Château de Vallery · Jul 8 to Jul 10, 2027
Words from Shilah
This wedding is a love letter to our family and friends, and in these wild, uncertain times, we can think of nothing better to fill us with so much joy.
Celebrating our marriage with you in France, and bringing you into the beautiful love bubble that we found at Château de Vallery, will be the ultimate way to cement our future together. We’re going to create a truly magical weekend full of music, beauty, creativity, yummy French food and drink, and of course full of ooey gooey, juicy love. The best kind.
I think, by this time, you all know that Guillaume and I are hopeless romantics (well, maybe no longer hopeless since we finally found each other), but this place hit on every romantic ideal about love we’ve ever had. Once we walked the property, we knew that we had to take you there. From the worn trails through the forest, to the Renaissance and medieval architecture, to the sexy pool, to the manicured gardens and ancient trees, to the thoughtful décor and detail: all of it is done with such intention and a deep respect for the place and its history.
It will be our ultimate pleasure to have you there with us. It only happens TWICE in a lifetime!
Shilah
P.S. And, no pressure to come. We know this is a really big ask of your time and it’s really far. We won’t be upset if you can’t make it, but we’ll of course celebrate back at home.
Le Lovefest
Château de Vallery will be celebrating its 1,000th anniversary in 2027. Yeah, it’s 1,000 years old (!!!) and we get to celebrate with the owner and his family, who spent decades of blood, sweat and tears restoring it.
Vallery, Yonne · Summer 2027
5:00pm
We reserved the château first and only afterwards looked properly at the calendar: Jul 8, 2027 is Shilah’s birthday. We took that as permission to make the first night a proper party. So Thursday belongs to her. We are keeping the rest of it a surprise.
Morning through afternoon
A slow Friday at the château. Drift in and out of the pool party; join us for yoga and meditation in the rose garden; or find a picnic blanket in the shade for lounging and catching up. There will be crêpes, pétanque and pastis, with a brunch spread along the long stone table by the pool. Come for all of it, or simply join whenever you wake up.
The forest · Gathering at 5:30pm
We will meet at the edge of the forest at 5:30pm and walk out together. Then a ceremony, cocktails and a long shared feast. We fully intend for the music and dancing to carry on until the sun comes up.
Swimming Pool · Late morning through the afternoon
One last gathering before we say goodbye. A proper petit déjeuner by the pool: coffee, croissants, orange juice, nothing formal. The château is ours until the afternoon, so swim, lie in the sun, and help us empty whatever bottles are left.
Est. 1027 · Lovefest 2027
The Place
It started with a phone call. Guillaume rang his friend Brice, who got on his motorbike and rode out to Vallery to see it for us. When he called back, we were on a plane within days. A knight once rode out from Château de Vallery for the Crusades. Ours came back with better news.
Next year, Vallery turns one thousand years old. Its medieval cellars still stand; its Renaissance wing was built by Pierre Lescot, architect of the Louvre. But what decided it for us was the family. Patrice bought it in ruins in 1989 and has spent every year since bringing it back, room by room. You can feel that devotion everywhere.
For three days, we will have all of it, with no curfew, no closing time, and music drifting to the edge of the forest. We want you in the château or in the village, so Vallery feels like a small festival of love.
Curious what a thousand years looks like? Read the château’s full history
Getting There
About 90 minutes south of Paris · Vallery, Yonne
ParisChâteau de ValleryWhere to Stay
01 · First dibs for traveling guests
Twenty-five rooms sit inside the château walls, from the grand to the charmingly simple. If you would like one, let us know by September 30, 2026.
A tiny château reality check: it is gloriously not a hotel. There is no concierge, restaurant or daily housekeeping.
Vallery village · Église Saint-Thomas
02 · Vallery, France
A remodeled guesthouse at Château de Condé, with approximately 20 rooms, is opening right in the village for summer 2027, just a short walk from the château.
We will add booking details here as soon as they become available.
03 · Vallery and the surrounding region
For guests who want their own little home base: our curated Airbnb, plus gîtes, cottages and private homes in Vallery and the surrounding region. The village options offer more space and independence, and most are a short drive or walk from the château.
04 · Sens
Sens is a 20-minute drive, and Hôtel Epona is a lovely option for guests who prefer the familiar comforts of a traditional hotel experience.
Answers
The Lovefest begins on Thursday, Jul 8, 2027, and concludes after our poolside petit déjeuner on Saturday, Jul 10, 2027.
Fly into Paris through Orly (ORY) or Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Vallery is about a 90 minute drive from Paris. If you prefer the train, services from Paris can bring you closer via Sens or Montereau, while Villeneuve-la-Guyard is the nearest station, about 15 minutes from the château by taxi.
There are two themed evenings: Thursday for Shilah’s birthday, and Friday for the wedding. We will share both themes closer to the date, so keep a little room in your suitcase. There is also a pool, so pack a swimsuit.
Elliott, Julien and Laura will be with us, and they will each have a buddy so we can properly enjoy ourselves. Beyond that, we are keeping the celebration kid free. Between Shilah and my guests in France, we have almost 60 children amongst us, and that was way too many small people for the château to be responsible for.
Possibly. It is France.
Also possible. Fair warning: a thousand-year-old château has no air conditioning, and the last few Julys have been brutal. We will manage.
RSVP
Please RSVP by September 30th, 2026.
You do not need to have your accommodation booked by then if you decide to stay outside of the castle with your group or with your children.
