FOUR DAYS, FOUR VIBES | REILLY & DYLAN AT DOMAINE D’ESSENDIERAS
- Sarah Thomas Events
- Sep 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 1
Domaine d’Essendieras, a 16th-century estate in the rolling Dordogne countryside, is no stranger to weddings. But in late July 2025, it played host to a celebration that unfolded less not as a single event but more like a four-day story. Reilly and Dylan’s wedding wasn’t defined by one theme or style; instead, each day carried its own personality, moving from raw chic to refined elegance, through a storm-struck yet unforgettable wedding day, and ending in a sun-soaked pool party dominated by the colour orange.
Day One: The Welcome Barbecue
On Monday, July 21st, at around 4pm, 60 guests arrived in the Dordogne, en masse by bus from Bordeaux. Before they had even stepped onto the cobbled courtyard of the beautiful golf resort, the tone for the week had been set. From the balcony above, the bride and groom waved and guest cheered as a vast fabric sign — more than 30 feet by 10 feet — stretched across the façade with a bold “Welcome.”
Local fizz was poured into waiting glasses as guests collected carefully curated welcome bags, lovingly assembled by the bride, before heading off to their rooms to freshen up ahead of the first dinner.
That evening, the back terrace of the Vieux Château became the stage for a rustic-chic feast. Long wooden tables were dressed with faux sheepskin rugs on benches, velvet and moss threaded with organic florals designed by planner Sarah Thomas and brought to life by our incredible floral designer consultant, Faith of Le Cœur Sauvage. Handmade travertine menus rested beside green earthenware plates, catching the last of the light as guests — all in white and neutrals — settled in. The bride appeared in a striking blue dress, a quiet signal that this week would be unlike any other.
The weather brought a strong summer breeze, but spirits didn’t falter. Guests leaned into the al fresco setting, glasses in hand, laughter rising as the evening carried on under the stars.
Day Two: The Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner was a study in contrast. Where the barbecue leaned rustic, this night was all polish. Cocktails were served on the terrace of the Grand Château with the bar menu displayed on a huge satin bow, propped on the bar alongside more gorgeous florals by Faith.
Dinner moved to the courtyard between the estate’s two châteaux, where velvet-draped tables and bronze candlesticks set a sophisticated scene. On the tables, bespoke Italian-inspired menus sat on a duo of classic ivory porcelain plates with deep red satin napkins draping over the edge - this evening was equal parts whimsical and restraint, playing with textures and flow.
Guests enjoyed a delicious Italian feast crafted by the venue's talented in-house chef and the floor was open to heartfelt toasts throughout the evening.
Day Three: The Wedding
The wedding day itself had all the elements of a classic tableau — blue French toile, gypsophila and white roses, a lace sign Reilly had fallen for at Chava & Sean's wedding a month earlier. On the back lawn overlooking the lake, with cypress trees as sentinels, the groom’s father, Alan, officiated a symbolic ceremony, every word written with the couple themselves.
Afterwards, champagne poured into a tower as cold fountains crackled — and then came the hail. What could have been the undoing of the day instead became one of its defining twists with guests dancing in the rain, embracing every single moment. Dinner was pushed indoors to the estate’s Clubhouse, where toile linens, crystal glassware, and gold cutlery salvaged the sense of grandeur.
Midway through dinner, the father of the bride, Stephen, began his speech. When he mentioned the song You’ll Never Walk Alone, our DJ, Justin Burley caught the cue instantly. Within seconds, the track was playing and sixty voices rose together. It wasn’t staged. It wasn’t planned. And it became one of the many special moments everyone remembered.
Later that night, guests gathered again on the Grand Château’s terrace. Bridal party entrances, each underscored by bursts of cold fountains and their own carefully staged show song, led straight into a fireworks display over the Dordogne hills as the couple 'cut' their traditional French profiterole tower wedding cake, with our iconic Andalusian sword! The group then returned to party in the Clubhouse, returning to a glamorous Espresso Martini tower and cigar bar. As the evening progressed, the crowd lifted the couple on chairs in a nod to Jewish tradition — and even insisted on lifting the planner. Terrifying, yes, but truly unforgettable.
Day Four: Hangover Pool Day
By the final morning, the mood shifted once more. The palette turned orange. Aperol Spritz was the drink of the day, served from a repurposed Aperol wagon making its season debut. The pool filled with orange-and-white inflatables, while personalised burger boxes arrived just in time to meet the collective hangover.
It was less an afterthought than a finale. A week that began with rustic benches and handmade menus closed with cocktails, fries, and bare feet on hot stone.
Reilly and Dylan’s wedding at Domaine d’Essendieras wasn’t just a destination wedding; it was a masterclass in pacing. Each chapter told its own story, but together they added up to something greater: a celebration that kept sixty guests not just entertained, but immersed — in love, in friendship, in four very different moods of France.
If you'd like to discuss planning an event like Reilly and Dylan's, you can schedule an intro call with Sarah here.
With huge thanks as always to the incredible team of vendors:
Planning + Design | @sarahthomasevents
Floral Design Consultant | @le_coeur_sauvage
Photography + Videography | @danielleweddingphtoography
Content Creator | @everafter________
Venue | @essendieras
Hair | @eleonora_hairstyliste
Makeup | @shariddoesmakeup
DJ | @dj_crystalbeats
Catering | @essendieras
Stationery | @sarahthomasevents
Bride | @reillykatz
Wedding Dress | @madewithlovebridal
Comments