When people think of France, one of the first things that comes to mind is Paris. After all, it’s romantic, it’s chic, and it’s one of the top wedding destinations in the world.
But I happen to find South France just as romantic, complete with whimsical gardens and French country chic.
So when this couple asked me to photograph their intimate and cozy south of France destination wedding, I was all in!
Keep scrolling to see how their beautiful wedding day came together:
Welcoming the Guests Before the South France Destination Wedding:
As is the ongoing trend (and for good reason!), the couple opted to welcome their guests to their South France destination wedding weekend with a welcome dinner.
This couple had family and friends all around the world. So they knew hosting a destination wedding needed to be an entire experience – not just one day of celebration.
So they opted to host a welcome dinner at their South France wedding venue!
Paying Homage to the Bride’s Chinese Heritage:
The couple worked with their wedding planner to create a welcome dinner that paid tribute to both the bride’s Chinese heritage and to their chosen location for the wedding celebration: south France.
Needless to say, they created a unique design that captured their personalities perfectly!
The Bride’s Traditional Chinese Qipao
To add more of the bride’s culture and traditions into their wedding celebration, she opted to wear a traditional Chinese qipao to the welcome dinner.
It was a gorgeous red gown that paired so well with the French countryside color palette. So, naturally, we had to take time to photograph the couple and showcase her fabulous fashion choice!
The Welcome Dinner Design and Decor
Along with the bride’s fashion, the couple and their wedding planner put together design and decor that added more of the bride’s Chinese heritage to the occasion.
Chinese lanterns hung from garland lighting over the welcome dinner seating area. Along with a vibrant, pastel color palette, pops of red were seen in the decor pieces. Even the food choices were reminiscent of her Chinese culture!
And to pay tribute to their South France wedding venue, they opted for farm tables and chinoiserie table settings.
The South of France Wedding Venue: Chateau de Tourreau
While I love the villas that call Lake Como home, I also love getting to visit the incredible locations all across the world.
And the South France wedding venues, like Chateau de Tourreau, are no exception. It was a gorgeous castle complete with breathtaking architecture, manicured lawns and gardens, and stunning artwork and statues throughout the property.
Considering the couple wanted a romantic, intimate destination wedding (with a touch of whimsy), Chateau de Tourreau did not disappoint!
Getting Ready for the Day:
The bride chose to keep transportation for the day simple. And that was a perfect choice, considering it gave us more time to photograph everything as it unfolded.
So she got ready for the ceremony right inside the South France wedding venue. We used the gorgeous space as the backdrop for her Christian Dior heels and bespoke Galia Lahav wedding dress.
The Chateau de Tourreau Wedding Ceremony:
With the bride and groom ready, it was time to venture out onto the Chateau’s property for the wedding ceremony.
It was a gorgeously romantic ceremony design, complete with rattan chairs that perfectly captured the southern French countryside aesthetic. A pond with a fountain in the middle of the Chateau’s garden served as the backdrop for their ceremony.
Celebrating the Newlyweds with a Sunset Couple’s Session:
To celebrate their marriage, and to commemorate the epic location of their destination wedding, I knew we had to go wandering the Chateau’s grounds.
With the bride’s gorgeous, bespoke wedding gown, the South France wedding venue was the perfect backdrop for their sunset couple’s session.
Followed by a Whimsical, Romantic French Chateau Garden Reception:
After the wedding ceremony, the guests and the couple made their way over to the reception area. Directly in front of the Chateau, their wedding planner and designer transformed the property into a stunning whimsical garden wedding reception!
It was complete with string lighting to cast an ambient, cozy glow. Light dusty blue table covers, chinoiserie table settings, and rattan seating brought the French country chic aesthetic. And immaculate floral designs complete with dazzling crystal chandeliers overhead.
A Quick Fashion Change for the Bride
After our couple’s session on the South France wedding venue’s grounds, the bride slipped away for a quick fashion change.
She re-emerged for the reception in a classic white bridal gown with a chic bow in the back. It couldn’t have been more perfect for their French country castle reception!
Ending the Night with Dancing and Fireworks
One of my favorite parts of any wedding day is seeing how the couple and their guests choose to celebrate the excitement of officially being married!
For this couple, it included a fabulous outdoor reception filled with dancing the night away. And to top it off, they chose to really celebrate with a special fireworks display.
Finishing the South France Destination Wedding Weekend with a Pool Party
After a night of celebration, the couple decided to let the festivities continue for just a little while longer. Because their guests traveled from all over, they wanted to make sure they hosted an entire experience for them.
So the couple opted for a brunch pool party to cap off their south of France destination wedding weekend!
This south of France destination wedding was an incredible experience, especially with the Chateau de Tourreau backdrop framing their celebration!
The mood and aesthetic of the day was a perfect combination of romantic and whimsical paired with French countryside chic!
Looking for more wedding day inspiration?
Explore the destination wedding photography blog!
France Destination Wedding Vendors:
Photography: Lilly Red
Wedding Planning: Jennifer Fox Weddings
Venue: Chateau de Tourreau
Bartending: DNA Bartending
Flooring & Lighting: Belounge
Videographer: Studio 80 Cinematographie
Floral Design: Lettre à Élise Floral Design
Catering: Helen Traiteur
Chandeliers: Phôs
Rentals: Options Aix en Provence
Rentals: Joli Bazaar
String Quartet (Welcome Dinner): Incanto Music
Live Band Trio: Lizzy and the Gentlemen
Wedding Stationery: Dill Paper Co.
Hair: Alejandra Nerizagal
Makeup: Ylva Langenskiold
Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav
Transportation: Belle Provence Mini Bus Deluxe
Fireworks: Imagine Ruggieri
Signage: Coramour