A castle wedding is becoming incredibly fashionable and they are now all the rage following the weddings of Madonna, Tom Cruise, David Beckham and Eva Longoria and Tony Parker. But you do not need to be a celebrity to get married in France. Anyone can rent a chateau and get married in France and have a fairytale french wedding.

Eva Longoria star of “Desperate Housewives” and Tony Parker NBA basketball champion held their celebrity wedding in France. The civil ceremony was conducted by non-other than the mayor of Paris on the Friday. The couple held their religious ceremony on the 7th July 2007 at a 16th century cathedral opposite the Louvre.

The couple then held their wedding reception at 17th Century Chateau Vaux-le- Vicomte one hour south east of Paris. This luxury privately-owned chateau near the village of Maincy is said to have inspired Versaille. Louis XIV had its creator Nicolas Fouquet imprisoned for the rest of his life, because he did not like the guests applauding someone else, or visiting a home more luxurious than his old palaces. This envy fuelled his desire to destroy his then finance minister who wound up spending the rest of his life imprisoned. There is a famous saying about Nicolas Fouquet by Voltaire regarding the opening of Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte in 1661: “On 17 August, at six in the evening Fouquet was the King of France: at two in the morning he was nobody.”

The chateau will close its grounds to the public for the first time ever. The couple have hired the entire Chateau for 6 and 7 July and their guests have been invited to stay in the numerous bedrooms and private apartments on the grounds.

The privately owned chateau was shielded from prying eyes by 8 miles of high stone walls. A small troupe of guards were called in to lock down the sprawling, 1,235-acre grounds, and a public road leading to the chateau was sealed off for the wedding reception.

Tony booked Eva’s favourite singers, Lionel Richie and Jamie Foxx, to perform at the ceremony as a surprise It’s the second time this month that Lionel has filled the role as wedding singer having sung at the wedding of English captain John Terry last weekend. Other guests at their big day included Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones and Eva’s Desperate Housewives co-stars and Tony’s Spurs team mates.

After the ceremony there was a fountain show within the French style gardens. When darkness fell guests admired the spectacular views of the Chateau and the surrounding grounds by candlelight. More than 2,000 candles were lit throughout the Chateau and gardens to create the romantic effect.

OK! secured the exclusive deal for the wedding at a reputed cost of 2 million dollars.

Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte is where Kirsten Dunst’s Marie Antoinette film was shot. It is also where of Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal’s daughter was married at what has been claimed to be the most expensive nuptials of all time at over $55 million.

Typically three weddings a year are held at the chateau. Renting the facilities for five hours will set you back upwards of $47,596. Eva and Tony have contracted a two-day rental so that the massive crew of construction workers, decorators and security guards could get everything perfect for the big day. Eva’s lavish wedding was splashed on the pages of OK! magazine for a reported 2 million dollar exclusive deal which will helped cover the costs of their nuptials.

But do not despair, you do not need to be able to sell your wedding photos for 2 million to have a fairytale french castle wedding.

Anyone, especially non-celebrities can rent a chateau and get married in France and have a fairytale castle wedding of their dreams.

Marrying in a chateau means “becoming part of a fairytale,” says Mindy Weiss, Eva Longoria’s wedding planner “You’re walking into a chapter of a romance novel.”

While the price tag for a celebrity castle wedding often runs well over a $1 million your typical chateau wedding can be done for far less. European chateaux are being booked by non-celebrities in hoardes.

Apparently the Material Girl Madonna (Skibo Castle in 2000) and Spice Girl Victoria Adams (Irish castle wedding in 1999) are credited with heightening interest in “castle weddings” with pomp and circumstance.

Saying “I do” in a castle wedding is as fashionable as carrying the latest Chanel handbag for Hollywood celebrities today.

Destination weddings are a thriving business with 16% of U.S. brides choosing them last year, up 400% ten years ago.

Last autumn, the castle wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes inspired many a bride to put a castle wedding on her wish list.

Interest in the Odescalchi Castle has soared since Tom and Katie held their wedding there. Skibo Castle has a waiting list with hopeful brides paying a $40,000 initiation fee prior to a wedding booking.

Eva Longoria and Tony Park’s wedding on the auspicious 7th July 2007 at Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte has only fueled the trend. When a celebrity wedding in an exotic location makes headlines people see it and want to copy it.

