Category Archives: Weddings

A STRESS-FREE DESTINATION WEDDING IN FRANCE

CURATED WEDDINGS, WeddingsApril 2024

Planning a wedding is a huge task and can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re getting married abroad. So how can you take the stress out of planning a wedding ceremony abroad? This was precisely the question Château Bouffémont asked themselves when looking for a solution to help couples planning a destination wedding in France.

Our answer was to produce an exclusive collection of curated all-inclusive wedding packages. We did this by teaming up with the experienced wedding event planner Marie Di Lauro to develop a selection of  all-inclusive wedding deals that offer hassle-free all-in weddings at our luxury wedding venue here in France, located just 30 kilometers from Paris.

Our curated wedding packages, created by our luxury wedding planner, take all the heavy lifting out of wedding planning, but are flexible enough to create a unique and truly memorable wedding experience.

How does the all-inclusive wedding package work ?

The process for putting together your destination wedding package is extremely simple and is composed of five steps :

1. Choose a wedding date depending on when you want to get married and your budget for the exclusive private hire of the château.

2. Choose from one of our three curated wedding packages – Elegance, Prestige or Excellence – depending on the services you require and your wedding budget. At this stage you can also choose your preferred color palette.

3. Personalize your French château wedding package (wedding ceremony, additional catering options, music and entertainment).

4. Add in additional services from our hand-picked partner wedding vendors (photographer, videographer, hair and make-up, babysitting, cake, stationary etc.).

5. Finally, if you want to continue the festivities the day after your wedding why not add in a next-day brunch and accommodation to complete the package?

What does a curated wedding package include ?

The exclusive hire of the whole château and estate includes access to five function rooms, gardens and the natural park, the bridal suite for preparations and photos, security, post-wedding housekeeping and parking for 80 vehicles. Our Elegance, Prestige and Excellence wedding packages come with different options but all include all the wedding organization and the services of a wedding event planner, the wedding dinner service from pre-dinner drinks and hors-d’oeuvres to the wedding cake, the provision of staff, furniture, floral decoration and tableware, and on-the-day wedding management.

Want to know more about our wedding packages ?

If you’re enchanted by the idea of an elegant, refined all-inclusive wedding in a stunning French château with absolutely none of the wedding planning stress and hassle then a curated wedding at Château Bouffémont is the perfect solution for you. For full details you can request a brochure from our website and of course the entire Château Bouffémont team is on standby to answer any questions or queries.

Keep in touch at @chateaubouffemont

CHÂTEAU BOUFFÉMONT LIVE! All You Need To Know About Wedding Photography with Kristine Grinvalde

CB LIVE!, TIPS, WeddingsJuly 2022

Our series “Château Bouffémont Live” features interviews with guests from the world of events and weddings to provide you with expert advice and insider insight. In this episode, Château Bouffémont’s General Manager, Sarp Gogebakan, sat down with renowned destination wedding photographer Kristine Grinvalde who gave us her expert advice on how to really enjoy your wedding planning and wedding day experience and ensure you come away with wedding photos to last a lifetime.

SG: Hi Kristine, thanks for joining us today, we love your elegant, timeless photographs and are thrilled you could join us today, so could you start by telling us about yourself?

KG: I am a destination wedding, portrait and editorial photographer from Riga, Latvia although I work extensively in Paris and in Italy. I’m very much inspired by travel, fashion, interior design, architecture, nature and destination wedding photography brings all these elements together in most magical way. I actually have a background in finance, so that helps with the organisational and logistics side of the work – it’s a good balance with the creative side.

SG: What are the key things a couple need to think about when choosing their wedding photographer?

KG: Before you even start contacting wedding vendors it’s important to define an overall wedding style and the story you want to tell as a couple. You can do this by writing down key words about what inspires you in your life to make sure your wedding planning is true to who you really are. The photographer and the wedding venue will then fit into this style.

Word of mouth is the most common way to find a good photographer, but it’s not one-size-fits-all so make sure you look through one or two full wedding galleries before making this important decision not just the main show pieces presented on the website. It’s really vital that you have an introductory call or meeting with the photographer, you’ll be working very closely together so make sure you vibe together!

