Styled Shoot Château de Varennes
That’s Amore: an Italian summer at Château de Varennes in Burgundy
What happens when you move an Italian summer evening to Burgundy? That is exactly what the team at MyAwina set out to discover. In May 2024 the styled shoot “That’s Amore” came to life at Château de Varennes: red and white paper parasols above the table, carnations and tomatoes instead of classic roses, an aperitivo bar in front of the château façade and an evening that only really begins under the string lights.
At vonRock Events we supplied the furniture and tableware: 50 Rope Vintage Cross Back chairs, wooden tables, floor-length tablecloths, “Royal Flower White” porcelain, Mr. Ripley glasses and a white mobile bar. In this post we show you the venue, the set-up and every piece you can rent from us for your own wedding. At the end, a large FAQ answers all your questions about getting married at Château de Varennes.
- Venue
- Château de Varennes
- Location
- Charette-Varennes, Burgundy
- Date
- May 2024
- Concept
- “That’s Amore”
- Styling & florals
- MyAwina
- Planning
- Faytastic Wedding
- Photos
- EYA Photography
- Rentals
- vonRock Events
The venue
Château de Varennes: 300 years of family history between Beaune and Dole
Château de Varennes stands in Charette-Varennes in the Saône-et-Loire department, right in the heart of Burgundy. The château overlooks the Doubs valley, between the wine villages of the Côte de Beaune and the town of Dole in the Jura. All around: meadows, old trees and a lot of peace and quiet.
The estate has belonged to the de Truchis family since 1729. After the old fortified castle with its triple moat, today’s château was built from 1730 onwards; the park, the north wing, the grand staircase and the salons followed in the 19th century. Today Count Aymeric de Truchis de Varennes runs the estate in the 14th generation, while his wife Sonia looks after weddings and events.
Salons, a grand staircase and a private chapel
Inside you will find herringbone parquet, ancestral portraits, crystal chandeliers and chairs upholstered in red velvet. For a styled shoot that is a gift: every room is already decorated. We deliberately chose only a few getting-ready images, because the real heart of this shoot is outdoors.
Right next to the château stands a neo-Romanesque chapel, consecrated in 1923. Behind the house there is a heated pool, vegetable and fruit gardens and wide lawns. And the former orangery with its tall arched windows now serves as the reception hall for up to 200 guests.
In the evening, Burgundy turns golden. Our model couple walked through the lavender for their portraits, with the château behind them. If you get married in June or July, chances are good you will get exactly this light.
Château de Varennes is hired exclusively for weddings: the whole estate is yours, your guests stay in the château and its outbuildings, and the celebration happens without any change of venue. That is exactly why the château is so popular with couples from Germany and Switzerland.
The concept
“That’s Amore”: dolce vita in red and white
The idea from Martina and Rebea of MyAwina: an Italian celebration in a French château. The couple “Lucia & Giusi” is fictional, the atmosphere is real. The colour palette is red, white and warm wood. Instead of elegant roses there were carnations in every shade of red, plus ranunculus, cherry tomatoes and oxheart tomatoes placed right on the table.
The red and white paper parasols run through the whole day: as the ceremony arch, as decor on the lawn and as a floating canopy above the table. The stationery by Chantal Hofmann Design picks up the wavy pattern and lettering.
Our part was the foundation that makes a concept like this work: chairs, tables, linens, porcelain, glasses and a bar. All deliberately in natural wood and white, so the red and green of the flowers can shine.
Chair rental
Outdoor ceremony on the lawn with Rope Vintage Cross Back chairs
The ceremony took place on the large lawn right in front of the château. Our Rope Vintage Cross Back chairs were waiting for the guests. The wooden chair with its woven back is a perfect match for a southern European summer: warm, a little rustic and still elegant.
- 50 ×Rope Vintage Cross Back chair in wood
- 1 ×Ceremony arch of red and white paper parasols and flowers (MyAwina)
- 1 ×Welcome banner “Lucia & Giusi” (Chantal Hofmann Design)
The chairs were set in two blocks with a centre aisle, framed by parasols on the lawn. After the ceremony they moved to the dinner table. That way you only need one chair style for ceremony and dinner and save on costs. For more on choosing the right model, see our guide Find your perfect wedding chair.