According to Brides editor in chief Millie Martini Bratten, “The average U.S. wedding costs $27,850”. The 2006 average price tag of a destination wedding was $25,800, plus travel and hotel costs. Away-from-home weddings can be cheaper, because there are typically are fewer guests to wine and dine. The guests for a hometown event average 165 and 47 for an overseas location. However, a destination wedding at a luxury lodging attended by 30-40 people might run to $30,000-$40,000 a day, not including airfare.

Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte was created by Nicolas Fouquet, then finance minister to Louis XIV and opened on August 17, 1661. For the King to witness such applause going to someone else, to visit a home more luxurious than his old palaces and a magical garden, were trials for his self-esteem that were hard to endure, and they fuelled Louis XIV’s desire to destroy Fouquet. He was arrested two weeks later and never left prison.

Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte is said to have inspired Versailles and is no stranger to over-the-top festivities. The chateau hosted the wedding of Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal’s daughter, claimed to be the most expensive nuptials of all time at a reported $55 million.

Typically only three weddings a year are held at the chateau. Renting the facilities for five hours will set you back upwards of $47,596. Eva and Tony have contracted a two-day rental so that the massive crew of construction workers, decorators and security guards could get everything perfect for the big day. Eva’s lavish wedding will be splashed on the pages of OK! magazine for a reported 2 million dollar exclusive deal which will help cover the costs of their nuptials. You do not need to be able to sell your wedding photos for 2 million to have a French fairytale wedding.

This Father’s Day, why not treat Dad to a vacation where he can tee off at the luxurious golf chateau courses of the Loire Valley.

Whether he sees himself as the next Tiger Woods or simply enjoys the sport, he is sure to appreciate the resort
facilities and perfectly manicured 18-hole championship golf course set in dramatic natural beauty and boasting exquisite views. He will be able to enjoy his scenic golf in an unhurried manner.

France boasts only 280,000 registered golfers for 340 courses. This means lots of available tee times and no crowds on a course. Most guests just roll on up to the pro shop and take a choice from many available tee times.

Amongst historic chateaux, wine cellars, food specialities, son et lumiere (laser fireworks shows) are a selection of reputed golf courses: Les Bordes, Chateau Sept Tours, Ardree & Touraine, Cheverny, Orleans Donnery, Les Aisses, Sully-sur-Loire, Limere, Ganay.

The peacefulness and scenery in the Loire Valley make a golfing vacation a truly relaxing experience. You can add to the luxury of your vacation exploring the legendary Loire Valley by staying at one or more of the romantic castles available.

It is cheaper to play in France than on any of the top British courses. The money that you save on your green fees can pay for you to stay a golf chateau.

Famous the world over, the Loire Valley with its magnificent golf chateau courses is the third most visited region in France, just after Paris and the Cote d’Azur. Tours is now only one hour from Paris by high-speed TGV.

The Les Bordes Resort not far from Chateau Chambord is undoubtedly the most remarkable of all the resorts in terms of exclusivity and quality challenging golf. It was designed as a golfing Valhalla for Bic ballpoint millionaire, Baron Bich by Robert Von Hagge see Seignosse. It has been named the best course in Europe by the Peugeot Golf Guide.

The course was created 20 years ago on part of the late Baron Bich’s hunting esate in the heart of the ancient Sologne forest. It was designed with an unlimited budget. No expense was spared. A series of massive lakes was created and the millions of tones of displaced soil from the lakes were used to create the raised fairways twelve of which wrap around the water.

Les Bordes is consistently ranked amongst the top 100 courses in Europe and one of France’s top 5. Water features on 12 of the 18 holes on this course and it really is a challenge even for low handicappers.

Each of the 18 holes would qualify as a signature hole on most courses.

Expect to enjoy this spectacular course, but scoring well may prove to be more difficult. The best round ever played was by French professional Jean Van de Velde who went around in 71 shots.

French law states that you or your partner must be a resident of France for at least 40 days prior to the marriage. You must show proof of residency (such as an electric bill, a receipt of rent paid, etc.) when applying for a marriage license.

Because of this law, most people who have their heart set on a wedding in France (but not planning on moving to France) choose to have a vow renewal ceremony instead. The couple may have a small private ceremony before a judge in their hometown, and then travel to France with their wedding party and guests for another ceremony. Most of the time, the bride and groom (and the officiant) are the only people who know that the ceremony is a vow renewal and not the real deal. This way, you can still have your dream wedding in France, but you can also avoid the residency requirements and the extensive amount of paperwork, rules, and regulations.

