We now rent out our chateau as a romantic venue for a french castle wedding. A fairytale wedding castle in the Loire Valley is a perfect location to get married. A destination castle wedding is becoming very fashionable among celebrities, but you do not need to be a celeb to have your own fairytale wedding in a castle in France.

It is amazing the diversity in quality of wedding speeches and how many speakers panic at the thought of delivering their speeches.

Here are a few pitfalls to avoid, and a few tips to heed, when giving a wedding toast that will leave other wedding guests impressed.

Prepare for Your Wedding Toast

The first key to an impressive speech is preparation. Decide first whether you will you just wing it or whether you will you write it out and read it verbatim, use notes for reference?

Normally just winging is best left to the naturally gifted speakers and unless you fall into that category unquestionably it is most likely to get you in to difficulties on the day. If you want to wing it on the day, it is worth making some well-rehearsed mental notes before going into it.

Writing Out a Toast

If you’re a great writer, there’s nothing wrong with writing out your entire toast. Your ease with language and your ability to string together impressive words won’t be lost on your audience provided only if you read your toast with conviction. Just don’t get too stuffy like Frasier would. Read it convincingly and pause and remember to breath.

Or alternatively you can elect to just to make some notes to keep you on track as you go – this will allow empathy from the wedding party and your fellow guests, and it gives you the flexibility to make changes on the fly as you see what’s working and what’s not as you deliver your toast.

Here is a simple but universally effective game plan for delivering a fail safe wedding toast.

No-Fail Toast Game Plan

First introduce yourself, and your relationship to the bride or groom. Explain how you came to know them, and how far the three of you go back. Next think funny, but don’t be obnoxious. Share a witty story about how you met either the bride or groom, and how their lives became better after they were together.

Talk about some quirky characteristic that one of them has which completely complements the other. Remember that wedding audiences are generally easy going. They are all friends, and they’re probably a little drunk or even a lot drunk.

A good natured approach will get them smiling and if your lucky laughing with almost no effort. But remember whatever you do, the goal is to NOT embarrass the bride and groom in front of everyone they know. Never mention ex-girlfriends or boyfriends, This is a toast, not a roast.

Make the Wedding Toast Emotional

Talk about what an incredible couple they are, how inspiring they are to all those around them, and how the world is a better place with them together. Bring up the beautiful union of families. You can hint about the expectation of incredible kids down the line.

Keep the Toast Positive

If you are in trouble, go for compliments. The poor wedding couple have been through a lot to get to this day, and sometimes it’s just nice to hear how much your friends and family dig you. Also be sure to steer clear of these all-too common snares:

Wedding Toast Faux Pas

Boring your guests, insulting your inlaws, and pronouncing your love for your best friend’s wife are all pretty much faux pas in the game of life.

Don’t drink too much before your toast – a drink to loosen up is okay, but much more than that and you’ll be telling old college stories that are best left in college.

Never use an insult of any kind – this is a festival of love, remember? Don’t use any corny one-liners, make sure that any humor in your toast comes from genuine emotions.

Staying Cool During the Toast

But if all this sounds totally daunting and you have broken into a sweat just reading this because you are simply terrified of speaking in front of other people, just keep it simple.

Tell the bride and groom how much you care about them, and how much it means that they have included you in their wedding celebration. Wish them all the success in the world, have everyone raise a glass, and give them a big hug.

Easy, peasy. No sweat necessary.

Here are the french literal translations for two Christmas Carols that are sung to the same tunes in English.

Douce nuit is the French version of Silent Night. They are sung to the same tune, but the translation given is the literal translation of the French Christmas carol Douce nuit, which is quite different than Silent Night.

Douce nuit, sainte nuit !

Dans les cieux ! L’astre luit.

Le mystère annoncé s’accomplit.

Cet enfant sur la paille endormit,

C’est l’amour infini,

C’est l’amour infini !

Sweet night, holy night!

In the heavens the star shines.

The foretold mystery comes true.

This child sleeping on the hay,

Is infinite love,

Is infinite love!

Lyrics for “Au Royaume du bonhomme hiver,” a French Christmas carol

Au Royaume du bonhomme hiver is a French Christmas carol, the equivalent of “Winter Wonderland.” They are sung to the same lyrics, but the translation of the French given here is literal, as the French lyrics are quite different than the English ones.

