We wanted to share our plans for the coming year, because weddings are once again high on the agenda. This was not originally part of the plan. We had expected to open properly for weddings in 2026. However, an unexpected opportunity came along.
Some very good friends of ours, who have a holiday home in the beautiful nearby village of Angles-sur-l’Anglin, asked if they could hold their wedding here. From the start, it became clear this would be slightly different. What began as a small idea of around 80 guests quickly grew to 100, then 140, and now stands at around 150 people.
At the moment, we simply do not have any indoor space ready to host that many guests, so the decision was made to go with a marquee wedding.
We walked the grounds with the marquee supplier, tape measure in hand, only to be told that there was not a single space around Château de la Boutinière large enough to accommodate a marquee measuring 22 by 16 metres. That was initially disappointing, particularly for our friends’ daughter, but we refused to accept that it was impossible.
Eventually, we identified a potential site. At the time, it was nothing more than a mountain of rubbish. We explained that it could be cleared if we were given the go-ahead. As it turns out, the only suitable flat area is directly next to what will eventually become our wedding barns. Work has already started, with much of the ground levelled using the digger, although there is still more to do.
The biggest challenge now is working out how to get electricity to that specific location.
For the rest of the logistics, we have put the couple in touch with a caterer based in La Roche-Posay. They came highly recommended by a friend who previously owned a restaurant, so we are confident in their expertise. The caterer will be providing everything: tables, chairs, glassware, crockery, and staff. Our role is to act as the venue and ensure that everyone involved can do their job smoothly.
The marquee company itself has an interesting story. It is run by English people who moved to France, struggled to find a marquee for their own event, and decided to set up a company themselves. They are now very successful and were willing to drive three or four hours simply to measure the site and make sure everything would work.
Having this contact in place is invaluable. It creates another system for us. If future clients want a marquee wedding or a large outdoor event, we now have a proven solution and a beautiful flat area to offer.
As with so much of what we do, we are learning as we go. This opportunity came about because this family wanted to get married here so badly that they kept returning, each time with more friends and family involved, until we were convinced it could work.
Whatever happens, it promises to be an exciting event — and another important step forward for us.