In some cases, such as a couple living in France to attend school, or if you or your partner is a resident of France, and you wish to obtain a marriage license, here are a few of the requirements for a marriage in France:

All marriages in France must be performed by a French civil authority (an officier de l’état civil) before any religious ceremony takes place. This is usually performed by the Mayor – maire.

A religious ceremony may be performed after the civil ceremony. The minister, priest or rabbi performing the religious ceremony will require the certificate of civil marriage (certificat de célébration civile) as proof that the civil ceremony has taken place.

The bride or the groom must have resided in France for forty (40) days prior to the marriage.

The civil ceremony will take place in the town of residence.

French law requires the posting of marriage banns at the appropriate city hall no less than ten days before the marriage.

The first publication of the banns can be made only after thirty days of residence in France.

Required Documents (if you are traveling to France, be sure you pack these in your carry-on bag and not your checked luggage):

Most city halls (mairies) in France require some or all of the following documents:

A valid passport, or a French residence permit (carte de sejour);

A birth certificate (extrait d’acte de naissance) less than 3-months-old. Because the information on some birth certificates differs from that provided on French birth certificates, some individuals must submit additional information about their marital status.

Proof of domicile (justificatifs de domicile): You will need to present 2 proofs of domicile in the city of marriage (i.e.: electricity or telephone bills, rent etc.)

An affidavit of marital status (Certificat de Célibat ou de non-remariage) less than 3-months old: French city halls also usually require a certificate of celibacy. It can be done in the form of a notarized affidavit signed before an American Consular officer in France.

An affidavit of law (certificat de coutume): Some mairies may request an Affidavit of Law and Customs in addition to the Affidavit of Marital Status. The Affidavit of Law and Customs is a statement about U.S. marriage laws, certifying that the American citizen is free to contract marriage in France and that the marriage will be recognized in the United States.

A medical certificate (certificat d’examen médical prénuptial) less than 2 months-old:

Each party to marriage must obtain a pre-nuptial medical certificate attesting that the individual was examined by a doctor.

Remember that many documents in English will need to be officially translated into French, and in many cases, your ceremony will be performed in French, so you will need a translator at the ceremony.

Notwithstanding the beurocracy if you want a fairy tale last minute wedding you can not beat France.

A christmas chateau really is a fabulous experience.

Marinated Shrimp with Champagne Beurre Blanc

Now that we are open as a christmas castle vacation rental, we get to share our favourite Christmas recipes with a chateau full of lovely guests. This is one of our favourite Christmas recipes. We found it originally at epicurious.com and made some minor changes. We use Vouvray as it is our local bubbly and absolutely to die for. We save the champagne for drinking. We also use only 3/4 of the butter in the recipe, otherwise it can turn out a bit greazy.

A nice festive touch is to use Pink peppercorns as opposed to black peppercorns. May be next time we do a black and white theme christmas dinner or dinner party and we will use black peppercorns, but I think pink is pretty for Christmas.

Shrimp
1 cup Champagne or brut Vouvray locally from the Loire Valley
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons minced shallots
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
24 extra-large uncooked shrimp (about 1 kilo), peeled with tail left intact, deveined
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 cup (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 16 pieces

Sauce base
2 cups Champagne or other dry sparkling wine like Vouvray
1/3 cup shallots finely chopped
2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
1/4 teaspoon whole black or pink peppercorns

Preparation

For sauce base:
Combine Champagne, shallots, vinegar, and peppercorns in heavy medium saucepan. Boil until reduced to 1/4 cup liquid, about 20 minutes. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature.)
For shrimp:
Combine Champagne, olive oil, shallots, and ground pepper in resealable plastic bag. Add shrimp to bag and seal; shake bag to coat shrimp evenly. Marinate shrimp at room temperature at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour, turning bag occasionally. Mix chives, tarragon, and parsley in small bowl.

Preheat broiler. Spray broiler pan with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Drain shrimp; discard plastic bag with marinade. Arrange shrimp on prepared pan in single layer. Broil shrimp until just opaque in center, about 2 minutes per side. Stand 3 shrimp, tails upright, in center of each plate.

Rewarm the sauce base over medium-low heat. Whisk in butter one piece at a time, just allowing each to melt before adding next (do not boil or sauce will separate). Season beurre blanc to taste with salt and pepper.

Spoon warm sauce around shrimp. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve.

Go ahead and spoil yourself this year with a christmas castle