(Fig. 1) Floor plan of the three wedding venues. (Fig. 2) Wedding invitation card.

(Fig. 1) Château de Loches, Charles VII. (Fig. 2) Lansyer Museum.

(Fig. 1) Road sign for Bridore village. (Fig. 2 Left) Panoramic view of the only church in Bridore. (Fig. 2 Right) Wall decoration pattern of the small chapel. (Fig. 3) Magnificent panoramic view of Bridore Castle from across the lake.

(Fig. 1) Grand panoramic view of the castle. (Fig. 2) Majestic castle tower.

(Fig. 1) Unique architecture of the banquet hall. (Fig. 2) Garden seating on the castle lawn.

(Fig.) Distant view of bright natural scenery from the castle.

(Fig.) Picturesque scenery surrounding the castle.

(Fig.) Picturesque scenery surrounding the castle. This weekend, I attended another wedding. In this late summer with clear skies and cool air, it was rare to have such a beautiful special day. It seemed even Heaven wanted to participate in my uncle H and C’s unprecedented century wedding. The bright sun invited blue skies and white clouds to excitedly witness this exquisite ceremony. Under Heaven’s favorable, poetic scene, this rare sunny day made the wedding more joyous and unforgettable. Why call this wedding a “century” one? Because the scale was particularly grand, and it was a rare family reunion for the French branch. The wedding was held in the triangular area of Touraine, specifically at the Sepmes town hall for the civil ceremony, as my great-uncle served as mayor there and personally officiated for his nephew. This strengthened family ties and created an extraordinary sense of kinship. Next, we traveled about forty kilometers to the village of Tauxigny for the religious ceremony. The bride’s family has lived in this town for generations; the church was funded by their family. According to the mayor, the village fountain was also donated by them. Although no direct descendants currently reside there, the place carries a strong sense of family affection and homeland. Choosing such a location held special meaning and local sentiment. Then, about forty kilometers away in Bridore, the wedding dinner would be held. Considering the distances between these three regions, the couple considered hiring a helicopter for a dramatic entrance, imagining how spectacular and unique this wedding would be. Additionally, the dinner theme was set as a “Medieval Banquet.” No one knew exactly what that entailed, but guests were asked to dress up as medieval figures and enjoy medieval-style food and drinks, accompanied by medieval music and dance. This made the event truly exceptional, and everyone awaited this unexpected dinner party. Of course, since both the bride and groom are musicians, they came up with this whimsical idea. Their nephews all agreed this was a century wedding, eagerly waiting to see the show unfold.

The long-awaited day finally arrived. September 15th was Uncle H’s second wedding ceremony. He is a violinist who performs with the Paris Symphony Orchestra and the Acana Chamber Orchestra, and teaches violin at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (located in the 5th arrondissement). My new sister-in-law, C, is a violist who performs with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and is a member of the Acana Chamber Orchestra. Uncle H divorced several years ago before having children. Two years ago, when the violist of the Acana Chamber Orchestra left, C joined due to serendipity. Since they belonged to different orchestras, their romantic relationship developed through musical connections within the Acana Chamber Orchestra.

My wife and her brother share a particularly close bond (they are only a year apart). Living in Paris, they often meet to chat and frequently enjoy free concert tickets provided by him, sharing rehearsals or performances. When the Acana Chamber Orchestra holds concerts, we not only share the music but also help with logistics. The chamber orchestra members feel like our own musical family. Fortunately, my musical passion can be said to be a gift bestowed by this community, opening another sensory world and infinite emotions for me.

On the eve of the wedding, under a clear sky, we headed south early in the morning to Touraine, central France, to help prepare for the wedding. Uncle H and his fiancée drove to Saint-Pierre-de-Corps to pick us up, then we traveled together to the quiet rural chapel in Tauxigny to arrange for Saturday’s ceremony. We adjusted tables and chairs, planned the positions for the chamber orchestra and choir singing hymns, and decorated the church. In the afternoon, we went to Loches to meet the relatives for lunch. Arriving at this famous royal city in the Loire Valley castle region, we had a simple meal at a café in the bustling tourist center, surrounded by neat, perfect urban walls encircling Charles VII’s defensive fortifications. Afterward, we headed to the scenic countryside village of Bridore. Entering via provincial roads onto winding country lanes, we reached the medieval Bridore Castle, where the grand wedding dinner would be held. I was immediately captivated by this unique castle. Besides its distinctive architecture and beautiful environment, what enchanted me most was the picturesque scenery of Touraine here. Every natural scene was poetic and painterly. The rhythmic, undulating landscape of Touraine could rival the bright scenery of Florence, Italy, which I adore.

We stayed at the castle hotel, next to the banquet hall (a large building with red tile roofs). A huge square lay in front of the magnificent defensive castle towers. Colorful hydrangeas bloomed under the eaves, along with rows of white garden tables and chairs. Our group (along with the relatives) began dividing tasks to decorate the venue according to the couple’s design. We hung lanterns, arranged seating, and displayed family tree genealogies and photos. Soon, technicians arrived to install sound equipment, and florists brought colorful flowers to decorate further.

I took some leisure time, standing on the elevated green lawn of the castle, gazing at the picturesque scenery. It was too mesmerizing; I couldn’t wait and ran outside the castle walls, crossing through orchards laden with fruit. Gazing at the bright scenery, enjoying the magnificent natural beauty, and walking down country paths to the shimmering lake, I freely immersed myself in nature’s embrace. Joyfully forgetting myself, embracing the earth, entering the blue sky and white clouds, cawing with black crows, flying with little birds, swimming with fish, and grazing with cows—this state of self-forgetting while merging with nature is unimaginable. At dusk, I invited my wife to watch the colorful clouds by the fields, capturing the poetic moment until the sun set. The feeling of being with nature was so profound, engraved in memory forever. Staying at the castle always brings excitement; everything felt fresh and joyful. In the quiet deep night, the castle courtyard was pitch-black like a secret room. Looking up, the starry sky was so poetic. Immersed in starlight and moonlight, forgetting everything, enjoying nature’s best moments—these are life’s most delightful and happy times. Thus, hugging the sky full of stars, I fell asleep.