These are the chapters:
1. Venue Fees
2. Catering Costs
3. Decorations and Flowers
4. Photographer and Videographer
5. Seating, Tableware and a Marquee
6. Dress, Make-up and Rings
7. Sound and Lights
8. Wedding Planner
9. Fun and Conclusion
1. Venue Fees
– Number of people to sleep: between 16 and 36
– Extra invitees for a celebration: between 64 and 44, so the total number of people doesn’t exceed 80.
– You can choose which vendors to work with
– No corkage fees
– Included in the rental fee are cleaning fees, bedding, towels, gas, water, electricity TV, the internet, and the use of the cinema.
– Prices at Chateau Coty range from 180 pp. to 450 pp. Examples;
– 3 nights in the low-season, 20 people, no extra invitees € 4.900
– a full week in the high-season, 30 people with extra invitees € 13.900
2. Catering Costs
When it comes to planning a wedding, catering is often one of the biggest expenses, besides venue rental. The cost of catering for a wedding can vary greatly depending on the number of guests, the type of food you want, and the level of service you desire.
A buffet-style meal is usually less expensive than a formal, sit-down dinner with plated service, like from a Personal Chef. Another factor that can affect catering costs is whether you choose to have a bar and what types of drinks are served. It’s important to work with your caterer to create a menu that fits within your budget while still satisfying the dietary needs and preferences of your guests. Keep in mind that many caterers offer packages that include not only food and drinks, but also linens, tableware, and servers. If you want a different style or more seating than available at the accommodation, you’ll also need to rent tables and chairs. See the cost breakdown of that in the next paragraph! Don’t forget to also consider the cost of taxes and gratuity when calculating catering expenses.
EXAMPLE CATERING COSTS
We’ll break down the costs of the wedding day, and breakfast/brunch the next day.
We won’t include the food costs during the rest of your stay. Most groups at Chateau Coty prefer to cook themselves and hire a helping hand for the dinner and the dishes, for a few hours per day. This will greatly reduce the costs, in comparison to having all food prepared by a caterer for your whole stay.
This is an example of a nice caterer, but still quite affordable. “Les Inspirés” from Agen, 30 km from Chateau Coty.
You can find the exact details of everything below and more in this PDF.
See also the (French translations)
All prices below include service, making the tables, cleaning up, and taxes (TTC)
- Welcome drink and snack:
Fruit infused water (Une eau infusée) € 3,00 pp.
Macarons (Pyramide de macarons) € 3,50 pp. - Cocktail Formulas:
8 pieces + 1 culinary treat (Formules Cocktail; 8 pièces + 1 atelier culinaire) € 23,00 pp. - Dinner:
Wedding Dinner (Dîner Plaisir) € 47,00 € pp. - Wedding cake:
Croquembouche (Pièce Montée) € 3,00 pp. - Drinks:
You can choose between buying the drinks yourself, or have everything provided by the caterer. If you provide the alcoholic beverages, they can serve your drinks. A fixed price will be charged for the handling of the drinks; drinks handling fee € 1 pp.
Here are the some examples if the caterer provides the drinks:
Cocktail apéritif: (punch / sangria / autres possibilités) € 3,50 per glass
Wine: Food & Wine pairing (Accords Mets & Vins) € 6,00 per glass
Champagne: Served during the dessert (Servi au moment du dessert) € 8,00 per glass
Beer Tap: with 30L barrel (Tireuse à Bières, fût de 30L) € 180,00 - Brunch the next day:
Buffet option without service (Option Buffet froid sans service) € 20,00 pp.
TOTAL per person for all the food examples above, excluding the drinks: € 96,50
If you will buy the drinks, it might be around € 30, to € 50 pp. depending on the kind of drinks, and amount. See a handy calculator here. If you’re looking to hire a personal Chef, the costs can be easily double.
3. Decorations and flowers
When planning a chateau wedding, decorations, and flowers are an essential part of creating that romantic and magical ambiance! You can expect to spend anywhere from a few hundred dollars for the bridal bouquet, wedding corsages and buttonholes, and table decorations. Seasonal flowers can also affect the cost, as some flowers are more expensive during certain times of the year. One way to save money on decorations and flowers is to keep it simple. Highlight the castle’s natural beauty and architecture by using minimal decorations, and focus on using flowers that are in season, like Wildflowers from Malin. You can also consider using candles, lanterns, or other lighting elements to create a romantic atmosphere. Another way to save money on decorations and flowers is to DIY. It’s recommended to hire a professional florist for the bridal bouquet, and wedding corsages. But making your own bouquets for decorations around the chateau can be a fun and creative way to personalize your wedding and save some money. Overall, it’s important to prioritize what’s important to you when it comes to decorations and flowers. A castle wedding is already a unique and beautiful experience, and the right decorations and flowers will only enhance that special day.
EXAMPLES
- Flowers:
Wildflowers from Malin; bridal bouquet, corsages, and table decorations together starting at € 300 - Decorations:
See some decoration examples here, you can rent them in Toulouse. To save, you can rent the deco, and maybe do a bit of DIY.
