REAL LIFE
who despite his slight learning difficulties works in the local restaurant, drives an electric car and scooter and plays drums. Everyone in the village knows him, they’ve watched him grow up and always look out for him, which has been really wonderful. He has enjoyed so much freedom here, and I feel blessed that he has grown up in such a safe and peaceful environment. My French is terrible –
Laraine was a wedding planner, organising everything from elements of the service to table settings
clients were coming back to stay every year. We were married in France
by our local French mayor in the village mairie. He read the service completely in English – despite not speaking a word of the language. He had used a dictionary to help him, which I thought was so kind. He really was a lovely guy. We were only the second English family to settle in our village and still have close French friends there.
WEDDED BLISS Looking after holiday homes is really hard work, especially when I was organising cleaning and laundry for houses that slept 12 guests. I thought there must be something easier to do. When I noticed that a beautiful château about 10 minutes from our home had just been sold, I approached the new owners and asked if they would consider me to look after
“We were married in France by our local French mayor, who read the service in English”
the château and rent it out for weddings and group holidays, as I had experience in the UK of hotel work and planning weddings and events. The owners agreed, and in
2000 I set up Hideaways en France – I believe I was the first English wedding planner in the area, hosting weddings from the USA, Canada, Europe and the UK. Back then there weren’t all the online services, of course. Wedding planning came from the heart, getting to know the bride and groom personally, their likes and dislikes, understanding exactly what they wanted and needed. The happy couple and their immediately family would stay
at the château for four or five days, enjoying the beautiful building and its surroundings. I would arrange for the group to have dinner in a local restaurant, or for a private chef to come to the château, or arrange a BBQ, wine tastings and so on, as well as organising the wedding day itself. I hosted many weddings until Covid struck. Events were limited to small gatherings, so a wedding planner wasn’t needed.
MOVING ON I lost Mike, my husband, just before the pandemic, after 30 years of marriage, and I retired from wedding planning. I look after my son Peter,
even after 35 years of living in the same house; I get by, but Peter speaks French fluently, the farmer’s own French, and is loved by everyone who knows him. I have decided to sell my
beautiful farmhouse, as it’s too large for me now. I will find a smaller property in the same area and am looking for a house without stairs. Things have changed so
much since I moved to France, but I’d suggest that anyone who decides to relocate here (and isn’t retired) should first have work in order to survive, and get to know the French way of living so they can integrate. I’ve found that the French people we have been in contact with over the years have treated us with respect, care and love. Would I ever go back to the
UK? The answer is a firm no. From the time we arrived here in our village 35 years ago, our neighbours have taken my family under their wings and have always been there for us. ■
Laraine’s home is for sale at €249,310 with
beauxvillages.com
The view from Laraine’s shady terrace over the large garden 78 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2025
One of the property’s four double bedrooms
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