Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some of our most frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us here.

What is Included with the booking at Chateau Les Chenes?: Onsite venue manager

Outdoor/Indoor Altar with seating up to 100 guests

Fully decorated chateau

Cocktail room inside the chateau

Air conditioning/heat

Indoor handicap-accessible restroom

Bridal suite with vanity and bathroom

Bride balcony

Beautiful award-winning stair for the bride's entrance to the ceremony

Upstairs lounge area, coffee station, and beverage refrigerator

Indoor custom bar

60″ round tables and cross-back wood chairs for up to 100 guests

Use of our onsite prep kitchen for caterers

8ft buffet tables (2)

6ft buffet tables (2)

Wood Sweetheart table with chairs

Wood gift table

Wood cake table

Set up of all tables and chairs

Clean up after the event

Onsite parking for guests

Engagement photo access

Custom indoor gas fireplace with couch and chair seating

One-and-a-half-hour rehearsal with your hired coordinator

Access to property on the day of the wedding at 10 AM (Earlier if needed by request)

Handicap parking

Outdoor fire pit with seating

Outdoor market lights

Indoor open loft for musicians or DJ
Can I have more Information?: When you choose Chateau Les Chenes, you are renting the whole 2-acre gated property with everything on it for your wedding day. You have 12+ hours of use time. You get to choose your own Caterer, DJ, Florist, Lights, bartender, etc. Also we supply you with a list of our preferred vendors.
How many events do you host a day?: When you book your event, it is your day- evening only. Our venue only has one event per day.
Can I have a tour (or a second tour) of the Venue?: Yes! You can schedule an appointment for your tour in our Request a Tour section. We have 30-minute tours Mon-Thu between 9 am and 7 pm. We also do Fri / Sat / Sun morning tours at 9:00/9:30/10:00/10:30 am. You can also Email Aranza at host@chateauleschenes.com or call me at 407-808-8156

We are at the chateau most Thursdays because this is the day we prefer to schedule our couples and Vendors to come and see the chateau and the venue areas. If you need another tour to show family or your vendors need to come back during planning, please schedule another appointment in our Request a Tour section. We are not at the chateau every day because we have events on weekends and some weekdays. Please schedule the tour if you want to come back for any reason.
How may guests can your venue accommodate?: We can accommodate up to 100 guests outdoor such as in tents or 60 people inside the chateau.
How much does it cost?: Pricing at Chateau Les Chenes is between $1,800 to $4,000 depending on the month, day, and guest count. Pricing is based on your first 100 guests. It is $10 per person over 100. Micro-weddings of up to 60 guests have a fixed price of $2,600. The deposit for any wedding is $800 (nonrefundable) at the time of signing the contract. There is also a $250 damage deposit that is fully refundable.

Also, we have an affordable option for couples that prefer to have only the Ceremony and Bride photoshoot on our property, for only $1,800 for up to 50 guests and $2,500 for up to 100 guests with 5 hours use of the whole property (Monday to Wednesday)
What is deposit for booking and saving a date?: A non-refundable deposit of $800 to save the date and a refundable security/damage deposit of $300 are required to save your booking. The next 1⁄3 payment is due 6 months before the wedding, and the last 1⁄3 is due 60 days before.

Any extra guests over the contracted/ Invoiced number will be $15 per guest. But if it is not paid in advance, it will be deducted from the deposit refund after the wedding.
Do you charge for children and if so, why?: Your guest count is determined by the number of seats you need. If a child needs a seat, then there is a charge of $10 per guest over 100. Children (as much as we love them!) are responsible for most of the spillage, breakage, and staining of linens and chair seat covers. So they are counted as a guest. You need to make sure the children aren't loose and running around the parking areas at night. It gets dark out here after sunset and we are always thinking of their safety. Thank you!
Do you have a cancellation policy?: Things might happen, so we try to work with you. If you have to reschedule your wedding, we will be more than happy to help you 30 days in advance.

The $800 deposit at the time of Booking is not refundable.
How much time do we have to use the property?: For Friday, Saturday, and Sunday weddings, !0 am the day of your event until 11 pm. All guests must be off the property by 11 pm.

Music has to stop at 10 pm every day.

*Rehearsals: or Weddings held on Fri. Sat and Sun, rehearsals are 1 & half hours on Thursday at 2:30-3:00 pm, 3:30-5:00, and 5:30-7:00 pm
What time do most ceremonies start?: Most ceremonies start approximately 1 1⁄2 hours before sunset, which leaves time for the photographer to take photos during cocktail hour before dark.
What time can we come to the Bridal Suite?: We allow you to come to the bridal suite early, upon request, at no charge! However, we sometimes conduct venue tours on wedding days up until 11 a.m.
When is rehearsal and who schedules the rehearsals?: Wedding rehearsals are on Thursdays every week. Your wedding coordinator must schedule your rehearsal approximately 30 days before the wedding. Chateau Les Chenes does not schedule rehearsals. We have events every weekend, so Thursdays are saved for rehearsals.
When can vendors arrive for set up or bring things to the venue?: Your vendors can arrive at 10 am on the day of your event for set up. When you book your event, you have the venue for 12+ hours (10 am to 11 pm)