Rent the ceremony chair:
Table decor rental
The table in front of the orangery: wooden tables, linens and cross back chairs
For dinner, a long table was set up in front of the orangery, right on the gravel and beneath a web of string lights and hanging paper parasols. The base consists of our pine wood tables, covered with floor-length tablecloths in beige. On top sits MyAwina’s table decor with flowers, candles and tomatoes.
At the head of the table a cascade of flowers grows from the ground up onto the table. A great trick for long tables: the arrangement connects the table with its surroundings and turns it into an eye-catcher from afar.
- 2 ×Folding pine wood table (200 × 100 cm and 243 × 100 cm)
- 5 ×Floor-length tablecloth in beige, 350 × 250 cm
- 50 ×Rope Vintage Cross Back chair in wood
Rent the tables, tablecloths and chairs:
Tableware: Royal Flower White porcelain and Mr. Ripley glasses
The table was set for 18 guests with our Royal Flower White porcelain. The white tableware has a delicate floral relief and a scalloped rim. It looks playful without competing with the flowers. Each place had the complete 4-piece set: charger plate, dinner plate, starter plate and bread plate.
Alongside were our Mr. Ripley glasses with their ribbed glass: water glasses and wine glasses. MyAwina added red and white striped napkins, rattan placemats and hand-lettered place cards.
Rent the porcelain and glasses:
4-piece plate set Royal Flower WhiteRent from 14.90 €Reserve
Royal Flower White charger plate 33.5 cmRent from 4.90 €Reserve
Royal Flower White dinner plate 27 cmRent from 4.50 €Reserve
Royal Flower White starter/dessert plate 22.2 cmRent from 3.90 €Reserve
Royal Flower White bread plate 15 cmRent from 2.50 €Reserve
Mr. Ripley wine glass clearRent from 2.00 €Reserve
Mr. Ripley water glass clearRent from 1.60 €Reserve
Flowers, tomatoes and a menu in Italian
The centrepieces are what make this shoot so special: low bowls of carnations in red, pink and dusty rose, with cherry tomatoes, oxheart tomatoes and candles in between. The menu leads through “Entrée, Main, Dolci”. If you want to decorate with fruit and vegetables at your own wedding, you need calm white porcelain as a stage. That is exactly what Royal Flower White is made for.
Highlight
When darkness falls: the table by night
In May the light in Burgundy lingers late. And then comes the moment every hour of set-up was worth: the string lights above the table switch on, the orangery glows from inside through its tall arched windows, and the red and white parasols float above the guests like lanterns. The cross back chairs cast warm shadows on the gravel, candles flicker between the flowers.
By day it is a beautiful table. By night it becomes a celebration.Our favourite moment of the shoot
For anyone planning an evening wedding outdoors: string lights in a zigzag web above the table are the easiest way to turn an open space into a room. White porcelain and clear glass reflect the light, warm wood makes it cosy. That is why our wooden chairs and the Royal Flower White porcelain look even stronger at night than during the day.
Bar rental
The aperitivo bar in front of the château
No Italian celebration without aperitivo. In front of the château’s main façade stood our white mobile bar counter, flanked by two “Stage” bar columns. In front of it a jute banner reading “Ciao Amore”, all around meadows of carnations. On the bar: rows of Aperol spritz with orange slices and red and white straws.
The glasses, by the way, are our Mr. Ripley wine glasses. The ribbed glass turns a simple spritz into a photo opportunity.
- 1 ×Mobile bar counter white, rectangular, 183 × 60 × 106 cm
- 2 ×Mobile bar column “Stage” white, 60 × 60 × 115 cm
- 46 ×Mr. Ripley wine glass clear
Rent the bar and glasses:
The bar is modular: counter and columns can be combined into one long front or used individually as a high table, cake table or drinks station. Because the elements are light, they can be moved quickly even on gravel or grass, for example from the drinks reception to the party.