SG : What advice can you give to couples ahead of the wedding in terms of preparing for their photos, is there anything they can do to make sure they get the best photos on the day?

KG: Firstly, you need to know what you want. It’s really important that you have in mind your wedding day priorities and tell your photographer what these are to ensure you get meaningful photos, special lifetime memories. An experienced photographer will forward plan but they can’t read your mind so communication is key. They will also need to know about any special moments, people, surprises or issues within the family to avoid any faux-pas on the day.  Plan the timeline in collaboration with the photographer and allow plenty of time so not to feel rushed during the day. It also means you can relax then if something goes wrong or the schedule gets delayed. Most of all you need to strike a balance between getting beautiful couple portraits and enjoying your time with your guests. If both are priorities, consider doing a couples session or engagement lifestyle session a day or two before the wedding.

SG: What about for people who don’t like having their photo taken, how can they take the stress out of the experience?

KG: The key is to trust your photographer to guide you and of course voice any concerns you may have beforehand. Having lifestyle or engagement portraits taken a day or two before the wedding is a great option to help the couple become more comfortable in front of the camera and build their confidence. I also strongly recommend you have your photographer at the welcome event the day before the wedding, this will really help get the best photos on the wedding day itself as both the couple and the guests will feel more relaxed around the photographer, more themselves.

SG: What about the organisation on the wedding day – do you pre-prepare the list of photos you’ll take and how do you decide who will be in which photos?

KG: I usually plan the prime photo locations ahead of time, based on the wedding timeline which we will have worked on together. I personally prefer not to work with a shot list as I think it is restrictive and stops me capturing the moment in the most natural way, so I prefer to discuss with my couples what are the most important moments for them and they trust me to capture their day in a unique way. If you want formal family photos then a shot list will help and it is also useful to designate a contact person amongst your guests who can quickly locate the people needed for each photo.

SG: Well, that’s a lot of great advice for our couples! Finally, before we wrap up, you’ve worked on weddings at Château Bouffémont in the past, what do you like in particular about the venue?

KG: Château Bouffémont is not only a beautifully preserved historical venue with very welcoming staff, but also has great diversity – from elegantly appointed suites with stunning views, to the light, airy and elegant Grand Salon, to the smaller salons and state rooms, each with different lighting and moods. The terrace overlooking the pristine green landscape and grand staircase, and twin terraces to the side all offer great opportunities when planning your wedding day – with multiple ceremony and reception locations which can cater to every taste.

Keep in touch at @chateaubouffemont

Wedding poetry in motion at Château Bouffémont

EDITORIAL, Just For Two, WeddingsJune 2022

Where better to tell a class love story culminating in a romantic French chateau wedding with a modern touch than the idyllic setting of  Château Bouffémont?  What could be better than a historic wedding venue set in pristine gardens covering three hectares of land, niched in the surrounding countryside, but just 30 minutes away from the centre of Paris and its international airports and rail links?

Wedding planner Aurélia Boulenger certainly felt it was the number one choice when choosing a venue to stage this wedding inspiration photoshoot captured by fine art photographer Claire Eyos. “This is a chic and natural wedding inspiration. We were inspired by nature itself, more specifically by all the greenery we have in the beautiful castles in France.”

Nature inspired every single detail of this elegant and romantic wedding design concept, from the dainty flower arrangements by Floret Florals, to the floral pattern on the wedding ceremony dress by international designer Georges Hobeika, the bride’s earrings by Nicola Bathie, the stunning handmade white-on-white wedding cake by Synie’s Paris  and even the wedding stationery from Silent Word Studio.

The overall feel is resolutely modern, elegant and chic without falling into the trap of overdoing the florals and creating something twee, the team shows perfectly how nature’s bounty can be used to inspire modern brides and grooms planning their French château wedding.

So, if you are looking for the perfect wedding venue in France for your destination wedding or a location for an inspirational photo shoot, don’t hesitate to contact our team today to discuss your requirements and how we can help you make your dreams come true.

