Cameron & Erin

Wedding Trip Itinerary · Bourneau, France

Wednesday, September 2 – Thursday, September 10, 2026 · Traveling from Charleston, SC · 2 Guests

Planning: Flights

Route Overview

Flights (Charleston ↔ Paris) Train (Paris → Vendée, La Rochelle → Paris) Driving (Vendée region)

Trip at a Glance

Couple	Cameron Kelley & Erin Herstine
Wedding Date	Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Venue	Château de Bourneau, 14 Rue du Château, 85200 Bourneau, France
Region	Vendée, Pays de la Loire, West France
Wedding Weekend	Fri Sep 4 – Sun Sep 6 (welcome dinner, ceremony, brunch)
Full Trip	Wed Sep 2 – Thu Sep 10 (8 nights)
Departing From	Charleston, SC (CHS)
Travelers	2
Website	cameronanderin.com

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 — Wednesday, September 2

Morning

Depart Charleston (CHS)

Fly CHS → connecting hub → Paris CDG (overnight flight)
No direct flights; expect 1 stop (JFK, Newark, Dulles, or Philadelphia)
Total travel time: ~12–15 hours including layover

✏️ TO DO: Book flights — Delta (via ATL/JFK), United (via EWR/IAD), American (via PHL), or JetBlue (via JFK). Recent round-trip fares from ~$560.

Day 2 — Thursday, September 3

Morning

Arrive Paris CDG

Clear customs, collect luggage
RER B or taxi to central Paris (~45–60 min)

Midday

Check into Paris hotel

Settle in, freshen up after the overnight flight
Suggested areas: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Le Marais, or near Montparnasse (easy TGV access next day)

Afternoon

Explore Paris at a leisurely pace

Stroll along the Seine, wander through a neighborhood
Stop at a café — ease into the time zone (Paris is 6 hours ahead of Charleston)

Evening

Dinner in Paris

Enjoy a relaxed French dinner — no need to rush
Early night to continue adjusting to the time change

✏️ TO DO: Book 1 night Paris hotel (Thu Sep 3). Consider Saint-Germain or Le Marais.

Day 3 — Friday, September 4 Wedding Weekend

Morning

Paris → Travel to Vendée

Option A: TGV from Paris-Montparnasse → Niort (~2.5–3 hrs), then 45 min drive
Option B: TGV → La Rochelle (~3 hrs), then 1 hr drive
Option C: Rent a car and drive (~4.5 hrs via A10/A83)
Shuttle may be available from Fontenay-le-Comte station (~10 min from château)

Afternoon

Check into accommodation near château

Settle in, relax, explore the grounds or village

6:00 PM

Welcome Dinner

Château de Bourneau
Dress code: Garden Party Attire

✏️ TO DO: Book train tickets (SNCF, 2–6 months ahead) or rental car. Book accommodation for Fri–Mon near Bourneau.

Day 4 — Saturday, September 5 Wedding Day

Morning

Free morning

Leisurely breakfast, walk around Bourneau, get ready

2:30 PM

Wedding Ceremony

Château de Bourneau
Dress code: Cocktail or Formal Attire

~3:00 PM

Cocktail Hour

Just a few steps down the path from the ceremony

Evening

Dinner & Dancing

Reception at the château, continuing until midnight

Day 5 — Sunday, September 6 Wedding Weekend

TBA

Sunday Brunch

Château de Bourneau (time to be announced)
Dress code: Casual Attire

Afternoon

Explore Vouvant

One of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France" — just 5 min from Bourneau
Climb the Tour Mélusine (36m medieval tower) for panoramic forest views
Wander cobbled streets, visit the Romanesque church, browse artist studios
Walk the bocage trail (~4 km, 1.5 hrs) through the medieval town and forest edge

Evening

Dinner in Fontenay-le-Comte

Historic "Town of Art and History" — 10–15 min from the château
Explore Renaissance architecture and dine at a local restaurant

Day 6 — Monday, September 7

Morning

Marais Poitevin — "Green Venice" boat tour

France's second-largest marshland — a maze of tree-shaded waterways
Guided ride on a traditional flat-bottomed "plate" (~2 hrs, ~€28/person)
Quieter embarkation points: La Garette or Arçais (Coulon is busiest)
Visit the ruins of Maillezais Abbey nearby

Afternoon

Mervent-Vouvant Forest

Lakeside picnic at Lac de Mervent
Scenic walking trails through the national forest

Evening

Farewell to the Vendée

Pack up accommodation, quiet dinner before moving on

✏️ TO DO: Book Marais Poitevin boat tour in advance.

Day 7 — Tuesday, September 8

Morning

Drive to La Rochelle

~1 hour from Bourneau
Check into hotel near the Old Port

Midday

Explore the Vieux Port (Old Port)

Stroll the pedestrian harbor, lunch at a portside restaurant
Climb the Three Towers for views over the city and Atlantic

Afternoon

La Rochelle highlights

The Aquarium — one of Europe's best (12,000+ marine animals)
Browse the daily market in the 19th-century hall
Or: day trip to Île de Ré (connected by bridge) for beaches and villages

Evening

Seafood dinner at the port

La Rochelle is known for outstanding seafood and lively harbor dining

✏️ TO DO: Book 1 night La Rochelle hotel (Tue Sep 8).

