The World of the Château Bouffémont: Activities for Autumn

 

Our digital newsletter keeps you up to date with everything happening at Château Bouffémont – this week, we discover the best local activities to celebrate the new season

 

 

Symbolist poet Remy de Gourmon once called autumn “as joyful and sweet as an untimely end”. There is a feeling of wistfulness about this season, bittersweet and poignant, as the leaves change colour and eventually wither and drop, and the animals begin to search for burrows and nests in which to soon hibernate. A beautiful period that embraces the darkness required for future renewal, autumn offers a great time to get out and enjoy the natural world in all its blazing, red-and-golden glory – and where better than in the luminously beautiful natural surroundings of the Château Bouffémont? Read on to discover our top tips for autumnal adventuring.

 

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The World of Château Bouffémont: Girolles Mushroom Omelette

 

Our digital newsletter keeps you up to date with everything happening at Château Bouffémont – including recipes, interviews and activities in the local area

 

 

The great English poet John Keats famously described autumn as the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” – a phrase that’s been on our minds as the summer draws to a close and the longer nights begin to gradually creep in. Even here at the Château Bouffémont there is a little nip in the air, and the leaves seem to be thinking about changing their colours. The transformation of the seasons calls for a recipe that’s a little more on the cosy and warming side, perfect for enjoying with friends – and what could be better than a classic girolle mushroom omelette?

 

Girolles are a specific (and extremely delicious) type of mushroom known for their creamy colouring and slightly sweet flavour profile. A beloved staple of chefs everywhere, girolles are best enjoyed in simple dishes such as omelettes, in order to truly appreciate the complexities and richness of their flavour. Rich in Vitamins C and D, a girolle omelette makes the perfect autumnal pick-me-up – especially when complemented by the timeless simplicity of a little salt, pepper, butter, garlic and olive oil. Divine.

 

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The Château Bouffémont Vlog: Choosing Flowers And Decorations For A Wedding

The Château Bouffémont Vlog N° 005: Choosing Flowers And Decorations For A Wedding

 

Château Bouffémont is a French chateau for rentwith a difference. With our harmonious balance of baronial grandeur and ultra-modern attitude, the castle can be styled in endlessly kaleidoscopic new ways in order to provide the pitch-perfect backdrop for your big day – whatever your artistic vision may be.

 

Flowers and decorations are an essential part of this transformation process, as they provide the all-important fairy tale element befitting of a French chateau wedding. For this month’s vlog-to-blog instalment, we took a trip around a Parisian flower market with Billy Folchetti – a frequent collaborator with us at the Château, and the founder of the celebrated, high-end agency Luxe Paris.

 

Billy takes a ‘made to measure’ approach to every event he designs, maximising the capabilities of an event space in order to reflect the mood and style of the couples he works with. Read on below to discover his top tips for curating a romantic wedding atmosphere via the medium of flowers, and to learn more about styling for your big day when planning a destination wedding in France– or watch the full video to witness Billy and the rest of our team in action for yourself.

 

 

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The World of Château Bouffémont: An Interview with Videographer Tuan Nguyen

As every event planner worth their salt knows, special celebrations tend to pass by in a flash – each meticulous arrangement gone in a swirl of champagne and conversational sparkle. One way to ensure that the memories last forever is by engaging the skills of a videographer, who can help you to capture and enjoy each moment for years to come. With this in mind we spoke to Tuan Nguyen, event film creator and frequent face here at Château Bouffémont, to pick the filmmaker’s brain and discover how to record the magic of a special day you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

 

Born-and-bred Parisian Tuan Nguyen has been in the business of event videography since 2011, working mostly in and around the capital and its suburbs with a loose-knit but loyal team of freelancers that he can call upon when required. Tuan estimates that he has probably participated in over 400 weddings, proposals and elopements during this period – so he definitely knows the most important things to focus on when planning out the video for the most important day of your life.

 

Known for our fairy tale setting and magnificently refurbished historical interiors, the Château Bouffémont feels perfectly tailor-made to double up as an opulently romantic film set. Tuan has been working with the Château for several years, visiting regularly to create his elegant proposal and wedding videos – as the filmmaker himself explains, “I love Château Bouffémont because it is a typical French château, and it’s only for intimate events – this is what I prefer to shoot!”

 

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The Château Bouffémont Vlog: How to Organise the Perfect Outdoor Wedding

The Château Bouffémont Vlog N° 004 : How to Organise the Perfect Outdoor Wedding

 

Here at the Château Bouffémont, show-stopping events are kind of our specialty – and if it’s a French chateau wedding package you’re after, you’re definitely in luck. A destination wedding in France provides a classically chic setting, with an outdoor wedding offering a great way to incorporate the beauty of local scenery into the occasion. Guests will love to enjoy the fresh air and greenery of an outdoor setting, often opting for seasonal florals and decorations to reflect the beauty of the seasons. Read on to find out our top tips for planning an outdoor wedding.

