Marcell Hüttner, Co-Founder Magnolias on Silk
There's a moment just before guests arrive when a room belongs only to itself. For a brief instant, everything is still.
In the orangery of Château Belle Époque On this spring morning, light streams through the tall glass walls onto a long table set for a wedding at Château Belle Époque. And although no one has yet taken their seat, in this light, almost everything has already been decided.
This wedding in the South West of France, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, doesn't begin with flowers, nor with porcelain. It begins with a question: what does the light of this place do to colour?
This question led to an editorial that was later published internationally twice. And a plaque that, to this day, reminds us of the small mistake reminds me of the one we did decorating — and will never do again.
That this concept works was noticeable not only during the shoot. The editorial later appeared at French Wedding Style and Bidwill - two leading platforms for destination weddings and editorial weddings.
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The Stage: Orangery Light as Part of the Concept
The glass orangery at Château Belle Époque was completed just in 2025. For the grand opening, the Château deliberately wanted to make a design statement – not just architecturally, but also atmospherically.
The Orangery was therefore not just a backdrop for this editorial, but part of the actual concept. Light meets glass, metal, and a lot of vertical space here. Colours change depending on the time of day, reflections become visible, proportions suddenly become more important.
Therefore, before the first flower was chosen, another question first arose: how must a board be designed so that it works with this light – and not against it?
The long lines of the chalkboard, the controlled colour palette, and the soft material surfaces arose directly from this consideration. Because in an orangery specifically, it's not solely the floristry that determines the impact of a setup, but above all the interplay of space, light, and materiality.
A colour palette of coral, pistachio, and gold accents
The colour palette of this editorial was born from the light of the orangery. Coral, lilac, and warm sunset tones create a delicate energy, while champagne and gold accents introduce a luxurious atmosphere.
However, the real focal point is the pistachio green of the tablecloth. It lifts the setting, connecting the interior and the garden, and prevents the warm tones from seeming too sweet or too playful.
Gold and brass provide shimmering accents between glass, candlelight, and florals. Not dominant, but just present enough to create depth.
The colour palette brings warmth and energy into the room, while remaining calm, elegant and clearly composed – almost as if it had always belonged to the orangery.
The Belle Époque Collection
The key pieces from our curated rental collection don't follow a classic product logic, but rather a design idea: light, material and colour constantly interact with each other, changing the effect of the entire table setting.
Our Belle Époque collection also arose from precisely this thought — inspired by the light of the historic orangery and the warm, calm colour world of the editorial.
You can find the entire Belle Époque collection
here.
The base is formed by the Linen tablecloth in pistachio green, which grounds the warm coral and apricot tones and gives the entire table its calm clarity. On this rests the porcelain of the Taste Collection by Reichenbach Porcelain, whose soft reliefs combine baroque elegance with a modern lightness. It is interesting how the actually white porcelain absorbs the pistachio green of the table linen.
Die CHARLESTON glasses with gold rim bring fine reflections to play of light, while the Cutlery SOBOR by Herdmar in gold with its twisted handles, it appears almost sculptural. Gold and brass subtly reappear throughout the entire setup – never dominant, but just present enough to create depth and warmth.
The Venezia brass candelabra and the LIVIA brass flower bowl set warm reflections between florals, glass and candlelight. Combined with the VOLANT Linen Napkins Champagne with fine logo embroidery and the château's monogram — a small detail that connects the table even more strongly to the location and lends the entire setting an almost private, in-house atmosphere.
The setup is complemented by candles from Ester & Erik in Rosewater, whose soft light tranquilly carries forward the warm sunset tones of the floristry in the evening.
It is precisely this interplay of linen, glass, brass, and candlelight that ensures the table doesn't look decorated, but rather atmospherically complete – as if it had always belonged in this orangery.
A Château with history
The story of Château Belle Époque dates back to 1762. At that time, the estate was still a large country house belonging to the Lassalle family. It was only in the 19th century that it acquired its characteristic turrets under the Saint-Jeours family and became known in the region as „Château Saint-Jeours“.
In the 1920s, Auguste Coyola had the original building demolished and replaced it with the Château in the French Neo-Renaissance style, which still characterises the estate today.
Particularly noteworthy are the former stables on the estate, whose metal structure is attributed to the workshop of Gustave Eiffel.
To this day, the special blend of technical elegance and French grandeur can be felt on the grounds. Between old garden avenues, pine forest, and the Atlantic, the Château appears tranquil and almost cinematic – as if architecture here is less staged and more naturally emerging from the landscape.
The small mistake we will never make again
As calm and natural as the board at the end seemed – it didn't come into being without a small catastrophe.
For the editorial, the floral team had placed artichokes directly onto the pistachio-green linen as a sculptural detail. What we underestimated: The dye from an artichoke is more intense than you might think. After the shoot, fine shadows remained on the tablecloth, which could not be completely removed.
Ever since then, precisely this tablecloth bears its own memory of Château Belle Époque.
Our most important lesson from this shoot, which we now always pass on, is this: never decorate directly on delicate linen with fruit or vegetables. The most beautiful editorials often rely on details that no one sees later – protective layers, underlays, and all the small decisions that ensure beauty also works practically.
Flowers between the garden and the orangery
Coral, apricot and warm sunset shades flow softly throughout the entire table setting – in peonies, ranunculus, poppies and dahlias. Delphiniums, fresh greens and artichokes provide sculptural contrasts in between, giving the setting something more earthy and architectural.
