We’ve tried to be organised for the two days and will be extremely grateful for any help. Thursday we especially need your help as we can only get access to the Chateau from noon. Tuesday in particular, please don’t feel like you have to be there as there are others that will be helping, but if you have a spare hour or so that would be amazing!

I’ve popped the wedding party into helping groups on the Thursday, if you’re not able to make it please let us know!

Here’s a nifty image you can save that has all the timings for the 1 May - its in French at the moment but we will translate to English and send it over very soon!

Wednesday

Temple sealing at 2.45pm, we’ve been asked to arrive from 2.15pm. Link: https://www.tessawedding2025.com/temple password: mon_coeur, please make sure you’re booked in. Eleanor, Alice & Kenya, we have Rebecca driving you to the temple and then to the chapel, she’s been given our airbnb address & Eleanor’s numbers.

Grateful for any to help set up the chapel between the temple sealing and wine reception, such as putting tables in place and drinks and desserts to be set up. If anyone would like to help prepare flowers for the chateau then we may be doing it this time depending when the florist drops them off.

Wine reception - arrival from 5.30pm, seated in the chapel at 6pm. Can Groomsmen invite guests to take a seat from 5.50pm.

We plan to wrap this up around 8.30pm so we’re refreshed for the next day, any help to put items away, wash up, hoover and checking for rubbish would be appreciated but we’re sure we’ll have other hands to help. We’ll also organise the van ready for the next day.

Bridesmaids we’ll have a brief rehearsal after the wine reception for the ceremonial procession, if you can familiarise yourself with this music: https://youtu.be/a87JuisUEUY?feature=shared

Thursday

Preparing Orangerie - we are going to need as much help as possible this day setting up and also from the Groomsmen, help with having things run on schedule throughout the day.

We have created groups/ team to focus on certain tasks, there are many more people helping but for references we’ve placed you all as the following so you know in advance, if your name is missing help any team.

Team A (Hanging lights, Chairs..): Steven, Johann, Lilian, Erwan, Landry

Team B (Linen steamed, Drinks table): Arnaud

Team C (Decorating Round tables): Eleanor, Lerice

Team D (Head Table, Other decor pieces): Jodie, Hannah, Cameron

Team F (Floral arrangements): Susan, Alice, Kenya, Sarah

Getting ready

Bridesmaids will be heading off with the Bride to get ready from around 2.30pm - 5.45pm, ready for the ceremony at 6pm.

Address we will be getting ready at is: 46 Rue de Jouy, 78220 Viroflay.

It’s about 10 mins max drive from the Chateau.

Groomsmen to head off and get ready with the Groom from around 3pm-ish, returning just before 5pm to welcome any guests that arrive for the mingling hour and ensure things have been set up/ tasks completed, and check that the sound system and musicians are set for the ceremony.

Can one of the groomsmen pick up the boutonnieres from the Bridesmaids address (above) between 3-4.30pm.

*Can one of the groomsmen get a platter of canapes and drinks for the bridesmaids and pop it in the staircase room/ room adjoining it please.

For the Ceremony, can Groomsmen ensure guests are seated for a prompt 6pm start, please start encouraging them to make their way over from 5.45pm, there will be some seats near the front and standing at the back.

Groom and Groomsmen are to stand at the front on the left side. Bridesmaids will be walking down the aisle and standing to the right side.

Close family will be taking the reserved seats at the front (about 7) - Arnaud - can you ensure those who have a reserved seat know where they are sitting.

The cars with the bridesmaids & bride will be visible coming down the driveway, which means entry will stop from 6pm-6.30pm. The ceremony is on the greenery part to the right of the music, there’s a bit of a walk before getting to the start of the aisle, the procession music will start when we are all in place at the start of the aisle.

Ceremony should be finished by 6.30pm and go straight into group photos.

