Wedding at La Belle Eco, France
The wedding at La Belle Eco that I am about to tell you about took place in Montréal. Not the beautiful and lively city in Canada, but much closer to home, in France, in a small village of the same name in the department of Aude and the region of Occitania. To help you locate it, it is just 20 km from Carcassonne, the famous medieval citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
But Canada is still relevant because the couple who chose me to photograph their wedding live there, even though they are European
by origin, with Veronica having Polish roots and Flavio Italian. In Canada, they both work in the field of biodiversity, which influenced and inspired their decision to celebrate their wedding at La Belle Eco. A few words to give you an idea of this place, unknown to most, near the little-known village of Montréal.
La Belle Eco is the place where all those who love unspoiled nature untamed by man would like to be, where you can still breathe an atmosphere that seems to belong to ancient times, immersed in an unusual peace. To define La Belle Eco as a hotel, if not an insult, would seem an incorrect approximation. Perhaps what may seem exaggerated in the hotel’s advertising is actually the most accurate description: “a sustainable sanctuary in the heart of nature.”
From the outside, the house is a linear, simple, and timeless building, but embellished with the charm of a climbing plant that envelops it with a natural decorative effect
in complete harmony with the surrounding environment. Inside, the furnishings and setting are so intimate and familiar that another of the hotel’s advertising slogans rings true: “a home away from home”.
The first impression is that of being in a comfortable and welcoming home, where authentic Art Deco elements and objects blend with other equally original pieces, in a balanced alternation of classic and modern. The real strength of Belle Eco is the four hectares of greenery, including woods and gardens, that surround it, a small natural greenhouse of authentic beauty.
A large natural swimming pool, a wood-fired hot tub, and an eco-friendly sauna complete the immersive experience for those who choose Belle Eco as an oasis of peace, almost a meditative and relaxing break. This is why Veronica and Flavio chose Belle Eco for their wedding. Their choice was so sustainable that they even wanted the wedding lunch menu to be strictly vegan.
The photos show how well they managed to blend into this enchanted place, almost absorbing it, letting themselves be inspired by it, as if it were easy to follow the ideas and suggestions offered. Nothing was out of place or incongruous, from the guests’ outfits, harmoniously coordinated in warm, earthy browns,
to the banquet setting.
There is perfect harmony both in the table setting and in the bouquets arranged in simple baskets, discreet and beautiful in the simplicity of their shapes and
colors. Nothing is excessive, blatantly pretentious, or ostentatious. The images (digital and film) of this wedding at Belle Eco speak of spontaneity, joy, freedom, and enjoyment. The key to everything is authenticity.
The photo of their little dog, leaning out of the window with his paws and neck stretched out as if not to miss a single bit of the beauty before his eyes, is proof of how much this wedding at Belle Eco was also a different, original experience for me, and perhaps for this reason even more appreciated.
