Five Reasons to get married at a Chateau...if you need them!

Does anyone NEED a reason to get married at a chateau? Ok ok. Finding your venue for this day in your life is at the heart of everything. It's a big decision. So, let me help you: here are MY five top reasons to get married at a chateau.

Our buttercup baroque beauty

1. Grand and historic atmosphere

• Chateaux often provide a sense of glamour and a special feeling due to their historical significance, which can make your wedding day feel even more special.

• The architecture and historical context create a unique and impressive atmosphere for both the ceremony and reception. 

Why not start the photoshoot a day early?

2. Beautiful backdrops for photography

• The combination of majestic architecture and stunning grounds or gardens provides a multitude of beautiful, memorable photo opportunities.

• The elegant interiors and the surrounding natural beauty offer a perfect backdrop, making every photo look even grander. 

Everybody over to mine: we welcome 14 guests overnight

3. All-in-one convenience

• Many chateau venues offer a full-service package, meaning you can have your ceremony, reception, and even stay the night all in the same location.

• This eliminates the need to move guests from one place to another, making the day flow more smoothly. 

Do things as YOU want to...it's your wedding!

4. Exclusive use of the venue

• Booking a chateau can offer a sense of exclusivity, giving you the entire venue to yourselves for the day without interruptions.

• This allows you and your guests to celebrate in privacy. 

Our arched portico, which is an ideal inside/outside party space

5. Versatility for different seasons and guest numbers 

• Chateaux are often well-suited for any season, with elegant indoor halls for colder months and beautiful outdoor areas for warmer weather.

• The spaciousness of these venues can accommodate large guest lists, with both indoor and outdoor options available for guests to enjoy. 

Photos: Julie Fourmon and Maxime Postiaux

Five Trends for Weddings in 2026

What does the future hold? That's a question that any couple that is to be wed asks themselves. Why, the answer is clear: happiness ever after. That's why you celebrate your love so brilliantly, surrounded by family and friends. Most of these trends are perfectly in harmony with our beautiful baroque bijou, the Chateau du Jonquier.

What we DO know already though are some clear trends when it comes to wedding celebration in 2026: organic minimalism and natural chic rule. There's also a thirst for immersive and scenographic weddings. And if contemporary luxury and gallery-style celebrations don't go out of fashion, there's also a marked return of "village weddings", and a new, strong focus on eco-responsibility. These trends reflect a shift towards more personalized, sustainable, and visually captivating experiences. Who wants a cookie-cutter celebration? Thought so.

Here's a more detailed look at things to come:

1. Organic Minimalism and Natural Chic:

This trend emphasizes natural beauty with a focus on clean lines, organic materials, and a connection to nature. Think light, airy spaces, neutral color palettes, and a minimal, yet elegant, decor. Natural is something that is very close to our heart: Chateau du Jonquier is a haven for local wildlife and the vast expanse of its 5HA park allows for a lot of creativity.

2. Immersive and Scenographic Weddings:

Couples are creating themed experiences with elaborate set designs and theatrical elements. This could involve themed decor, interactive installations, or even performance art incorporated into the celebration. This is a perfect trend for Chateau du Jonquier: Its baroque beauty is something very rare and lends itself as a stunning scenery.

3. Contemporary Luxury and Gallery-Style Weddings:

This trend elevates the wedding experience with sophisticated, gallery-inspired aesthetics. Think sleek, modern spaces, curated art installations, and a focus on high-end details. I can see this happening at Chateau du Jonquier: some amazing art installation in our park, or above the water of our springs, canals and the etangs.

4. The Return of the Chic "Village Wedding":

There's a resurgence of intimate, community-focused celebrations reminiscent of village weddings. These events often feature local vendors, personalized touches, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. This is something that's very close to our heart at Chateau du Jonquier: yes, we are very private and hidden within our 5 HA park. But we are also part of the community.

5. Eco-Responsibility:

Sustainability is no longer an option, but a core value for many couples. Expect to see a rise in eco-friendly practices like using local and seasonal flowers, minimizing waste, and sourcing sustainable materials. As a Chateau with a 5 HA park, which is also a haven to local wildlife, we are BIG on avoiding waste and admire all imagination that works with what you have. That's what we do every day . Keeping things simple can be so sophisticated.

