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All events take place at the Château.
Rock up from Thursday evening for a welcome drink and to meet your fellow guests. An informal evening at the Château — settle in, explore the grounds, and get into the spirit of the weekend.
Country music–themed barbecue. Arrive from 4pm for burgers, hot dogs, and line dancing under the Mayenne sky. Cowboy boots strongly encouraged. Stetsons, even more so.
The big day. Arrive from 1.30pm for the ceremony at 3pm in the grounds of the Château, followed by champagne, canapés, dinner, and dancing long into the night.
Eggs Benedict and coffee to see you home. A relaxed morning to say your goodbyes, swap stories from the night before, and soak up one last morning at the Château.
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The wedding will take place in the grounds of the Château. We invite you to enter through the Courtyard, then the Chambre du Roi, before stepping out into the Royal Gardens for the ceremony itself.
Following the ceremony, we'll gather around the champagne tower in the garden for canapés and a toast, before an intimate summer dinner in the courtyard, then dancing under the stars.
Garden formal. Think the last golden days of summer — rich jewel tones, deep florals, flowing dresses, linen suits, soft fabrics. Elegant enough for a castle, comfortable enough for warm weather. We'd love to see you in colour: the more vibrant, the better. Please avoid white.
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Château du Fresne
53640 Champéon, Mayenne, France
The Château sits in a green valley a few kilometres northeast of the town of Mayenne, about 2.5 hours west of Paris. Fly into Rennes (1hr drive) or take the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry. A car is advised but not essential — we'll be running shuttles from Laval station to the Château on the Thursday for those arriving by train.
We'd recommend the Friday 13:15 from London to Rennes to arrive in time for welcome drinks. For the journey home, there's a Sunday 15:15 from Rennes back to London. The Portsmouth to St Malo ferry runs daily and is a lovely way to cross. Those coming from Canada — fly into Paris, then it's a scenic drive or train west to Mayenne.
Some guests have been offered rooms or glamping on-site, but we can't fit everyone at the Château. You're very welcome to bring a tent and camp in the grounds — or if you'd prefer somewhere off-site, there are several charming options nearby:
Hôtel La Croix Couverte
Château de Bourgon
Grand Hôtel de Mayenne
La Marjolaine
Château du Fresne, 53640 Champéon, Mayenne. Fly into Rennes (1hr drive), take the Portsmouth–St Malo ferry, or Eurostar to Paris and drive west. A car is advised but not essential — we'll run shuttles from Laval station on the Thursday. We'll share exact directions closer to the date.
Some guests have rooms or glamping on-site. Everyone else is welcome to camp in the grounds, or book one of the nearby hotels: Hôtel La Croix Couverte, Château de Bourgon, Grand Hôtel de Mayenne, or La Marjolaine. Let us know your plans in the RSVP.
This is an intimate destination wedding. Only the named guests on the invitation are included — if you have a plus one, your RSVP will show it.
We're following the procedure of the English criminal courts — only babies and children over 10 years old are allowed into the ceremony. We'd love everyone (mums and dads included) to be able to let loose and enjoy a proper grown-up celebration.
Garden formal. Think the last golden days of summer — rich jewel tones, deep florals, flowing dresses, linen suits, and soft fabrics. Elegant enough for a castle, but comfortable enough for warm weather. We'd love to see you in colour: the more vibrant, the better. Please avoid white. September in Mayenne means warm afternoons and cool evenings, so bring a layer for after dark.
A car is advised but not essential. The Château is beautifully remote, but we'll be running shuttles from Laval station on the Thursday. Let us know in the RSVP whether you're arriving by car or train so we can plan parking and shuttles.
