A French-American Wedding at Chateau de Maulmont

This season, as a wedding planner in Clermont-Ferrand, I had the opportunity to organize a wedding at the iconic Château de Maulmont in the Puy-de-Dôme.

This Franco-American wedding took place over two days (the pre-wedding dinner and the big day), allowing guests from the United States and nearby Vichy to enjoy the stunning surroundings of the château.

Here’s the story of this elegant wedding, designed to introduce French culture to the guests who came from United States.

Wedding Planning

Erin and Alex contacted me in June 2023, a year in advance. They already had the venue, the caterer, and the photographer. Living in Miami, they needed someone to help them with the overall organization of their wedding. During their visit, they instantly fell in love with this château, located near Alex’s hometown.

After discussing their vision, I searched for the remaining vendors they needed:

Florist: Erin wanted a “garden” style that would blend with the venue.
Beauty services
DJ
Jazz band
Chair rental to match their desired style
Stationery

Erin and Alex wanted the château as a backdrop for their ceremony, so I provided them with setup suggestions.

We took advantage of Erin and Alex’s visit during the 2023 Christmas holidays to tour the venue together and finalize the schedule for both the pre-wedding dinner and the wedding day. We also did a tasting with the caterer.

In the final weeks before the wedding, we refined the last details to ensure everything was ready for the big day.

I was present on-site for three days to coordinate the vendors and manage the setup and takedown of all elements.

Erin and Alex arrived in France about a week before the wedding, which allowed Erin to have her beauty trials and feel comfortable for the big day.

We only had one access point to the site, and the storms and mud made the journey challenging, but no vendor gave up, and everyone rose to the occasion.

The Wedding

Pre-Wedding Dinner

Erin and Alex chose to host a welcome dinner in buffet style, allowing their guests to explore the venue and enjoy a meal soon after arriving in France. The caterer set up a buffet under the château’s tent, and the guests could enjoy the terrace.

The Wedding Day

On the wedding day, we waited until the last moment to set up the ceremony, as the weather was unpredictable. The ceremony was planned to be held outdoors in front of the château, so it couldn’t rain.

After careful consideration and checking the forecast, we decided to proceed with the outdoor ceremony as planned.

Erin and Alex got ready separately, each enjoying time with their bridesmaids, groomsmen, and close friends.

The first look took place in private while the guests were seated for the ceremony.

After the first look, the couple made their grand entrance, each walking down the aisle with their respective mother and father. Erin’s sister and Alex’s brother officiated the ceremony, ensuring it was translated into both French and English.

After a joyous exit to applause, the couple joined their guests for cocktails, marking the start of the celebration. A jazz band played for two hours while the guests mingled. Fortunately, there were only a few drops of rain, which didn’t bother anyone and even brought out a beautiful rainbow in the distance.

The party continued with laughter and happiness as the guests sat down for dinner. Erin and Alex chose a big tart as their wedding cake, and the guests were delighted with the delicious dessert.