We so look forward to seeing these trends come to life during one of our lovely couples' celebrations. What else will the future hold? Que sera, sera...

All photos: Julie Fourmon

Seven Rituals at Jewish Weddings explained

Happiness is blind to colour, gender, age or faith. We welcome everyone to Château du Jonquier to crown their personal love story with an unforgettable ceremony and celebration. While we have our own Chapelle de St. Andiol, and our medival market town has a beautiful, large church, there is also France's oldest and most famous Synagogue in nearby Carpentras, as well as the big Southern Terrace and lawn at the Château. That's a good reason to learn more about the rituals of a wedding held in the age-old Jewish faith.

A Chuppah can come in many designs. I like the simplicity of this one...

Way before the Ceremony:

In a joyous ritual before the ceremony, close family and friends surround the couple (who generally are in two adjacent rooms, so they do not see each other before the ceremony) with good cheer and blessings. Historically, this practice was known as Hachnasat Kallah (Celebrating the Bride) and The Groom’s Tisch (The Groom’s Table) and guests visited based on gender. Today, many wedding couples – both heterosexual and LGBTQ+ – no longer divide the practice by gender. Instead, guests move freely back and forth between both rooms, visiting separately with the partners and their families. Because learning plays a central role in Jewish tradition, one or both rooms may include some Torah study and, for those so inclined, a bit of celebratory drinking (why ever not?) and singing (Yes, please - the more cheer, the better!).

• Breaking a Plate: Historically, the two mothers breaking a plate symbolized the acceptance of the conditions of engagement (when it was a separate ceremony). It also symbolizes the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and foreshadows the breaking of the glass that is part of the wedding ceremony itself.

  
  

• Signing the Ketubah: Historically, a ketubah (marriage contract) was a legal document that protected the bride’s rights and thus was her possession. Signing the ketubah is one of the oldest Jewish wedding traditions, dating back two thousand years. Today, the text often expresses the couple’s commitment to care for one another and to create a Jewish home together. This often takes place in a separate, more intimate ceremony immediately prior to the wedding ceremony. The Ketubah might be read out aloud later on.

  
  

• Bedeken (Veiling): Bedeken means “checking,” and some say this ritual has its roots in two biblical narratives. Today, if a bride chooses to wear a veil, at some point before the ceremony – either before for after the processional – her intended places the veil over her face.

  
  
  
  

During the Ceremony - celebrating family and togetherness

• Chuppah : The ceremony takes place under a wedding canopy, which represents God’s sheltering presence in the lives of the couple, as well as the new home they will build together. The presence of family members under the chuppah, as well as its lack of walls, signify that family and friends will always be welcome in the couple’s home. How lovely is that?

• Circling: Among Ashkenazi Jews (those from eastern and central Europe), it is customary for one partner to circle the other seven times before entering the chuppah, alluding to the seven days of creation and as a reminder that marriage is itself a process of creation. In a contemporary update, many heterosexual and LGBTQ+ couples choose to circle each other three times, adding one final circle together. This modern interpretation is so lovely!

• Breaking the Glass: At the end of the ceremony, it is customary for one, and sometimes both people in the couple, to break a glass. There are many interpretations of this ritual. Some consider it a reminder of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in the first century, for even at the height of personal joy, we must not forget the tragedies the Jewish and world communities have endured. Others explain that the fragile glass reminds us of the delicate nature of marriage, which must always be cared for and cherished. At the sound of the breaking of the glass, guests traditionally clap and chant “Siman tov” and “mazel tov,” Hebrew phrases that offer congratulations and good luck to the couple.

  
  

  

  
  

After the Ceremony - Let's celebrate

• Seudat Mitzvah (The Wedding Feast): According to Jewish law, wedding guests are commanded to celebrate, to have fun, and to increase the joy of the couple on their wedding day. There’s no more joyful way to do this than with dancing, including the hora, a traditional Jewish circle dance. During this dance, the wedding couple often will be lifted up and carried in chairs around the dance floor as part of the celebration of their marriage.

  
  

I love these rituals, which bridge the sacred spirit of holy matrimony with the earthy joy of living and feasting together. I already look forward to hosting many Jewish weddings at our beautiful baroque bijou in the heart of Provence. Many many congratulations and all the best for your life together!