Keep in touch at @chateaubouffemont

Photographer: Claire Eyos 
Wedding planner, designer and stylist: Aurélia Boulenger 
Makeup & Hair: Reina Kim 
Florist: Floret Florals 
Cake: Synie’s 
Stationery: Silent Word Studio 
Bouquet Ribbon: Lancaster & Cornish 
Bridal Prêt-à-Porter Dress: Georges Hobeika 
Ceremony Earrings: Nicola Bathie 
Bride Shoes: Bella Belle 
Rings: Marthan Lorand 
Suits: Rives Paris 
Bridal Shop: Metal Flaque 
Reception Dress: Inbal Dror 
Reception Earrings: Stephanie Browne 
Venue: Château Bouffémont 
Rentals: Vaisselle Vintage 
Rentals: Maison Options 
Female Model: Charlotte Depaepe 
Male Model: Camille-François Nicol 

Château Bouffémont Live! Stress-free Wedding Planning with Marie Chicchirichi

Let's Talk Weddings, TIPS, WeddingsMay 2022

Our series “Château Bouffémont Live” features interviews with guests from the world of events and weddings to provide you with expert advice and insider insight. As the 2022 wedding season gets into full swing, Château Bouffémont’s General Manager, Sarp Gogebakan, spoke to lawyer-turned-wedding planner Marie Chicchirichi about how to take the stress out of wedding planning, and how to decide if you really need a wedding planner.

SG: Hi Marie, we’re so pleased to have you with us today, can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself and what attracted you to wedding planning as a career?

MC: So, I actually got into wedding planning when I was organizing my own wedding. I couldn’t find the right wedding vendors and services to create the experience I wanted and realized I probably wasn’t the only person in this situation so I decided to train as a wedding planner. I specialize in destination weddings inspired by nature and by the wedding venue, from which I draw a lot of inspiration for the wedding style, colours and design.

SG: Couples often ask us if they really need a wedding planner: what are the advantages of using a wedding planner?

MC: The main advantage is to be supported and advised throughout the process. Your wedding planner will tell you what order you need to do things in, which vendors to choose to achieve the desired result, will guide you step-by-step through the process, and manage things on the day. A wedding planner will think about all the details a couple might forget and will take the stress out of the planning. They can also suggest innovative ideas to make the day really special. Using a wedding planner also means you will keep to your budget.

SG: Let’s talk about the different planning stages, what information do you ask couples for when you first meet with them?

MC: When I meet a couple for the first time I need to find out if their vision of their wedding is something I can help bring to life or not, so I try to fully understand their needs to produce a proposal aligned with their vision. I’ll need to know exactly where they want to get married, how many guests they want to invite, whether they want a religious or non-religious wedding ceremony etc.

SG: What about on the wedding day itself, what is your role on the day of the wedding?

MC: My main role is to be available to the bride and groom, as a kind of personal assistant, my team and I are also there to welcome the vendors and the guests, to make sure everything runs as planned and to time – which is very important. We handle any unforeseen events so the bride and groom don’t have to worry about anything. We also act as the master of ceremonies telling people where they need to be and what they need to do at each stage of the day.

SG: One thing a lot of our couples ask us about is the timings for each part of the wedding, can you tell us a bit about how you manage this both before and on the day?

MC: So, first of all I ask the couple what they want, then I cross reference this with the vendors to establish what is feasible and how the logistics will work. Of course, the starting point is what the couple want, but it needs to be able to work in practice. Typically, a wedding will start the day before with a welcome dinner, on the day it will kick off with welcome drinks, followed by the ceremony, then a cocktail hour before the evening reception, and the next day there is usually a farewell brunch to wrap up the festivities. For the wedding day timings, I start with the start time for the evening reception and work backwards to reverse schedule the day.

SG: The 2022 wedding season is ramping up, how are your couples feeling about 2022? Are you seeing any specific trends emerging for weddings this year?

MC: This year, most of the couples I’m working with are simply very happy to be able to get married! Their focus is really on enjoying their special day and making the most of their loved ones. They are keen to grasp every opportunity to spend time together. So, this means some of our couples have actually increased their guest list and in some cases upped their budgets to be able to do more on the day.

