Hi, Welcome! I’m Gabriella wedding photographer based in the south of France. In this article, you will find how to plan your destination wedding in the south of France and a Curated list of the best Destination wedding venues of South of France from French Riviera to Provence. To directly jump tho my curated list of South of France wedding venues with details and photos follow this link https://gabriellavanstern.com/south-france-wedding-venue/

With its picturesque landscapes and undeniable charm, South of France has always been included in the lists of world’s top wedding destinations. There’s no doubt that Paris is the most popular location but through recent years, more and more couples are saying Je t’aime in the hidden jewels beyond the French capital. For instance, Provence and the south of France attract couples who want to experience an authentic celebration in exclusive venues. Besides, who could resist the heavenly smell of lavender fields in Gordes or the idyllic charm of French Riviera’s coastal scenes?

You’re dreaming of getting married in the South of France but don’t know where to start planning your wedding, this ultimate wedding planning guide is written for you. Without further ado, let’s get the discussion started!

1. Decide if you want an American wedding in South of France or a French wedding in South of France.

If you want to get married in France, you must decide whether you want an American wedding in France or a French wedding in France.

This makes sense if both members of the couple are American and most of the planned guests are American. Also, it makes sense if you’ve always imagined your wedding including most of the components of a traditional American wedding. In these cases, do an American wedding in France.

If you think maybe you want a French wedding, even though everyone attending—including the bride and groom—will journey from the United States, you should consider a few of the key differences between French and American ceremonies and receptions and then decide what best suits your wedding vision.

My experience exposed the following main differences between typical French weddings and typical American weddings as I served both English speaking and french clients:

• The French don’t have attendants for the brides and grooms. That means no bridesmaids, groomsmen, maids of honour, or best men. In fact, when I meet the bride for the first time during the wedding-planning trip I ask brides if they will do trendy American thing like made a group of women all wear the same dress.
• The French don’t do the tiered wedding sponge cake, favouring instead a pile of cream-filled pastry puffs held together with spun sugar called a croquembouche.
• The French don’t do a rehearsal dinner. In fact, the French don’t have a rehearsal the day before the ceremony.
• The French don’t do a Welcome dinner. It is customary to do a welcome dinner the night before the wedding for the American guests, or for guests coming from far. The French didn’t understand why we had a party before the party, but they enjoyed it.
• The French don’t have a standard wedding toast. French guest won’t stand up and say anything if you hadn’t asked them in advance to say a few words. In America and in Russia it’s the opposite. As an example, I remember the Marriage Anniversary of D&S in Hotel de Paris in Monaco. Every householder (man) guests did a speech before dinner. It’s a tradition in Russia.

Now you know if your planning and “American wedding in France” or a typical french wedding.

2. Find South of France Wedding Inspirations

More likely than not, there’s already a brief vision that plays out in your mind when you’re thinking about your dream destination wedding days. Nevertheless, dealing with the specifics of your wedding ceremony or wedding day can still be nerve-wracking!

Consider inspiration before the budget, then you won’t be disappointed.

Do you envision a small and intimate wedding surrounded by your close family and friends or a big wedding? You might be interested in a chateau wedding on the French Riviera, but what style of chateau do you want? Or perhaps, a bohemian elopement might be your thing, but what wedding venue concept would you choose? And the list of questions goes on and on and on.

Dealing with all the wed specifics can be chaotic if you’re planning alone but don’t worry. Start compiling your wedding inspirations in a folder. Here are some useful tips:

✓ Make a physical binder or folder of your wedding inspo. For the content, you can go through the pages of fashion, decoration, food, and wedding magazines.

✓ If carrying a physical binder is not your thing, consider having a digital compilation instead. For instance, Pinterest lets you browse through millions of amazing ideas and save your favourite pictures in your wedding boards.

✓ You could also maximize the power of Instagram by using the ‘Save to Collection button’. By swiping through the photos under popular wedding hashtags, you’ll certainly discover stunning ideas that you can keep in your hidden collection.

The most popular hashtag on Instagram that will help you to plan your wedding in the south of France :

• #southoffrancewedding #francewedding #frenchrivierawedding #provencewedding #southwestfrancewedding

3. Determine a budget

Set some time and discuss with your fiancé how much you are willing to spend on your big day. Once you have decided on your final budget, try to determine if your budget suits your vision. Contact the venue and vendors to get a quote. When you know that a certain wedding choice is beyond your financial plan, remind yourself of the benefits of spending within your means.

