Please see a top line Q&A for any other details...
When is the RSVP deadline?
We're really keen to get indicative numbers so we can start planning again but we appreciate things can change. Please RSVP via Whatsapp by Jan 24th. At a later date, we will send out menu options once we have the final numbers.
Can I bring a date?No, any plus ones will be mentioned on your invite.
I want to stay on-site, is this possible?
Unfortunately, the venue only has sufficient space for the immediate family and the bridal party. Please do not phone the venue to book a room as there isn't availability.Where should I stay?
Reaux is super close followed by Jonzac (15-20mins). Cognac is a larger town but you have further to travel (30 mins). Check out our Stay tab for recommendations, Résidence Les Coteaux de Jonzac is the handiest!Is the wedding indoors or outdoors?
A mixture of both, the weather in France in April is not predictable! We'd also recommend avoiding stiletto heels due to the grass/gravel ground.I don't want to drive in France, what should I do?
We suggest you fly to Bordeaux or La Rochelle and then get trains to Jonzac or Cognac. The train should take about 1h 10mins on average and runs regularly. We then recommend you stay in Jonzac or Cognac and get to the venue/your accommodation by taxi - please contact your accommodation to see if they can arrange this for you. Alternatively, you could fly to Paris and arrange trains from there.Will food be served?
Yes! We will send out menu options closer to the time. You can add dietary restrictions or requirements when we send this out.What time should I arrive?
The ceremony is on Saturday 30th April. Ceremony time 2pm. We will update the website closer to the time with a full itinerary!What should I do between the ceremony and the reception?
The venue will be used for both parts of the wedding. Whilst you wait for the reception you can drink champagne, eat canapes and hopefully enjoy the sun!Where should I park?
Ideally, leave your car at your accommodation so you can enjoy the French wine and champagne! We will be arranging free shuttle buses home in the wee hours of the morning if you stay at Résidence Les Coteaux de Jonzac. Anyone driving can park down the lane if they need to.What should I wear?
Get your glad rags on! It's important you feel comfortable (enough to dance!) Black tie not required.How do I order a taxi?
Taxis are rare in rural France so if you need a taxi please pre-book. If you Google taxi companies Jonzac or Cognac you should get a selection of 5-6 numbers. Please arrange your taxi booking early.I have a question not answered here, what should I do?
Please reach out to your nearest wedding contact/family member.
Checking out the local area...
The pretty and popular spa town of Jonzac is just 5km away from the venue and contains all the services you would expect of a small town as well as a spectacular chateau with cafes & restaurants, boulangeries and a tree lined square, fantastic covered French market full of local seasonal produce and wonderful seafood from the coast.
There are plenty of historic towns to visit within about an hour: Saintes, Cognac, Angouleme, Royan, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, St Emilion and Blaye. There is lots of beautiful scenery to enjoy including fields of sunflowers and of course the landscape of cognac and wine vineyards where you can stop off and enjoy a glass or take a tour.Outdoor activities include kayaking (at Jarnac its particularly beautiful), cycling (the cycle tracks in the pine forests at the beach are brilliant for this), and some lovely local walks. Cote Sauvage, St Palais sur Mer and many other local beaches are all an excellent day trip!
BORDEAUX, GATEWAY TO THE VINEYARDS!
Bordeaux has long had a reputation as a town that takes itself very seriously - too seriously perhaps - but no more. The history and culture are still here but UNESCO classified Bordeaux has shed her dowager frocks and the city of wine has become fun, lively and an award-winning destination.
There are six regions that are proud custodians of French wine. If you'd like to explore and get more information we recommend you check out https://www.bordeauxwinetrip.com/However, there are many, many local vineyards in the surrounding area of the wedding venue that you can always pop in to.
Taste some Cognac...
Cognac is one of France’s most iconic products, yet little of it is consumed at home: 98% is exported. Authentic cognac can only be produced from a specific region but this vast vineyard stretches from the grand town of Cognac itself inland across the Charente region and over to the Atlantic coast. It is a delight to explore, with winemakers, distillers and the famed Maisons de négoces (cognac merchants) open for visits. Most people begin in Cognac with one of the multimedia tours (around €20) of the likes of Hennessy, Martell or Rémy Martin, all established since the 1700s. Alternatively, many houses and winemaker-distillers in the nearby countryside offer just as interesting (if no-frills) tours for free.
https://www.cognaccentral.com/2017/04/11/cognac-distillery-tour/
blog.cognac-expert.com/free-vs-paid-tours-cognac-houses/
The city of La Rochelle is one of France’s oldest and due to its importance to the nation from as early as the 12th century, it bears a lot of the landmarks from those early days. Any historian will appreciate the classic architecture. Any voyager will love the coastal location and the street markets. Anyone at all will enjoy the sense that, when holidaying in La Rochelle, you’ll never feel rushed and never crowded out.
Just the name of this glorious city is eponymous with viticulture, and if you’re an aficionado you’re almost duty-bound to come to the home of wine. You don’t need to be told that there’s a world of prestigious châteaux and smaller wineries to locate and visit.
But you might not be aware of the brand new Cité du Vin, a 21st-century architectural demonstration of what wine means to the city and the rest of the world. The UNESCO-listed old city, on a crescent-shaped meander in the Garonne, demands your attention too, with its extraordinary 18th-century quays and squares, and fabulous civic buildings made from a beguiling honey-coloured stone.
Let's explore the best things to do in Bordeaux: