Travel Curious Often reveals the most refined secret

The most refined secret location for an exclusive 3 day
wedding house party in true Downton Abbey style
Flames crackling in a majestic fireplace, mellow candlelight reflecting
on delicate crystal Champagne flutes, a purple velvet bottle of Claret
accompanying savoury meats en sauce, ornate bone china and heavy
silver resting on crisp embroidered damask linen, in short, the most
refined and romantic setting to “pop the question”!
And then muse away together about when, where, how and with whom
to celebrate the memorable event…
After discarding the usual Country Club wedding with hundreds of
“must include” guests and acquaintances, then ruling out the trendy
but solitary faraway island found on the cover of every glitzy travel
brochure, you come to wish your family owned a stately manor, a
Downton Abbey type of place, to which you could convey parents and
closest friends for three days of elegant festivities, travelling back into
time and stepping into the exclusive world of French aristocracy…
Previous guests at Château de la Barre, a private estate less than 2
hours West of Paris, did just this.
Having spent a long weekend at the chateau shortly after meeting each
other, the day they became engaged, they phoned up Comte &
Comtesse de Vanssay, who had in the meantime become their friends
Guy and Marnie :
“Could you by any chance host our wedding for us over three days in
October? Be a sort of Maggie Smith character as in Downton Abbey?
There will be both our parents, our siblings and about twelve very
close friends”.
Enough to privatise all of the twelve luxurious en-suite rooms and
suites, each gilded with sumptuous designer fabrics, fine XVIIIth
century antiques, tapestries and paintings.
Invitations bearing the chateau family crest were quickly dispatched,
in the style of those sent out for Kate and William’s wedding the same
year! And some telephone calls later, a menu worthy of “Babette’s
Feast” was drawn up with the châteaus’ top chef. Bookings were
secured for the many onsite activities and the countdown began with
house staff busy polishing oak parquet floors, intricate bronze
handles, and all the antique silver, while the gardener went into
overdrive to ensure the vast flower garden was at its’ prime.
D day – 3, some shopping addicts hit Paris prior to D-1, Friday, when
all the wedding party met up at the fast speed train station for a 43
minute trip down to Vendôme, a quaint little city along the Loir. Then
off to their secret location, Château de la Barre, welcomed by Comte &
Comtesse de Vanssay, 20th generation in their ancestral home, the
walls of which have seen many a family gathering!
Indian Summer was balmy and afternoon tea was served under the
centennial elm trees, along with fresh cider from the château orchard.
At 4pm the “stag” party head off to the famous 24 hours Le Mans race
track for a competition driving eight different Porsches under the
mythical Dunlop tire. The “hens” opted for a foie gras cooking course
with (much!) wine tasting. At dusk, all congregated for a stroll around
the magnificently restored medieval Plantagenet city, followed by a
visit to the cathedral where Henri II married Alienor of Aquitaine more
than 800 years ago, and finally, a gourmet dinner in a XVth century
oak beamed Auberge, before the magical light show onto the Gallo
roman walls began.
Saturday, D day, began with a leisurely brunch, then once the
hairdressers arrived, all disappeared into their respective rooms while
tables were cleared, deliveries receptioned and more bouquets set up.
3 pm saw the most elegant group make their way to the newly
renovated family chapel for a blessing. The bride and groom glided
down the little isle to kneel on the prayer benches in front of the alter,
as Nancy, the bridesmaid but also a soprano opera singer, broke out
into an angelic rendition of Schubert’s Ave Maria. Light streamed
though the stainglass windows as they exchanged their vows.
During the short walk back to the château everyone’s gait became light
as the first notes of “Hello Dolly” sifted out into the air coming from the
chateau reception rooms. The groom’s parents had met during the
original musical!
A lively champagne cocktail ensued, to further tunes played by the
Jazz orchestra from the trendy band of Club de la Huchette, in Paris’
Latin quarter.
Cameras were flashing as the bride and groom kissed underneath the
portrait of the Marquis de Vanssay, who had been married in these
very rooms in 1778. Actually all the furniture of the ornate Grand
Salon had been crafted especially for his wedding and has never left
the château since!
To the call of “Les mariés sont servis”, bride and groom led the way
into the XVIIth century grand dining hall, mellow golden Sauternes
glistening in the candlelight through in the thick cut crystal amidst an
abundance of white lilies with their intoxicating fragrance. Laughter
and joy mingled until the wee hours of the morning, accentuated by
witty speeches and the rhythm of cheerful favourite songs requested
and danced to by all.
Food not being a priority on everyone’s list on Sunday, it had been
decided to embark on a cultural sightseeing excursion down to the
romantic and famous Chateau de Chenonceau, known as the castle of
the six queens. With a visit to Leonardo da Vinci’s home on the way.
And tea in the “most English of French Gardens” on the way back,
hosted by the owner, sister in law to former French President Giscard
d’Estaing, grande dame and famous horticulturist.
The farewell dinner was an informal and relaxed impromptu
Mediterranean couscous, with Count & Countess disguised in
Djelabahs, an amusing sound off to the bride and grooms’ departure to
Marocco for their honeymoon! But rest assured, we managed to avoid
the belly dancing!
In the morning, we all saw the bride and groom off early to catch their
flight, then some guests lingered on for another two days of
aristocratic R&R, simply enjoying the bucolic scenery, the medieval
villages and discovering the well hidden gourmet auberges France is
famous for.
The Comte & Comtesse, however, had little rest, since everything
needed to be geared up for another couple, older this time, who had
requested a similar scenario, but to celebrate their 25 th wedding
anniversary with a renewal of vows.
Comte & Comtesse de Vanssay
With 20th anniversary Vow Renewal Guests Didi and Harvey Geller
Château de la Barre
Loire Valley
France
+ 33 2 43 35 00 17
www.chateaudelabarre.com