There could not have been a more fitting occasion than a much-anticipated wedding to adorn the halls of Château de Baronville, a majestic castle in the town of Béville-le-Comte, France. Never had I seen lands so strikingly similar to those in Disney movies with their long winding paths that wove through fields of golden wheat and farmland, lands so vast that even a layer of clouds could not shield them all from the brilliant sunlight.
The roads narrowed as we approached our destination. After a sharp turn, we drove onto an unpaved path lined by enormous trees whose branches seemed to have grown from the sky, and it felt as if we had entered a deep forest. As we drove on, the branches magically cleared way to reveal the most exquisite 17th-century French castle I had ever laid eyes upon.
We parked the car and entered through the grand french doors. We had just missed the ceremony due to another wedding, but was right on time for the soirée that was in progress. We walked to the back of the castle overlooking a large lake and descended from two flights of stairs onto the outdoor patio paved with small stones. And it was at this moment that I discovered the bride in a wedding gown exactly like one of a princess.
She came over and graciously welcomed us to her wedding and we exchanged kisses. After a skit and toasts from family and friends which did much to lighten the atmosphere, we gathered for a sumptuous dinner that was to last until midnight.
We collected our name cards in which contained a map of the castle with our table colored in red. We found our table in the left wing, and was joined by three other couples, who were all French but currently working in English-speaking countries. Conversation blossomed and we discussed everything from soccer (being a hot topic due to the FIFA of course) to the economy of Brazil. W recognized a man sitting at the table next to us, who turned out to be the former Defense Minister of France.
After five rounds of delicious food from lobsters to veal, we were summoned from our seats to the grand hall. An enormous five-layer wedding cake was rolled into the room and music began with two French singers who bore striking resemblances to Jessica Simpson and Akon. They began singing popular songs in English and French as disco lights lit up the white interiors with magnificent colors. After a dance from the bride (who had stripped the bottom part of her gown to reveal a shorter-lengthed wedding dress) and groom, we were all invited to the dance floor. The party did not end until 5:30AM, but we left early to get some rest, knowing that we had to be back just hours later for Part II of the wedding, a Sunday brunch...
Brunch was served on the hill right behind the castle. I noticed this time that one level of the stairs was actually a bridge and that a wall had been constructed to protect the castle. I looked down at the large divide and saw two goats roaming below on the grass.
After mingling some more, W and I decided to wander around the area and landed on a small path that led us behind the perfectly symmetrical lake. When we turned around to face the castle, we discovered this spectacular view.
