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EDGAR & EMY · CHÂTEAU DE FONTAINEBLEAU

A proposal on Fontainebleau’s horseshoe staircase

Edgar asked Emy at the foot of Fontainebleau’s horseshoe staircase. White flowers, two violinists and a courtyard dinner made room for a celebration with their families.

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White, green and very little else

A Rolls-Royce brought Edgar and Emy to Château de Fontainebleau. Ahead of them, the horseshoe staircase curved around a white aisle and tall urns of flowers.

The staircase did not need much help. White flowers and greenery followed the stone, framing the central arch and trailing from the balustrade above. Two violinists stood to either side in green tulle gowns, their color echoing the foliage.

Couple beneath Fontainebleau’s horseshoe staircase, framed by white flowers and two violinists in green dresses. — White flowers, greenery and two violinists frame the horseshoe staircase.

Couple on a white aisle between tall urns filled with white flowers and greenery at Fontainebleau. — A white aisle and white-and-green flowers against the stone.

Violinist in a green tulle gown beside the balustrade and château façade at Fontainebleau. — A white aisle and white-and-green flowers against the stone.

Her answer was yes

What he said belongs to the two of them. Her answer was yes.

The ring went on, and Edgar bent to kiss her hand. Champagne followed, served in coupes in the Cour d’Honneur. Emy held her glass in the hand with the ring on it.

Man kneeling before his partner on a white aisle beneath Fontainebleau’s horseshoe staircase. — At the foot of the horseshoe staircase.

The staircase, in motion

Aerial film · 16 seconds

White flowers and two violinists frame the couple at the staircase. 9 seconds

Champagne by the staircase, with a violinist in green above. 7 seconds

Black-and-white close-up of the engagement ring being placed on her hand. — The ring goes on.

Man kissing his fiancée’s hand between white floral arrangements at Fontainebleau. — The ring goes on.

A little time around the château

While dinner was being prepared, the couple and their families toured the château. There was time for portraits, too: beside the stone balustrade, among the flowers, and through the panes of a tall window.

The wider photographs hold the scale of Fontainebleau. Through the window, the frame comes closer to the two of them.

Couple beside the white aisle and floral arrangements, with Fontainebleau’s façade behind them. — A little time for portraits in the courtyard.

The colors followed them to dinner

In the Cour de la Fontaine, the white-and-green palette returned at one long table. Flowers ran along the cloth and down to the cobbles. White chairs, glassware and crystal candelabras completed the setting.

A saxophonist played as the light faded. Later, Edgar and Emy stood with their arms around each other, family nearby, as fireworks rose ahead of them. The staircase had been the beginning of the evening.

Aerial view of a long outdoor dinner table on cobbles, with white chairs and flowers. — The outdoor table, photographed from above.

Long dinner table with crystal candelabras, white flowers, glasses and place settings. — Crystal candelabras and white flowers along the dinner table.

Saxophonist in a dark suit playing as the light fades during the Fontainebleau celebration. — Crystal candelabras and white flowers along the dinner table.

Behind the celebration, on German television

The planning and production of this proposal feature in WDR’s Weltspiegel documentary, Paris · Liebe, Luxus, Likes, for ARD. The 44-minute German-language programme follows several Paris stories, including Chantelle Streete and the Kiss Me in Paris team at work.

See Kiss Me in Paris on ARD/WDR

Planning a proposal at Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau is one of Chantelle’s favorite venues. Its scale gives the evening room to change: the staircase for the question, time for portraits, then a courtyard table where the families can settle in together.

It is also a working public château. Private hire is agreed space by space; reserving selected courtyards or rooms does not give you exclusive use of the whole estate. We consider the proposal, portraits and dinner together, then establish which spaces, access times and production arrangements the plan requires.

If you are comparing a château with a museum after hours, Mitch and Aydan’s proposal at Musée Jacquemart-André offers another way to think about a historic setting. For your own plans, speak with our Paris proposal planners.

Your questions about Fontainebleau

Can we have Château de Fontainebleau to ourselves?

Private hire covers the spaces agreed with the château, rather than automatic exclusive use of the whole estate. The right arrangement depends on where you want to propose, take portraits and celebrate afterward. We confirm the proposed areas, access and other people’s use of the site before you approve the plan.

What budget should we allow for a Fontainebleau proposal?

Fontainebleau is a substantial private-hire production, rather than a fixed proposal package. The spaces reserved, access windows, flowers, lighting, live music, dinner and guest arrangements all affect the total. Share the range you are comfortable with; we can explain which parts of the evening it supports before you commit to bookings. Our proposal budget guide explains the main cost drivers.

Can you plan the proposal, portraits and family dinner together?

Yes. We develop them as one plan, then confirm the spaces and services available for your date. The proposal, portraits, guest arrangements and dinner each need time in the schedule. If you want just the two of you at the staircase and family with you later, we discuss how those parts can fit together without promising a particular route before access is agreed.

Can we bring our own photographer or filmmaker?

Of course. It may be the photographer who covered your best friend’s wedding, or a filmmaker whose work you’ve followed for years. We’re happy to work with your choice and can also recommend people we know and trust. We agree on access and timing with them before the day.

What happens if rain affects the outdoor plans?

We discuss the weather alternatives while choosing the spaces, including a covered setting, revised timing or a different arrangement where available. We confirm the options, any additional costs and the booking terms with you before committing to the plan.

Can we plan from abroad?

Yes. We can work through the choices by WhatsApp, calls and email, with conversations arranged around your time zone. Tell us who is involved and when it is safe to contact you. We confirm your assigned planner and working language before booking; conversations with Chantelle herself are in English.

Can fireworks or other large production elements be included?

They can be considered as part of the plan, subject to the château’s approval, the selected spaces and the specialist arrangements required. Fireworks are not an automatic inclusion or permission attached to a venue booking. We establish what is possible for your date before confirming those elements.

How early should we contact you?

Contact us as soon as you have a date or travel window. We check the château’s availability and the preparation time your plans need, then explain the next decisions.