Wedding hotels

Château de Bagnols 

Beaujolais, France

Wow factor   Soar into the sky on a morning or evening champagne balloon flight over the château and surrounding vineyards.

Need to know   Up to 50 guests can stay at the château (it can arrange to transfer other guests staying at nearby hotels). You'll need to give hotel staff at least two months' notice, and for spring/summer weddings, you must book six months ahead. Weddings parties must book the hotel on an exclusive basis for a minimum of two nights. The 15th-century St Blaise church in Bagnols can accommodate 70 seated plus 20 standing guests. The château can also arrange musical fireworks, flower displays and entertainments.

Inspiration   The ancient cuvage (winery) dates back to the 18th century, and under its new guise as a restaurant can accommodate atmospheric, candlelit banquets for up to 120 guests, or cocktail receptions for as many as 200. For smaller gatherings, the château offers the Salon de Musique and the Salon Empire with its original Napoleonic decorations. The Bibliothèque is also available for parties of up to 60.

Château de la Couronne

Dordogne, France

Wow factor   Seduce your guests with the hotel’s one-of-a-kind blend of 16th-century architecture and cutting-edge urbane design.

Need to know   Château de la Couronne can accommodate 80 guests for dinner in its refectoire, but the five-acre gardens can play host to more if you put up marquees. Owners Mark and Nicky are both experienced event coordinators (thanks to their respective TV and fashion backgrounds), and will gladly coordinate all aspects of your wedding for a €1,000 event management fee.

Inspiration   The hotel’s historic fairytale-castle exterior will lend a shimmer of olde-worlde glam to your photo album.

Château de Massillan

Vaucluse, Provence, France

Wow factor   Fairy-tale castle turrets, vaulted ceilings and secluded gardens.

Need to know   The kitchen prepares excellent food and can cater for up to 80 people. Celebrations usually take place in the secluded courtyard, but only 70 can be hosted comfortably indoors. A marquee can be arranged in the grounds for larger events.

Inspiration   All sorts of weddings have taken place here. Isabelle the wedding planner will be at the disposal of couples who choose Château de Massillan as the backdrop for their nuptials.

Château les Merles

Dordogne, France

Wow factor   Château les Merles has all the grandeur you'd expect of a 17th-century château, but a uniquely youthful and relaxed atmosphere.

Need to know   The hotel must be reserved on an exclusive basis for at least two nights. No weddings in July/August. Couples who want to do the official wedding ceremony in France must arrange their own priest, minister or civil councillor. The staff can arrange all food, flowers, music and transport.

Inspiration   This venerable château has organised boat trips on the Dordogne, golf on the hotel's own course, tennis tournaments, wine tastings and gourmet cooking classes for wedding guests. The Dordogne is a treasure trove of fine wine and French gastronomy, and the château provides the very best of both; the hotel even has its own vineyard.

Domaine des Andéols

Provence, France

Wow factor   Hold your wedding party in a stone-house hamlet set in 25 acres of gorgeous Provence countryside.

Need to know   You can rent all nine of Domaine des Andéols individually styled houses for your guests. The hotel can also arrange musicians, catering, flowers and photography.

Inspiration   Take the wedding party wine tasting in the region, or head off on a celebratory hot air balloon ride à deux.

Hotel Crillon le Brave 

Provence, France

Wow factor   The area around the hotel is famed for its beautiful rolling lavender fields.

Need to know   The Hostellerie is no stranger to weddings and arrangements can be tailored to each couple's individual wishes. Around 120 guests can be accommodated for a sit-down dinner, with extra accommodation booked separately. There is room for about 70 guests to stay at Crillon. The hotel must be booked exclusively by the wedding party.

Inspiration   There are so many romantic possibilities: a string quartet playing on the terrace, flowers and candles, a French wedding cake or a champagne reception in the terraced gardens overlooking the vineyards.

L'Oustau de Baumanière

Provence, France

Wow factor   The hotel's kitchens are world-famous for their exquisite French cuisine.

Need to know   The hotel can cater for 120 guests, with the hotel booked exclusively for a minimum of two nights, or for 150 guests with extra guests staying at the hotel's sister property, La Cabriodor. Bigger weddings take place outside, weather permitting. Actor Jean Reno got married here.

Inspiration   L'Oustau de Baumanière takes a no-limits approach to weddings; the grounds of the whole estate are open to guests.