4 Top Destination Wedding Venues in the French Riviera | by Makeup & Hair Artist Onorina Jomir
Looking for the perfect destination wedding venue in the French Riviera?
As an English-speaking makeup and hair artist in Paris, I have travelled all over France to beautify brides for their destination weddings in regions such as Provence, Burgundy, and the French Riviera.
This past summer I visited venues in the French Riviera alongside my industry friends: Wedding photographers CheyAnne Keese of L’Amour de Paris and Doug Keese of Arte de Vie, and wedding planner Nancy LaTart from Fete in France.
Here are 4 of our favorite luxurious wedding venues in the French Riviera - read on for venue details and wedding planning tips from industry professionals in the French destination wedding scene.
First group photo of our French Riviera Wedding Venue Tour! Pictured from left to right - CheyAnne, Nancy, and Onorina
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Strolling through the French and Spanish Gardens at Bastide du Roy!
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
I. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc is a grand hotel hotel wedding venue in French Riviera, featuring seaside views, and the ability to privatize for wedding weekends.
Photo Courtesy of Arte de Vie
Looking for a Royalty-Status Wedding Venue on the Water?
Hotel DU Cap-Eden-Roc is a 5-star hotel, luxury wedding venue in Antibes on the Cote d’Azur. This wedding venue has 117 rooms, suites, and private villas on a property rich in coastal landscape, beautiful gardens and many onsite bars and restaurants.
This wedding venue is available for a full buyout between April-May and September-October — and with 117 rooms, suites, and villas, you can virtually have any size wedding you desire!
Wedding guests who stay on the property will have an abundance of activities to enjoy: jet ski-tours, yacht rides, outdoor spa experiences and clay tennis courts. There are 3 restaurants and 6 bars on site, and private cabanas are available for rent for spa treatments and candlelit dinners, making it the perfect post-nuptial experience for any newlywed couple!
WATCH ARTE DE VIE’S VIDEO OF HOTEL DU CAP-EDEN-ROC HERE.
Here’s what we have to add:
CheyAnne + Doug’s Photographer Inspiration: “Every area has potential for wedding photos - from the lush manicured gardens, to the trails through canopies of trees, and the rocky shoreline of Antibes.”
Nancy’s Wedding Planner Insight: “This hotel is not only the perfect venue for a wedding, but the perfect vacation for your guests traveling for your destination wedding.”
My Bridal Beauty Advice for this wedding venue: “This wedding ceremony site is very dramatic and therefore, your bridal look needs to compete. Look for dresses and veils with a long train and wear a loose but full updo for seaside winds. Keep your makeup and hair artist onsite for touchups throughout your big day!” full updo
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc main hotel entrance overlooking their famous wedding ceremony walkway, situated between lush gardens with a tropical touch.
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Pier - several bars and restaurants, as well as an infinity pool, overlook the water.
Photo courtesy of Arte De Vie
Lounge bar on the water at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc has numerous outdoor facilities for guests to enjoy, as well as villas that can be fully privatized.
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Seaside dining with a view at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
II. Chateau Saint Georges
Chateau Saint Georges is a luxury wedding venue with sweeping views of Cannes and Grasse, featuring gilded interiors, a roman-bath inspired indoor swimming pool, breathtaking gardens and an outdoor “Temple of Love,” perfect for a wedding ceremony.
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Wedding vows with a view? Then the Chateau saint Georges temple of love is a must!
Chateau Saint Georges is a quiet, exclusive French Riviera Wedding Venue with beautiful gardens and a gorgeous view of the medieval town of Grasse - the perfume capital of the world!
The property rests on 7.4 acres of cypress, Aleppo pines and olive trees, with rows of lavender and palm trees. in front of the Chateau’s courtyard there is the roman style “Temple of Love,” which overlooks Cannes, Grasse and nearby mountains - the perfect scenic backdrop for a wedding.
