The Château de Berne, in Flayosc in the Var, offers two wedding packages. The first includes ten bedrooms and two reception venues, from €19,500 including VAT. The second option offers exclusive use of the entire estate and its 34 bedrooms, from €95,500 including VAT. Both packages accommodate up to 120 guests, for a minimum stay of two nights.
Two options, two levels of privatisation
The wedding package, from €19,500 including VAT, includes ten rooms for a minimum of two nights’ accommodation, with a buffet breakfast included. It provides access to the ‘Scène sur l’eau’ for the ceremony and reception, and to the ‘Jardin du Jasmin’ for the dinner. You are free to choose your own caterer. The evening ends at 2 am, and a security guard is provided.
The package including the privatisation of the estate, from €95,500 including VAT, reserves all 34 rooms in the hotel for a minimum of two nights, with the option to add the villas subject to a quote. Same capacity of 120 guests. The estate is reserved exclusively for your event; catering is provided by the hotel’s own teams — external caterers are not permitted — and the evening continues until 5 am.
Three extra hours of partying and exclusive use of the venue: that is what really sets the two packages apart, even more so than the number of rooms.
What the privatisation of the estate entails
It is worth reading the list before making any comparisons with other places:
- the outdoor swimming pools, one of which is heated; ;
- the spa and its facilities, excluding healthcare; ;
- Leisure facilities: two tennis courts, a pétanque court, a gym and a yoga studio; ;
- the reception venues: the Scène sur l’eau and the Jardin du Jasmin; ;
- the village square; ;
- the cookery school, as tuition fees are not included; ;
- the bar and its terrace, excluding drinks; ;
- the seminar rooms: the Portrait Room and the Vineyard Room; ;
- restaurants Le Jardin de Berne and L’Olivier de Berne.
Two exceptions to be aware of: Le Bistrot de Berne and the retail cellar remain open to the public.
The venues where the day’s events will take place
The estate has several spaces that can be combined to suit the desired programme.
Le Jasmine Garden is a 288 m² glass-roofed marquee set amongst the vineyards: it can accommodate 120 people for a sit-down dinner and 120 for a cocktail reception. It is the venue for the dinner in both package options.
La Scene on the water Seats 50 people in a theatre-style layout, by the lake. This is the venue for the ceremony.
L'amphitheatre, built of stone around the water feature, can accommodate up to 120 people in either a cocktail or theatre-style layout.
As for the food, Le Jardin de Berne, the Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant, can accommodate 80 guests for a sit-down dinner and 90 for a cocktail reception. L’Olivier de Berne, the summer restaurant, has a capacity of 120 in both set-ups. Le Bistrot can accommodate 80 people for a sit-down dinner and 100 for a cocktail reception.
In addition, there are three cocktail areas each accommodating 120 people: the château’s reception area around its fountain, the poolside area with views of the vineyards and the forest, and the French-style gardens — the latter being available only when the venue is booked for private hire, at an additional cost.
What is the maximum number of guests?
Both options can accommodate up to 120 people. This capacity corresponds to the maximum capacity of the reception areas, each of which can accommodate 120 guests for a banquet or cocktail reception.
As for accommodation, the hotel offers 34 rooms and suites. The six private villas The estate’s accommodation, complete with a swimming pool and butler service, can accommodate more guests, subject to a quote. The castle itself — 1,000 m², 7 bedrooms, a cinema, a swimming pool with a pool house, offices and French-style gardens — offers an additional option for family and friends.
Catering: what changes from one scheme to another
With the wedding package, you choose your own caterer. The venue then provides the tables and chairs.
Following the privatisation of the estate, catering is provided by the teams at the Château de Berne, who cook using produce from the three vegetable gardens, amongst other ingredients. This package comes with a minimum spend of €36,000 (including VAT) for catering only, calculated on the basis of two nights’ accommodation. In other words, the catering budget cannot fall below this threshold, regardless of the menu chosen.
What the estate provides, and what still needs to be organised
The estate provides round tables seating 8 or 10 people, reception furniture and tableware, as well as a tasting of the menu for the bride and groom.
The following still need to be arranged: the decoration of the venue and tables, the florist, the wedding planner, the photographer and videographer, the musical entertainment, the lighting and sound system, the cars, additional equipment, as well as childcare and children’s entertainment. The estate imposes no exclusivity requirements on any of these services: you are free to work with the suppliers of your choice.
The budget, item by item
Apart from the flat-rate charge, the bill consists of two main items.
The menus : €125, €150 or €180 per person, excluding drinks, depending on the number of canapés, whether a starter and a cheese platter are included, and whether one or two main courses are chosen.
Drinks : three reception packages at €35, €40 and €50 per person — sparkling wine, «Terres de Berne» cuvée or champagne. Two set menus for the meal, at €39 and €49 per person, the latter centred around the «Grande Cuvée Château de Berne».
You can also add the following extras: brunch the following day and a barbecue at €85 per person, or a dessert buffet and midnight snack at €35.
The estate is situated on Chemin des Imberts, in Flayosc, between Lorgues and Flayosc in the Var. The Arcs-Draguignan TGV station is 25 minutes away, Toulon Airport is an hour away, Nice Airport is 1 hour 15 minutes away, and Marseille Airport is 1 hour 30 minutes away.
A helipad enables guests to reach the estate from Saint-Tropez in a fifteen-minute flight, and the helicopter flight is one of the services offered to guests. Enquiries for quotes can be made by calling +33 (0)4 94 60 43 75 or via the contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire out a castle for a wedding?
At Château de Berne, wedding packages start at €19,500 (including VAT) and packages with exclusive use of the estate start at €95,500 (including VAT). These prices are valid for April 2024 and are subject to change depending on the season.
How many guests can we have?
Up to 120 people, across both options.
Can we use our own caterer?
Yes, with the wedding package. When the estate is booked for exclusive use, catering is provided by the Château de Berne team, with a minimum spend of €36,000 including VAT. For all other service providers — décor, flowers, photography, music — you are free to choose, with no exclusivity requirements.
How late can the party go on?
Up to 2 hours with the wedding package, up to 5 hours if the estate is booked exclusively.
How many nights should I book?
A minimum of two nights’ accommodation in both cases, including a buffet breakfast.
Will the Bistrot and the wine cellar remain open to the public?
Yes. Even if the estate is privatised, the Bistrot de Berne and the wine shop will remain open.
