Weddings

Having your blessing and reception at Le Castel is a much more friendly and intimate experience than many traditional hotels. The idea is that Le Castel feels like your home.  Owner Jon Barnsley is on hand to ensure every detail is perfect. “Your blessing and reception can be as formal or relaxed as you wish,” says Jon.

Stunning blessing area

Formal blessing

Wedded bliss

Here comes the bride

Bride and Groom

Canapes

(Click the photos to enlarge and for descriptions)

Le Castel has six luxurious ensuite rooms in the main house and a further three bedrooms in cottages in the grounds. Other guests can be accommodated in hotels less than ten minutes away.

Le Castel is set in the four acres of parkland just outside the cathedral city of Coutances.

There is a stunning blessing area in a natural cathedral of trees.  The trees soar over 150ft high and have five canvas sails flying out of them. Amongst the trees are torches to give added atmosphere.

Some couples have an informal blessing with guests standing amongst the trees for the service. Others create an aisle and go for chairs with beautiful white covers and elaborate flowers – the choice is yours.
 
Jon can arrange for a religious or a non-religious celebrant for your service.

Le Castel specialises in blessings and receptions for 12 to 90 guests.

There is a stunning Camelot style marquee in front of the chateau. It is a unique hexagonal shape with three 8m high soaring peaks. It can be fully enclosed or opened up completely.

After the service
After the service guest usually move over to two pagodas on the lawn for champagne and canapés. An hour or so later you sit down for dinner either in the main chateau or in permanent marquees on the lawn.
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Reception food ranges from elegant cocktail parties to formal dinners or a more casual hog roast.

Jon and his staff are happy to arrange every aspect of your big day – from florists and hairdressers to catering and music.

(Click the photos to enlarge and for descriptions)

Comments from couples who have had their wedding at Le Castel include:

	“We can’t thank you enough for making our day so special, indeed the few days we spent at Le Castel were all wonderful. The wedding was just as I had wished for and you made us all feel very at home. I have had so many friends and family say what a fabulous time they had. We’ve some lovely pictures and the house and garden looks lovely in the sun. Thanks again for all your help and support to make our wedding so wonderful.”

	“Our wedding day was just perfect; the venue, weather and food were just lovely. Your efforts ensured that everything went like clockwork, for which we are very grateful. We have received cards and feedback from many people at the wedding who said how fairytale it was.”

	“I just want to say again thank you very very much for a wonderful wedding at Le Castel. We have been racking our brains trying to find something that wasn't right but we can't. Everything was absolutely perfect and we only have you to thank for that. I wanted the prefect wedding blessing and I got it. Everybody is still talking about the fantastic time they had, the house, the food, the wine and the hospitality were all exceptional. Emily has never cried before about coming home. Please thank Denise, Graham, Richard and all your staff on our behalf. The only bad news is that we will be back!!!! Even if only to prove that we can make it in 3 1/2 hours!!!. “

	“We wanted a wedding that would leave our guests talking about it for years to come and at Le Castel we got it! As we are based in England we had to put our trust in Jon to arrange everything for us and he certainly did not let us down. The flowers and the setting were just beautiful. Richard ( the Officiant) delivered a perfect wedding blessing set under the trees at the end of the garden. The reception tables were all arranged and dressed perfectly. The caterers provided us with food that was not only delicious but plentiful, topping it off with a spectacular traditional French wedding cake. The day couldn't have got any better then the sun came out!. From the moment we arrived on the Saturday to the time we left on the Tuesday Jon and his team made us and all of our guests (35) feel at home. Nothing was a problem, whatever we wanted/needed they were only to happy to provide. This truly was a perfect wedding.”

Other Information
Usually guests arrive three or four days before the blessing and explore Normandy’s top tourist sights, which include the mystical abbey at Mont St Michel, the Bayeux tapestry and the atmospheric D Day Landing Beaches. All are around 45 minutes to an hour from Le Castel.

Owner Jon can arrange treasure hunts for the guests which include discovering clues scattered around the countryside that involve the happy couple.

The ceremony in the trees

Child's play

The photos

Camelot marquee for weddings

Unique fairytale marquee

(Click the photos to enlarge and for descriptions)

Prices
Hire charge: Use of the chateau for a blessing and reception costs from 1,000 euro for 35 people. This includes the services of a wedding planner, use of the blessing area, the marquee, two drinks pagodas, all crockery, cutlery, glassware, linen napkins and table cloths. Additional guests are 26 euro a head.

Reception: Meals from 40 - 65 euro a head. We offer traditional wedding breakfasts, cocktail style receptions, hog roasts or even a picnic on the lawn with individual wicker baskets.

Accommodation: There is a minium three night hire period for accommodation at Le Castel for a wedding. We can sleep up to 20 people at Le Castel. There are six ensuite rooms in the main house and a further three bedrooms in cottages in the grounds. Costs 65 euro a night per person for B&B. Minimum 12 people. We also have use of a beautiful mill in the village that can take a further 20 guests. Other hotels are ten minutes away.

Table decorations, flowers, music, hairdresser, fireworks, balloons etc – upon request.

Extras – take a champagne balloon flight over Mont St Michel; let Thai lanterns rise off into the night, go bungy jumping.

Getting here
Le Castel is far enough away to be really different, but is close enough for people to get here easily. Ferry – Brittany Ferries sail from Portsmouth and Poole to Caen, Cherbourg or St Malo – all just over an hour away. Channel Tunnel – this is an easy 3.5 hour drive away Flights: Ryanair fly from London, Bristol and East Midlands to Dinard, which is 90 minutes from Le Castel. FlyBe have services to Rennes – also 90 minutes away. SkySouth fly from Shoreham to Caen in 8 seater jets.
Train: Take Eurostar to Paris and then the train from Paris to Coutances, which is ten minutes from Le Castel.

Honeymoons
Le Castel is also the ideal venue for a honeymoon. One couple commented:

	“Le Castel was everything we could ever have wanted for our perfect idyllic honeymoon. Sumptuous room, exquisite tranquillity, homely kitchen, warm welcoming hospitality, delicious food and regal felines! “Jon cooked us a late meal in the kitchen on our arrival. The first day we spent lounging on the lawn reading and snoozing. That evening we were waited on under the trees in the garden as we dined by candle light. Breakfasts were under shade on the patio (served late by request - a real bonus when you want to lie in!) Jon was an excellent host, attentive and friendly. We enjoyed just the right balance of professional service coupled with friendly conversation and informally which helped make our stay very relaxing. “The surrounding countryside was idyllic and the local people polite and welcoming. “Excellent value for money. We plan to have our anniversaries here! Wouldn't hesitate recommending it.”