This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Celina Tolbert, 31, a social media manager from North Carolina who is based in Paris. This piece has been edited for length and clarity.
It started off as a joke. I’m not rich, so I didn’t think I’d be able to afford to host a 30th birthday at a French chateau.
Then I started browsing Airbnb and realized there are hundreds of small chateaux throughout France, some of which were pretty affordable to rent.
So, in February 2025, I decided to spend about $2,500 hosting a three-night fantasy-themed birthday celebration for 21 friends at a chateau about 80 miles southeast of Paris.
I thought: if I can afford it, why wouldn’t I?
I had a budget of 2,000 euros for the chateau
I’m a whimsical person who has always loved fantasy. I have a collection of fun costumes, and for my 30th birthday I wanted to do something just for me, as an act of self-love. That meant putting on a silly fantasy costume and renting out a chateau.
When I started looking at chateaux on Airbnb, I knew I didn’t want to spend more than 2,000 euros, or about $2,301, on the property itself. But finding something in my price range that could accommodate more than seven people was a challenge.
Expanding my search beyond the Paris region helped. Eventually, I found a chateau accessible by train from Paris that could accommodate up to two dozen people for 1,318 euros.
I was surprised that for under 2,000 euros, I could find somewhere that hit the sweet spot: affordable, beautiful, and big enough for everyone.
I then spent roughly 800 euros more on food, alcohol, and decorations, bringing the total to a little over 2,100 euros.
I saw it as my version of a wedding
I justified the expense by thinking of it as the kind of money other people my age might spend on a wedding or kids.
I don’t plan to have kids. My partner and I had a civil union instead of a wedding because he doesn’t believe in marriage, and I have my own hangups around it. In 2023, we held a small celebration at his parents’ house. At the time, we couldn’t afford to hire a venue, but I still had this itch to one day rent an entire place and throw a big celebration.
By 2024, I realized I could either spend the money I’d saved on something like a really expensive dog, or on renting a chateau. I chose the chateau.
The theme was ‘magical fantasy forest’
The chateau had two dining rooms, a ballroom, and a living room.
The theme was “magical fantasy forest,” so a friend and I decorated it with glitter, moss, leaves, and wooden details.
For our guests’ arrival, we set up a make-your-own potion station, a pre-party playlist of medieval covers of modern music, and laid out food on a table my friend had beautifully tablescaped.
Guests wore chainmail, and several of my friends were excited to finally have an excuse to buy cute corsets.
Throughout the weekend, we partied, drank Champagne, and danced. I’m a pretty simple girl at heart. I love snacks, drinks, and dancing with my friends.
I’m really happy I spent my money on this birthday party. My only regret is not paying a local to take better photos. I couldn’t afford a professional photographer or videographer, but I wish I’d at least hired someone nearby to capture the weekend properly.
It was a magical experience, and I would 100% do it all over again.
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