The florals seem to be slowly creeping out of the Château's garden and into the architecture. Nothing about it feels rigidly arranged or classically symmetrical. Instead, the impression is of a grown setting – almost as if nature itself has begun to reclaim the orangery and pathways of the estate.
Particularly the vibrant coral tones of the peonies bring an electrifying energy to the setting. Amidst the soft green hues, they appear intense, modern, and surprisingly organic. The blossoms open wide to the light, while loosely guided branches, meadow structures, and delicate clouds of flowers move in between.
It is precisely this contrast that makes the impression of the floristry so special: opulent, but never heavy. Romantic and a little playful, but not naive. The arrangements possess a controlled wildness that perfectly suits the openness of the château and the transparency of the orangery.
This creates less of a feeling of classic wedding floristry and more of an atmosphere – soft, flooded with light, and almost epic in its effect.
Responsible for the florals was Story of Flower under the creative direction of Damien Thuaud, who has translated the editorial's colour palette with a deliberately open and translucent design.
Styling Moments
Editorial thought, reliable in execution
A board like this isn't created from beautiful individual parts, but from a chain of comprehensible decisions, from the lighting of a room to the final note of a candle.
If you are planning a destination wedding in France as a wedding planner or venue, we develop a colour palette, material logic and the appropriate tabletop design elements as a curated system, precisely tailored to your venue, your personal preferences and your schedule.
Upon request, we will accompany the setup on-site with our White Glove ServiceDelivery, assembly and dismantling included.
Make a requestBelle Époque: From Editorial to Collection
The name has remained. The editorial later became the Tabletop Collection Belle Époque for 2026. She carries the place of her origin within her, translating the design idea of that day into a permanently bookable concept.
What truly made this shoot work, apart from the light in the orangery, was primarily the team's synergy. Location, floristry, photography, planning, and design flowed together calmly and naturally. No rushing, no loud moments – just people who understand their craft and give each other space. This very sense of calm can be felt in the pictures.
To mark the occasion, the editorial became a genuine event. Over 100 guests from the region came together at the personal invitation of the chateau to celebrate the opening of the new orangery.
And so, what began as a curated table for an evening became a real festival. And perhaps therein lies the most beautiful quality of this project: the place for which it was designed ended up celebrating it itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Château Belle Époque is located in Switzerland, near the town of Morges on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Château Belle Époque is located in Linxe, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France. The château stands amidst expansive pine forests, just a few minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, and is about an hour away from Biarritz. The nearest international airport is Biarritz-Pays-Basque, approximately a one-hour drive away; the larger hub Bordeaux-Mérignac is about an hour and a half away.
How many guests does Château Belle Époque accommodate?
The estate can be rented exclusively and accommodates up to around 150 guests. Up to 120 guests can stay overnight on-site, in the Château and in the Gîtes on the park grounds. The glass orangery serves as a large reception and dining room.
Why is Nouvelle-Aquitaine a good region for a destination wedding?
Nouvelle-Aquitaine combines the Atlantic coast, wine landscapes and pine forests with a more relaxed pace of life than the well-known postcard regions. It remains authentically French, easily accessible via Biarritz and Bordeaux, and is not yet overrun. For international weddings, this means exclusivity, without the clichés.
When holding a wedding in an orangery, you should consider the following: * **Venue hire:** Orangeries are often hired out for events, so be sure to understand what is included in the price, such as catering, decorations, and staffing. * **Guest numbers:** Orangeries can vary in size, so make sure the one you choose can comfortably accommodate all your guests. * **Accessibility:** Ensure the venue is accessible for all guests, including those with mobility issues. * **Weather:** Orangeries can be beautiful in all weathers, but consider how exposed the venue might be to the elements on the day and if any contingency plans are needed. * **Lighting:** Think about the lighting for both daytime and evening celebrations. Natural light is often plentiful in orangeries, but you may want to consider additional lighting for atmosphere or for photographs. * **Catering:** Discuss menu options and any dietary requirements with the venue's catering team. * **Decorations:** While orangeries are often beautiful in themselves, think about how you want to decorate the space to reflect your personal style and wedding theme. * **Music and entertainment:** Consider what kind of music and entertainment would suit the venue and your guests. * **Photography:** Orangeries can offer unique photographic opportunities, so discuss with your photographer how you can make the most of the venue's features. * **Logistics:** Plan for guest transport, accommodation if needed, and any other logistical considerations for your guests. * **Licensing:** Check if the venue is licensed for civil ceremonies or partnerships if you plan to have your ceremony there. * **Supplier coordination:** If you are using external suppliers (e.g., florists, cake makers), ensure they are aware of the venue's rules and timings.
An orangery thrives on light. Bright glass walls show every edge and every colour, and forgive no heavy, overloaded structures. Those who design here work better with clarity, proportion and calm colour schemes. In the evening, the room softly absorbs candlelight, which is why lighting design is part of the concept from the outset.
How does the White Glove Service work?
With our White Glove Service, we take care of the complete on-site setup: delivery, assembly, and dismantling of the entire table setting. You and your planning team won't have to worry about the table on your wedding day; it will be ready and perfectly coordinated. We will agree on the exact scope in advance, tailored to your venue and schedule.
Can I rent the tabletop concept from this shoot?
Yes. The concept is available as the Belle Époque Collection 2026. The collection will be individually tailored to the location, colour scheme, and proceedings. You can find more information here: View Belle Époque Collection .
The editorial as a bookable concept
The Belle Époque Collection
Here you can see a cost example for 30 guests – based on the complete set-up of the editorial at Château Belle Époque.
The full price calculator as well as all pieces from the collection can be found on the Belle Époque Collection Page .
