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Date
the
SYDNEY & ANDREY ARE ASKING
YOU TO
AUGUST 20th - 22nd, 2025
WE ARE ELOPING & WE WANT YOU THERE
Our Wedding in France
WHEN
Arrival: August 20th, 3pm check in, 4pm Pool Party
Wedding Ceremony/Reception: August 21st
Departure: August 22nd, 11am
WHERE
We will be hosting our wedding at a private historical Chateau turned boutique hotel in the south of France from August 20th-22nd. Due to the size of the venue, we are able to offer subsidized onsite accommodation to all of our guests, which includes a French buffet breakfast, pool access, access to hotel amenities, and air conditioned private boutique-style rooms/bathrooms. We have already spent one night as a "test-run" at the Chateau, and are so excited to share this beautiful venue with you and have all our loved ones with us to celebrate this milestone. For planning purposes, we invite all of our guests to explore more information about the event and complete the questionnaire and below.
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Where is the venue and how do I get there?Chateau de Pondres is a 12th century noble manor house with extensive renovations done in the 17th, 20th, and 21st centuries, transforming it into a boutique hotel, spa, Michelin guide restaurant, and event space. The nearest large municipality is Montpellier, which is approximately 30 minutes by car. The closest airports are in Montpellier, Marseille (under 2 hour drive), and Toulouse, Lyon, and Nice (all of which are approximately a 3 hour drive). Larger airports in Paris, Barcelona, and Milan may prove easier to find flights from North America if incorporated into additional travel plans. It is also worth exploring rail options in Europe, as these can prove affordable if booked well in advance and are typically reliable. French rail is called "SNCF", and companies such as Flix bus can also be found throughout Europe for budget travel. For guests who find their way to Montpellier who do not plan on renting a car, we plan on helping as much as we can to transport individuals between the airport/train station prior to check in on the 20th. We would also greatly appreciate if an effort can be made to carpool when it makes sense to do so, and we and will assist in co-ordinating this between guests.
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How much is the cost of staying onsite?The Chateau has 24 rooms intended for a minimum of double occupancy, and we are happy to subsidize the regular inclusive nightly rate (starting from €289) for our guests. We are able to offer a reduced rate of €175 per double occupancy room per night. For our guests who are travelling solo, we are able to offer shared apartment style accommodation with private bedrooms for a reduced rate to help cut down on costs. Included in the reservation rate are: - Buffet style breakfast for all room occupants, including hot dishes, traditional French pastries, coffee/tea/juices, cheeses, yogurts/cereal, an assortment of bread, and more. - Access to the hotel pool with a pay-per-use poolside bar. - Air conditioned private suites with individual bathrooms. - Access to all common spaces in the Chateau, including the gardens, terraces, lounge, library, and spa (€15 for spa access per person, with massage/treatment services available upon request for additional cost). In the event guests wish to contribute more to the cost of accommodation, they are welcome to do so. All payments will be made directly to Sydney and Andrey, and in order to reserve a room full payment must be received by June 20th 2025. Due to the intimacy of our guest list, it is important to us that all spaces are being used to their maximum capacity. If payments are not received by this deadline, room availability will not be guaranteed. We also cannot guarantee refunds for any cancellations made after this date.
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What if I only want to stay one night at the hotel?That's okay! However, please note that if there is not enough demand for onsite guests on August 20th, we will be unable to privatize the hotel and while guests can still book rooms privately, we cannot offer a subsidized rate in this scenario.
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What room will I stay in?Because we are privatizing the hotel for two nights, we will be able to allot rooms to suit the needs of our guests. Rest assured, we have toured the venue and all rooms are stocked with soft beds, modern amenities, wifi, air conditioning, and all you need for a comfortable stay. There are three locations of rooms: those in the castle, those in the gardens, and those in an annex overlooking the pool, all of which have their own charms. Our main priority is making sure that guests with mobility concerns, larger families, etc. are able to stay in rooms that reflect their needs, as we are confident that everyone will be comfortable in this beautiful 4-star hotel.
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What are the dining options at the hotel?The hotel has a Michelin guide, French cuisine restaurant onsite, La Canopée. The chefs will be the same team catering our wedding reception dinner. The restaurant will be open for dinner on August 20th (Reservations recommended). Breakfasts are available at no additional cost to residents of the hotel on the mornings of August 21st and August 22th. Breakfast ends at 10am. The restaurant will not be open for lunch on August 21st in preparation for the wedding reception. There is a nearby grocery store (Carrefour, one of France's largest grocery providers), which is a ten minute walk away. Please note, the hotel rooms are not stocked with fridge/cooking amenities. Ice buckets are available for beverages.
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What about plus ones?While space is limited at the venue, we want our guests to travel in a way that is comfortable and enjoyable for them, whether that be solo or with a companion. We ask that you discuss your desired travel plans with us as they involve additional guests, and we will try to find the best arrangement that takes the space we have available into account. We are able to offer a select number of solo travellers discounted, apartment style accommodation with private bedrooms.
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What does the wedding day entail?We will be holding an outdoor (weather allowing!) ceremony around 4:30pm on August 21st, allowing lots of time for guests to enjoy the pool, spa, castle grounds, or even explore Montpellier prior to the ceremony. Following the ceremony, we will be hosting a cocktail hour with light refreshment and bubbly. Following this will be a short, intimate recital of music that is special to Andrey and Sydney, performed by a plethora of musical guests and the bride and groom. After the musical and edible libations, the team at La Canopée will serve a beautiful, French inspired 3-course meal. The evening will culminate in music, dancing, and a few surprises. There is no curfew, just be sure to be ready for an 11am checkout the next morning! Throughout the day wine, beer, soft drinks, and bubbly will be available. A hard liquor cash bar will be open following the culmination of dinner.
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Are you planning anything for the evening of the 20th?Yes! Check in for hotel guests is at 3pm on the 20th, after which we plan to have an exclusive pool party to welcome you to the property! We would also like to plan an offsite "Rehearsal reception" this evening (TBA). The hotel restaurant La Canopée will be open for those who prefer a quiet night on the premises. Please note, the pool closes at 8pm for cleaning.
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What about wedding gifts?We understand that it will be expensive for our guests to attend a wedding in Europe, and want to prioritize having you there to celebrate with us. If you would like to gift anything in addition to your presence, we are happy to accept financial contributions to offset the cost of the wedding & put towards future financial goals.
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But what will I wear?!Please bear in mind that this wedding will be happening in the south of France in August, ideally outdoors. We can feasibly expect weather anywhere from 20 Celsius to high 30's. Anything from cocktail attire to black tie optional would be appropriate (gowns welcome!), but please try to dress in a way that will make you comfortable in significant heat. Also worth noting is that we will not be having groomsmen or a bridal party, and instead want to have photos with all our invited loved ones. Wear polka dots or loud patterns at your own photographic peril! .