Finding a Wedding Venue in France
France is never found wanting when it comes to romance, and these are some of the most fabulously romantic wedding venues in the world. In terms of wedding venues, it has an embarrassment of riches, with wonderful hotels and chateaux throughout the length and breadth of the country.
It is really difficult to select just a few, but these are our choices. Most are small, intimate hotels, where a larger wedding party could take over the whole premises or a smaller one feel pampered and private. All have extensive experience in catering to wedding parties from overseas.
Hotel Wedding Venues
Château de Challain, Loire Valley
Close to Nantes in the Loire Valley, this magnificent French Château has a private chapel in the grounds and a larger and very lovely one in the adjacent village.
The Chateau is pure romance, with four beautifully decorated suites, sumptuously decorated salons, a high standard of cuisine and wonderful gardens. The romance suite, with its glowing candles, rich fabrics and free standing bath filled with flower petals is the perfect wedding night retreat.
There is a full in-house service to help you organise your wedding and a wide range of options to choose from.
Le Mas Candille, Cote d'Azur
Just minutes from Cannes, this small luxury spa hotel is surrounded by terraced Provencal parkland, cypress trees and old olive groves
Each of the twenty bedrooms is individually decorated with the sort of style and élan that only the French have. There is a Shiseido Spa, two pools and of course you are just minutes from the French Riviera.
The nearby village of Mougins is a perfectly preserved Medieval town, with the Chapelle St Barthélémy providing a fairy tale location for a wedding.
The Château du St Martin, Vence
With the chapel of St Martin in its grounds, this small hotel with its renowned restaurant is expert at helping to organise intimate and romantic weddings.
There are 32 suites, each individually decorated with luxury fabrics and superb antiques and paintings and all have terraces or balconies with magnificent views over the French countryside to the Riviera, just 12km away.
Outside more are than 30 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and a wonderful heated overflow pool.
Immaculate attention to detail is a hallmark of this hotel and they will be happy to help you to plan the wedding of your dreams.
Hotel Le Bristol, Paris
Could there be a more romantic place for a wedding than Paris? The Hotel Le Bristol opened in 1925 at the most prestigious address in Paris, le Rue de Faubourg St Honeré, and is probably the most beautiful hotel in Paris, if not in the whole country.
This is Parisian elegance and refinement at its best and offers guests the ultimate in luxury and service, from its fabulous rooms and suites, its rooftop pool with adjacent solarium overlooking Paris and its Smart cars which are available to guest for shopping trip around the city.
There are a selection of reception rooms to chose from, all elegant and beautiful, and the experienced events staff will be able to assist you in planning the ultimate sophisticated wedding.
Alternatives to Hotels
Domain de la Coste, Dordogne
If a French rural wedding is what you want, then this may be just the place for you. Your own private small chateau, with adjoining farmhouse, which can accommodate a party of 25 and up to 100 guests in a lawn marquee for the wedding.
The atmosphere here is laid back, time seems to stand still, but there is luxury aplenty and very good quality catering and entertainment is available. The English owners are extremely helpful with wedding arrangements.
The SS Delphine, Mediteranean
Only for those with a generous budget but what a wonderful venue - if you really want to wow your guests then this will do it! A luxurious and fully staffed steam ship complete with swimming pool, a massage bath and Turkish bath, sauna, fitness room and even a hairdresser.
The ship can accommodate 28 people in luxury en suite cabins and hold a day reception for up to 200 guests.
The same company has a selection of smaller though no less luxurious yachts availble.
A Village Wedding in Provence
If you would like your wedding day to be a typically French one, as distinct from just in France, then there is nothing to beat becoming part of a small village for the day.
An American couple now living in the village of Saignon in the Luberon will organise it all for you, from a ceremony in their wonderful medieval cellar to the food, the music and the indefinable 'specialness' of the experience.
For a longer look at the place and at what you can expect, see this article by a staff member of the Washington Post who was married there.