Cake and party
The wedding cake by mmh.. cakes & sweets stood on an old stone bench by the château wall: white, multi-tiered, with a cascade of red carnations and striped ribbons. And to finish, there was dancing, barefoot on the grass in front of the dark château.
Packing list
All vonRock rental items at a glance
This was on our packing list for Château de Varennes. You can rent every item in exactly this version from us.
| Qty | Item | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Rope Vintage Cross Back chair in wood | Ceremony and dinner |
| 1 | Folding pine wood table, 200 × 100 cm | Dinner table |
| 1 | Folding pine wood table, 243 × 100 cm | Dinner table |
| 5 | Floor-length tablecloth in beige, 350 × 250 cm | Dinner table |
| 18 | 4-piece plate set Royal Flower White (charger, dinner, starter and bread plate) | Place settings |
| 46 | Mr. Ripley wine glass clear | Table and aperitivo bar |
| 18 | Mr. Ripley water glass clear | Dinner table |
| 1 | Mobile bar counter white, rectangular, 183 × 60 × 106 cm | Aperitivo bar |
| 2 | Mobile bar column “Stage” white, 60 × 60 × 115 cm | Aperitivo bar |
Decor rental France
Wedding decor rental for Burgundy, France and Switzerland
Every item for this shoot came from our southern warehouse in Elzach/Waldkirch near Freiburg. From there it is about a three-hour drive to Charette-Varennes, closer than many people think. We delivered and collected everything again after the shoot. We clean the porcelain and glasses ourselves after return; you only need to remove leftover food.
Many of our clients come from Switzerland and get married in France, Italy or on Lake Constance. Deliveries within the EU, including France, involve no customs formalities. For larger weddings we can also handle set-up and dismantling.
How it works:
Add the items to your cart and choose your rental period. You can see availability directly in the shop.
For France we agree delivery, set-up and collection individually. Just send us your date, venue and number of guests.
Need help with your concept? Book a styling appointment in our showroom. We discuss style, colours, furniture and quantities.
FAQ
Getting married at Château de Varennes: the key questions
Information about the venue comes from public sources such as wedding portals and venue directories (as of October 2026). Prices, capacities and rules can change. Please confirm all details directly with Château de Varennes.
Venue & travel
Where is Château de Varennes?
Château de Varennes is located at 2 Rue de Bourgogne, 71270 Charette-Varennes, in the Saône-et-Loire department of Burgundy. The château overlooks the Doubs valley, between Beaune, Chalon-sur-Saône and Dole. Note: there is a second Château de Varennes near Mâcon. For weddings, the estate in Charette-Varennes is the one you are looking for.
How far is Château de Varennes from Germany and Switzerland?
By car it takes about three hours from Freiburg im Breisgau (via Mulhouse, Besançon and Dole), about 2¾ hours from Basel, around 3½ hours from Zurich and just under 5 hours from Stuttgart. These are guide values; check your route planner and allow some extra time.
Which airports and railway stations are nearby?
According to the venue, Dole-Jura airport is about 30 minutes away, Lyon about 1.5 hours and Geneva about 2 hours. Basel-Mulhouse is around 2.5 hours away. TGV stations are in Dijon, Dole, Besançon Franche-Comté TGV, Beaune and Chalon-sur-Saône. The nearest regional station is Seurre, about 10 minutes away.
How old is Château de Varennes?
The lordship of Varennes dates back to the 13th century. In 1729 the de Truchis family bought the estate, and the present château was built from 1730. In the 19th century the park, north wing, west façade, grand staircase and salons were added. The neo-Romanesque chapel was consecrated in 1923. The château is still owned by the family today.
What rooms and spaces are there?
The estate includes the historic salons, the grand staircase, the chapel, the former orangery as a reception hall, a large park with old trees and lawns, vegetable and fruit gardens, a heated pool with terrace and a tennis court. According to the family, the estate covers around 100 hectares.
Can guests stay overnight at Château de Varennes?