SG: Finally, what are your top tips for couples preparing for their wedding right now?

MC: My advice to couples is to be yourselves both in the preparation and on the day to make sure your wedding day is meaningful and special to you. I also urge them to let go on the day because it will be over in a flash, so trust the professional vendors you have chosen to get the job done and don’t worry about the details. Finally, I would say that couples should focus on the essentials, especially if they are planning a last-minute wedding, and of course I recommend that they get professional support from a wedding planner, it will save a lot of time and effort!

Keep in touch at @chateaubouffemont

Château Bouffémont Goes Green

Just For Two, WeddingsApril 2022

Green is an unusual choice for a wedding color palette but this wedding inspiration shoot at Château Bouffémont designed by Details Depres and Laura Andrea Wedding and shot by Aude A Deux Ailes shows how it can be used to create a truly amazing look in this modern take on a traditional estate wedding.

The shoot tells the story of the wedding of a Sino-French couple Jialin and Jean-Charles at a classic French chateau. Jean-Charles offers his bride a replica of the jade pendant that her grandmother always wore. This token of his affection is the centerpiece of the shoot and the color scheme that runs through the wedding design.

From this starting point, shades of green from pale mint, through to dark emerald and striking jade are used across all aspects of the wedding design.

The wedding flower design by Histoires Sauvages offsets the various shades of green with white, salmon and soft orange flowers mirroring the bride’s peach skin tones and the color of her engagement ring. This creates perfectly-balanced flower compositions including the wedding bouquet and the decoration for the cake table and reception tablescape which also features rich green table runners and candles for a truly refined and elegant look.

The wedding stationary from Promesse Graphique also makes use of this vibrant green and pays tribute to this outstanding luxury wedding venue, featuring a bespoke imprint of Château Bouffémont.

Even the Synies’ Paris wedding cake celebrates this unconventional color, with its jade icing enhanced by an airy wrap-around finish of white and gold petals. 

The color scheme is perfectly suited to a fine art wedding set against the backdrop of the muted tones of Château Bouffémont’s exceptional architecture and the natural greenery of the surrounding gardens and countryside. It gives this French chateau wedding a fresh, contemporary look thanks to its unique, unusual choice of colors.

Planning your own French chateau wedding? Make sure to request our latest brochure for full details of our wedding services and rates with bespoke exclusive hire options starting from 8,300 Euros.

Keep in touch at @châteaubouffemont

An intimate Parisian elopement at Château Bouffémont

EDITORIAL, Just For Two, WeddingsFebruary 2022

Château Bouffémont was thrilled to accommodate this styled luxury elopement hosted by Heather Benge Events and Julie Paisley Photography as part of their Voyager Et Inspirer Workshop.

A genuine fairy-tale wedding brought to life by a team of expert wedding vendors featuring everything you could want from a French chateau wedding and more: a stunning bride and groom, incredible flower design, customized wedding stationary, luxury across the board and all against the magical backdrop of this picture-perfect chateau located right outside Paris.

The venue and its proximity to Paris are a key inspiration for the wedding design. The wedding stationary features a print of the chateau alongside the most iconic Parisian monuments. For a French-inspired wedding a French blue color scheme is a must, here it is used to great effect on the table cloths, accessories and stationery in particular.

The bride’s shoes, worthy of Marie-Antoinette herself, also reprise the French blue color and work perfectly with the bridal gown by Galia Lahav.

The natural flower compositions designed by Lettre à Elise Events are clearly inspired by the bucolic setting of this stunning French château wedding venue. Even the floral finish to the bridal gown evokes this natural beauty.

The surrounding architecture and stunning grounds provide the perfect backdrop for taking romantic, elegant, timeless photos of this idyllic intimate wedding.

Preparing your own elopement or destination wedding? Contact our team today to discuss how we can help you with your plans or request our latest brochure for full details of our wedding services and rates.

Photography by @kellilynnphotography

Keep in touch at @chateaubouffemont

Getting married in a French Château

TIPS, WeddingsApril 2021

There’s a reason France is considered to be the most romantic country in the world (or are we biased?). Who could avoid falling in love in the land of haute cuisine, fine wines, and high fashion, with its fairytale châteaux, emblematic architecture and famous French flair?

