In any case, this was the challenge presented to Elena, CVW’s Italian wedding coordinator, and which she courageously took on…and succeeded as you will see from this article.

Bride and Groom: Adebusola & Babatunde – better known as Busola & Tunde Nationalities: Naturalized British (both originally from Nigeria)
Resident country: London, UK
Wedding date: Sunday, August 1, 2010
Wedding venue: Majestic Villa in Old Celtic Village. Located in the Italian town of Friuli, north-east of Venice…just 10 minutes drive from Elena – the wedding coordinator’s – home!
Number of guests: 38
Number of weeks of preparation: 6

Busola & Tunde wanted a dream wedding in a beautiful Italian villa, surrounded by their closest family and friends. So far so good. The only hitch (no pun intended) is that they wanted to make it happen in only 6 weeks…including a civil ceremony! Yikes!

With no time to waste, they got to work with Elena and 6 weeks later were happily married. Read on to discover their choice of venue, catering, music, color theme, ceremony and celebrant, wedding attire and other details…

Venue and catering

The 17^th century Majestic Villa in Old Celtic Village, built on the gentle hills of Friuli near Venice, is a splendid wedding venue. The grandeur of its park and the discreet elegance of its interiors have made it one of the most suited sites for Italian destination weddings and receptions.

Not only was it chosen for its majesty but also for the practicality of it being able to accommodate the entire wedding party overnight. Another major advantage of this venue is that it comes with a beautiful private horse and carriage with 2 white horses to transport the bride and groom through the park and down a beautiful wooded passageway to and from the church. A romantic detail that clinched the deal for our bride and groom!

Moreover, the Villa offers many alternatives for an elegant, exclusive, old fashioned, yet modern wedding. The setting of the wedding reception is extremely flexible and at the same Villa your reception can be held in many different styles such as in the “Loggia” outside for al fresco weddings, the cellars (rustic), the Main salon (very elegant) or by the swimming pool (young and fresh).

The catering at the Villa is also first class! Our bride and groom chose to have a long, 2-hour, welcome cocktail outside with a lively Brazilian trio on hand to entertain guests. The entrance of the wedding party for dinner lasted almost 1 hour as each couple danced their way to their table! The ensuing seated dinner consisted of 3 courses with a beautiful wedding cake to finish.

Music

Busola & Tunde wanted to create a fun and festive atmosphere at their wedding, they succeeded in doing so by choosing a Brazilian Trio followed by Nigerian music and finally an Italian DJ with a vast selection of music for dancing at the end of the evening. Fun was certainly had by all!

Color theme

Our couple chose deep purple for their wedding color theme. Simple, elegant and pretty are adjectives we would use to describe the flower decorations. To create this effect, purple and white hydrangeas, orchids and champagne roses were used. The center pieces consisted of floral decorations with one central candle in the middle of each table.

 Ceremony and celebrant

A legally binding, catholic church ceremony was performed by the local priest. At the end of the ceremony, the bride and groom and guests sung thank you hymns to the Lord for over 30 minutes!

The bride arrived at the ceremony riding the beautiful horse and carriage pulled by 2 white horses with two drivers. Guests were already seated in the church awaiting her arrival.
During the ceremony a harpist and violinist played background music.

At the exit of the church at the end of the ceremony, the bride & groom were greeted by a shower of rose petals and a glass of sparkling wine with the local specialty “frico” (fried cheese) served just outside the church. The bride and groom were then transported back to the Villa on the horse and carriage.

Wedding attire

The bride and groom’s closest family members wore traditional Nigerian gowns brought over from Nigeria. The gowns were a beautiful purple color, re-calling the wedding theme. The bride and groom opted to wear traditional European wedding attire for the civil, catholic ceremony then got changed halfway through dinner to more typical Nigerian outfits. This made for a very colorful and elegant wedding.

Tips on how to organize your destination wedding in just 6 weeks

To be able to accomplish the organization of a wedding in this super short time span, the bride and groom must have a very clear idea of what they would like and both families must be in agreement. It is, of course, easier to choose an off-season date but as you can see from above, its also possible to choose a high season date, so long as you are flexible on the day of the week. In this instance, the couple chose a Sunday, a typically quiet day for Italian wedding vendors who are used to weddings taking place from Thursday through Saturday.

The most important criteria for a wedding planner when considering whether to accept such a short planning phase is the reactivity of the couple. They must be able to make quick decisions as soon as information is presented to them as any options set with providers in Italy can ony be kept for 3 days maximum before a decision must be made. 

An added complication is of course the choice to have a civilly binding marriage ceremony. The main concern for this civil destination wedding was indeed the short time span concerning the documents that had to be provided. As soon as the decision has been made to have a civil wedding in Italy, your first consideration should be the preparation of the legal documents! This can make or break the whole event! Good luck with your planning!

Our warmest regards and best wishes go to Busola & Tunde for a long, healthy, happy and loving married life together!

CVW Blog: How did you feel on the morning of your wedding?

The few guests that couldn’t make it all called me on the morning of the wedding to wish us good luck. That’s what helped me to realize it was actually going to happen that day! Otherwise, I felt quite relaxed. I had faith in my wedding coordinators who so happen to also be my colleagues and knew that for the rest of the day everything was being taken care of and coordinated by them. I didn’t have to worry about anything! I did plan 30 minutes where I disappeared and went for a walk so that I would be on my own, away from the family and everyone, just to relax a little.

CVW Blog: Were you happy with your hair and makeup?

I loved it! Well of course I chose my favorite hair and makeup artists to come on this special day. They did an amazing job. I wanted very discreet makeup which was perfect and my hair was in a Spanish style chignon matching the theme of the day, with a big red flower in the back. It held throughout the day and night and I thought I would actually have to sleep with it as I had a hard time getting the pins out before going to bed. It would have survived a hurricane I’m sure!

CVW Blog: We know that one of the uncertainties of any outdoor wedding ceremony and cocktail is the weather. This is especially true for the region of south-west France where you got married. How was the weather on the day?

We did take a risk, but had a rain plan as backup. The weather was a little cloudy on the day and my Mom thought she felt a few drops of rain just before the ceremony. But in the end, there were quite high winds but no rain. It actually turned out ideal because the photographer got great light and we were not too hot.

CVW Blog: How did you feel during the ceremony? How did it compare to your Swedish Ice Chapel ceremony?