The Chateau has onsite accommodations for up to 14 guests in 5 guest rooms . There are multiple ornate indoor spaces to choose for your wedding festivities - beautiful library, indoor swimming pool, and two salons, which can host anywhere from 30-100 guests! Want a larger space for more guests? Chateau Saint Georges allows tents on the property, so the options are endless for your destination wedding!
WATCH ARTE DE VIE’S VIDEO OF CHATEAU SAINT GEORGES HERE.
Here’s what we have to add:
CheyAnne + Doug’s Photographer Inspiration: “The photo angles from the “Love Temple” with the chateau in the background create quite the ethereal picture, with a veil flowing in the wind!”
Nancy’s Wedding Planner Insight: “The Château Saint Georges combines the best of all worlds: it’s in the South of France and has lovely gardens and the elegance of the gilded interiors of a royal palace.”
My Bridal Beauty Advice for this wedding venue: “Romantic and loose hairstyles are a must for a Temple of Love ceremony, but switch to a more polished hairstyle change during your indoor celebrations, so you can rock two looks at this regal location!”
Napoleon Salon at Chateau Saint Georges is a beautiful gilded room suitable for an indoor wedding reception!
Photo Courtesy of Arte de Vie
“Temple of Love” (featured in the background) wedding ceremony location at Chateau Saint Georges in the French Riviera
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Roman bath inspired Indoor pool, Chateau St. Georges
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Garden details at Chateau st. Georges
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
The Gardens at Chateau St. Georges provide romantic ambiance to your chateau wedding in the French Riviera.
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Catwalk to the Temple of Love at Chateau St. Georges, perfect spot for the wedding ceremony!
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
III. Bastide du Roy
Drone photo of Bastide du Roy - countryside wedding venue in French Riviera, featuring gardens, a swimming pool and an enclosed Olive pavilion.
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Bastide du Roy is an Idyllic countryside Chateau only minutes from coastline and sandy beaches.
Bastide du Roy is a 16th century Chateau surrounded by quiet countryside and hundreds and hundreds of old olive trees, featuring beautiful gardens, a swimming pool, and only minutes away from the beach!
This venue can host large weddings - up to 280 guests and sleeping accommodations for 10 in the Bastide.
The Music Garden is a tranquil space for an outdoor ceremony. The pool and French and Spanish Gardens are perfect for pre ceremony cocktails, and the Olive Pavilion is a gorgeous white tent, harboring live olive trees, with hardwood flooring and unobstructed views of the estate - the perfect place for an intimate dinner reception.
WATCH ARTE DE VIE’S VIDEO OF BASTIDE DU ROY HERE.
Here’s what we have to add:
CheyAnne + Doug’s Photographer Inspiration: “The Bastide du Roy is breathtaking – you could have a different setting for each stage of your day, first look in the gardens, bridal portraits in the Bastide, wedding party photos by the pool, and your first dance under the olive trees in the olive tree pavilion!”
Nancy’s Wedding Planner Insight: “The Bastide du Roy is full of Provençal charm. The grounds offer a lovely flow for your event, starting with pre-ceremony drinks in the French gardens, the ceremony in the music garden, and the cocktail and dinner in front of the main building. It also has a large tent on the property included in the rental price, so there’s no hassle or cost of arranging your own backup solution.”
My Bridal Beauty Advice for this wedding venue: “You can’t go wrong with any bridal look at Bastide du Roy! Whether it be modern dress with a soft polished updo, or a classic ballroom gown with romantic waves, you will blend right into the surrounding landscape and color palette.”
Gardens of Bastide du Roy - perfect place for pre-wedding ceremony cocktails & first look!
Photo courtesy of L’Amour de Paris Photography
Onsite accommodations for up to 10 guests in the Bastide, perfect for the bridal party or groomsman!
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Bastide du Roy has hundreds of mature Olive throughout the entire property.
