The World of Château Bouffémont: An Interview with Billy Folchetti of Luxe X Billy Folchetti

Wedding days are a dream come true – a tangible realisation of love and celebration of a lifelong union. Uniquely special, these days come in many forms; at Château Bouffémont we’ve been delighted to see everything from an elopement to the romantic streets of Paris to intimate gatherings on our terraces and grand destination weddings in our royal château. And of course, every wedding needs an architect working behind-the-scenes to make these dreams a reality.

 

 

Weddings run through the heart of our Château and, with the same sense of inevitability, through Billy Folchetti’s career – including how he got started. “I was at a point in my college years where I was feeling a bit uninspired and insecure that my study choices were actually going to lead me where I wanted to go in life. At the same time, as the universe would have it, I was offered a sales job working for a company focusing on Vietnamese weddings. Prior to this opportunity I had never considered the wedding industry but I very quickly fell in love.”

 


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The Château Bouffémont Vlog: Château Bouffémont Wedding Photo Contest

 

The Château Bouffémont Vlog N° 009: A New decade 2020

 

Our monthly Vlog series offers an invaluable peek behind the curtain at the Château Bouffémont to let you see how the magic really happens. This month in our Château near Paris, exclusively for the Château Bouffémont Vlog, we’re looking back on a wonderful decade. We’ve had parties, events, weddings and so many beautiful couples – and of course, we started vlogging! We’re officially in a new decade, and this is our first vlog of 2020. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we’ve enjoyed making those memories.

 

 

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The Château Bouffémont Vlog: Decorate for Christmas with Château Bouffémont 

 

The Château Bouffémont Vlog N° 008: Christmas Decorating Ideas with Laura Le Cam and Madame de la Maison

 

Our monthly Vlog series offers an invaluable peek behind the curtain at the Château Bouffémont to let you see how the magic really happens. The festive holiday is just around the corner – those unforgettable moments spent with our family and closest friends. That’s why this month in our private château for rent near Paris, exclusively for the Château Bouffémont Vlog, we’re talking all about Christmas decorating. Our General Manager Sarp enlists the help of florist Laura Le Cam, and Madame de le Maison providing vintage tableware, to show you just how to decorate your home for Christmas.

 

 

We’ve prepared a step-by-step guide for you to create your own floral Christmas centrepiece, along with ideas for setting your table and a few bonus tips for decorating your Christmas tree.

 

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The World of Château Bouffémont: An Interview with Akiko Kovacs of Floraison

 

There’s a special significance attached to flowers, whose paper-thin petals and delicate scents hold a strange power over us. Nature’s rich colour and variety is on full display in their intricate, sweet-smelling forms. Buddha’s flower sermon saw him hold up a lotus flower; one enlightened disciple smiled in response. This disciple saw, inherent in the beautiful object, fleeting beauty – momentary joy. Flowers aren’t just beautiful, they’re symbolic, from bouquets celebrating joyous occasions to those given in times of sorrow. Stems and petals comfort and inspire us to reflect on our own place in the natural world, and on the way in which delicacy exudes its own power: “The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks,” says Tennessee Williams in Camino Real.

 

 

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The World of Château Bouffémont: Thanksgiving Day at Château Bouffémont

 

Autumn is ending and long nights are drawing into winter; the trees in the Montmorency forest are almost bare and all is peaceful along the leaf-lined forest paths. We’re entering a time of quietude and reflection, the necessary dormancy for nature to regenerate in time for spring – but within the cosy rooms of Château Bouffémont, the glittering festivities are just beginning.

 

 

Thanksgiving is here, a celebratory and joyful day of bonding with loved ones, on which we enjoy plentiful food symbolising a good harvest and a warm table. From North America to Japan, Germany to the Netherlands, days of thanks are celebrated in many different countries – each formed with their roots in the celebration of a good harvest. But what they all share is a focus on loved ones coming together to bond over thoughtfully prepared meals: on this day, they share gratitude for each another and the food they’re enjoying together. And what better setting for joyful celebration than our royal château near Paris?

 

 

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THE WORLD OF CHÂTEAU BOUFFÉMONT: An Interview with Gown Designer Joanne Fleming

 
Whispers of lace, delicate clouds of chiffon, slithers of silk, a veil lifted gently in the breeze… At the centre of any wedding, the bridal gown offers a story all of its own, from dreamy fairytale to captivating drama. John Keats says it best: “A thing of beauty is a joy forever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.”

 

Destined for a single, special wear, a dress can be one of the most significant elements of a bride’s wedding plans. On this day, an exquisite garment can transcend the physical to embody and exude a celebration of love, the symbolism of the wedding day and the promise that the future holds. Paired with an exclusive wedding destination in France, it creates a day to remember forever.

 

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THE WORLD OF CHÂTEAU BOUFFÉMONT: FIAC, International Fair of Contemporary Art

Our digital newsletter keeps you up to date with everything happening at Château Bouffémont – this week we delve into FIAC, International Fair of Contemporary Art.

 

 

A land of rolling pastoral hills and picturesque rivers, the Val-d’Oise region invites gentle reflections on nature and the self. Camille Pissarro’s paintings of ‘the essential nature of things’; Claude Monet’s Impressionist works formed in field-fresh air; Vincent Van Gogh’s Post-Impressionist dream fragments: imaginations have wandered through these green valleys and discovered in themselves unheard-of ideas.