There is no comparison! They were two very different ceremonies. The Swedish ceremony took place in winter, inside an ephemeral ice chapel with only 10 guests whereas the ceremony in the south of France took place in high summer and was much bigger with 125 guests. The emotion of all those people around us was palpable. It was quite surreal in fact, you can feel and see them moving around you taking pictures and talking to you excitedly, but you can’t really control your own movements, you feel like you are just swept along by the momentum of the day. Its like I lived the whole day in a happy bubble. It is definitely the emotion and number of guests that really made the difference between the two weddings.

CVW Blog: Were you pleased with the catering?

Loved it! The cocktail appetizers were amazing. A copious buffet of tapas with live cooking stations really gave a festive feel to the cocktail. We gave specially-made Spanish-red aprons to the servers to wear, matching the rest of my decor. It made the feel of the cocktail less formal which is what I wanted. My only regret is that they did not go around serving champagne to guests, everything was buffet style.

We skipped the starter due to our 2-hour long cocktail and served a giant paella for the main course. It was amazing, as was the cheese and dessert buffet that followed. The presentation, taste and service were just perfect.

I must admit though that having the coordinators make sure everything was set up and running on time and done according to my recommendations was a godsend. I can definitely say, after 6 years of wedding planning, that I would not do a wedding without any onsite coordinators. It is a job in itself just to be the bride on the day, never mind having to think of a million other details! I couldn’t imagine if I had had to coordinate everything myself.

CVW Blog: Did the decoration look as good as you had imagined it would?

Perfect. I knew the florist very well and only had to tell him the theme – Spanish flamenco – to know it would be fabulous. He decided on black and red for the dinner hall. The effect of the big balls of red flowers suspended by a black ribbon from the wooden beams overhead was just stunning.

The decor at the ceremony and cocktail was even better! A multitude of colorful ribbons hung from the century old tree overhanging the cocktail area alongside the ceremony, an iron-framed gazebo decorated with flowers and ribbons served as the altar, and colorful gerberas were positioned all over. An old carriage was also decorated with ribbons and flowers and served as an ideal backdrop for the photos. Baskets of rose petals, lavender and transparent tubes of soap bubbles were placed at the foot of each aisle. There were so many rose petals and dried lavender thrown over us after the ceremony that we had to close our eyes for what seemed like forever until it stopped. It was so much fun.

CVW Blog: How did the surprises go down?

The Flamenco musicians and dancer were a blast. Everyone was surprised to see them as Tony and I had kept it a secret, not even our parents knew about them! I loved my father’s face when he saw them. I knew he really wanted something like that. He and the other guests really enjoyed listening to them.

The dancers from my dance club performed two great dances that our guests just loved. It was a great change to the endless speeches that usually take place.

CVW Blog: What was the most emotional moment(s) of the day for you?

I really can’t say, the day went by so fast, I felt like I was floating over everyone and watching them from above. I can’t wait to see the photos and video because that is all I have to relive the day. Memories are very faint as it went by at lightning speed. I think it was actually the next day that was more emotional for me than the wedding day, seeing everyone so happy…

CVW Blog: Which did you most enjoy between the pool party and the rehearsal cocktail the day before the wedding and the brunch the day after? Which one is indispensable for a destination wedding in your opinion?

I would say that something the day before and the day after is indispensable, especially for a destination wedding! Again, the actual wedding day goes by so fast, and you have very little time to see all of your guests, so having the pool party all afternoon and the rehearsal dinner to finish the day before really enabled us to see all our friends that had joined us from far and wide.

The next day brunch is a great way to unwind and close the wedding. The energy is different, almost nostalgic but everyone was so complimentary, relaxed and happy, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It was wonderful to be able to say goodbye to everyone too. It would have been like a cake without the cherry on the top if we had not done it.

CVW Blog: Would you recommend your wedding coordinators? J

Like I said above, it really is indispensable to have a wedding coordinator to supervise the set up, timing and all of the other details on your wedding day. I am serious when I say this is a necessity and not a luxury. I would have spent the day completely stressed out if I had had to do my own coordination. I wish to thank my colleagues from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be a real bride on my wedding day. Everything was better than I had imagined it would be. The day ran so smoothly and it was largely thanks to them! You’re the best!

CVW Blog: What will stay in your mind as the most memorable part of the day?

There were actually three most memorable parts of the day for me. The first was walking down the aisle with my father. This is something I did not get to do in Sweden so it was important for me. The second was hearing Tony say his vows. We wrote them ourselves and his were so moving, I had a tear in my eye just listening to him. The fact that 123 other people were listening at the same time made the moment even more magical. The third was our first dance. We danced a Chachacha with special costumes, music and choreography. It was just fantastic. We had been working on it for so long and as amateur dancers everyone had high expectations for our first dance. We made it! It was really invigorating.

This brings our series of interviews with Caroline to a close. We hope you have enjoyed them and have been able to take away some helpful tips for organizing your own destination wedding. Stay tuned later this month when we will be posting lots of photos and maybe a video clip of Caroline and Tony’s dream wedding in south-west France.

A few months ago, we were contacted by a discreet and eloquent English gentleman of a certain age whose son had found us by surfing the internet. His wish was for us to help him organize a declaration of love in Paris for his beloved wife to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

It was with great honour and pleasure that we rose to the challenge and organized an unforgettable evening in Paris for Arthur and Bridget.

The evening began with a chauffeur-driven journey in a vintage car from their cozy hotel to the banks of the River Seine, just a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower, where a handsome private luxury motor yacht awaited them.

Bridget’s surprise was clearly visible as she climbed aboard in her long, deep blue evening dress, accompanied by her escort who followed on with a twinkle in his eye. Greeted by a glass of champagne, they settled down in the cozy cabin before enjoying a splendid 3-hour cruise on the most famous avenue of Paris.

While cruising down the River Seine, they were regaled with a delicious 4-course dinner as they gently glided past the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Palais Royal and the Orsay Museum. As they approached the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, the captain cut the engine. To Bridget’s astonishment, a man dressed in period costume rose from the lower deck and proceeded to unravel a scroll and read a romantic love poem specially written for the occasion by one of our native English-speaking poet friends. With tears in her eyes, Bridget accepted the scroll as a souvenir and a magnificent bouquet of red roses from her husband before embracing him with such passion that anyone looking on would have seen a 20-year young couple who had just got married!

