Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicompte – a place for royal weddings
There is no better place for a royal wedding in France than Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte. And when I say “royal” I actually mean it.
The average budget of a wedding celebrated in chateau de Vaux le Vicomte is around 1 million euros, according to the venue manager. With rates like that, no wonder that only a few lucky couples could afford to celebrate their wedding in this stunning castle.
That being said, if you don’t need any extravagant installations that require booking extra installation hours, and if you are happy to work with ordinary vendors, rather than worldwide wedding industry leaders then you might be able to have a beautiful wedding with a “modest” budget of 400k€.
Yet, even when money is not a problem, couples can expect to have an interview with the chateau’s direction to see whether the image and style of the celebration correspond to the prestige of the place.
I haven’t heard of weddings being declined in the chateau de Vaux le Vicomte, but I’ve heard that a French singer, Aya Nakamura, has been refused to film her video clip in the castle, because of the image discrepancy.
Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte – historical background
Château de Vaux le Vicomte was built in the 17th century and has once belonged to Nicolas Fouquet, a French minister of Finance under the king Louis XIV.
Fouquet was rich beyond reasonable and loved luxury. He has been organising sumptuous celebrations inviting the most fabulous crowd to these parties, and using the latest entertainment techniques like fireworks.
King Louis XIV was scandalised by the wealth of his minister and has ordered to inprison him. He has then hired the team that has been working on the construction and decoration of Vaux le Vicomte to work on his palace in Versailles.
Complicated logistics
Weddings in chateau de Vaux le Vicomte are quite rare. The place is open to the general public during the day, which means you can only have access to a place when visitors are gone (by 6 pm). Your party is supposed to be over by around 2 am at night.
Under certain circumstances, it is possible for vendors to start working during the day time, provided that they don’t disturb visitors. It is mostly the case of florists that can install flowers, but your catering company won’t be able to install tables and chairs, for example.
Reduced rental times require meticulous planning and world-class logistics, as even a minor error will have a tremendous impact on the celebration. Extra staff is essential, this is why quotes you will be signing will surely be higher than in other castles.
It is important to understand that there is no accommodation in the chateau de Vaux le Vicomte and that it is not the place for a wedding week-end. You only arrive in the evening, and you leave several hours later.
In some cases, and only if your budget is really impressive, the château might be willing to close to the public. However, it is rather exceptional, and as Vaux le Vicomte owners state, their main purpose is to promote the French heritage, not organising events for the elite.
How much does it cost to get married in the Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte
Rental fees start around 50k€ for the evening, and extra 10k€ are billed should you need more time for the installation.
There is a limited number of catering companies authorised on-site, and most of them would charge around 350-500€ per person, plus logistics, open bar, and extras.
Elopements and photoshoots in chateau de Vaux le Vicomte
If you are dreaming about a wedding photoshoot in chateau de Vaux Le Vicomte, it is easy to realise! You only need to pay the entrance fee, and you will be able to have your photo shoot in the garden. For the photoshoots in the chateau, it will be necessary to hire the venue before it is open to the public (billed around 2500€).
If you plan your elopement for two in France, Chateau de Vaux Le Vicomte is a stunning place! You won’t be able to install any décor, and there are likely to be some visitors at any time, BUT the place is so majestic, that you will hardly notice it.
And, if you decide to get married in another castle, don’t hesitate to organise a group visit to château de Vaux le Vicomte for your guests!
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