Getting Married in France: The 5 Questions You’re Probably Asking
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Would you like to get married abroad, but concerned about the planning? You are not alone. Here are the 5 most asked question by our couples.
Location, Location, Location - Where should you choose?
You’re already asking your guests to hop on a plane and come over to France, can you ask them to cover costs of car rental too? From experience we have learnt that if the venue is too far from the airport your guests may expect you to lay on airport transfers as well as buses to and from the venue for all planned events. This could end up costing you at least 5-10% of your overall budget. To avoid this some important things to consider are how far is the venue from the airport, train station and the city. The closer the venue to these types of commodities the more chance that your guests will be able to jump in a taxi (and be happy to cover the costs themselves). Some of your guests will make the most of being in the city and prolong their stay to take in some of the local sites. Easy access and interesting locations can ensure your guests will be happy to travel.
How can I be sure my guests are relaxed in their accommodation ?
Ultimately, it’s your big day, but the last thing you want to be doing is worrying if your guests are having a good time. Onsite activities can make a real difference here. Consider a venue that can accommodate all ages. A pool or sports facilities are a great way to bring people together. Often venues have guesthouses which offer your guests total independence allowing them to sit back and get some R&R.
What does a typical wedding timeline look like?
It’s your wedding day, so the truth is you can plan your day the way you wish to. However, one of the advantages of having your wedding abroad is that you can adapt to the local climate and kick things off a little later than usual. The summer months offer long days and many venues will have a late curfew which allows you to adopt to a slower approach the morning of the wedding, an extra hour or two of beauty sleep can never be a bad thing. Most couples will plan their ceremony between 2 and 4pm, depending on the month you have chosen, inviting guests for a welcome drink about 30-45 minutes before that. Cocktail hour can be a lovely time for everyone to mingle and take in the surroundings, but with the happy couple often being swept away for photos this time can often feel long for your guests, we would recommend allowing no more than two hours for cocktails.
What if it rains? Plan B.
Long summer days don’t always equal a no rain guarantee. We recommend that you are completely comfortable with your Plan B to avoid any disappointment, and if everything goes to Plan A, it couldn’t be better. A venue that can offer you versatile spaces with the possibility of switching to Plan A, B or even Plan C with no additional costs involved will give you great peace of mind.
How should I plan the days before and after the wedding?
Most venues will be very happy for you to invite all guests to celebrate with you on these shoulder days. Some brides concerns are ‘what if people don’t leave, I want to make sure that we can all get a good night’s sleep the night before the wedding’. There are two options here, either plan something low key and ensure that the evening does not finish any later than 10pm or celebrate offsite. A venue located close to the city can be ideal, giving lots of possibilities of privatizing a local restaurant or roof top bar. This can also be a great idea for the evening of the brunch day.
At Château Gassies, everything is designed to make a destination wedding feel effortless.
With easy access from Bordeaux airport and train station, close proximity to the city, onsite accommodation, leisure facilities, and flexible indoor and outdoor spaces, every detail is in place to simplify logistics while creating a relaxed, multi-day celebration.
So you can focus less on planning, and more on enjoying every moment.