A few more glasses of champagne later, the rosy-cheeked Bridget and contented Arthur were shown downstairs to their private cabin where they spent the night in each other’s arms dreaming of the magical evening they had just spent together.

An incredibly romantic and true story…enough to warm anyone’s heart on this bitter March morning.

As far as Wedding Planners are concerned, two different schools of thought prevail. One is that we should embrace this movement and provide our couples with more affordable alternatives to consider. The second is that we should try to convice brides they can get all that they desire with a professional.

While we are big fans of DIY, especially for those brides who have the time and are creative, our experience has showed us that most brides don’t realize the time and money that goes into DIY, nor have they factored in the challenges associated with transport over long distances or the difficulty in purchasing locally available raw materials.

That’s why we feel a middle of the road approach is the best way to proceed. Let us explain…

On the one hand, planning a destination wedding is very complicated, daunting and challenging, especially when planning across oceans, time zones or language barriers. In such a situation, your Wedding Planner takes on an important role. Not only can they save you a huge amount of time and effort by proposing venues adapted to your requirements, in the region you want, but they can also provide you with valuable local know-how. This is not limited to sourcing the best and most reliable wedding vendors but also includes providing you with local protocol tips and local wedding traditions. These are details that can make a huge impact on your guests and keep them talking about your wedding for years to come.

On the other hand, we understand that organizing a destination wedding is a tremendously exciting prospect for a bride. Not only is she offering her guests the possibility to discover a new country but she is also guaranteeing them new experiences, both culinary and cultural. She wants the wedding to be authentic to her chosen destination but also incorporate some home touches.

Since a wedding planner’s aim is not to spoil this experience nor dampen a bride’s enthusiasm, we suggest you choose a planner who proposes a DIY wedding package. This is one that allows the bride the freedom to be as creative and involved in her own wedding preparations as she wishes. Effectively, she can control as much or as little of the planning as she wishes without having to feel that she is being too picky or stepping on her planner’s toes.

Allowing couples the freedom to choose exactly which aspects of the planning they wish to take on enables them to be in full control of their budget while also benefiting from a planner’s expert advice and presence on the day to make sure everything runs smoothly. A true win-win situation for everyone involved!

Check out our DIY destination wedding package offer on www.chateauandvillaweddings.com

Here is a snapshot of 10 of the ways you can make your destination in France “Formidable”!

1. Cheese and wine tasting
   

   One cannot come to France and not savor the local cheese and wine. Why not transform your welcome buffet into a cheese and wine tasting? You can have local producers bring an assortment of cheese and wine to your venue or visit a local “cave” (wine cellar) for a guided tour and a tasting afterwards. Délicieux!
   

2. Gift basket of local goodies
   

   Spoil your guests who have travelled from far and wide to attend your destination wedding by providing them with personalized gift baskets. Include some local specialties such as a mini bottle of champagne if you are getting married in the Champagne region, Calissons d’Aix (mini almond marzipan cakes see photo) for weddings in Provence, Foie gras for weddings in the south-west, a bottle of white or red wine depending on the region…to name but a few.
   

   
   

3. Creative wedding transportation
   

   You can take the couple out of their home country but you can’t take their home country out of the couple. To add a surprise touch and tongue in cheek glimpse at your own origins, why not hire a real yellow school bus or red double-decker London bus to transport your guests to and from your ceremony and/or reception venue? You could even hire an authentic black London taxi for the bride and groom depending on where you are getting married in France.
   

   
   
   

4. Guest book with a twist
   

   Instead of providing a traditional guest book for your guests to sign, why not jazz it up and place a Polaroid camera alongside it so that your guests can snap themselves before sticking the photos in your book and signing alongside. Should you be getting married in Paris, why not take a trip to the artists square in Montmartre a few days before your wedding and have an artist draw your caricature on a large piece of paper and have your guests sign it as a real souvenir of your trip. The caricature could also be done in your home country and transported on-site with you.
   

   
   
   

5. A show stopping ceremony exit
   

   Forget about the traditional bird seed, rose petals and rice, why not orchestrate a unique ceremony exit by providing guests with bunches of lavender or paper airplanes or having a butterfly release or dove release to mark the end of the ceremony? Fun music also adds punch like the theme tune to Star Wars or Superman or your favorite hit song like Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol? Your imagination is the only limit!
   

   
   

6. Unexpected wedding music
   

   A string quartet is lovely, but you’ll blow guests away with a Gospel Choir to sing during the wedding ceremony. To get the party going during the cocktail hour, look into hiring a mariachi band or a cotton club jazz quartet for some seriously memorable melodies.
   

   
   

7. Entertaining wedding favors
   

   Get creative when contemplating your wedding favors. To pack out your dance floor, distribute maracas or kazoos or even rally towels for a bit of fun. Think about your female guests comfort level by providing comfy flip-flops so they can dance all night or provide personalized pashminas (shawls) to fend off the chill of an outdoor wedding.
   

   
   
   
   

8. A surprise choreographed dance
   

   Everyone expects you to opt for a slow dance or the traditional waltz to open the dancing so why not surprise your guests by learning a sultry tango or a high energy swing or rock ‘n’ roll routine. It only needs to last 2 – 3 minutes but imagine the looks on your guests’ faces when you glide or jive around the dance floor like real pros! Strictly Come Dancing has nothing on you!
   

9. Traditional French wedding cake
   

   Consider having a traditional French wedding cake to wow your guests. A Croquembouche or Pièce Montée is the traditional French wedding cake. They are impressive pyramids of puff-pastry choux balls filled with cream (like profiteroles) and a coating of crystallized caramel. You can have the classic pyramid shape or it can be designed to fit your request like the Chateau de Chenonceau cake below. Yum yum! The French love to make a fanfare by dimming the lights, playing some up-beat music and putting sparklers in the cake as the chefs bring it out. A great photo opportunity. These cakes are not the easiest to cut into and feed one another so make sure the chef is on hand to help you!
   

   
   

10. Midnight crepes
    

    Nothing is more French than hot crepes doused in sugar, chocolate spread or jam and served by a French chef to round off the day! This is guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds and energize your guests after several hours on the dance floor. If you want to propose a savory touch, consider adding a buffet of cold meats (charcuterie) that the French do oh so well or a cheese buffet…oh là là!
    

We have lots more ideas to share with you if you are interested…just send us a comment and we’ll be happy to respond with other suggestions!