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Beautiful Gardens under a canopy of mature olive trees, Bastide du Roy
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
The Pool at Bastide du Roy is the perfect place for Cocktail hour before dinner in the Olive Pavilion
Photo Courtesy of Arte de Vie
IV. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi is an upscale wedding venue in French Riviera, featuring seaside views, 9 themed gardens, and ornate interiors.
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Villa Ephrussi is a Renaissaince-style French riviera wedding venue, with on-site museums, 9 lush gardens and seaside views.
Once the winter home to baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild, Villa Ephrussi was built to showcase her art collection and host grand soirees for the worlds most rich and famous of her time.
This breathtaking wedding venue features a total of nine beautifully curated gardens, a courtyard, an indoor event space and views of Cote d’Azur (that’s French Riviera, in French!). By day, the estate is a museum and by night, an event venue!
This magnificent French Riviera wedding venue can accommodate weddings of up to 500 guests and this includes access to all 9 gardens, so you have a multitude choices when it comes to the scenery for your special day.
If you are looking for a venue for an evening ceremony, set in a beautiful garden, with a view of Cote d’Azur for your destination wedding, then Villa Ephrussi may just be THE location for you!
WATCH ARTE DE VIE’S VIDEO OF VILLA EPHRUSSI HERE.
Here’s what we have to add:
CheyAnne + Doug’s Photographer Inspiration: “Villa Ephrussi looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale book from childhood! With the soft pink hues of the villa set against the blue skies of the Cote d’Azur, it’s a dreamy color palette for wedding photos! The dancing water fountains and beautiful flowers make the scene all the more magical!”
Nancy’s Wedding Planner Insight: “The Villa Ephrussi is such an iconic venue for a wedding. The beautiful gardens and the soft pink tones of the villa are what French Riviera wedding dreams are made of! The logistics for setup can be tricky; it’s important to work with an experienced planner like us - Fete in France!”
My Bridal Beauty Advice for this wedding venue: “While on the coast, its gardens and trees guard Villa Ephrussi from the strong seaside winds. I suggest a half-updo or loose waves for your bridal hairstyle. Ask your florist to provide you with some fresh flowers to add to your hairstyle, or even a flower crown, for a romantic garden wedding look!“
Gardens of Villa Ephrussi, French Riviera Wedding Venue, access to all 9 gardens is included in your wedding rental.
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Dancing Fountains at French Riviera wedding venue, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. Dancing fountain show available for weddings at an additional cost.
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
French Gardens at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild can host 400-500 guests, making it the largest occupancy wedding venue on our list!
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Garden detail at Villa Ephrussi de Rothshchild
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
Iconic pink Façade of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
View of Cote d’Azur from Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.
Photo courtesy of Arte de Vie
French Riviera is a fabulous place for your destination wedding - with dreamy weather, breathtaking views, and quintessential architecture, what’s not to love?
The French Riviera is a beautiful, unique landscape to host a destination wedding - if you’re looking for English-speaking photographers, makeup artists and wedding planners to help plan your big French Riviera destination wedding, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will guide you every step of the way and make your wedding a dream come true.
Special thanks to CheyAnne of L’Amour de Paris and Doug of Arte de Vie for these gorgeous photographs, and thank you to Nancy of Fete in France for providing her wedding planner insight and guiding us throughout our French Riviera wedding venue tour! Check out their websites below, or follow them on Instagram!
FEATURED VENDORS
Makeup + Hair Styling:
Onorina Jomir Beauty | Instagram @onorinajomirbeauty
Photographers:
Arte de Vie | Instagram @artedevie
L’Amour de Paris | Instagram @lamourdeparis
Wedding Planner:
Fete in France | Instagram @feteinfrance
Venues (in order of appearance):
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc | Instagram @hotelducapedenroc
Chateau Saint Georges | Instagram @chateausaintgeorges
Bastide du Roy | Instagram @bastideduroy
Villa Ephrussi de Rothchild | Instagram @villaephrussiInstagram