Our story

One late summer evening in 2009, in front of Ayers Rock at Lyon’s Hotel de Ville, our paths crossed for the very first time. Gilbert was struck by Ben’s large, captivating eyes; Ben was drawn to Gilbert’s cosmopolitan air.

We then lived a magical year in Lyon, filled with youth and spontaneous evenings out, before responsibilities  caught up with us. Gilbert returned to Scotland to complete his master’s degree, while Ben stayed in Lyon to continue his studies.

What followed were endless journeys back and forth, train stations, airports, and countless text messages. Then came London, together at last! Gilbert immersed himself in his PhD, while Ben, almost overnight, took on the leadership of a team of nurses in a bustling London hospital.

After a few years, one thing became clear: it was time to settle somewhere peaceful, and neutral, between France and the United Kingdom, with picture perfect landscape. We chose Switzerland.

Seventeen years later, fulfilled by its bucolic tranquillity (and by chocolate, let’s be honest), we would be deeply happy and touched to have you by our side on 4th July 2026, in the beauty of the Beaujolais, at Château du Sou, to celebrate this long-awaited special day, and a joy for us to finally bring to life.

Ready for the adventure?

4th July 2026

The programme

Tea Time

Saturday – 2:30 pm 
We will welcome you with a traditional English-style tea time, a warm and convivial moment to gently begin our weekend at Château du Sou.

Ceremony

Saturday – 4:00 pm
We will celebrate our union during a non-religious ceremony. Surrounded by our loved ones,  we look forward to exchanging our vows and celebrate our marriage.

Cocktail Reception

Saturday – 6:00 pm
Italy will make a special appearance during the cocktail reception, and we will 
be  delighted to share these unique moments with you over champagne and a few surprises.

Dinner & Dancing

Saturday – 8:30 pm
We invite you to join us for a festive evening to celebrate our union, filled with  laughter and music that will carry us late into the night.

Brunch

Sunday – 11:00 am
We invite you to continue the celebration, with a relaxed brunch and games. One last opportunity to spend time together and round off our unforgettable weekend.

Your children are wonderful, but for this celebration, 
we have decided  to invite adults only.

Address

Château du Sou
1539 Rte du Morgon
69640 Lacenas

Lyon-Saint-Exupéry International airport:
51 minutes by car – 59 km

Get directions

Photos

Two weeks after the wedding you’ll be able to access the photo gallery here.

We hope  that you’ll be able 
to join  us at our wedding

Confirm your presence

Accommodation

To ensure you can fully enjoy this special day, we have reserved rooms at preferential rates in the nearby Hotel Plaisance.
A complimentary shuttle service will be provided to take you to the Chateau.


Make your reservation directly by getting in contact via email or phone (French only):
✉️ info@hotel-plaisance.com
📞 +33 (0)4 74 65 33 52

✉️ info@hotel-plaisance.com
When making your reservation, please mention that you are attending Gilbert and Benjamin's wedding. A preferential rate will then be applied, and the married  couple will partially cover the cost of Saturday night. 

As part of the group wedding reservation the hotel will provide the following: 
🕛 Access to rooms from 12:00 PM on Saturday (2 hours before the usual check-in time) 
🕐 Check-out possible until 1:00 PM on Sunday (1 hour after the standard time) 
🚌 Free shuttle on Saturday evening to take you directly back to the hotel at the end of the evening 
🚗 Shuttle available on Sunday morning to the castle, depending on the location of your vehicle (more details will be provided later)

Hôtel ​Best Western
Plaisance***

96 Av. de la Libération, 69400 Villefranche-sur-Saône
Double rooms
Super
ior rooms
Family rooms

From72 €

Reserve here Book

Wedding countdown

0
0
Years
:
1
5
6
Days
:
0
2
Hours
:
0
5
Minutes
:
3
5
Seconds
:
0
1
0
0
Items

On est marié !!

Confirm your presence

Before April 15th 2026

    Merci ! Votre message a été envoyé.
    Impossible d'envoyer votre message. Merci de corriger les erreurs et réessayer.

    We're  counting  on  your  presence!
    Have any questions about the programme?  Interested  in  organizing  an  activity?

    Contact Lucile, our wedding planner

    faq

    A. Is there a dress code?
    We kindly ask guests to wear elegant attire, including shoes. There is no specific colour code feel free to choose what suits you best.

    B. May I bring my children? 
    Your children are wonderful, but for our special day, we have chosen for this to be an adults only event.

    C. Can I be involved during the event? 
    Absolutely!  Please feel free to get in touch with Lucile Chene, our wedding planner or 
    Nicolas Hocq, our master of ceremonies.

    D. Do you have a wedding gift list?
    We value memories over material gifts. A contribution towards our honeymoon in French Polynesia would be the most meaningful gift. A collection box will be available at the reception.

    E. In which language will the wedding be held?
    The wedding will be conducted in both English and French and we will ensure that everyone is able to follow and enjoy the weekend.