So, it’s no surprise that France features in all the top rankings for destination weddings with Paris, the city of love, right at the top of the leader board.

Château Bouffémont is perfectly located just 30 minutes from Paris and here’s why so many couples have chosen us for their exclusive private-hire venue for their French chateau wedding:

  1. A picture-perfect setting

Inside and out, Château Bouffémont is the epitome of elegance, with its five hectares of grounds on three levels, the terrace with its magnificent views, five reception rooms and nine suites and rooms to accommodate your wedding guests. Each and every one is decorated with the exceptional style and refinement unique to a historic French château, in this case the former home of the Marquise of Preignes and Baron Empain.

  1. An easy-access location

With easy access from the center of Paris and the Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Château Bouffémont not only allows for easy and short transfers for your wedding guests, but will also allow you to take in an array of Paris attractions including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the river Seine after your wedding as part of your honeymoon or an extended stay with your family and friends.

  1. Bespoke service

As well as being able to help at all stages of your wedding planning to help you find the right vendors (photographer, videographer, caterer, DJ, florist, wedding planner etc.), during your stay at Château Bouffémont, our dedicated team will be on hand to meet your every need. The team offers butler service, a full housekeeping team, security staff to ensure your privacy and a concierge service to facilitate your day-to-day living, as well as a private chef so you and your guests can enjoy that famous French gastronomy throughout your stay.

  1. A range of activities

Our private grounds provide the ideal space for both leisure and sport and are conveniently located close to top leisure facilities, so after your big day why not spend some time during your stay at Château Bouffémont getting active with your guests on the tennis courts, horse riding or playing a round of golf? What’s more, we can also arrange activities such as cooking classes, champagne and wine tasting on-site or at an outside location in Paris to give your wedding guests that truly French experience.

  1. An exclusive hire package

Chateau Bouffémont is available for your exclusive hire which means the entire 2000m2 of the Chateau is entirely privatized for you and your guests. Not only does the private hire option mean you have the whole place to yourselves but you will also benefit from the full and exclusive attention of our service team so you can enjoy your French chateau experience with total peace of mind.  

Want to find out more about hiring Chateau Bouffémont for your destination wedding in France or family event? Contact us here or call us on +33 (0) 1 39 91 20 94.

And if you think we might be exaggerating just how wonderful Château Bouffémont is, don’t just take our word for it, read what our guests have to say about us right here!

Editorial for @wedluxe 
Photography: @photographerinparis 
Planning: @sweetcandyshower 
Styling: @estellemonnotevents 
Floral Design: @floret.france 
Stationery: @graphikkart 
Rentals: @maison_options 
Celebrant: @celebrantinparis 
Video: @paris_krup 
Shoes: @jimmychoo 
Hair and Make-up: @jhocruzat 
Cake: @sweet_creations_cakes 
Suit: @chrisvonmartial 
Jewellery: @myrtillebeck

Planning a Chateau Wedding in France | Château Bouffémont

TIPS, WeddingsMarch 2021

Who hasn’t dreamed of a fairytale wedding, in a movie-set castle, where a beautiful princess marries her handsome prince and they all live happily ever after? Pure fantasy? Not at all, and although the princess is now more likely to be wearing Louboutins than glass slippers, there’s no reason you can’t make your dream come true with a destination wedding at a romantic French château… and here’s how to do it!

Focus your budget on what is most important to you

A French chateau like Château Bouffémont provides a picture-perfect wedding venue with its stunning interiors, picturesque terraces and idyllic gardens offering a whole host of options for your ceremony and reception. You might think this is out of your price range, but like any wedding can control the costs by making considered choices: number of guests, the time of year and day of the week you have your wedding, the size and location of the château, the vendors you use etc. 

Start by thinking about what is most important to you – a large lavish wedding or a small intimate gathering of close friends and family? Partying until the small hours or dining in style before quietly retiring to your room?  These are all questions that a top wedding venue like Château Bouffémont will be happy to work through with you – just pick up the phone and ask.

