The celebration
Le Mariage • 11:30 AM
Weather permitting, we will have a short ceremony outside in the château grounds.
Drinks & Mise en Bouche • 12:00 PM
After the ceremony, there will be some drinks and food available. We will also take some photos at this point.
Le Repas • 13:00 PM
The best bit of the day should be the food! A three course meal with the speeches will take place at Château Lacoste, Lupiac.
La Soirée • 19:00 PM
The evening wil begin with music and food trucks offering a range of different foods before we all take to the dance floor at Château Lacoste. Drinks will be available from the bar inside.
Our story
It's been 14 years... we've survived and we think we might hang on to each other a while longer, so we thought it was about time to make an excuse for a party.
Our paths crossed hundreds of times before we got together. We lived just around the corner from each other, had friends in common, we even travelled to the same places around the world, and celebrated the year 2000 in the same space. But we didn't get together until October 2012. Since then, we've had two kids, moved house 3 times, travelled, met friends old and new, had many different jobs, and found a piece of Heaven in Gascony, France. We've done it together and we're planning on more adventures for a while to come.
We'd love you to come and celebrate with us.
The venue
l'Hôtel de ville
A marriage in France is officiated by the mayor of the village, in our case, Patrick Fitan.
We will have already taken this official step before you arrive, so we will just be celebrating with a short ceremony on 8 May.
However, if you'd like to see our local Hôtel de ville, you can find it in our little village, Plaisance du Gers.
Château Lacoste
Château Lacoste is situated around 15 minutes drive from our village Plaisance du Gers. It is a small, medieval village and is famous for being the birthplace of d'Artagnan, the musketeer.
Château Lacoste is just on the way out of the village, down a road on the right which descends all the way to Lake Lupiac, where anyone is welcome to go swimming, kayaking, fishing, relaxing or walking.
There is parking for 15 cars inside the château grounds and lots of parking on the grass verges opposite the château - look for the sign! Be aware that if it is raining, there may be mud!
Address:
Mairie de Plaisance du Gers
3 Place du 8 Mai 1945
France 32160
Address:
Château Lacoste
428 chemin de Lacoste
Lupiac
France 32290
Château Lacoste
A historic 18th-century estate looking out over the lake and the surrounding Gascon countryside. The château has three floors and offers rooms for 2-6 people, each with en-suite bathroom. There are games outside the château and a hot tub as well as access to the lake for water activities and walking.
Accommodation
There is space for up to 66 guests in the château and we would like to offer these places first to those who are travelling from the UK and further afield. There is also place for three tents and three camper vans on the château grounds. If you have been offered a place at the château, please reply as soon as possible so we know what availability there is. Please note that the stay at the château is free of charge but you may be asked to share as there are not enough rooms for two!
Arrival at the château is from Friday 15.00 pm. Dearture is up until Sunday 16.00 pm.
Travel
For those flying to France, these are the closest airports.
Lourdes/Tarbes - 40 minutes drive away, flights from London Stanstead with Ryanair.
Pau - 1 hour drive away, will only offer connecting flights from Paris.
Bordeaux - 2 hours drive away, currently with flights from Manchester with Easyjet. There is a toll road on this journey, which can cost around 25 Euros.
Toulouse - 2 hours drive away, currently with Ryanair flights from Manchester. There are no toll roads on this route.
Carcassonne - 2.5 hours drive away, currently with Ryanair flights from Manchester. There are no toll roads on this route.
Unfortunately, wherever you travel in from, you will need to hire a car. We live in the middle of nowhere and there is very limited public transport.
The nearest train stations are Tarbes and Mont-de-Marsan. There is a bus from Tarbes to Plaisance.
Food
This is the most important part of the event - what are we going to eat!?
Friday 18.00 p.m.
This is a bring your own event from 18.00 pm on Friday evening. There are kitchen facilities at the Château but you will need your own plates and cutlery. There are local shops in Lupiac and Plaisance where you can buy food and drinks. It might be a good idea to buy something for Satruday breakfast then too.
Saturday 13.00 p.m.
This is the main meal where you can expect three courses and speeches.
After ceremony Mise en bouche:
Chicken Satay and peanut sauce served in a shot glass
Pigs in blankets - sausages wrapped in bacon
Goat's cheese with lavender honey on mini toasts (V)
Pea and mint crostini with parmesan (V)
Mozzarella, basil and cherry tomato kebabs (V/GF)
Starters:
Spanakopita (filo parcels with spinach and feta) (V)
Mashed avocado with confit tomato on wholemeal toast (V/VGF)
Charcuterie grazing platter consisting of organic Porc Noir Gascon saucisson, coppa and jambon sec served with cornichons, edible flowers and bread
Main meal:
Armagnac cured salmon served on a bed of creamy leeks (GF)
Slow roasted leg of lamb marinated in a garlic and rosemary rub, served with a red wine reduction
Baked rice with feta, herbs and olives, with homegrown ratatouille and garlic roasted aubergine topped with pomegranate seeds and edible flowers.(V)
Dessert:
Chocolate orange tart, with an orange gel and orange infused cream
Homegrown strawberry tart with basil infused cream mousseline, served with fresh strawberries and ice cream
For the kids:
Spaghetti bolognaise
Strawberries
Saturday 19.00 p.m.
Food trucks will be available for you to choose what you would like to eat.
Vegetarian and vegan options will be available.
Thai, burgers and pizza
Sunday 08.00-10.30 a.m.
Breakfast will be provided for those in the Château. This will be self-service and you can find pastries. There will also be tea, coffee and fruit juice available. Some sausages, bacon and barms will be available for those who want them but these will need to be prepared by yourselves in the château kitchen. This can be found in the Château dining room.
We have only one request:
Please were something yellow.
It can be a hair clip, socks, a cap, whatever you like - but one thing yellow.
Dress code
You are likely to find the bride wearing jeans and trainers... so we kindly ask that you come in casual clothes, whatever you feel most comfortable in. That could be shorts, dresses, jeans, flip flops, whatever you like! French weddings tend to be more casual and we are very happy with that!
The average temperature in May is 19–22 °C during the day and 9–11 °C at night, so we recommend you prepare for both warm days and cooler evenings. You may want to bring swimming things for the lake. Rain is not unusual at this time of year though, so don't expect sunny days.
Activities
Gifts
For the kids
We really do not want any gifts. It will be a gift in itself to have everyone there with us to celebrate.
There will be a box for posting cards if you want to wish us well.
Times are tough at the moment and we appreciate that the journey in itself is a lot to ask for everyone who is travelling so please, no gifts. Your gift is your presence.
Attending a wedding with young kids can be hard work. We know - we've been there! So, we hope to provide lots of activities to keep the kids entertained.
Little bikes and scooters outside
Outdoor games
Animals
A games room on the top floor of the château with board games, colouring in, crafts and toys.
Buckets, spades, rubber rings etc. for the beach
R.S.V.P.
Please reply as soon as possible so we know if you are able to make it and if we should save you a space in the château.
For accommodation at Château Lacoste, we ask that you respond before 31 September 2026.
For attendance at the wedding, we ask that you respond before 31 October 2026.