have my best friend, who is wonderfully talented, hand-draw the key illustrations. For the save-the-date, she captured the striking interior of the Monolithic Church, while the main invitation featured the Manoir, the beautiful setting where we all gathered for the wedding breakfast. Each piece felt personal and perfectly tied to the places that meant the most to us.

Favors

For favors, we chose to share a personal touch, our favorite shot (also known as a “Craigy D”), lovingly decanted into small vials. This involved a shot of tequila quickly followed by a shot of pineapple juice. It was a heartfelt and fun gesture that we hoped our guests would enjoy as much as we do.

Food & Beverages

We wanted the food and drink to truly reflect our setting in France. Our menu featured a selection of classic French dishes, thoughtfully curated to celebrate the region’s rich culinary heritage. These were perfectly paired with a selection of fine French wines, creating a dining experience that felt both authentic and indulgent.

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

I wanted a dress that felt both simplistic and timeless, something that truly reflected my personal style. An off-the-shoulder design with sleeves felt like the perfect choice, gently highlighting the features I feel most confident in. The corset detail felt like a subtle nod to contemporary fashion, adding structure and a modern edge.

Bridesmaids’ Dress & Shoes

The bridesmaids’ dresses echoed the same simplicity and elegance, in a beautiful shade of champagne. Each bridesmaid chose a neckline that suited her best. I wanted them to feel confident, comfortable, and as beautiful as they truly are.

Wedding Rings

I chose a wedding ring that complemented my engagement ring, but I wanted it to stand out too, so I mixed platinum with gold. I loved the contrast, and the diamonds in both bands tied them together beautifully.
For Guy, he wanted to keep it simple. He’s never worn jewelry before, so wearing a ring at all was a big deal.

Jewelry & Accessories

My veil was a beautifully simple lace-edged cathedral-length veil from Grace Loves Lace. I kept my jewelry minimal because I wanted the veil to have its moment. A simple gold drop earring felt true to my usual style but more bridal.

Hair & Makeup

My hair and makeup artist was nothing short of a magician. She crafted a soft bun updo paired with dewy makeup that made me feel like myself, only as a bride. I wanted my hair off my shoulders so nothing would distract from the dress’s beautiful neckline, and she brought that vision to life perfectly.

Groom’s Attire

The groom and groomsmen wore classic black dinner suits, which looked timeless and sharp. The black created a striking contrast against the white of my bridal gown and the champagne tones of the bridesmaids’ dresses.

“Dancing on our chairs, followed by hanging out of the French manoir window, looking out at all our guests dancing and singing their hearts out, those moments were pure magic.”

The Details

Honeymoon

After our wedding, we headed straight to the Dordogne, a perfect place to relax, unwind, and soak in the incredible memories from the past few days with our loved ones. Later, we drove to Paris, the city of love, where we found the perfect, romantic finale to our wedding journey.

Gift Registry

Our friends made us a beautiful coffee table magazine of our wedding photographs, which will be treasured forever.

Wedding Songs

Some of our most memorable songs weren’t even planned. Point of View by DB Boulevard and Cher’s Believe quickly became favorites. Guy and I found ourselves hanging out of the manoir, dancing, while our guests piled onto tables and chairs, singing along. Those spontaneous moments were pure magic.
We also absolutely loved walking into our reception to Robbie Williams’ Rock DJ. You just can’t beat a crowd-pleaser that everyone knows the words to. It set the perfect tone for the night.

Entertainment

One of our close friends, Tim, was our DJ. He’s incredibly talented, and we trusted him completely, so we didn’t even have to make any specific requests. We just knew he’d bring the perfect vibes.

Celebrant

Helen Lepresec was our celebrant, and she was absolutely fabulous. We loved how she struck the perfect balance, honoring tradition while making the ceremony feel deeply personal and uniquely ours.

Readings

Two of my closest friends did readings in the church, which made the ceremony feel incredibly special. Both of them chose their readings themselves, so we hadn’t heard them before the day.

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

A really special moment for us was our entrance to the wedding breakfast. We entered to a classic Robbie Williams song, which had all of our guests on their feet, on tables, with napkins swinging in the air for the entire song. It’s something we will truly never forget. Dancing on our chairs, followed by hanging out of the French manoir window, looking out at all our guests dancing and singing their hearts out, those moments were pure magic.

One thing I wish I knew before I started my wedding plans…

Choose your vendors wisely! We are so grateful for having the best photographers and videographers to ever exist.
Also, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to please everyone, but your day is about you as a couple. Focus on what feels right for you both. Things might not go exactly as planned, and that’s okay. Some of the most memorable moments happen spontaneously.

If I could give other couples one piece of advice…

Remind each other that everyone is there for you both, to see you happy. It’s not your job to keep them happy. Just be in the moment, soak it all up, because it truly is the best day of your lives.
Make sure to find moments to be together throughout the day. Amid all the excitement, those shared moments mean the most.

Sources of inspiration…

Pinterest, Instagram, bridal magazines.

Our Contacts

Wedding Venue / Manoir De Longeveau

Wedding Stylist / Our Fabulous Things

Wedding Planner / Marry Me In France

Photography & Videography / Bowness Film

Bride’s Dress / Ingrid Olic Bridal

Bridesmaids’ Dresses / Pretty Lavish UK

Groom’s Formal Wear / Roy Robson

Jewelry & Accessories / Grace Loves Lace

Hair & Makeup / Daniella Makeup Hair & Rebecca Gail

Florist / Les Fleurs Coupées