A palace-garden riad, for one evening
A walled garden of orange trees and fountains, private for the evening.
A palace garden courtyard in Marrakech: the riad plan, at a larger scale
A palace-garden riad, Marrakech
A palace-garden riad is the old Marrakech house at a larger scale: rooms set around a walled garden of orange trees, paths and a fountain, behind a plain door in the medina. Held privately for an evening, it suits a wedding dinner, a vow renewal or a family celebration. The walls keep the noise of the city outside, and in spring the orange trees are in blossom. Any ceremony is symbolic, in your own words: the legal part is done at home.
What the evening could be
Arriving
Through the medina at dusk, past the square as it lights up.
Then a quiet lane, and a door in a long wall.
Jemaa el-Fnaa after dark, Marrakech Photo: YoTuT, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)
Tea
Mint tea among the orange trees while your guests arrive.
Music from the far side of the garden.
Mint tea and sweets on a tray Photo: مصطفى ملو, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)
After dark
Lanterns along the paths and around the fountain.
Dinner under the trees, for two or for everyone.
Who it suits
For the two of you, or for everyone you love. These are the occasions it suits best; tell us yours if it is not here.
- A wedding celebration
- A vow renewal
- An anniversary
- A birthday or family celebration
What we arrange here
One planner, start to finish
One planner who holds the whole plan, and one written plan everyone works from.
A symbolic ceremony
Your words, a celebrant if you want one, music for the walk. Symbolic only: the legal part is done at home.
Flowers and design
Damask roses in season, bougainvillea, orange blossom; carpets, brass and low tables, designed around the place.
Lanterns and light
Candles, brass lanterns and firelight, planned for how the place looks after dark.
Music
Gnawa, Andalusian strings, a band or a DJ, booked for the moment you choose.
Caftans and dressing
Fittings for a takchita or caftan, and a negaffa to dress the bride if you want the tradition.
A henna evening
A henna artist and an evening of its own, the night before or on the day.
Henna for a celebration, Morocco Photo: Houssain tork, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)
Add it to a trip
Any private trip can carry one evening like this, planned by the same team as the rest of your days.
A honeymoon with an evening in itOur private journeysDay-by-day itineraries
From an idea to the evening
Tell us the idea
A few lines is enough: the occasion, roughly when, roughly how many, and what you picture.
A conversation with your planner
We talk it through, ask what matters most, and suggest settings that fit.
A written proposal
Settings, stays, the shape of the days and an itemised quote. Change anything.
Design and detail
Flowers, music, food and the order of the evening, decided with you step by step.
On the day
You arrive to the evening you agreed, already set. You only have to be there.
Picture it here? Start with the designer.
Choose the occasion, the season and what matters most; the setting is already filled in. A planner writes back with a written proposal and an itemised quote.
A palace garden courtyard in Marrakech: the riad plan, at a larger scale