This entry was posted
on Tuesday, December 12th, 2017 at 11:42:45 am and is filed under Destination Weddings, Wedding Planning.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Chantilly, France – An Upcoming Venue for Destination Weddings
Destination Weddings, Wedding Planning - Dec 12, 2017
Chantilly, with its ethereal gardens and beautifully restored buildings, looks like a town straight out of a fairytale! Its natural beauty, proximity to the Charles De Gaulle (CDG) airport, and versatile venues that can be transformed into enchanting spaces make Chantilly an ideal choice for destination weddings. Travel expert Bhakti Taunk of Eastern Travels, and Parul Mehta of bespoke travel company Destination Globe, share their insights with WeddingSutra into what makes charming Chantilly such a hot draw for exclusive, high-end destination weddings.
Photo Courtesy: Northern France Tourism
Video Courtesy: Ram Bherwani
Indian weddings are elaborate and include a variety of functions that take place over three days to a week. What are some of the different venues in Chantilly one can explore for hosting these functions?
Bhakti: “A fine jewel in the crown of France’s cultural heritage, the Château de Chantilly has many spaces that can be used for planning intimate or grand celebrations. Four and five-star properties like the Dolce Chantilly, Tiara Château Hotel Mont Royal Chantilly and Auberge du Jeu de Paume offer multiple in-house venues for different events and celebrations. Another quirky and fun venue option that can be used for wedding functions such as cocktails and dinner, sangeet or a theme-night, is the Concorde Hangar that was also one of the venues in the wedding functions of Gokul Aggarwal from the RNA Corp.”
Parul: “The Maison de Sylvie is perfect for a very elegant brunch. The Bourget Runway which is close to the CDG airport is an ideal venue for a memorable cocktail evening that could include Bollywood music in an elegant French setting. The main ballroom of Château de Montvillargenne is also great for an intimate pre-wedding function like the mehndi function.
A traditional Indian wedding ceremony at the Château de Chantilly is perfect for those who want their nuptials to look and feel like a fairytale.”
Photo Courtesy: Northern France Tourism-Otte
A plethora of things are required for each traditional ceremony, from Indian delicacies, henna artists, and flowers to special mandap requirements. How can one source all these in Chantilly?
Bhakti: “For most Indian weddings, the families have preferred leading Indian chefs and caterers flown to the venue. Similarly, renowned Indian entertainers/performers, mehndi artists, make-up teams, and photographers are also flown to the venue for different ceremonies and celebrations. The flowers, decoration, chauffeurs are usually sourced locally. Given Chantilly’s proximity to Paris it opens up a myriad of entertainment options like acts by the Lido or traditional Can Can shows to evoke charms of old-world Paris. France is a gastronomic paradise with several Michelin-starred restaurants, and renowned chefs can be sourced to put together an authentic French meal.”
Parul: “I went to Chantilly six times with the bride’s parents. Each time, we carried a lot of wedding material with us that we safely kept in our hotel’s lockers. The staff was extremely helpful and accommodating. Since Paris is only 45 minutes away, everything is managed effortlessly.”
Photo Courtesy: Northern France Tourism-NBryant
Nowadays, pre-wedding photo shoots have become almost mandatory. What are some of the best locations in Chantilly that you would recommend for a pre-wedding photo shoot?
Bhakti: “Chantilly is filled with stunning locations and picture-perfect settings! Le Nôtre’s French-style garden and the English garden at the grounds of the Château de Chantilly is perfect for an outdoor pre-wedding shoot. The Hotel Château Mont Royal Chantilly provides a stunning setting for an indoor pre-wedding shoot. Amiens, about an hour from Chantilly, is a beautiful city with some magnificent attractions like the Cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens and the Hortillonnages (Floating Gardens). They offer a spectacular backdrop for a memorable pre-wedding photo shoot.”
Parul: “There are many pre-wedding shoot locations available in and around Chantilly like the magical Petit Château, Château Neuf, lakes and also the Floating Gardens.”
Photo Courtesy: Northern France Tourism-Domaine de Chantilly
How do you think a wedding in Chantilly would work from a logistical point of view, including that for accommodation and connectivity?
Bhakti: “The ease of processing a France Visa and Chantilly’s proximity to CDG airport (20 mins) contribute to making it a great choice for a destination wedding from a logistics point of view. The France Visa processing is easy and quick. The documentation required is simple and the turnaround time is merely 48 hours which is the shortest when compared to other Schengen countries. Moreover, the Consulate General of France and Atout France, France Tourism Development Agency, proactively work towards easing the process of bulk visa applications and provide extraordinary support with emergency applications which are common when executing such large weddings.”
Parul: “Chantilly has many hotels, but every hotel is within 10 to 15 minutes from each other. It is approximately 45 minutes away from Paris which makes it one of the most convenient locations for an Indian wedding. The French Schengen Visa is the most organized and the fastest. The French Consulate is very receptive and tries to help in every way possible.”
Photo Courtesy: Northern France Tourism-BT
Give us five reasons why a couple should choose Chantilly for their destination wedding?
Bhakti:
1. “Natural beauty! I recommend this elegant town for its natural beauty, exquisitely restored buildings, and ethereal gardens.”
2. “Location. At a distance of only 20 minutes from the CDG airport, it is perfectly positioned to connect to other major cities in Europe and the world.”
3. “Visa. The documentation required is simple and the turnaround time is 48 hours, which is a huge plus point when processing visas for a large group of people!”
4. “Accommodation. The versatile venues and a plethora of hotels across different categories (3*/4*/5*) helps provide sufficient choice to accommodate family, guests and different members of the crew.”
5. “Tourism. The well-organized and dynamic tourism boards here greatly facilitate all the planning and organizing by being the perfect link between the planners on one side and the destination resources on the other.”
Parul:
1. “Proximity to Paris.”
2. “Many options of flights to Paris from all over the world. Also, easy and fast visa processing helps.”
3. “Memorable settings in this small, quaint and romantic town make for unique backdrops.”
4. “Multiple regal and spacious locations that are perfect for hosting Indian wedding functions, each with a distinctive vibe.”
5. “Helpful, warm and hospitable residents of Chantilly who make guests feel very welcome.”
For more information about planning a fairytale wedding in France, click here.