How much does it cost to have a wedding in France?

This is a good question. It depends on the kind of wedding you want. In the South of France( French Riviera and Provence) you have different kind of Wedding Venues. From Chateau, Bastide to Vineyard inland or in front of the sea. To determine a price, focus on venues and carter this is the biggest part of your budget. Here is a list of the best south of France wedding venues ( French Riviera and Provence, inland or facing the sea).

 According to SN Travel, the average cost of a wedding in France is £26,059 / 32,750 $

More is Less.

Invest in what matters for you. It is Guests, florals, your dress, your photographer, catering, your rings, your honeymoon ect? After all, your wedding shouldn’t be measured by its cost. What matters most is the beautiful memories that you’ll create on your big day!

4. Find your South of France wedding venue

France offers a plethora of venues and diving into the venue research without preparation can be overwhelming. After observing the patterns in your wedding inspiration folder, you can sort out the specifics by dealing with the following points:

✓Location- Where is your preferred location? (e.g. French Riviera, south of France, Provence, Southwest France) here are my best South of France wedding venues, a curated list of 22 of the best South of France wedding venues from French Riviera to South of France.

✓Concept- What type of venue do you want? (e.g. chateau, resort, hotel, villa, bastide)

✓Style- How do you want your venue to look? (e.g. boho, romantic, vintage, modern, rustic,)

Once you’ve answered these questions, it would be easier for you to select your best venue for getting married in the South of France.

Example :

“I would love to plan my wedding in Provence, surround by olive trees in a romantic and modern bastide” or “I would like to get married in Southwest France in an authentic chateau in Bordeaux”.

Make a commitment to call ALL the South of France wedding venues that suit you’re vision, you could have a good surprise!

indeed, all wedding places have different prices. If you want to get married in Monaco and you are out of budget, don’t be discouraged. Especially on the French Riviera, from one kilometre to another, from one city to another, the prices vary from simple to fivefold. Also, keep in mind that two chateaux in Provence or south of France will not ask you the same price. So persevere.

Think about asking local Florist about venues. Follow South of France wedding photographer on Instagram network with them. Indeed, Photographers shoots in different locations. You can ask them if there enjoyed the venues ect..

5. Make sure to understand the nuance between Wedding planner VS Wedding designer VS Wedding Cordinator

Chances are once you got engaged you quickly realized that there is an entire vocabulary or language of wedding-speak. I often hear couples confuse and interchange the terms wedding designer, planner, and coordinator  understandably so. A planner is almost always a coordinator, but a coordinator is not always a planner. A planner can be a designer as well, but a designer is not always a planner or a coordinator.

A wedding planner is a responsible for planning the logistical elements that bring your wedding vision to life and is involved from the very beginning of the planning process. Depending on the level of service they are commissioned for, a wedding planner will assist with budget creation and management, venue selection, vendor referrals, wedding day timeline, seating arrangements, and so on. They can also act as a trusted advisor on everything wedding related and a shoulder to lean on. A wedding planner will also coordinate the day as well, since they are highly involved with the planning.

A wedding designer is responsible for the overall visual aesthetic of the wedding. Designers think in terms of the big picture. They generate the wedding design and decor concept and how that concept will be threaded through each visual element. Often they will work in conjunction with florists, lighting technicians, and photographers to create the look and feel of the event.

A wedding coordinator is not deeply involved with planning the wedding. Their primary duty is to be there on the day and ensure that it runs smoothly and according to plan. You often hear them referred to as day-of-coordinators. Many jump in a month before the wedding to finalize the last minute details, confirm vendor obligations, create a timeline, and oversee the set-up of the decor. Many wedding planners offer wedding coordination serves to their clients as part of their service package. But be aware that wedding coordinators/day-of-coordinators are very different from venue coordinators.

Need an all in one? I got you covered! NKT EVENTS based in the south of France is Wedding planner and designer. Known for her international zest of all things fabulous, this East Coast bred American has worn several hats during the course of her career making her one of the most discerning wedding planners in Europe. From the catwalks of New York City Fashion Week to the azure-blue shores of the French Riviera, Nyachia curates events in style with a fashion flair that stimulates the senses all while having fun! 