Photo Credits: Dream Limousines; Butterfly Release Wedding; http://www.prixmoinscher.com; Event Merchandising; Wikipedia ; http://www.studiocabrelli.com/

Jeanette and Peter
Hometown: Singapore
Wedding Date: December 30, 2009
Wedding Colors: Silver, red and black

Wedding Location: A charming, neo-classic style Palace with breathtaking views over Lake Annecy, nestled in the mountains, in the heart of the splendid French Alps. Send us a comment at the end of this posting for more details!

Wedding highlights: We had lots of fun organizing this four-day event for Jeanette and Peter. A gift basket with locally made chocolates and personalized water bottles awaited each guest as they arrived at the Palace from all around the globe. A special shuttle service was organized to bring guests from the local train station and Geneva international airport. After enjoying a welcome buffet at the Palace, guests were free to relax and discover the grounds of the Palace.

On the day of the wedding, after much pampering by our professional hairdressers and make-up artists, Jeanette stole away with Peter and our photographers and videographers to have some intimate photos taken before the ceremony took place at 2pm within the Palace. One of Jeanette’s friend’s hand-made the beautiful aisle runner, making the ceremony that much more special.

Cocktails were served in the restaurant with a panoramic view over the lake before guests were invited to step outside to view a spectacular fire-eater show. Guests were then asked to line up opposite each other and form an arch with their arms held high and lighted sparklers as the bride and groom ran under them and into the banquet hall.

The angled, U-shaped, rectangular table configuration blended perfectly with the contemporary style reception room. A troop of Brazilian Samba dancers dressed in beautiful bright costumes and ostrich feathers regaled guests with their lively music and dancing between each course and encouraged participation from the guests. The rest of the evening’s music was provided by our favorite wedding band that follows us all over France!

A private tour of the old city of Annecy was organized for a group of 30 of the guests on the afternoon following the wedding with an English-speaking guide. Since the day after the wedding happened to fall on New Year’s Eve, Jeanette and Peter took advantage and we organized a New Year’s Eve buffet dinner in the restaurant to celebrate this special event. Lots of red, orange and yellow balloons helped to create a party atmosphere. The dress code was black tie and everyone had to come wearing a Venetian mask! An oriental menu was served and between courses, guests were entertained by an oriental dancer who brought accessories with her and dressed up some of the guests and had them dance with her. Our fantastic wedding DJ then took over and kept everyone on the dance floor until the early hours of the morning.

All the best to Jeanette and Peter! Thank you for trusting us to help you organize your fantastic winter wonderland wedding in the French Alps!

Photo Credits: Studio Cabrelli

Occasionally we are contacted by someone who knows exactly what they want for their wedding, it’s rare but it does happen. This was the case this past summer when we helped a French couple organize their 30^th Wedding Anniversary celebration at one of our favorite Loire Valley venues, the Dream Renaissance Castle.

Indeed, Mrs S. knew exactly the type of atmosphere she wanted to create for her 80 guests. It was a breath of fresh air and quite a change for us to work with someone who had a precise vision of how the day would unfold. So, we simply called upon our trusted suppliers and partners and put the pieces together to make the perfect day. Mrs S. was not disappointed. Here are some of the day’s highlights…

Relaxing morning…

Without the stress of preparing for a wedding ceremony and the turmoil that inevitably surrounds a new bride, Mrs S. was able to relax on the morning of her 30th Anniversary. She took breakfast with her guests before retiring to her suite to be pampared by our professional hairdresser, ready for the first part of the day, a Chic Picnic that was to take place in the pretty tree-lined Italian Alley with the backdrop of the castle and peaceful surrounding countryside.

Chic Picnic…

With staggered round tables descending the Alley and ivory parasols to protect guests from the hot June sunshine, we created a Chic Picnic with wooden folding chairs, cappucinno colored table cloths, transparent crockery and take-away centrepieces. Indeed, each guest was invited to take home one of the small zinc plant pots containing a plant or herb which doubled up as a centrepiece and favor.

The food was carefully selected to add color, flavor and variety. The presentation and impeccable service rendered the Picnic a unanimous success.

Afternoon games…

During the afternoon, guests could relax around the pool, play tennis on the tennis courts or join in the golf driving tournament which was improvised on-site. The younger crowd enjoyed playing football and frizbee. As evening approached, everyone disappeared to their rooms to freshen up and prepare themselves for the evening celebration.

Baroque ‘n’ roll…

This is where we really enjoyed ourselves! The theme for the evening was baroque ‘n’ roll. A mix of the “Baroque” style which originated in Italy in the early 17^th century and is characterized by free and sculptural use of the classical orders. It uses forms in elevation and movement to create a dramatic effect. Architecture, painting, sculpture and the decorative arts work to combined effect. This was spattered with a touch of rock ‘n’ roll.

The color theme was black, silver and purple. Deep velvet purple Calla lilies with sweet peas and peonies helped to create a bold, harmonious effect. Black table cloths with purple satin ribbons adorned the tables along with silver chairs and crystal candlestick holders as centre pieces filled with black candles. The tables were named after famous rock ‘n’ roll singers and menus placed in silver picture frames.

We even had fun with the table plan which consisted of silver spray-painted empty picture frames with flowers suspended inside mini glass vases and attached to the top of the frames.

All that remained was for our caterer to regale the guests with more delicious food and our DJ to fill the room with rock ‘n’ roll tunes. The rest is history…

Thank you to Mr & Mrs S. for sharing your special day with us! We’d love to organize more wedding anniversaries!

Photo credits : Studio Cabrelli

Whether you are an avid sailor or just love the water, beautiful boats or grand old ships, then a nautical wedding is just for you! Weddings on boats are very popular with good reason. They have a festive setting, the views are beautiful, and they are unique compared to a reception hall.

But, what we are suggesting is not just a boat, but a grand YACHT on the River Seine!!! We all agree that if Paris is the most beautiful city in the world, then the River Seine is its most beautiful avenue and a Parisian yacht its best emissary. The most luxurious yachts in Paris are available to transport you and your wedding party guests on an unforgettable journey of discovery throughout the City of Lights. Under a luminous sky, no interruptions, no traffic, just you and your guests surrounded by the historical sites and splendor of an authentic Parisian evening. Enjoy your cocktail reception outdoors before moving inside for dinner and dancing. What could be more enchanting than a private river boat cruise on the romantic River Seine as your destination wedding venue in France?

