Looking back at Marisa and Samy’s Wedding at the Chateau de Fourgerette feels like a lovely dream. Forget any preconceived notions of how your typical French chateau may look – this eccentric, bohemian castle is nothing like you’ve ever seen. It has 55 bedrooms and a huge tiled entrance hall with 6m high ceilings, as well as a few winding staircases and what feels like so many different halls and passage ways, you think you’d stumbled into a scene from Alice in Wonderland.
THE CASTLE
Built as far back as the 15th Century, the castle sits in the middle of a sprawling 20 hectare park. The park is home to a huge shady oak tree (where the ceremony was held), a small lake, rolling fields and a sustainable vegetable garden that supplies organic produce to the locals. The castle’s former owner was an eccentric Napoleon fan who added medieval style towers and a tiny outdoor gothic chapel. Since it’s takeover in 2013, the Chateau’s history of eccentricity has continued. It’s now the charming home of non-profit ‘Fou de Fougerette‘, an association that promotes the celebration of art and culture in all forms through sustainable, climate conscious activities.
THE WEDDING DAY
Marisa and Samy’s wedding at the Chateau de Fourgerette took place in Spring last year, just before COVID restrictions meant gatherings of this size were no longer allowed. We arrived the Friday before, and spent the morning eating freshly baked croissants and ‘pain au chocolate’ in the sun outside. We were also given a full tour of the grounds and the sustainable garden, which already had people from the neighbourhood lined up to buy their fresh veg and homemade pickles.
The rest of the day played out perfectly. After a moving ceremony under the oak tree held by one of Samy’s best friends, guests moved to the old wooden ‘ship’ by the lake for the aperitif, and later enjoyed a relaxed dinner under the stars in the castle courtyard, and a fire show.
A huge thanks again to Marisa and Samy for their trust, it was pure joy and an honour to document this magical day with you xo