6. Think about Menu and Drinks

Out of all the aspects of an event, food is one of the top things that guests remember most. Want a more casual approach, you might want to consider having a buffet. If you’re interested in adding a bit of luxury to your reception, a served menu can be your better option. If a festive and bohemian vibe is your jam, you might want to incorporate a grazing table. The options are endless.

Another important thing to consider is the food preferences of your invitees. Someone in your guest list might be vegan, lactose intolerant, or gluten-sensitive so don’t forget to ask everyone! Aside from ensuring that your guests will enjoy their meals, enquiring about their food choices is a thoughtful action that they’ll surely appreciate.

7. Look for your Dream wedding Cake

Once you’re done with the concept-theming of your wedding reception, you may then decide on how you want your Cake to look. There are numerous options for traditional US wedding cakes or traditional French Crocenbouche. Perhaps would you prefer some unique alternatives such as doughnut towers, cake pops, or even Fromage cakes? A beautiful and good Wedding cake is anywhere between 600 and 1500 euros. Price may vary according to the number of guests and the cake designer renown.

8. Hire your South of France Wedding Photographer

Freeze your beautiful moments in the best possible way by hiring a professional photographer that can cater to your particular needs. When choosing your wedding photographer, you should create a goal checklist of your preferences. Here are the questions that you need to answer to do your checklist:

✓ What are your priorities for your wedding images? (e.g. aesthetics, stories, candid emotions, film photography)

✓ What is concept wedding shoot do you want? (e.g. refined wedding photography, editorial photography, candid photography, photojournalistic)

✓ What angles and colours do you prefer?( timeless angle, special effect angle, ultra-wide-angle, moody dark, light-filled)

✓ Aside from shooting skills, what characters should I look for in my wedding photographer? (e.g. adventurer, humouristic, proactive, passive, invisible patient, calm, do you want her/him to let you know your double chin is showing up?)

Looking for a wedding photographer in Provence or South of France. Know more about what I can do for you as a wedding photographer in south of france

9. Find your decoration and Ambiance

The decoration

Your venue adornment should be in accordance with the concept, style, and season of your wedding. Dream about a garden wedding? The lavenders sourced from the fields of Provence can create a stunning contrast in the greens of a landscape. If an island celebration is your thing, you can take advantage of the surplus of local flowers such as bougainvillaea and Yasmin. A friend of mine has done that. She was getting married in Corsica she takes advantage of the surplus of local floral and decorated her Arch with. And surprisingly the arch turns stunning.

If you’re dreaming of a winter wedding, you can decorate your big day with seasonal goods such as pinecones, pomegranates, and poinsettia!

Think about hiring a wedding planner or a wedding designer for your decoration especially if you have specific ideas. Trust me, your photos will turn into masterpieces. Floral artists also do decoration and floral design. Think about it when choosing your floral artist. If you need some recommendations, send me a note here.

Where to rent your wedding decoration in South of France?

You can rent your wedding decoration with the following English speacking amazing vendors.

Deco Flamme https://www.instagram.com/deco_flamme/

By Mademoiselle Deco https://www.instagram.com/bymademoiselledeco/

A&S pre-wedding party in Monaco – Hôtel de Paris- Empire Ballroom

Music

Set the right mood for your event is by choosing the best music for your celebration. For a dynamic dance floor, you might want to hire an energetic DJ to keep the party going. If you’d like an authentic and beyond then expected live experience, you must incorporate an amazing live band.

With proper knowledge and suitable strategies, planning your wedding in the South of France will be a feasible task. If you want to tick one of the boxes in your checklist, you can contact me to discuss your wedding photography goals! As a professional wedding photographer in Provence, I’d like to listen to your vision and be a part of turning your dream wedding into a wonderful reality.

Thought the years, I build a strong relationship with amazing vendors in South of France from Provence to French Riviera. Just ask we’re to help. Hit the comment section below and ask me all your questions!

About the photographer – Gabriella

Gabriella is a wedding, portrait and editorial photographer based on the French Riviera serving Stylish Brides & Grooms in France. She specialises in South of France Weddings. She uses both film and digital, for an intense, bright and soft editorial Fine-art style. 
Gabriella finds most of her inspiration from Human, travels, interior design, fashion, architecture and beauty around her.

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