We have now hosted our first two weddings, and it has been a massive learning curve for us. In many ways, it feels as though we have come full circle. The last few weeks have been intense. Within the space of about a month, we hosted two weddings and a large 65th birthday party.
It was incredibly satisfying to finally start doing what we came here for, but it was also stressful. Whether you are welcoming five guests or five hundred, Château de la Boutinière has to look her best. That meant finishing the removal of graffiti, painting shutters, and making sure the garden was ready.
The weather for the first wedding could not have been worse. It rained constantly. Zion had made beautiful flower pots, but the flowers had to be changed four times because of the rain. Eventually, our first couple, James and Sarah, arrived. Until then, we had only spoken to them on Zoom, so finally meeting them in person felt very special.
They could not have been better guests for our first wedding. They quickly felt like family and were completely open to the experience. We had planned a beautiful day, including a horse-drawn carriage with two stunning horses. Because of the rain and cold, everything had to be moved indoors into the hunting lodge. We lit the log fire and filled the space with lights, and despite the weather, it felt magical.
The reason we were able to take a wedding that early was because the couple were happy to use the hunting lodge. Our main wedding barns are not ready yet and likely will not be for a couple of years, but the lodge works perfectly for smaller events. We also used it for the second wedding, which was for friends of ours.
For that wedding, we hosted a pre-wedding pizza party for around one hundred people. Guests gathered around small tables on the driveway, with a little bar set up in the corner. Shortly afterwards, we also hosted a 65th birthday party for another friend.
Over the last year, a huge amount has changed. We have gone from having two gîtes to four. We have completed three bedrooms and are in the process of finishing another three, all with en-suite bathrooms. It has now been three years since we moved here, and we sometimes forget just how much has been achieved in that time.
This period has also been marked by personal loss. My mum passed away just as the first wedding was about to take place. She was our greatest supporter. She was the one who travelled around France with us when we were looking for a château, with her two little dogs in the back of the car. After we bought this place, she stayed with us for three months, simply wanting to experience château life.
We have wonderful memories of that time, including dressing up for cocktails on the terrace. She even bought a special dress just for the occasion. We are sitting in her room now. This was the apartment and shower room Zion built specifically for her, although sadly she never had the chance to use it. We miss her greatly, but we have had to find a way to keep moving forward.
Things are beginning to calm down now. Most importantly, we finally have a system in place for weddings. We know what works, and we can tailor things to make each celebration feel personal.
And we certainly have plenty of flowers. An unbelievable amount, in fact. One day, we hope to grow them all ourselves.
Thank you for following our journey.