X17 EXCLUSIVE - Brad And Angelina Preparing Wedding At French Chateau, Source Says

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are furiously remodeling Miraval -- their 35-bedroom, $60-million estate in the South of France -- in advance of a fall wedding during the grape harvest, a source tells X17online exclusively.

"The couple have been working on the property for a while now because they want to be able to host most of their wedding guests in the house and the home needed to be modernized. But all the locals are talking about how these two will be hosting their wedding here in France, at their chateau, in the fall."

Brad and Angelina have been vocal about their resistance to marriage, promising not to marry until gay marriage is legalized in the U.S. Brad told Esquire magazine back in 2006, "Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able."

Same-sex marriage is still on hold in California, pending upcoming hearings. And gay marriage is still far from being legal in all 50 states.

So could the super-couple finally be considering making their commitment legal? They have three adopted children together and three biological children ... perhaps they'll both take on the kids' surname of Jolie-Pitt and make their love "official?"

There certainly couldn't be a more romantic place to do it and even a symbolic wedding in France would have special significance for the family, since the couple's twins, Vivienne and Knox, were born there in 2008.

As for the venue, the most important piece of work going on now is the renovation of the chateau's private chapel. The 16th-century building will maintain the original stone -- the typical stone from the region. Most importantly, the plans for the project were already approved by the local government. Because the structures and the gardens on the property are classified historical monuments, Brad and Ange have to get all work on the property approved before work can begin.

Conversely, the couple have a problem with locals on another matter ... they pair have been accused of using the gardens as a helipad -- something the Correns officials aren't too happy about, according to our source:

"They want to land their helicopter on the property because this area is difficult to get to. The home is on the top of a mountain and we are basically in the middle of the countryside here. People like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie don't have the time to drive here -- they want to move quickly. But local government officials aren't happy with where they are currently landing their helicopter. It is in the middle of the protected gardens and the owners have been told they need to find a new landing pad."

Surely they can find another spot on the 880-acre estate. That's the least of their worries ... now, back to the wedding planning!