4. Photographer and Videographer
When it comes to a wedding day, there are so many things to consider that it can become overwhelming. One of the most important aspects of the day is capturing the memories that will last a lifetime! Hiring a photographer and videographer for your wedding is crucial, but it can also be expensive. The cost of a photographer will vary depending on the level of experience, the quality of the equipment used, and length of time needed. A professional photographer may charge anywhere from € 1,000 to € 5,000 for a full day’s work. As for videographers, they usually charge approximately the same amount. You can also find someone that does both photography and videography together, to potentially save on the costs. Also think about what kind of style of photography you want. The style can be subtle, or greatly accentuated, for example when you go for a vintage look.
When you consider that these professionals are capturing memories that will last a lifetime, it is worth the investment. Remember that the cost of a photographer and videographer will include more than just their time on the day; it will also include editing the photos and videos to ensure that they are of the highest quality.
Recommended Photo- and Videographer for Chateau Coty
Here you can find many more photographers
5. Seating, Tableware and a Marquee
There are many details that need to be taken care of, including setting the tables. It’s important to know what the venue provides in terms of tables, chairs, napkins, plates, glasses, and cutlery to avoid any unexpected costs. Most wedding venues provide tables and chairs, but it’s important to check how many there are, and if that’s sufficient if you have many extra invitees.
Also, consider the visual appeal of the tableware and seating provided by the venue. Is it the style you are looking for, choosing the right items can add a nice touch to your special day.
Secondly, depending on your group size, and the available spaces at the venue, you might want to rent a tent to seat all your guests. In the summer, you’ll need protection from the sun, and in the spring and autumn, you want to be sure that rain won’t ruin your dinner.
Here you can have a look at a PDF file with the exact amount of chairs and tables, and all the tableware available at Chateau Coty.
Rental of seating and tableware
Renting a marquee costs around € 4000
6. Dress, Make-up, and rings
Looking for a wedding dress, groom suit, make up, hair, and rings can be both exciting and overwhelming. When it comes to the wedding dress, it can be helpful to research different styles and designers before heading to a bridal boutique so you have a better idea of what you are looking for. As for the groom suit, you might consider renting instead of buying to save some money. When it comes to make up and hair, do some research and find inspiration photos to show your stylist. It’s important to do a trial run before the big day to make sure everything is just the way you want it. Lastly, for the rings, take some time to discuss what you and your partner want and choose something that is meaningful to both of you. Remember that this is a special day for the both of you and to have fun with the process.
7. Sound and Lights
Renting a DJ, band, sound, and lights for a wedding party can be a great way to ensure that you and your guests will have an unforgettable time, and take your event to the next level. Hiring a DJ can be a cost-effective option, as they will often bring their own equipment and have a wide range of music to choose from. Hiring a DJ starts around five hundred euros, including the sound and lights, count around three hundred more.
A band can provide a very specific and personal touch to your wedding, with their live performance and unique sound. Do you prefer a party band, or jazz music during the cocktail? To hire live music, it starts around a thousand euros, and can easily go up to two, or three thousand euros.
When it comes to sound and lighting, it’s important to make sure that the equipment is of high quality and fits the size of your venue. A professional sound and lighting company can provide the perfect setup to create the right atmosphere for your special day. It’s important to plan ahead and make sure that all the details are worked out in advance so that everything runs smoothly on the day of your wedding.
Links for: Dj’s, Bands, and Sound Equipment
8. Wedding Planner
Planning a wedding can be incredibly overwhelming, especially when you’re not familiar with the language of the country you’re getting married in. Wedding planners offer a range of services, from total organization to partial organization, design services and consultancy. With total organization, you can sit back and relax, while the wedding planner takes care of everything from venue booking, catering, decoration, entertainment, transportation, and more. The costs for total organization start around € 1000. If you want to be more involved, and have the time, or you are already a bit familiar with the French language, partial organization allows you to handle certain aspects of the wedding, while the planner takes care of the rest. Design services ensure that your wedding looks beautiful, that everything if aligned, and is tailored to suit you and your partner’s unique style. The consultancy is perfect for couples who just need advice and guidance on how to plan a wedding in France, this is available starting only at a few hundred euros. Whatever your needs are, a wedding planner can help you create the wedding of your dreams without the added stress of planning it all yourself.
Wedding Planner recommendations: Louise Ham, Clémentine Ward, and many more
7. Fun and Conclusion
Wedding parties can also be the perfect occasion to let loose and have some fun. One of the most popular ideas for a wedding party is to have a themed dress code. This could be anything from 1920s Gatsby style to a beach party theme. Another great idea is to have a photo booth where guests can take fun photos and leave a message for the bride and groom. You could even have some props like oversized sunglasses, feather boas, or silly hats to make it even more fun.
If you’re looking for something more active, consider organizing a scavenger hunt throughout the wedding venue or having a dance-off competition. You could even hire a professional instructor to teach a dance routine to the wedding party and perform it for the guests. No matter what you choose, the most important thing is to make sure everyone has a good time and creates unforgettable memories.
In conclusion, a castle wedding can be a magical experience that will be remembered for the rest of your life. As with any wedding, it’s important to consider the costs involved. However, it’s important to remember that this is a once-in-a-lifetime event and it’s worth investing in to make it truly special. With careful planning and budgeting, you can have the castle wedding of your dreams while still staying within your means. If you want to plan your wedding at Chateau Coty, with a small, and intimate group of for example 20 people, it’s possible to have all the costs of your wedding covered starting at € 12.000.