Celebrate a Riverside Romance on the Banks of the River Charente

Is there anything more romantic than exchanging vows against the backdrop of a lazy summer afternoon with a slow-moving river running by?

That's what The Priory offers guests on their wedding day. Nestled in the quaint village of Bourg-Charente, the property's grounds back directly onto the Charente river providing a peaceful and serene backdrop to your day of celebration.

The beautiful 16th-century priory is also a rustic and charming building set in a beautiful walled park that boasts five hundred metres of river frontage and six hectares of gardens.

It really is the perfect place to spend your wedding day. So let's go into a little more detail regarding this wedding venue and how you might choose to celebrate your special day here.

The Riverside Priory: Blending Heritage with Natural Beauty

From the moment you descend the tree-lined gravel driveway, you'll be under the spell of this beautiful, centuries-old priory. As you make your way into the central courtyard, the beauty of the building is revealed, and you'll start to grasp the sheer size of the grounds, which doesn't seem possible from the roadside.

As you make your way around the property, the tardis-like effect only becomes more pronounced, with an impressive amount of space for ceremonies and entertaining. From the formal gardens to the planted tunnels, and a vast outdoor swimming pool, there's plenty of space for all your guests to have a good time.

Inside The Priory, the rooms are well appointed, and there's enough accommodation to cater to 10 of your closest guests (the total event capacity is 250). The village also has plenty of accommodation options, most of which are within easy walking distance of the venue.

Lastly, for those planning a religious ceremony, there's a 12th-century situated just over the road from the priory, which shares just as much medieval beauty as The Priory.

So, now you're intrigued about The Priory and what it has to offer, what might your wedding celebration look like here?

Tying the Knot at The Priory: A Sample Celebration

As just mentioned, there is the option to get married at the church just over the road. However, let's base our sample wedding celebration on getting married within the grounds of this striking venue.

Our recommendation would be for an outdoor ceremony in the formal gardens. The planted tunnel would make an excellent location for your bridal walk, and you could use the existing metalwork to drape festoon or fairy lights to create a truly spectacular setting.

Imagine the photos of an early evening walk down this makeshift "aisle"  lit up by the festoons' soft light, with the planted tunnel's natural foliage adding a touch of magic. We think you'll agree those would be stunning shots.

Once you reach the tunnel's end, it opens onto perfectly manicured lawns – a perfect spot for exchanging vows. You could then arrange your wedding chairs on either side of the tunnel and effectively continue it along to the altar location, where you may choose to use a wedding arch as a focal point.

With the ceremony out of the way, there's an excellent spot for your cocktail next to the banks of the river. There's a clearing surrounded by centuries-old willow trees that would make an ideal space for your guests to sip champagne and mingle while you have your photos taken. You could use old whisky barrels as cocktail tables and string festoon lights between the trees to make the space feel even more inviting.

For dinner and dancing, perhaps the best location is the flat and expansive lawn at the bottom of the formal garden area. Here a wedding marquee with an open-sided design would be an excellent choice. Not only will you offer shelter from the searing summer sun, but your guests can while away the hours eating, drinking, chatting, and watching the river gently flow by.

Lastly, your evening will come to a close with the customary dancing. Once again, a hired marque should still leave plenty of room for a performance area, a hired dance floor, and any sound and lighting equipment your chosen performer(s) need.

Enjoy Your Dream Wedding Celebration at The Priory

From the quaint buildings to the incredible grounds, this riverside wedding venue has everything you need to make your dream wedding a reality.

At Fête24, we help you take your wedding ideas from concepts to reality. We offer the entire spectrum of wedding event production services under one roof, meaning you can source everything you need from one company. From your dinnerware to your lighting and stretch tent hire, we have you covered.

So if you would like to create the perfect wedding at this beautiful venue, contact us today to have a chat about how we can make it happen.