French Riviera

from Today's Bride - Destination Wedding | Stunning Style

Maui

FRENCHKISS

Say “Oui” To A French Riviera Wedding

Titans of business, Hollywood stars, and even real-life princes and princesses have planted roots the French Riviera, that fabled coastline of southern France sprawling between tiny Saint-Tropez on the west and the Italian border to the east. Also called the Côte d’Azur, it has inspired artists and writers such as Chagall, Matisse, Picasso, and Fitzgerald who found their muses in the red and chalk cliffs, verdant olive groves and vines, and the 50 shades of turquoise and sapphire of the Mediterranean Sea. Brides and grooms are also inspired and it’s easy to see so many fall head-over-heels for saying “I Do” on the French Riviera. An international airport in Nice and a TGV train from Paris means it’s easy to lure visitors too, and guests, friends and family, are spoiled for choice when it comes to making the best of celebrating the big day far away. From posh seaside hotels and palaces with gardens to tucked away cozy inns and quirky under the sea nuptials, the French Riviera serves up all the ingredients for an unforgettable destination wedding.

Seaside town on the French Riviera or Côte d’Azur

LOVE AND LUXURY

If there’s one thing the Côte d’Azur delivers in droves it’s over-the-top style, and the antique and art-filled pink Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on stunning Cap-Ferrat doesn’t disappoint. The magnificent palace was built in 1912 and is surrounded by nine themed gardens that are idyllic for photos, hand-in-hand strolls, and receptions for up to 300 guests.

The nearby Four Seasons Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat has been throwing glamorous affairs since 1889 and can host guests in its 74 rooms and suites. But for couples who live for gourmet and custom experiences, Amavia Collection’s new six-bedroom Villa Gaia, just a 10-minute drive up the hill, has upped the ante on exclusivity with Michelin-star food and five-star service under one roof. Swoon over the unobstructed Cap-Ferrat and yacht views, from the well-appointed home boasting original art, an outdoor infinity pool and kitchen, private terraces and balconies, plus a gym, sauna and cinema. A 24/7 concierge can arrange transport, organize wine and cocktail tastings or daily yoga and massages, and plan excursions to nearby villages, wineries and beaches.

Villa Gaia’s pièce de résistance, however, is its partnership with Michelin-star chef Alain Llorca, the renowned Provençal chef who curates the villa’s lunch and dinner menus, which are executed by an onsite chef and paired with a private wine stash. The villa can accommodate guess for a small but sublime wedding party lunch or family dinner. They could also arrange a larger and more raucous soirée at their private beach club near Monaco.

Speaking of Monaco, it doesn’t get more fairytale than this picturesque enclave that turned the late American actress Grace Kelly into a princess when she married H.S.H Prince Rainier III in 1956. A train goes from Nice to Monaco. Once there, a network of eco-friendly and efficient buses crisscrosses the world’s second smallest country with ease, making it a breeze to visit the haute couture boutiques, exceptional museums, gorgeous public gardens, and historic sites such as the white byzantine cathedral in Monaco’s where Prince Rainier married Princess Grace, and the Prince’s Palace, official residence of the current sovereign. Some of the French

Riviera’s swankiest hotels and restaurants are found in Monaco too. But if quirky is what you’re after, then book at the Hotel Metropole just off the Casino Square, where an underwater wedding (SCUBA gear included) can be organized for up to 20 guests. The wet-and-wild nuptials are followed up by a catered champagne lunch on the beach for those invitees who prefer to stay dry. To add a simple touch of royal romance to your day, order a small box of two crown-shaped chocolates from the Chocolaterie of Monaco.

RELAXING VIBES

Despite its glitz-and-glam reputation, the French Riviera has a relaxed side too, one where country inns, toes-in-sand dining, and a rosé-all-day vibes are the perfect wedding accessories. For example, tucked behind Pampelonne’s trendy beach clubs of Ramatuelle is the utterly charming La Campagne Des Jumeaux, a family farmhouse-turned-B&B with five bedrooms set in a vast pastoral setting. An outdoor pool is ideal for visitors and four-minute walk down the path leads straight to the sandy beach.

Meanwhile, Château Sainte Roseline is one of the most beautiful wine estates in the Var, and an ideal place to celebrate love with 30 of your closest friends, or up to 1,000 if you choose. Indulge your guests with tours and tastings, and there’s even an onsite chapel for photos. A perk to this venue, besides its stunning good looks, is the location, just a few-minutes’ drive from the Les Arcs train station as well as the pretty village of Lorgues, with its famous Tuesday farmers’ market and beloved Chez Bruno restaurant and hotel, a Michelin-star locale specializing in truffles.

Between Saint-Tropez and Cannes, simple elegance on the seaside doesn’t get better than La Roche Rouge, whose mid-century modern aesthetic is inspired by the blues of the Mediterranean, the ochre-orange of the Estérel, and the Côte d’Azur’s persistent lemon-yellow sunshine. The entire hotel can be yours and host up to 60 guests who can watch you exchange vows on the private beach then dance and dine overlooking the sea on a private terrace. The hotel also has a spa, salt- water pool, restaurant Récif for Michelin-star meals and sea-facing rooms, too.