Écoutez les clochettes
Du joyeux temps des fêtes
Annonçant la joie
De chaque coeur qui bat
Au royaume du bonhomme hiver.

Listen to the bells
Of the joyful holiday times
Announcing the joy
Of each heart that beats
In the kingdom of the winter snowman.

Sous la neige qui tombe
Le traîneau vagabonde
Semant tout autour
Une chanson d’amour
Au royaume du bonhomme hiver.

Under the falling snow
The sleigh wanders
Spreading all around
A love song
In the kingdom of the winter snowman.

Le voilà qui sourit sur la place
Son chapeau, sa canne et son foulard
Il semble nous dire d’un ton bonasse
Ne voyez-vous donc pas qu’il est tard ?

France is magnificent at Christmas time. The little french villages are a mass of Christmas Decorations, spirits are high, the shopping is to die for.

We now rent out our chateau during the festive season as a holiday christmas castle. Come and lord it up at our christmas castle and enjoy roaring fires with your family and friends, walks through the forest, roast goose, foie gras, champagne and shrimp. Come and experience a christmas castle.

Christmas is a very special time of year to visit France. It is a particularly handy time for antipodeans to visit France and Europe as the festive season co-incides with the big summer school vacation.

France is a very catholic nation and many french go off to Christmas Mass.

This is one of our favourite French christmas castle Recipes. After all France is the nation that we can thank for foie gras.

If the prospect of yet another dry turkey with all its trimmings leaves you feeling a little jaded, try a French favourite and serve Roast Goose rather than the boring old turkey.

You can have your golden goose and eat it at our chateau this Christmas.

Goose is Gordon Ramsay’s favourite Christmas roast. This is our favourite recipe for Roast goose. We now rent the chateau out for a weekly rental over the Christmas and New Year holidays fully-catered. Last year we received lots of compliments on our roast goose at our christmas castle.

Tips if you are doing this at home yourself:-

For those of us who take on the responsibility of preparing Christmas dinner (voluntarily or not) this can be a very stressful time of the year. But as any chef will tell you, the key to providing a successful meal is mise en place – in other words, preparation and organisation.

If you buy your goose in advance you’ll need to know how to store it. Always unwrap the bird and place it either in a refrigerator or cool larder. Place the giblets into a refrigerator. If you want to store longer than two days (for giblets) or five days
for (geese), it is best to freeze. Geese freeze very well, thawing takes around 24-30 hours. Pat dry with a dry cloth and they will roast to perfection.

The roast goose can be prepared or assembled the night before, so that all you’ll need to do is put it into the oven on Christmas morning.

Make sure that your to go in[spin] the oven.

Do remember to use some of the rendered fat from the goose to baste the potatoes with, as it imparts a wonderfully rich flavour to the spuds. Keep the rest of the fat to use through the winter months.

Lastly you do not have to wait for Christmas for “One Goose A Roasting” you can serve Roast Goose for a wonderful Sunday roast at any time of year.

This year let us spoil you over Christmas. Rent a christmas castle and sit back and relax and enjoy lording it up with your family over the festive season.

Ingredients:-

1 large yellow onion (chopped)
1 large tart apple (chopped)
1/4 cup chicken stock (organic is best)
6 cups toasted fresh bread crumbs
1/2 cup currants or chopped raisins
1/4 cup slivered almonds (toasted)
1/4 cup minced parsley
1 teaspoon dried sage leaves
1/4 teaspoon each salt and black pepper
1/3 cup chicken stock
1 goose – 4 kilos, giblets removed

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Calculate the cooking time (see tips, below). If the goose is ready-trussed, then loosen the string and pull out the legs and wings a little – this helps the bird cook better. Check the inside of the bird and remove any giblets or pads of fat. Using the tip of a sharp knife, lightly score the breast and leg skin in a criss-cross. This helps the fat to render down more quickly during roasting.

2. Combine the onion, apple, and 1/4 chicken stock in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until onion and apple are tender.

3. Combine onion mixutre, bread crumbs, currants, almonds, parsley, sage, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Toss 1/3 cup stock with bread crumb mixture.

