A France destination wedding was the obvious choice for New Orleans locals, Raymond and Joanne, because her parent’s vineyard in Armissan has all the amenities for a wedding, including a banquet hall. Chateau Camplazens was the perfect venue for the couple to tie the knot. “Although having a wedding in France may have seemed like a daunting task, it was actually fun to plan and relatively stress free. Both my cousin and sister had been married at Camplazens, so I had a blueprint to work from,” Joanne says.

Hiring a local wedding planner to facilitate the process made all the difference for the couple. “Malvina Chassagne had been the wedding planner for my cousin and sister’s wedding and knows all the best local caterers, musicians and vendors.” Having that blueprint for a wedding at Chateau Camplazens allowed the couple to build their dream wedding on a solid foundation. The couple took what they liked from the other weddings and then added their own personal touches. “I love Pinterest and found so many cute ideas from it,” Joanne says.

Expecting friends and family to fly to another country for a wedding can seem intimidating, but the couple tried their best to make it an easy trip for their guests. “On the website we had detailed instructions about how to get to the vineyard and then had two local accommodations where we recommended guests stay. Some of the guests did have difficulty booking, but my parents were able to solve any confusion because they were local and could literally just pop in to talk to the front desk,” says the bride. Despite a few challenges in the travel process, many of their loved ones ended up making the journey. “We were so pleasantly surprised at just how many of our friends made the big trip over,” says the couple.

Once the couple was back in New Orleans after their wedding, they had a small get together to celebrate with those who could not make it. Even though some of their friends and family missed the occasion, they wouldn’t have wanted to hold their W-Day anywhere else. “We could never of had such an amazing wedding over the course of four days had we not been in the South of France. Everything cost less than it would have in New Orleans and the venue was free,” the newlyweds say. They may have had more guests at their wedding if they held it in thier hometown, but they say it wouldn’t have been as magical.

We asked the happy couple what advice they had for other couples who are planning a destination wedding. Here’s what they said, “Enjoy the process! Every little bit of it. If you are going to get too stressed out about something then it is not worth doing. Make the day your own and feel comfortable with every step. Feel free to be unconventional and do what feels right for you as a couple. Lastly, hire a great wedding photographer, like Arte De Vie, to beautifully capture all the moments you experienced, as well as the ones you may have missed. It is worth it!”

Raymond and Joanne embody the New Orleans spirit, “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” A Cajun expression meaning, “Let the good times roll!” It strongly conveys the “joie de vivre” of a destination wedding in France.

Vendors: Photographer: Arte De Vie; Wedding Destination: Armissan, France; Ceremony/Reception Site: Chateau Camplazens; Florist: Temps de Reve; Stationery: Scriptura; Gown Designer: Town & Country; Groom’s Clothing Designer: George Bass