Chose from the “Intimate Private Parisian Yacht”; imagine your intimate wedding ceremony being celebrated on the upper deck of a beautiful yacht as you glide past Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, what a treat for you and your guests! This is indeed the most luxurious yacht in Paris and was inaugurated in 2007 by its Godfather, John Travolta. It can accommodate between 2 and 12 guests and is 22 meters long and equipped with its own fireplace. The upholstery and china are truly French and the crystal ware made by Baccarat.

The cocktail reception can take place outdoors on the deck or by the fireplace in the winter. As you take your seats for dinner, on a warm balmy evening, you can even open the roof and catch a glimpse of the wonders of Paris with its shimmering lights floating among the stars.

The “Luxurious Parisian Yacht” is the essence of luxury and decadence. This exclusive yacht was designed by the famous shipyard Benetti and has preserved the legendary spirit of yachts on the Riviera in the after-war period: purity of lines, refinement of the stem, rich paneling, and smart design. Built on 2 levels, this 30 meter-long shining example of Italian elegance has traveled a great deal over the years but preserves all its beauty. After having sailed the Mediterranean seas, this magnificent yacht has found its home in the port of Paris. Ideal for intimate cruises for 10 to 30, this Luxurious Parisian Yacht is the perfect venue for your very special and unforgettable yacht wedding…

The “Exclusive Parisian Yacht” is both classic and elegant with its warm and comfortable décor making it ideal for weddings for up to 65 guests for a sit-down dinner or 100 guests for a buffet. The wedding ceremony can be celebrated on the deck then move indoors for dinner and dancing. With its sophisticated color palette of reds and chocolate browns, this 40 meter-yacht travels to all stops within Paris, and then sails to the Stade de France football stadium or to Giverny, home of Claude Monet in Normandy. Your guests are sure to remember your unique wedding on this Exclusive Parisian Yacht.

Hence, these are a few choices of spectacular yachts for your Nautical Paris Wedding; each of these exclusive yachts will certainly accommodate a small, intimate or large wedding depending on the number of wedding guests. Please do not hesitate to contact us at www.chateauandvillaweddings.com for further information such as availability, prices and catering choices.

Resources: www.wikipedia.com, www.worldweddingcustoms.com, www.bellaonline.com, www.njsweddingshop.com www.chateauandvillaweddings.com

We thank you for reading, as always should you need further information on the subject please do not hesitate to let us know.

In today’s stormy economic times brides and grooms to-be are tightening their belts and wondering how they can still pull off that perfect wedding; relax and enjoy the company of their loved ones, have fun and frolic with their closest friends as well as honeymoon all at the same time without the fear of breaking their purse strings!

Isn’t that the definition of a perfect wedding?

Well, I have good news in that despite these turbulent times it is still possible for you to achieve all your dreams of a magical and memorable destination wedding in Europe.

France for example is one of the most popular wedding destinations in the world. It offers every conceivable and imaginable attraction, from world-class art museums, sophisticated cuisine, picturesque villages and châteaux as well as breathtaking beaches. You’ll find unsurpassed shopping and enough history to drain your brain! From the Atlantic to the Riviera, the coast lines of Brittany and Normandy, from Paris to the Pyrénées, France is packed with tons of breathtaking sceneries as well as a whole lot of activities for your friends and family.

“But how can I afford this” you may ask? Well let’s explore this shall we…

Fewer Guests, More Savings

There’s no question that a wedding destination in Europe will have fewer guests than the one back home. A destination wedding in France is a great way to control costs. The average cost of a wedding in the U.S. for 2009 is projected to be around $ 29,000. On average, European weddings cost about a third of the price, excluding the cost of travel. The size of the party will be limited as only a certain number of guests will fly over for the event. Some guests will not be able to attend, cannot take the time off from work and a majority of those “must-invite” relatives and colleagues will graciously excuse themselves from the invitation. With fewer people, this means the cost of your wedding will be less and you can spend more time with the ones that do make the trip. Also you can safely send out hundreds of invitations to everyone you think should be invited and be reasonably sure that those who really want to be there (and those are after all the people that matter) will come.

Cost effectiveness

Even though you have to pay for transportation and shipping must-have items ahead of time, chances are your destination wedding will still cost less than the $29,000 an average American couple spends on their nuptials.
With a smaller guest list and favorable exchange rates in many overseas locations, (the Euro has dropped) couples are able to spend less on food and reception locations, while receiving equal or better quality. Often, the couple is able to splurge on things they would not be able to afford “back home”, such as an open bar, unique and personalized favors or even extra opportunities, like a private tour of the area for all of the guests, a hot air balloon ride, a fire work display after the reception or a morning-after brunch at the Eiffel-Tower for instance.

Vacation opportunities

Many Americans choose a destination wedding on tropical islands like Hawaii, Costa Rica, the Caribbean or the Virgin islands. Europe on the other hand offers so much more than just the sun and sea. Apart from the sandy beaches of the Riviera, there is also luscious food, first class wines and Champagne at affordable prices ; cultural visits and endless leisure activities, art and architecture as well as easy travel from one country to the next.

Having a wedding in France means easy access to more than 20 European countries. This means that you can combine your wedding with your honeymoon, cultural visits with beach time, fine cuisine and endless shopping… the combinations are endless.

With such high costs for a wedding – not including the honeymoon – couples can see the advantage of combining a wedding with a honeymoon destination. Instead of taking a week off of work prior to the wedding to organize and then rushing through a shortened honeymoon at an exotic location soon thereafter, couples can spend two weeks at the country of their choice.
This doesn’t mean you have to honeymoon at the location where you were married, many people choose to fly off to another country or take a leisurely train ride. Because guests also view destination weddings as vacation opportunities, they will often extend their trip into a full week, allowing the busy bride and groom to see their loved ones more than just on the day of the ceremony. Additionally, a destination wedding provides an excellent opportunity for a family reunion. Because there is so much to do and see outside of the wedding itself, there are plenty of options for family-bonding activities!

Attractions

Have you always pictured a barefoot wedding with ocean waves crashing up against the beach…? Wished for an opportunity to be married in a castle with lush green hills…? Just imagine your wedding in France, you might choose Paris – the romantic City of Love – for its elegance and sophistication. Or perhaps you will choose the Loire Valley for its majestic fairytale-like châteaux, or the Bordeaux wine region for its incomparable vineyards. Or perhaps you will opt for a traditional wedding on the magnificent Riviera or in Provence alongside the beautiful poppy and lavender fields.

Must have attractions that are not available in your home area are other reasons for a destination wedding.

Other cost saving items

• Wedding services in the U.S. have become a giant industry where as in France or Italy, weddings are much smaller and intimate, a huge saving to your budget.
• A cake will not cost several thousands of dollars like in the States but just about 10 Euros or about $ 12.75 per person at today’s exchange rate.
• Your average quality photographer and videographer will cost you on approximately $ 2500; the cost in Europe is equivalent for the voted best wwedding photographers and videographers of the continent.
• Flowers are kept to a minimum in France or Italy as the setting itself does not require the usual overwhelming flower arrangements at each table. Just picture a wonderful villa in the south if France or Italy… full of luscious greens and blooms. This will save plenty of money.
• No need for wedding-favors, instead treat your guests to a private tour of a castle, a guided tour of an enchanted forest, a wine and cheese tasting; no matter where your wedding will be held you are sure to find the perfect activities which your wedding planner will have already researched for you.
• The quality of the wines and Champagnes are incomparable not to mention the prices! You can splurge on a local wine or local Champagne and still have plenty of money left over. This would be impossible at home.
• Transportation to and from the ceremony in Europe is easy, fast and cheaper than in the U.S. Chances are that your wedding ceremony will be held in a small chapel in the same village as where your reception will take place , no need to travel far. Or choose a castle for both the ceremony and the reception, many castles have their own chapel.

From success to perfection

It is one thing to have a successful event but it’s quite another to have a perfect wedding. Here we recommend that you hire a wedding planner who is specialized in destination weddings, local wedding planners who focus on French couples are not accustomed to your expectations such as fast turnaround or quality of service. A destination planner will maintain constant contact with you via phone and email and will have excellent command of the English language. They will know how to navigate through the paperwork requirements and red tape.

And lastly let’s talk about your dear controlling mother or mother in law who wants to be in on every detail of your wedding!!! Well guess what… a destination wedding will solve all of that since only you and your wedding planner will be 100 % in charge, it’s too far for “her” to make any important decisions. No more bickering, problem solved!

We hope that you have enjoyed this article, for further information on wedding destinations to France or Italy please do not hesitate to contact us via this site and we will answer all your questions.

References:www.wikipedia.org, www.weddingreport.com, www.theknot.com,

We all know what a wedding planner is but, ever wondered just what on earth a wedding planner does? … Or – what will she or he do for me that I can’t accomplish on my own? … Are they expensive and why should I hire one? … Well, let’s chat about that and see if we can steer you in the right direction …

Typically in the U.S. a wedding planner, also known as a wedding coordinator, assists brides in all aspects of planning their weddings. They will provide you with advice and assistance with acquiring your wedding attire, invitations, decorations, music, food and any other aspects of the wedding. Once the ceremony and the reception are over, you’re on you own…

In the case of a Destination Wedding in France or Italy, Chateau and Villa Weddings or CVW wedding planners will provide you with many personalized and incomparable services. They will become your eyes, nose, ears and taste of France or Italy until you arrive on the wedding day. They will seek out the perfect venue for your reception, whether it’s a castle in France or an exquisite villa in Italy, a private cruise on the banks of the river Seine or a stunning wedding at the palaces of the Côte D’Azur on the Riviera. They will plan and organize your religious or civil ceremony. They will book all accommodations for you and your guests, carefully planning all transportation to and from the airport. Your guests have come to your wedding in France or Italy to celebrate your love for one another but they also have come to be entertained by the local culture. Your wedding planner will provide your guests and family with expert planning of all activities while you get ready for the big day.

Here are just a few tidbits of how a wedding planner at Chateau and Villa Weddings can assist you:

Site Inspections: After carefully reviewing all the pictures and press releases with your wedding planner, you’ve finally picked out the perfect accommodations but a little voice in you says that before you commit to that beautiful chateau in France or that exquisite villa in Italy, you really need to see it first hand. Not to worry, your personal wedding planner will assist you in visiting each of these locations ahead of time.

Religious, Civil or Symbolic Ceremony: Civil and religious ceremonies, in particular Catholic ceremonies in France and Italy require quite a bit of paperwork and translation, as well as frequent meetings with your Consulate and/or Church. All steps of this process are taken under the close supervision of your on-site wedding coordinator who will also provide you with an English speaking priest or minister. For symbolic weddings which are less complicated, they will guide you in finding the perfect ceremony.

Flowers: An essential part of any wedding checklist is for elegant, beautiful and romantic flowers. Chateau and Villa Weddings boasts first class florists who will make customized, handmade bouquets and arrangements for the wedding party, the chapel and the reception venues.

Stylists: Your wedding day cannot be complete without the proper accessories, make-up, and the perfect hairstyle for your walk down the aisle. France and Italy are well known for their exquisite fashion and style; here you will be pampered by pros allowing you time to relax. You can also treat your attendants to these services – including the youngsters. These stylists come armed with all the necessary tools and tips to make you look your best.

Photographer: A professional photographer will be available for your personal use during the ceremony and throughout your wedding day to capture those special moments of you and your guests. Your wedding planner will sit down with you and a top-rated photographer to discuss any specific shots you may want taken.

Wedding Cakes: Chateau and Villa Weddings have researched the best caterers, bakers and pastry chefs in France and Italy. They know who makes the best sponge cake in Paris and whose butter cream frosting is to die for.  They also know who makes the best traditional French wedding cake or “croquembouches” an intricate pyramid of hundreds of individual macaroons, meringues or cream puffs.

Menus: In conjunction with each of their top catering professionals, a unique menu can be designed as a keep-sake for your guests.  It can be customized with elegant calligraphy or match your wedding invitations to complement your magnificent reception.

Music: Solo violinists, quartets, symphonies, DJ’s … Music is an essential part of your wedding ceremony and reception.  Choose from a variety of themes and talents, and their professional musicians. Caroline Berthe of CVW is herself an accomplished classical flutist and grew up in a musical family; she will be able to give you tips on how to strike a happy balance between fun and romance that meets your budget and entertains your guests.