4. Rinse goose; drain, and pat dry. Prick the skin on the lower breast, legs, and around the wings with a skewer. Stuff and truss goose. Then, place goose, breast-side-up, on a rack in large roasting pan. Insert a roasting thermometer in its thigh without touching bone.

5. Place remaining stuffing into a lightly greased casserole; cover and refrigerate.

6. Roast goose for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until the thermometer registers 175°F, drain fat often. A goose gives off more fat during roasting than most other poultry. Every 30 mins or so, baste the bird with the pan juices, then pour off the fat through a sieve into a large heatproof bowl . You will end up with at least a litre of luscious fat – save this for the potatoes and other vegetables. At the end of the cooking time, leave to rest for at least 30 minutes, covered loosely with foil. The bird will not go cold, but will be moist and much easier to carve.

7. Bake the covered casserole of stuffing alongside the goose during the last 30 minutes of roasting.

8. Let the goose stand for 30 minutes and then serve.

Makes 6 servings.
Preparation time: 20 minutes.
Cooking time: 8 minutes.
Roasting time: 2 hours.
Standing time: 15 minutes.

The Loire Valley in France has the largest selection of fifteenth and 16th century chateaux. With around 60 “must see” chateaux sprinkled on both sides of a 100-mile sweep of the Loire River, the first-time visitor can feel overwhelmed.

Details of 5 of the best-known castles are below.

Chateau Chenonceau

Chenonceau Chateau amazes you with its two-story, 260-foot Great Gallery spanning across the River Cher. Originally “acquired” by King Francois I, it passed to his successor, Henri II, who gave it to Diane de Poitiers his mistress. Diane expanded the castle and constructed a bridge over the river.

When Henri II died, his bittered wife, Catherine de Medici, took revenge on her rival by forcing Diane to exchange Chateau Chenonceau for nearby Chateau Chaumont. Catherine then commissioned the construction of the bridge gallery. Unbelievably extravagant galas were hosted here until Catherine’s son, Henry III, was murdered. His wife, Louise de Savoie, placed the castle in mourning, furnishing it entirely in black and white.

History leaps out as you tour the rooms and the gardens. In world war I the Great Gallery was converted to a hospital. In WWII the castle marked the boundary between free and Nazi-occupied France and became the site of prisoner exchanges. Today the castle and grounds are maintained at their height as if they were at under Catherine de Medici.

Chateau Clos Luce

Not more than a half mile from the village centre is Chateau Le Clos Luce, a castle built and designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Under the generous sponsorship of Francois I’ he lived the last three years of his life here. The rooms are filled with 40 models of Leonardo’s inventions so you can marvel at his impressive mental powers and foresight five hundred years earlier.

Chateau Amboise

The narrow cobbled streets of Amboise wind at the base of the huge Chateau Amboise. Although only 25% of the original castle survives, the fortress walls with flying banners look down river and the village at its feet. It was here that King Francois I hit his head on a low arch, bringing an early end to his life.

Chateau Chambord

King Francois I was not content with just the castles at Amboise and Chenonceau. He acquired over 10,000 acres of hunting land and decided to build the world’s most incredible “hunting lodge.” Chambord was constructed over many decades by Francois and his successors, Henri II and Charles IX in the 16th century.

Fully restored now, Chambord stands as the most extravagant of all the Loire chateaux – 500 feet wide with 440 rooms and 365 fireplaces. The central grand staircase was supposedly designed by the great Italian, Leonardo da Vinci. It has double spirals which enable two parties of people to descend and climb simultaneously on foot or horseback without meeting. Chambord will reward any visit with its grandeur and extravagance.

Chateau Chaumont-sur-Loire

Built in the fifteenth century by Lord Amboise on the site of a tenth century feudal fortress, Chaumont has incredible views of the Loire Valley. It was later the home of both Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici of Castle Chenonceau fame. Enjoy this castle for its furnishings, drawbridge, fortress feeling, tapestry, and incredible vistas.

Rememer whilst castle hopping to take the time to happen upon some local wine cellars, for tasting or “degustation”. Take the time to relax and soak up the atmosphere and enjoy your vacation.

We run a luxury castle in the Loire Valley, perfect for a wedding castle and for visiting vineyards, castles and relaxing with family and friends. A french wedding castle is a wonderful location for a wedding.

Go ahead and spoil yourself with a wedding chateau