Choose a venue with minimum travel times

Selecting a venue within easy reach of a major airport that offers options for spending time with family and friends before or after the wedding means you won’t waste precious time travelling between locations. Château Bouffémont is an ideal wedding venue from this perspective. Just a stone’s throw from the capital, access couldn’t be easier for your guests’ arrival and departure and for excursions or photoshoots in Paris before or after your wedding. A chateau wedding also means you don’t have to worry about booking separate accommodation for your guests.

Draw creative inspiration from your venue

The beauty of a prestige wedding venue such as Château Bouffémont is a great source of creative inspiration when planning your wedding: the sumptuous leafy grounds, terraces with views of the rolling countryside, prestigious suites, rooms and salons, and beautiful exterior architecture with its showpiece sweeping staircase have already inspired hundreds of couples who have tied the knot here.

Architectural features can inspire the flower arrangements, vintage patterns and textiles of the interior design can inspire your colour palette. Likewise, for an outdoor wedding the chateau’s exterior architecture and gardens can influence your decorative choices. 

Rely on local support for hassle-free remote planning

Planning a wedding in another country can seem a daunting prospect but when you hire a chateau for a destination wedding you will not only have a full complement of in-house staff on hand to help you plan your stay but also the very best outside vendors to provide everything you need: from wedding catering to music, wedding photography to decoration, taxi services and babysitters. Of course, we can also arrange for you to benefit from the services of a dedicated wedding planner. This lets you benefit from their knowledge of the area and experience in organising events at the venue, taking a weight off your shoulders. You can sit back, relax and enjoy your dream day, knowing everything is taken care of.

Why not plan a vacation around your wedding? 

Depending on how long you stay in France, Château Bouffémont offers a whole range of activities for before or after your event. Our location close to Paris means you can visit the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe or book once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as exclusive wine-tastings, hot-air balloon rides or a private boat cruise along the Seine. 

Your Dream Wedding at Château Bouffémont

The château is available for exclusive private rental for weddings or events and our staff are on hand to provide their expert advice and support right from the start of the planning stages. So why not get in touch today to find out how we can make your dream wedding a reality? Fill out our contact form here or call us on +33 (0) 1 39 91 20 94 

Planner @lajolietta
Music @violinist_paris
Officiant @yes.in.paris
MUA @thaisalvesbraz
Hair @sabrinabroussillon
Flowers @be.one.paris.florist
Dress @universo.karenrodrigues
Suit @franzenalfaiataria
Accessoires @eliana.rodriguesdesigner

5 Ways to Infuse Your Wedding Dress With the Finest French Style and Become an Effortless French-Girl Bride on Your Wedding Day

WeddingsJune 2020

Such is the strength of the French signature wedding dress style – blending classicism, ease and a nonchalant sensibility in a manner you might have long regarded as inimitable – that it’s unsurprising so many brides nonetheless seek to emulate or at least borrow elements of this aesthetic.

                                                                                                                                                 

Indeed, when you are looking to host the most memorable chateau wedding in France at a sumptuous Parisian venue like Château Bouffémont, it may seem borderline uncouth not to appropriate at least some aspects of the legendary French bridal style.

 

So, here are just a few of the ways you can make it possible for your own gown – as advised by leading wedding dress designers. 

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Let’s Talk Weddings: Kiss Me in Paris & Château Bouffémont

Interview, Just For Two, Let's Talk Weddings, Partners, Video, WeddingsJune 2020

 

Each week during lockdown our General Manager, Sarp Gogebakan, has been live on Instagram for Let’s Talk Weddings – a series of interviews with Château de Bouffémont vendors offering inspiration and useful tips on weddings and events. Despite the easing of restrictions here in France we’re having such a good time doing these interviews that we will continue our series until at least the end of May.  

 

Last week we hooked up with Chantelle Streete, Executive Planner at Kiss Me in Paris to talk about a concept that is really taking off right now: elopements and intimate weddings.  Kiss Me in Paris has been specializing in these types of wedding since the firm opened its venture here in the capital of France in 2013.

 

 

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