Wedding Favors: To make your guests feel welcome and have something to remember your special day, what could be better than customized wedding favors?  Your coordinator will work with you to develop personalized gift baskets for your guests containing perhaps a map of the area indicating ancient sites or tips on local activities and étiquette, a bottle of regional wine and a sample of the areas regional specialties. These can be delivered to your guests’ hotel rooms or distributed at various times during the ceremony.

Chauffeurs: A private chauffeur to and from any of your wedding and honeymoon events, is a perfect opportunity for you to relax and enjoy one another’s company, worry free.

Vintage Cars: Vintage cars have added an elegant ambiance to many weddings in France and Italy.  Used during official ceremonies, vintage cars can transport you and your fiancé in style through the gates of a magnificent castle, drive you down to the beach or whisk you off to your Paris honeymoon.  Vintage cars may be rented from private collectors or rental agencies throughout Europe.  A personal wedding planner will assist you in finding the perfect car.

Cooking Classes: I don’t know about you, but I can’t boil an egg…! Let your private instructor guide you through local dishes and table étiquette so that you can better understand what goes into catering your reception, not to mention how to cook for your new hubby once you’re back home! That alone is a plus…

Dance Classes: Whether you dance frequently or have never danced before, enjoy a little relaxation and entertainment with a professional dance instructor who can empower you and your fiancé with the confidence, experience and knowledge you need to enjoy the romance of your first dance as a married couple!

Balloon Rides: Balloon rides are perfect after tying the knot; soar over the landscape and terrain of Tuscany’s hills, get a bird’s eye view of the various beautiful chateaus of the Loire Valley, or glide over the Italian lakes.

Fireworks: Amid a pyramid of Champagne glasses, you and your new husband raise your glasses just before the traditional cutting of the cake. Sparklers light up your wedding cake and are perfectly coordinated with the start of a dazzling firework. Imagine what a spectacle this would be at your wedding, your guests are sure to remember it!

Guest Activities: Often include full day Excursions with a personal guide, or perhaps a customized event at a resort or hotel.  Horseback Riding, Private Guides, Skiing, Spa Treatments, Wine Tasting, Shopping Trips and many more.

We hope that you have learned more about “You’re Wedding Planner”, for further information please do not hesitate to contact us via this site and we will answer all your questions. Also please see our upcoming article on” The Financial Benefits of a Destination Wedding in France or Italy”.

References:www.theknot.com,www.wikipedia.com, www.topweddingsites.com

Your big day can have a huge impact on the environment; an Eco-Friendly Green Wedding can reduce that damaging carbon footprint on the earth. Going “Green” for your wedding is a great way to showcase your creative side and show your family and friends what your true values are.

From everything I have read so far, there is no right or wrong way to a Green Wedding and you don’t have to be obsessive about it either. Naturally green, recycled retro or vintage glamour which is very hot this year—take your pick; the possibilities are endless.

Here’s how to start planning the kind of wedding the nuptial gurus at TheKnot.com and many others have praised as the “hot new thing!”

The Ring… A green wedding begins with the engagement and of course the ring. Don’t start off on the wrong foot… If anyone reading this remembers the movie” Blood Diamonds” with Leonardo DiCaprio, you know exactly what the term means. These are diamonds that are minded in war zones and fund conflicts. There are many alternatives to these blood diamonds: Vintage rings, whether a family heirloom or an antique find or lab-created diamonds, diamonds mined in peaceful Canada or Australia, one of kind wooden or ivory bands, colored gemstones such as Aquamarines and Citrines and my favorite, the green Peridot.

The Location … Consider choosing a setting that’s convenient to most guests to minimize travel impacts, having the ceremony and the reception at the same place, or providing eco-friendly transportation between them, picking a unique local spot like an art gallery, non-profit space, organic restaurant or farm, a green hotel, or a botanical garden, an outdoor setting perhaps a beautiful castle with exquisite gardens which will require less decorating, arriving at the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage or sleigh, a rickshaw, or a hybrid car.

The Invitations… this is the first impression guest’s will get of your Green Wedding. Make sure everyone is on board with your Green Theme. Look for recycled, handmade, tree-free paper made out of hemp, banana stalks, bamboo, kenaf, (a plant related to the okra and cotton family) or organic cotton. Look for a printing company that will use paper with a high percentage of consumer recycled content. Papers that are not plastic-coated or metallic, (makes them hard to recycle). Opportunities to reduce paper-use, like sending a postcard instead of multi-enveloped notes, for your save-the-date, and probably the most important—use Cyberspace to send online invitations and start a wedding blog to let people know about the upcoming events, (the venue, the rehearsal dinner etc.)

The Wedding Gown… Eco-Friendly brides have lots of alternatives when choosing their gown and accessories. You can purchase a gown made of organic materials such as silk or cotton. Wear a vintage gown, either from a family member or purchased at a vintage store. Go for vintage jewelry or borrow pieces from friends. Go barefoot for a beach wedding! Wear all natural beauty products; donate your wedding dress to a charitable organization after the event.

The Decorations… Add beauty and style to your wedding décor, naturally and organically. Opt for organic flowers, find a florist who is diligent about recycling packaging and will source locally raised flowers. Decorate with branches, dried grasses, grains, greens, berries or live plants, dried or potted arrangements. Choose beeswax or soy based candles for the ceremony and reception, arrange to have the flowers moved from the ceremony to the reception if you have separate sites. Throw biodegradable confetti or organic rose petals or lavender instead of releasing doves or butterflies. Donate the flowers to a hospital or rest home. Use small stones or river rocks instead of place cards; you can paint the rocks and write on them with gold calligraphy pens then put the rocks in a small wooden box painted in the same color as the stones, guests will be delighted to take this home as a keep-sake.

Food and Drinks… Spoil your guests by basing your menu around local, organic, and seasonal foods. Ask the venue’s preferred caterers and bakers if they can cater your wedding organically. Consider vegetarian selections and seek out cruelty-free meats and wild, rather than farmed fish. Make sure the venue offers comprehensive recycling facilities, and ideally composting too. Have your cake decorated with organically grown flowers or other natural materials, no plastic toppers! Rent real glassware, dishware, and linens instead of using disposables. For your china mix and match thrift-store plates and dishes, donate them when you’re done. Use biodegradable utensils and dishes made out of cornstarch, potatoes, wheat, or sugar cane. Make arrangements to donate leftover food to a local food bank or homeless shelter. And please don’t forget the organic wine, beer, and Champagne or spirits, and the free-trade, shade grown coffee and tea! There are many excellent organic Champagnes out there coming out of France and other European countries.