Yes. The château has around 17 rooms, plus rooms in outbuildings and cottages, including a bridal suite. Depending on the source, up to about 60 guests can stay on site. For additional guests there are guesthouses, chambres d’hôtes and hotels nearby, for example in Pierre-de-Bresse or Beaune.
Getting married at Château de Varennes
Can you have a legal (civil) wedding at Château de Varennes?
In France, only the civil ceremony performed by the mayor at the town hall (mairie) is legally binding. One of you, or a parent, must have lived in the commune for at least one month. Couples from Germany and Switzerland therefore usually have their civil wedding at home beforehand and celebrate a symbolic ceremony at the château. In France, a religious ceremony may only take place after the civil wedding.
Is a symbolic or religious ceremony possible?
Yes. Symbolic ceremonies take place in the park or on the lawn in front of the château, just like at our shoot. For blessings and religious ceremonies there is the château’s own chapel with around 80 seats. The churches in the surrounding villages have room for larger groups.
How many guests can Château de Varennes accommodate?
According to the venue, weddings with up to 200 guests are possible. The orangery seats up to 200 for dinner, and the garden holds a ceremony and reception for up to 200 guests. Small weddings and elopements are possible especially in the low season and midweek.
What happens if it rains?
The orangery and the château’s salons serve as a bad-weather alternative for the ceremony. An outdoor dinner table like at our shoot can be moved into the orangery if the weather is uncertain. Our chairs, tables and linens work just as well indoors.
How does catering work?
Château de Varennes has its own in-house kitchen and wine list. Food and drinks are included in the packages. Whether you may bring additional external vendors such as caterers or patisseries is best clarified early with the venue.
How late can you party?
According to the venue, outdoor dancing is allowed until 11:30 pm. Inside the orangery there is no fixed curfew according to wedding portals.
Are fireworks allowed?
According to the venue yes, except when drought warnings apply in the region. Check again shortly before the wedding.
How much does a wedding at Château de Varennes cost?
The portal French Wedding Style quotes a guide price for a package from about €19,500 for the peak season from June to September. This includes exclusive use of the orangery and gardens for up to 200 guests and accommodation with a minimum stay of two nights. This is a non-binding guide value; you will get the exact offer directly from the venue.
When is the best time to get married at Château de Varennes?
According to the venue, outdoor weddings are possible from mid-April to mid-October. In May and June roses and meadows are in bloom, in July the lavender blooms in the surrounding area. Our shoot took place at the end of May, with warm days and long, light evenings.
What can we do with our guests nearby?
Burgundy is a wine region: wine tastings on the Côte de Beaune, a visit to Beaune and Dijon or a trip to the Jura are all great options. On the estate itself there is a pool and a tennis court, and the venue also offers cooking classes and wine tastings.
Styled shoot & planning
What is a styled shoot?
A styled shoot is a staged wedding photo shoot. Vendors come together to show a style, a venue and their work, often with a model couple. “Lucia & Giusi” are fictional, but the venue, decor and rental items can be booked just like for a real wedding.
Who planned and designed “That’s Amore”?
Concept, florals and styling are by MyAwina from Switzerland. Planning and on-site coordination were handled by Felix Fay of Faytastic Wedding. The photos are by EYA Photography. You will find everyone involved below under “All vendors”.
Do we need a wedding planner for a wedding in France?
It is not mandatory, but very helpful. A planner knows the local processes, coordinates vendors from different countries and is your point of contact on the wedding day. For a destination wedding with guests from several countries, that saves a lot of stress.
Renting from vonRock
Does vonRock Events deliver to France and Burgundy?
Yes. For this shoot we delivered from our southern warehouse in Elzach/Waldkirch near Freiburg to Charette-Varennes. We also deliver to Alsace, Burgundy, the Jura and Switzerland. Send us your date, venue and number of guests and you will receive an offer including delivery.
Which items from the shoot can I rent?