Group photos - our photographer is a lovely Irish friend, Nathan. After the ceremony, guests will be asked to stand in front of the chateau for a group photo. Groomsmen, please help encourage this, and with Bridesmaids ensure there is noone on the top of the stairs for the Bride & Groom to walk out of the chateau for a confetti photo shot - and also space beside the stairs for you all and close family to be standing near us. Bridesmaids with flower girl & boy to pass out confetti to those near the stairs.

The group photos are organised as the following:

Steven to be the voice working with the photographer to direct guests - groomsmen please help:)

Outside chateau (stairs):

• Bride & Groom with all guests (confetti & 1 with all)

• Bride & Groom with Groom wider family - split into two

• Bride & Groom with Bride wider family

Outside chateau (corner stairs):

• Bride & Groom with Bride immediate family

• Bride with her sisters

• Bride & Groom with parents

• Bride & Groom with Groom immediate family

Inside (staircase):

• Bride & Groom with Whole wedding party

• B&G with Bridesmaids & Groomsmen

• G with Groomsmen

• B with Bridesmaids

• G with Best Men

• B with Maids of Honour

• B&G Personal Photos

For our bridesmaids & groomsmen photos together we’ll be going inside to the staircase room.

Once completed, groomsmen please check that the chairs have been taken into the Chateau and if they all have been, encourage guests to take their seats.( You should be able to use the sound system to announce this).

Once the Bride & Groom are done with pics, which should be around 7.30pm, we’ll then come in for an entrance with the Groomsmen which we’re very excited for!

Orangerie reception

Order of events:

7.00pm - Guests enter Orangerie & take seats

7.30pm - Entrance & Welcome

7.45pm - Starters

Speeches - Father of Bride, Mother of Groom, & Maid of Honours

Entertainment from Host

9pm - Main Course

Speeches - Best Men

Entertainment

10.30pm - Cake Cut & First Dance

10.45pm - Dance opens

11pm - Desserts 

2am - Send off

3isham - ‘Finish’ (Music need to stop by 4am latest or we get fined)

5am - Time everything has to be packed away by

If you’re not totally wiped by the end we’d be very grateful for any help to clear up and pack away items into the van.

The instructions we’ve been given to leave the state of the chateau in is to ensure tables & chairs are packed up and put into the back where they came from. And we’ll need decor packed into the van and the fragile glass items wrapped back up in bubble wrap and placed into their boxes.

Eleanor, Kenya & Alice - Nora (rebecca’s sister) will be able to drive you back!

Back-up weather plans

If it rains then these will be the adjustments :.(

Mingling hour, Ceremony and Group photos to be in the staircase room - it may be a bit cramped, not totally ideal. The adjacent room to the staircase room that goes to the orangerie can also be used for the mingling hour.

Between (Noon- 3pm). Roughly 40 chairs to be set up in the staircase room in the chateau - 2 sides with an aisle between and space between the walls and space at the back for standing. The staircase will be the backdrop with the Groomsmen standing in front with enough room for the bridesmaids on the right side directly infront of the stairs. Space and a chair will need to be placed on one of the corners for the celloist and violinist.

Guests are then welcome to come into the staircase room from 5pm to mingle and have drinks, Groomsmen please invite guests to prepare to be seated/ ready for the ceremony from 5.50pm and for all to be ready at 5.55pm to start for 6pm. Please ensure there is space (see yellow area below) where the bride and bridesmaids will enter through the doors on the left side and make their way to the front.

Group photos will start with everyone in the staircase room as chairs are moved - and one line of chairs to be placed to the left of the staircase for the majority of the wedding party (est. 23-25) and t bride and groom on the center right. Group photos will run in the same order in front of the staircase. Large umbrellas will be placed in front of the chateau doors facing the orangerie where guests can exit - we’ll ask some guests to assist with going back & forth if needed.

5pm - Guests arrive - Mingle & Light Canapes/ Drinks [Seated for ceremony 5.55pm]

6 - 6.30pm - Ceremony 

6.30 - 7.15pm - Group photos & Couple Photos