Photos… For lasting memories, whether you prefer film or digital photographs, look for a photographer who offers digital proofs to save paper and chemicals. Avoid single-use cameras, but ask friends with digital cameras to share their photos with all the guests online.

Gift Registry… How about asking for gifts to charity instead of material goods? Register with a site that gives a percentage of gift purchases to your chosen cause, registering with stores that offer local, fair-trade, handmade, organic, or other eco-friendly products , registering for outdoor gear or contributions to an eco-friendly honeymoon, creating a custom wish list of eco-friendly items like a fresh-produce subscription from a local farm, organic gardening supplies, organic linens, park and museum passes, gift certificates to organic restaurants, and subscriptions to green publications or memberships in green causes.

Wedding Favors: For your favors, give something your guests will really use and enjoy not disposable plastic souvenirs. Gourmet organic chocolates or another organic or local food item, attractive bags of fresh or dried organic herbs or seeds in a commemorative container, reusable cloth tote bags and natural soaps, soy or beeswax candles, a downloadable play list of your favorite songs, a small charitable donation in each guest’s name.For your helpful, loyal attendants, you’ll want to splurge a little, perhaps with: gift baskets of organic skin-care products , recycled jewelry, wallets, handbags, or drinking glasses, selections of organic coffees, teas, and chocolates, recycled paper journals and stationery, great bottles of organic wines, beer or Champagne.

The Honeymoon … Begin your new life together with a honeymoon that’s light on the Earth. Consider going somewhere local or engaging in eco-tourism, which can be as rugged or luxurious as you want it to be. Take a trip that benefits an environmental group; perhaps walking the Italian Alps. Skipping the cruise and taking a relaxing, romantic train trip, getting around at your destination by renting bikes or taking public transportation, staying in a family-run B&B or inn, a luxury teepee , or a green hotel that’s working to save resources and reduce waste.

As I said before the possibilities are endless… Just go out there and look for nature to guide you ! If you’re not sure how to pull this off then I strongly recommend hiring a wedding planner who is well versed with the eco-friendly theme wedding. He or she will have many creative ideas and will already be in touch with green vendors you can trust. I read in a survey taken by SuperWeddings.com that 72 percent of recently married couples who did not use a wedding planner wished they had and if they had to do it all over again, they would hire one.

On a personal note, I would like to thank one of my dearest friends Allan who is an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) expert and member.The FSC is an international non-profit organization that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests. He has taught me a lot about the environment and I am very grateful to him for sharing his knowledge with me. I am also grateful to Vice-President Al Gore who has opened our eyes to global warming with his book” The Inconvenient Truth”…. Gore was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

We hope that you have enjoyed this “crash-course” in Green Weddings, for further information please do not hesitate to contact us via this site and we will answer all your questions.

References:www.superweddings.com,www.theknot.com, www.mywedding.com,www.sierraclub.typepad.com, www.panda.org, www.wikipedia.org

DREAM RENAISSANCE CASTLE (<– Check this location on our website !)

Is there a more romantic idea than renting a real private historic castle?… a castle located nearby the Châteaux of the Loire Valley, Romanesque Abbeys and Medieval Cities. Here you are almost transported a few centuries back in time… in a Dream Renaissance Castle.

Location:

Discover the impressive cultural heritage of this beautiful region of France. Located in the Loire Valley this castle is just under an hour from Paris on the TGV, France’s high-speed bullet train; you can also ride the TGV train directly from Charles de Gaulle to the local airport not far from the castle in only one and a half hours and offers very attractive low prices. Not far away one will be mesmerized by the many historic Châteaux of Europe such as Chenonceau, Chambord, Amboise and Leonard Da Vinci’s famous mansion where he spent the last three years of his life.

Décor:

This is a magnificent 14^th Century castle offering spacious and refined rooms and apartments. Views of this Renaissance castle are perched atop its picture-perfect hill. Guest rooms range from the grandiose to the more standard-issue, yet always with stylish salons and period furniture. Once the home of several French kings and their royal “mistresses”, it is not surprising to find the elegance of this château to be fit for a King. Large marble fire-places in the foyer and great hall bring a sense of warmth and luxury to these rooms. Vaulted ceilings combined with velvet period armchairs rest on beautiful hand crafted floors. Dripping, luxurious red velvet curtains are hung atop the 20 foot ceilings and are adorned by magnificent bronze and gold chandeliers. The castle features 22 outstanding and spacious rooms to accommodate all your guests, some with canopy beds and large fire-places, others with exposed beams from the 16^th century and lovely views of the front courtyard.

Ceremony and Reception:

Imagine riding in a horse and carriage, a short distance away to exchange your wedding vows in the village’s local church. For your ceremony, the castle will accommodate you and guests outside on the magnificent grounds. Cocktails can be served on the terrace overlooking its superb “ jardins français” or formal gardens. Dinner will follow in a grand reception room (3,440 square feet) featuring a beautiful stone vaulted ceiling, this dinning room seats up to 100 guests. Pictures can be taken in the garden, in front of the castle, or even facing its famous “potager” vegetable garden. But whichever site your photographer chooses, you are sure to be pleased.

Leisure Activities:

On the premises enjoy a game of tennis on the outdoor courts or relax in the outdoor heated swimming pool.

Hot air Balloon rides, horseback riding, wine and cheese tasting at impeccably kept wineries, canoeing and kayaking along the river. For half or full day excursions, visit the historical castles and gardens of the Loire Valley; enjoy sound and light shows at the castles or rent a bicycle for a leisurely visit near the Renaissance Dream Castle. Also of interest your guests will enjoy the famous “Festival de la Tomate”, this whimsical garden grows 300 or so varieties of tomatoes disguised in many different ways such as chutneys, sauces, beauty creams, medicine, paintings, sculptures and alcoholic concoctions, a visit not to be missed… A major feature of the area around Saumur are the fascinating Troglodyte caves which offer lots of scope for a variety of visits for you are your friends encompassing underground museums, mushroom caves, wine cellars, restaurants and even a zoo which are all given a different slant because of their unusual setting.

References: www.wikipedia.com, www.fodors.com, www.nationmaster.com, http://frenchduck.com, www.a-castle-for-rent.com, www.jpmoser.com