Everything on our packing list: Rope Vintage Cross Back chairs, pine wood tables, floor-length tablecloths in beige, Royal Flower White porcelain, Mr. Ripley wine and water glasses and the white mobile bar counter with bar columns. The flowers, paper parasols and stationery are by MyAwina and Chantal Hofmann Design.
How much do the rental items cost?
A Rope Vintage Cross Back chair costs from €9.90, the 4-piece Royal Flower White plate set from €14.90 and a Mr. Ripley wine glass from €2.00 per rental period. You can see current prices in the product cards above and in the shop. Delivery and set-up are charged depending on distance and effort.
Do I have to wash the porcelain and glasses?
No. We take care of the final cleaning. Please just remove leftover food and pack the porcelain and glasses dry into the transport boxes. This prevents mould and lets us get everything ready again quickly.
How early should I book?
For weddings between May and September we recommend reserving chairs, tables and tableware as soon as your date and approximate guest count are fixed. Quantities can usually be adjusted later. For deliveries to France we like to plan a little more lead time.
Can I see the items beforehand?
Yes. In our showroom you can look at chairs, porcelain, glasses and linens and go through your concept with us during a consultation.
Helping hands
All the vendors who made “That’s Amore” possible
A styled shoot lives from many hands. Thank you to everyone who took part. We recommend checking out each of these teams.
Château de Varennes
The de Truchis family’s château in Burgundy, family-owned since 1729. Exclusive weddings for up to 200 guests, with orangery, chapel, park and accommodation in the château.
MyAwina
Martina Zgraggen and Rebea Schacher from Switzerland are behind MyAwina, a studio for fine art event styling and floristry. The idea of “That’s Amore”, the carnation arrangements, the parasol arch and the table design all came from them. Martina leads the creative side, Rebea the organisation.
Faytastic Wedding
With Faytastic Wedding in Zurich, Felix Fay plans destination weddings in German and English, as full service or partial support. At the shoot he coordinated everything on site.
EYA Photography
All images in this post are by EYA Photography, the photographer duo Simone and Ilja. Their style combines documentary with editorial portraits. The night shots of the table are our highlight of the shoot.
isa.belle Brautstyling
The bride’s hair and make-up are by isa.belle Brautstyling, the styling team of the bridal boutique of the same name in Switzerland. From the half-up look by day to an elegant bun at night.
isa.belle Brautboutique
The isa.belle bridal boutique offers wedding dresses, outfits for the civil ceremony, shoes and jewellery. For the shoot they put together dresses and accessories for the different looks.
Julia Sophie Bridal
The wedding dress with ruffled shoulders is by the Austrian label Julia Sophie. The dresses are hand-sewn in Upper Austria.
Sunita Suits
In Zurich, Sunita Kunsanthia makes made-to-measure wedding suits, tuxedos and outfits for groomsmen. The light suit with waistcoat is a perfect match for summer in Burgundy.
Jeonga Choi Berlin
The pearl earrings and jewellery are by Jeonga Choi from Berlin. She has been handcrafting bridal jewellery and hair accessories since 2012.
Chantal Hofmann Design
Chantal Hofmann designed and lettered the invitations, menus, place cards and the welcome banner with its red wavy border.
Dellaemmi
Dellaemmi from Birsfelden near Basel makes vegan candles from regional rapeseed wax. The slim taper candles on the table came from them.
Lovely Words
Lovely Words from Zurich creates symbolic ceremonies and elopements in Swiss German, German and English, in Switzerland and abroad.
Charlie Wedding Films
The shoot’s film footage was captured by Charlie Wedding Films.
Marina Fischer
Marina Fischer is a photographer, content creator and storyteller from Aargau. She covered the shoot for social media.
mmh.. cakes & sweets
The white cake with its cascade of carnations is by mmh.. cakes & sweets from Switzerland.
Duflor
The carnations, ranunculus and grasses for the florals were supplied by the Swiss flower wholesaler Duflor.
Faye Neutrals
Thank you to our model couple, who gave everything as “Lucia & Giusi”, from the staircase to the party.
Photos: EYA Photography · Concept & styling: MyAwina · Venue: Château de Varennes, Burgundy
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