We would love to steal you away for almost the entire Easter weekend in order to celebrate our wedding… You could say we're a little bit greedy like that! But if you are up for it, here's our suggestion on how the weekend will look.
We are having a welcome party at the château on Saturday evening and we would love it if you were able to make it for some food, a couple of drinks and a bit of a mingle. It is also a chance to let the kids (and big kids) meet the resident donkey and sheep, maybe take a dip in the pool or you could even take on Steve at the snooker table. Either way, we'd love to take the opportunity to relax with you before the big day!
We hope our wedding day will be a somewhat laid-back affair, with a ceremony starting at 3:30pm, which is the French way of doing things. Maybe you'll want to take advantage of the morning by having a lie-in or enjoy lunch out. The more active type might fancy an explore around the local village or a splash about in the pools at the château. Just make sure you keep your appetite for a 6pm dinner and energy for dancing through the evening. We can't wait to celebrate!
We'll be sad to see you go but alas, this is the finale! If you're not rushing off in the morning, we're hoping brunch will clear our fuzzy heads and you will be very welcome to join us for brunch at a local restaurant (location tbc). Maybe you could grab one more drink (or coffee!) for the road! If you're sticking around the area for a bit longer, take a quick look at what we're looking forward to seeing around Cazoulès. Maybe we'll see you there!
(By the way, if you can't make the entire thing that is a-ok! Just let us know your plans on the RSVP form.)
If you know us well, you know we can be pretty easy-breezy (one of us more than the other at times!). We have a feeling that this is the kind of attitude we’ll continue to have even on the wedding day itself, but luckily Chandler’s mum will be on hand to make sure all goes to plan (for those of you who enjoy knowing what’s going on and when).
Wedding Ceremony. Hankies at the ready.
Phew, lets have drinks and nibbles. Smile for the cameras!
Let's eat some grub and then listen to a couple of toasts.
Dancing shoes on. We'll make it a night to remember!
Château du Raysse is in the small village of Cazoulès, 3km from the town of Souillac in the Dordogne region of France and just a 15 minute walk from the Dordogne river. It is around a 120 minute drive away from the nearest airports: Bergerac, Bordeaux and Toulouse.
Phone: +44 7527 557 716
Email: chateauduraysse@gmail.com
Address: Le Passage du Raysse, 24370 Cazoulès, France
More information about the château hereWe regret that we cannot accommodate everyone to stay at the château with us, but luckily there are plenty of other lovely places to stay in Cazoulés for the weekend. We personally love using Airbnb for our getaway trips and we highly recommend taking a look at what's available in the local area there. We also have some recommendations below of places to stay, all within a 10-15 minute walk from the chateau; which were passed on to us from the owners of the château. Take a gander and see what you think!
This is a super lovely villa which sleeps up to 10 people and is only a short walk from the chateau itself (right at the end of the driveway, in fact!). We hear there is golfing on site at this villa, as well as table tennis and a BBQ area too. Perfect if you're thinking of sharing in a group (though you'll have to flip a coin for the bunk beds!) Click here for more details.
Next door to the villa is a sweet holiday cottage which sleeps up to 9-10 people. Start the day on Sunday in the hot tub or borrow the bicycles for a ride around the local area. You'll have to share the spacious garden with the chickens, but at least you might get fresh eggs in the morning... Sunny side up, all round! Click here for more details.
An airbnb option for a couple. This is a beautiful room in a huge house, where the guests have the run of the entire ground floor. The owners will even serve you breakfast in the mornings, which is already included in the price. We think this is such a lovely find and a really nice option for 2 people. Click here for more details.
A rather beautiful hotel option, a little further out than some of our other options but still only a 10 minutes walk away from the chateau. A great choice if you're not planning on sharing a house and if you'd like to be near shops and restaurants! Click here for more details.
Glampers and campers, this one is for you! A 10 minute walk away overlooking the river. Stay in a caravan or a glamping lodge; or you can pitch your tent and park your campervan. Whatever your camping style is, this place has it all! Click here for more details.
Another option for those travelling in groups. This is a modern holiday home with a gorgeous countryside view. It sleeps up to 10 people. (tip: use Google Chrome to view the site and it will translate it all to English for you! Click here for more details.)
If none of these are your style, feel free to take a look at Booking.com and Trivago for alternative options. We've popped the dates and location into the search bars for you already; simply adjust the number of people and you're good to go!
Sticking around for a bit longer to make the most of the Easter holidays? There's so many lovely things to see and do in the Dordogne valley! The area is particularly well known for the caves and chasms, medieval villages and over 1001 castles! You could kayak on the river, take a hike in the valley or check out the vineyards. There's something for everyone!
Here's what we're personally most excited to see around the local area. Maybe they'll take your fancy too!
Only 30 minutes away is Rocamadour, otherwise known as the vertical village built into the cliffside. There are some lovely little boutique shops here and great walks, but we reckon it looks particularly spectacular lit up at night. Make sure you get the cheese named after the village too!
Visit this gorgeous château for it's beautiful gardens, which include: waterfalls, peacocks, a tearoom and many events/activities throughout the day. There's even an Easter egg hunt that people of all ages will enjoy, although you may need to book tickets closer to the time.
This UNESCO Global Geopark is the result of more than 154 million years of history. You have to admit, it looks super cool! Take a guided tour of the 12 underground chambers full of striking limestone rock formations and rock pools. One to impress all ages!