For liability reasons, you can NOT bring anything early and drop them off before the wedding day. We have very limited storage space at the property, and we have events during the week and also every weekend.
Do you have a coordinator or wedding planner?: Yes! We have two! Robin & Alma. All are amazing at what they do! Their pricing ranges from $895 to $1395. If you choose Chateau Les Chenes, you must use one of our day-of coordinators. This is a big event, and you can't do it alone. Our coordinators know our property, the flow, how to move guests around, and where all the extension cords are! When you hire our day-of coordinator, she comes with five people: the coordinator, her assistant, the parking attendant, the trash guy, and the cleanup crew! Ask me if you need assistance with this decision and have questions. Trust me when I say this is the most important person(s) you will hire.
Do you have someone on-site during events?: Yes! We have a venue manager available to assist you during your event.
Do you have a list of Preferred Vendors?: We do have an exclusive list of Our Preferred Vendors that we can email to you by request at host@chateauleschenes.com

We recommend you use one of the 10 full-service caterers, one of our licensed and insured bartenders (Wanderbar J&T bartending), our linen company (Linens and More), and one of the wedding coordinators from our vendor list.
Can we use our own caterer & vendors?: Yes, and your own DJ, Florist and Photographer! You must have a licensed, FULL service catering company and a fully licensed bartender.
What about Tables, Chairs & Linens?: Our pricing includes tables and chairs for up to 100 guests, you will need to supply your linens. Most of our Caterers include linens in their pricing, make sure to ask about their color choices.

Our team will set up the tables and chairs according to the layout you choose for your event. You or your event coordinator will be responsible for setting up any of your decorations that you are bringing.

We request that you use Linens and More in Deland. They know all of our table sizes and they will deliver the linens the day before the wedding/event so that we can start setting up tables in the morning. The only other choice is to get them from your full-service caterer . The caterer does not usually arrive at the chateau on the wedding day until the afternoon of the wedding/event so that leaves very little time to set tables.
What kind of alcohol can I have at my wedding?: Great question! With a licensed and insured bartender to serve your alcohol, you are allowed any beer and wine you like. Bottles are no problem. You may also have two "signature drinks" the bartender also distributes. Or.... two types of hard liquor to be served however you like. We do not allow multiple open bottles of hard liquor. You have no idea how crazy guests get with free alcohol. Free alcohol = lots of trouble. The last call will always be between 9 and 9:30 pm. (up to our discretion) We no longer allow bartenders to give out "shots." Alcohol is NOT ALLOWED ON PROPERTY without a bartender serving it. This includes your rehearsal day.
Can we have pets on the property?: Well, if you absolutely have to have your dog involved, we can do it as long as you sign a liability waiver.
Where are you located?: We are located in the center of Deland, 4 minutes from I-4, 4 minutes from the beautiful Deland Downtown, and 4 minutes from Stetson University. We are 23 minutes from New Smyrna Beach, 35 minutes from Daytona Beach, and only 40 minutes north of Orlando.
Are we allowed to bring in decorations?: Yes! We ask that you do not nail into the walls or do anything that will leave permanent marks.

Also, we allow you to use what we have at the chateau. These include centerpieces, lights, and miscellaneous decor.
What are some of the venue rules?: Because we care about our guests safety as well as our community, we follow all local, state and federal laws. We have some important rules you must abide by when having your event at Chateau Les Chenes.

Alcohol can only be served by a properly licensed and insured bartender. No alcohol can be brought to the property, parking lot, Groom's room, Bride's room or the chateau by any guest or yourselves, although you as the event organizer can bring your own alcohol as long as it is served by a licensed and fully insured bartender and hire him/her to come in an hour earlier. ( Bartenders insurance policy needs to be on file with us) No shots allowed, standard practice at all venues.

You must carry event liability insurance. The cost usually runs around $175.00 to $275.00 with major wedding insurance companies; Wedsafe, Markel, E-wed or Wedsure.

Each individual vendor you use must carry its own liability insurance. (caterer, bartender, etc)

Reception must end by 11 PM, music by 10 PM, due to Volusia County Ordinance

You MAY throw real rose petals, birdseed, dried floral, rice corn, etc. but You cannot "line" the outdoor ceremony aisle with fake rose petals or real rose petals. (For indoor ceremony is Ok)

We arrange your decor but we do not cut and arrange florals. You cannot "cut" and "arrange" your floral or babies breath at the property. You can do your own flower's arrangements as long as it's ready, we'll be happy to place it!

For food safety issues you must have a team of people (Servers and Bussers), brought by the caterer, or supplied by us, to set out the chafers, bus your tables, Serve and refill your buffet, clean up the buffet, bus the plates, cans, glasses, etc. off the tables, take out the trash, help serve cake, refill iced tea, water and lemonade, help the bartenders.
What is Event Liability Insurance and where do we buy it?: We require all of our hosts to carry event liability insurance. This will protect you and your guests from any liabilities due to circumstances out of your control on the event day. It is not expensive, and the liability protects you and me from a lawsuit that can occur after your wedding. It also allows us to serve alcohol on-site with a licensed bartender. We require all of our vendors to carry their own secondary insurance to cover themselves. Insurance can be acquired through wedsafe.com, where we are already a listed venue.

Some other major wedding insurance companies are Wedsafe, Markel, Wedsure, or E-wed (an insurance company that specializes in day-of liability insurance)