Over the coming months, you will discover the trials and tribulations of our very own senior wedding coordinator, Caroline Berthe’s, personal wedding plans. The ups and downs, the deliberations, the decisions, the family tensions, we’ll dish the dirt on everything…well almost everything…!
Here is the first in our series of insider interviews with Caroline.
While France does not recognize same-sex marriage, gay couples can have a romantic symbolic wedding ceremony in France. Symbolic wedding ceremonies are not legally binding in France but they have the advantage of being able to be celebrated in any location you choose. You can therefore be legally married in your own country and come to France for a symbolic wedding celebration, reception and party.
Here are just a few suggestions which we hope you and your life partner will enjoy and want to know more about…
Castle Weddings: The Loire Valley is undoubtedly the wedding castle capital of the world! Choose from impressive and grand castles such as Chambord and the Dream Renaissance Castle or opt for a more intimate and romantic castle like the Royal Family Chateau or the Loire Valley Castle. Your guests will never be at a loss for places to visit in the region. And access could not be easier with the high speed train running direct to the heart of the Loire Valley in less than one hour. Private guided-tours of the most famous castles with wine tastings and/or cooking classes for you and/or small groups of your guests can be organized.
Villa Weddings: For an outdoor setting, the South of France is where you want to be with Provence, the French Riviera/Cote D’Azur, Cannes or Monaco, Nice or St.Tropez, Antibes or Monte Carlo. Plenty to do, lots of sun and glitz, if you like grand villas and beautiful yachts this region is the friendliest region in France.
Seaside Weddings: Choose from the small fishing villages of Brittany and Normandy, the grandiose Mont-Saint-Michel, St. Mâlo, Honfleur, Deauville, Trouville and Bayou. Naturally, the French Riviera is sure to please any couple, the possibilities are endless…
Mountain Winter Weddings: If and your soul mate love to ski or long for a wedding ceremony at a mountain resort then it is a must to explore the French Alps ! They are home to snowy mountain peaks, alpine lakes and lush green valleys and are most known for their outdoor activities of skiing, paragliding, mountain climbing and rafting. You will find great skiing in the winter, chalets dotting the skyline of mountain villages and scenery that will take your breath away! Although there are a great many wonderful 3 star hotels in the Alps, complete with spas and gourmet restaurants, you must stay in one of the beautiful and charming chalets. The Savoyard chalets come straight out of a pretty picture post-card, with balconies adorned with geraniums and begonias, honey colored walls, and russet-brown or moss-covered roofs; they perch dramatically on the green slopes of the mountains and foothills of the Alpine region. In brief, just imagine you and your future life partner arriving at the ceremony in a one horse open sleigh, both your laps covered by a white mink blanket to keep you warm…
Wine Region Wedding: The wine regions of France are simply breath-taking! If you are a wine aficionado then a wine region wedding is for you. Whether you prefer the full-bodied Bordeaux red wines, the sweet and delicate white wines of the Alsace region or the exciting wines that Burgundy has to offer including Beaujolais and Chablis, you will be spoiled and never at a loss to host your wedding in the beautiful wine region of France. There are no less than ten major wine regions throughout France consisting of: Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Côtes du Rhône, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire Valley, Provence, Corsica and the South-West.
Cruise and Nautical Wedding: Whether you are an avid sailor or just love the water, beautiful yachts and grand old ships, then a nautical wedding is just the ticket. Picture a grand yacht on the River Seine which will take you and your guests on an unforgettable journey of discovery through the City of Lights! You can choose from an intimate yacht complete with a fireplace for up to 6 people, a luxury yacht with its own outdoor deck or a larger private yacht where up to 65 guests can dine and party until the early hours.
This is only a glimpse of the type of wedding venues that await your special Gay and Away wedding ceremony and reception in France. Happy planning!
In the second installment of Stephanie Meyer’s phenomenally successful TWILIGHT series, the romance between mortal and vampire soars to a new level as they delve deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural.
For those fans who have already seen the second film, New Moon, it will not have escaped your attention that several scenes were shot in Italy. While the book refers to the town of Volterra, the movie scenes were actually filmed in a city called Montepulciano.
Located in the heart of Tuscany, Montepulciano is a beautiful, quaint medieval town perched on a hillside about 1 hours drive south of Sienna. Surrounded by its world famous vineyards, this picture postcard town is an ideal wedding location. Here are a few photos of the city and the main square where the movie scenes were filmed.
We are able to organize civil wedding ceremonies in the Town Hall of Montepulciano, pictured below, however, there are no reception venues, except for a few restaurants, located within walking distance of the Town Hall.
The best solution would be to hire transport and drive about 15 minutes from Montepulciano where you will find some authentic Tuscan villas where wedding receptions can be held. Further afield, between 45 minutes and 1 hours drive, you will find some beautiful castles. Here is a small selection of photos to help you envisage where your dream wedding could take place!
So, if you are a fan of the TWILIGHT series and would like to follow in their footsteps, just give us a call and we’ll bring the adventure to life for you!