The celebrations kicked off a day early with a relaxed welcome BBQ and a few drinks to set the mood.

By the next morning, the weather threatened to rain, but luck was on our side. The clouds parted just in time, and the sun shone beautifully for a gorgeous outdoor ceremony in the chateau’s courtyard.

With the vows exchanged, the real party began! We spent the night tearing up the dance floor with our great friends Jan and Nick—who, naturally, brought the house down by unleashing his famous “Push It” dance routine.

Needless to say, the next morning brought a collective wave of heavy heads and hangovers all round. But honestly, that’s the only true sign of an unforgettable night!

Congratulations to the newlyweds!

We based ourselves at the Demeures & Châteaux Ferme de la Rançonnière, a charming, spotlessly clean hotel ideally placed for exploring the region. Between the excellent dinner on our first night and sipping wine outside in the pure tranquility on our second, it provided the perfect, peaceful end to our days of driving.

From this ideal base, we kicked off our sightseeing at the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, arriving just before closing. It turned out to be the perfect strategy; the museum was practically empty, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the brilliant self-guided audio tour. We followed this with a visit to the Cimetière Américain de Colleville-sur-Mer, a truly humbling experience. Standing by the beautiful memorial and looking down at the now-tranquil beach, it was hard to fathom the atrocities that took place there so that we could be free.

Finally, we tackled the spectacular Fortifications du Mont-Saint-Michel. After a long drive, we opted to stretch our legs and take the scenic two-mile walk from the car park rather than the shuttle bus. While the abbey is an architectural marvel, English translations inside the museums are sparse—most exhibits and the incredible multimedia show are entirely in French, so keep your smartphone handy for scanning text!