 

This week we see FIAC, International Fair of Contemporary Art, launch in the heart of Paris. It offers a continuation of artistic imaginings and creativity, with a selection of almost 200 galleries – from Amsterdam to Zurich, New York to Tehran – given spaces in the city to exhibit works. Installations come from the modern masters of the early 21st century through to those pushing the boundaries of contemporary artistic thought. And with our French château near Paris, conveniently situated just 30km from the centre of the city, your stay affords the perfect time to visit this renowned art fair.

 

 

Among the grandeur of iconic Parisian settings, from the Grand Palais as a bastion of Art Nouveau to the Musée du Louvre, FIAC throws open the doors of the contemporary art world. Observe and explore vibrant aesthetics, immersive performances, cinematics and movements that crackle with potential. You can even experience a revival of Henri Matisse in joyful and unexpected forms, thanks to collaborations with Maison Matisse and artists given the opportunity to celebrate him through their own expressions.

 

Switch seamlessly from a royal château in France to regal glories, designed to showcase Parisian splendour to the world. The decorative intricacies of the Grand and Petit Palais, and the verdant Jardin des Tuileries, are works of art in themselves. They make an ideal backdrop to this international art event and host the majority of FIAC installations.

 

As you enter the Grand Palais, a billboard by Emekah Ogboh sets the tone for visitors with a thought-provoking message. Once beneath the glass-domed roof – a feat of Art Nouveau architecture, with its masterful ironwork – you can wander the many booths, which incorporate a large sculptural work by Yayoi Kusama in the Victoria Miro booth through to landmark pieces from the Hauser & Wirth collection. You can also meet artists, attend book signings on the Balcon d’honneur and more.

 

 

While you have to have a ticket to see the Grand Palais installations and events, the FIAC Programs also include a cultural performance program (Parades for FIAC), conferences (Conversation Room) and film screenings (Cinéphémère), that are free and open access – many hosted within the Petit Palais. Make your way past the imposing yet alluring golden gates into the marbled atrium, and explore the setting of this sister to the Grand Palais. The inner garden provides a thoughtful and picturesque setting in which to contemplate, discuss, or simply sit quietly for a moment. Close by, Jeff Koons’ ‘Bouquet of Tulips’ offers a tribute to the victims of the Paris terror attacks in the Champs-Élysées gardens.

 

 

This year, FIAC continues to offer a series of Hors les Murs, Outside the Walls, exhibitions in spaces beyond the Grand and Petit Palais. Head to Place de la Vendôme to experience more of Yayoi Kusama with her enormous, inflatable polka dot pumpkin. In the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries, take in the beauty of the garden cloaked in its autumnal colours, and enjoy twenty artworks that respond to their richly historical surroundings. If you’re imaginative in your observation of the garden, you’ll be rewarded. John M. Armleder’s new reading of his ‘Furniture Sculpture FS 85a’ sees three chairs suspended from trees in the Jardin du Tuileries, transforming this monumental work.

 

 

When you have taken your fill of art and let your imagination run free, our château near Paris awaits your return for a peaceful place to reflect. See you next time, for more news from us at the Château Bouffémont.

 

Keep in touch at @chateaubouffemont

 

The Château Bouffémont Vlog: How to Organize the Best Private Dinner Party

The Château Bouffémont Vlog N° 006: Organizing A Private Dinner Party

 

With its immaculately-designed luxury interiors and 19thcentury beaux-arts architecture, Château Bouffémont is renowned as the perfect setting for a destination wedding in France. But that’s not the only option – while an undoubtedly elegant backdrop for a French chateau wedding, Bouffémont is also available as a special occasion venue near Parisfor anniversary parties, birthdays, christenings, family reunions, and more.

 

These smaller gatherings and parties can be trickier to plan than larger events – there is a greater focus on details, and a desire to ensure that every single element is perfectly personalised. For this month’s vlog-to-blog instalment, we talk you through the top tips for hosting an intimate dinner party at the chateau, with guests who are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary with us.

 

From choosing the menu to picking the best music, styling the venue and maximising the décor, we have you covered. A chateau for hire outside Paris, Château Bouffémont is well-suited for everything from a small dinner party under the crystal chandelier, to a large Gatsby-style bash with a ‘20s theme. Read on to discover the best insider information to help you plan the best private dinner party for a smaller group.

 

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The World of Château Bouffémont: An Interview with Gilles Ketir

 

From the kohl used by the ancient Egyptians as protection against the evil eye, to the quick slick of red lipstick that heightens one’s confidence before an important meeting or hot date, makeup and styling has always offered a sense of magic – and your wedding day should be no different. Château Bouffémont only works with the best, so we decided to pick the brain of top makeup artist and hairdresser (and frequent Château collaborator) Gilles Ketir for styling tips for the big day.

 

Gilles Ketir worked in a hair salon for 15 years before he became a makeup artist – this allowed him to hone his craft and perfect his technique by participating in a multitude of competitions and shows. As well as working with us at Château Bouffémont as a makeup artist and stylist for private events, he is also a well-established talent in the world of fashion, working with some of the industry’s most respected names. As Gilles puts it: “I really appreciate the variety… All these prestigious photographers and models with incredible careers are very inspiring, and push me to bring out the best in myself.”

 

 

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