 

Our latest vlog, co-hosted by Jennifer Fox, an American wedding planner and long-time partner of Château Bouffémont, is packed with tips and tricks to help you pull of the most perfect outdoor wedding. She talks us through how the chateau recently organised an outdoor wedding supper for 40 people, after a ceremony held in the Grand Salon.

Read on below to learn more about how to organise a beautiful outdoor wedding when you stay at a chateau in France– or watch the full video to see how the team use our beautiful grounds to their very best potential.

 

 

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The World of Château Bouffémont: Sous-Vide Roasted Pork Belly

Our digital newsletter keeps you up to date with everything happening at Château Bouffémont – including recipes, interviews and activities in the local area

 

The Château Bouffémont is a dream destination for gourmands and foodies, thanks to our team’s abiding love for all things delicious. This week we will share a tried-and-tested favourite recipe for sous-vide roasted pork belly.

 

This succulent treat can be served on a rustic board surrounded with rocket for a casual  family lunch, or refined and nestled against some charred hispi cabbage for a special occasion. Pair it with a juicy Grenache to cut through the fat of the belly, or with apple sauce and a zingy Alsace Riesling. In order to allow the pork belly to crisp up and the fat to render off perfectly, we recommend placing the strips skin side down (Step 9) for as long as possible.

 

 

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The World of Château Bouffémont: An Interview with DJ Chris Ange

Music is the true foundational element of any romantic celebration – whether that’s a private candlelit serenade, a string quartet during the wedding ceremony or a rock band at the reception. As Shakespeare himself put it: “If music be the food of love, play on…” With this in mind, we spoke to renowned DJ and frequent Château Bouffémont collaborator Chris Ange, to get all his best tips on planning the music for your special day.

 

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The Château Bouffémont Vlog: 7 Pro-Tips for Organising the Perfect Wedding

 

As we know, the best weddings give a sense of the couple they portray – your taste, style and personalities can all be reflected in the stylistic choices you make together as newlyweds. With this in mind, we offer an exclusive look at a wedding editorial photoshoot held at the Château Bouffémont, complete with the seven most important things to remember while organising a wedding.

 

The shoot is organised by Nancy Twickler, an international wedding photographer based in Rotterdam. Nancy takes a romantic and dreamy approach to her work, with an instantly recognisable style that exudes timeless elegance. The editorial shoot is supported by a fleet of other high-class wedding vendors, including a wedding planner, florist and makeup artist, for a flawlessly executed day. Read on below to hear our vendors’ best tips and tricks for organising the perfect wedding – or watch the full video to see the team in action.

 

 

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Just for Two at Château Bouffémont

 

Discover Château Bouffémont’s new smaller-ceremony options – ideal for intimate ceremonies, romantic getaways, wedding proposals or renewal of vows.

 

 

Château Bouffémont is globally-renowned as an elite wedding destination just outside Paris, thanks to the romance and grandeur of the castle’s 19th-century setting. Now we are offering a new option designed to suit smaller and more intimate wedding occasions – a small-scale ceremony.

This small ceremony option is available on weekdays, during a maximum period of four hours – offering a miniaturised encapsulation of the Château’s timeless sense of luxury.

 

 

“Just for two”

Thinking about eloping to get married, or looking to do a surprise wedding proposal? Château Bouffémont is one of the best places in the world to celebrate romance, thanks to our idyllic setting of lush, fairy tale grounds and opulent interiors – and our small ceremony option is no exception.

The special couple will gain private access to the entirety of Château Bouffémont – from our five magnificent halls, to the grounds’ five hectares of gardens and terraces. A fully customisable small ceremony includes:

– A complimentary bottle of champagne, plus appetisers
– Availability for up to 15 people (including the couple)
– Access to a suite of your choice for photoshoots
– Usage of Château furnishings

 

 

It’s not just large, extended celebrations that are romantic – a lavish French castle is the perfect spot to execute a unique elopement idea or a surprise marriage proposal. If you’ve ever been tempted to run away and get married, you can’t fake the influence that such venue would make. This might be the closest thing we’ve seen to a perfect excuse.

 

Our “Just for two” option also makes a smart choice for those looking for a unique place to make the love of their life their soon-to-be wife through a surprise proposal followed up by a surprise engagement just outside Paris.

Keep in touch at @chateaubouffemont

The World of the Château Bouffémont: Father’s Day Special

Our digital newsletter keeps you up to date with everything happening at Château Bouffémont – this week, we discover the best local activities with which to treat the special man in your life. 

 

 

Writer and philosopher Umberto Eco said it best when he explained: “I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren’t trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom.” This week at Château Bouffémont, we pay homage to male mentors and figures of support in honour of Father’s Day on Sunday 16thJune. Read on to discover a guide to the very best activities in the local area, to treat the most important man in your life.

 

 

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