Day 8 — Wednesday, September 9

Morning

La Rochelle → Paris

TGV from La Rochelle to Paris-Montparnasse (~3 hrs)
Or: drive to Nantes Airport (1 hr) and fly out from there

Afternoon

Last afternoon in Paris (if returning via CDG)

Revisit a favorite spot, pick up souvenirs, enjoy a final French meal

Evening

Depart Paris CDG → Charleston

Overnight flight home via connecting hub
Or: stay one more night and fly Thursday morning (see Day 9)

✏️ TO DO: Decide — fly home Wed evening or Thu morning? Book return flights accordingly.

Day 9 (Optional) — Thursday, September 10

Morning

Fly home from Paris CDG

Morning departure → arrive Charleston same day
Avoids red-eye both directions; one more relaxed Paris night

Evening

Arrive Charleston (CHS)

Home sweet home!

Flight Options

No direct flights from Charleston (CHS) to Paris (CDG). All routes require one connection.

Delta Air Lines	CHS → ATL or JFK → CDG. Most frequent (134 connecting flights/week).
United Airlines	CHS → EWR or IAD → CDG. 59 flights/week. Strong EWR→CDG nonstop.
American Airlines	CHS → PHL or CLT → CDG. PHL has nonstop CDG service.
JetBlue	CHS → JFK → CDG. JFK→CDG nonstop.
Air France	Codeshare options via partner hubs. Premium transatlantic service.

Round-trip economy	From ~$560 (recent estimates; Sep 2026 fares not yet available)
Fastest connection	~10 hr 40 min via Detroit (DTW)
Booking tip	Book 3+ weeks ahead for best prices. Set fare alerts on Google Flights.

Ground Transportation in France

TGV → Niort	~3 hr 15 min from CDG (one change). Niort is 45 min from Bourneau. Shuttle may run to Fontenay-le-Comte.
TGV → La Rochelle	~3 hr 50 min from CDG (one change). La Rochelle is ~1 hr from Bourneau.
Paris-Montparnasse	If starting from Paris city center, trains depart from Montparnasse station.
Rental car	~4.5 hr drive from Paris via A10/A83. Gives flexibility for the Vendée/La Rochelle days.
SNCF tickets	Book at sncf-connect.com — 2–6 months ahead for best prices.

The château is 12 minutes from the A83 motorway exit. A rental car is highly recommended for exploring the Vendée during the non-wedding days.

Accommodation

Paris (Thu Sep 3 — 1 night)

Suggested neighborhoods: Saint-Germain-des-Prés (charming, walkable), Le Marais (trendy, central), or near Montparnasse (convenient for TGV departure next morning).

✏️ TO DO: Book Paris hotel for Thu Sep 3 (1 night, 2 guests).

Near Château de Bourneau (Fri Sep 4 – Mon Sep 7 — 3 nights)

Gîtes (holiday rentals) listed on the wedding website, closest first:

Logis de Bourseguin	Bourneau (closest)
Le Vieux Chêne	Bourneau
Les Trois Platanes	Bourneau
La Petite Loge	Vouvant (~5 min)
La Maison de Maître	Fontenay le Comte (~15 min)
La Grande Maison	Vendée (~15 min)
Château de Sérigny	Vendée (~15 min)
Gîte de la Roulière	Foussais Payré (~15 min)
La Maison Jaune	St Hilaire Des Loges (~20 min)

Hotels:

Ax Hotel	La Châtaigneraie (~14 min)
Hôtel le Rabelais	Fontenay le Comte (~15 min)
Fontarabie Hotel	Fontenay le Comte (~15 min)
Auberge de la Rivière	Velluire (~20 min)

✏️ TO DO: Book Bourneau-area accommodation for 3 nights (Fri Sep 4 – Mon Sep 7, 2 guests).

La Rochelle (Tue Sep 8 — 1 night)

Stay near the Old Port for easy walking access to restaurants, towers, and attractions.

✏️ TO DO: Book La Rochelle hotel for Tue Sep 8 (1 night, 2 guests).

Paris (Wed Sep 9 — optional 1 night)

Only needed if flying home Thursday morning instead of Wednesday evening.

✏️ TO DO: Decide Wed evening vs. Thu morning departure. Book Paris hotel if needed.

Packing & Outfit Planning

Day	Outfit
Thu Sep 3 — Paris arrival	Comfortable travel clothes (worn on the plane)
Fri Sep 4 — Welcome Dinner	Garden Party Attire
Sat Sep 5 — Wedding	Cocktail or Formal Attire
Sun Sep 6 — Brunch + Vouvant	Casual Attire
Mon Sep 7 — Marais Poitevin	Casual/outdoor (comfortable shoes, layers, sunscreen)
Tue Sep 8 — La Rochelle	Smart casual for walking and port dinner
Wed Sep 9 — Travel day	Comfortable travel clothes

Don't forget: passport, travel adapter (Type C/E plug), sunscreen, insect repellent (for Marais Poitevin), comfortable walking shoes, and any medications.