5 Best South of France Wedding Venues for Capturing Your Special Day with the Perfect Wedding Photographer
I want to introduce you to my selection of the 5 BEST South of France Wedding Venues. From romantic castles to medieval cities, from lavender fields to the breathtaking clear blue sea of the Cote d’Azur, the south of France is absolutely the most incredible place to get married. Having been a wedding photographer for the past 18 years, I’ve decided to share my favorite South of France wedding venues.
South of France is an amazing region to shoot weddings in, the venues are amazing, I love the Mediterranean and everything around it. So here are my thoughts on my favorite wedding venues in the South of France. It’s an absolute privilege being a wedding photographer in the South of France and I look forward to shooting your wedding here. If you’re looking for a wedding photographer in French Riviera, get in touch here. And before you read it I need to warn you that you are in danger to “Fall in LOVE” with the Mediterranean.
Wedding venue Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
On the shore of the sunny Mediterranean sea at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera lies an exceptionally elegant rose-colored Belle Epoque wedding venue Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. This villa was built between 1905 and 1912 for Baroness Beatrice de Rothschild. After barely living there it was donated to the Academie des Beaux-Arts. Now it is open to the public as a part of a tourist attraction.
The previous owner of the villa was a big admirer and collector of different pieces of art. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is decorated with rare antiques, carpets, porcelain, chandeliers. Ceiling painted by Gian Domenico Tiepolo and Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini. As Beatrice owned 2 pet monkeys, you can find different monkey motives throughout the house.
You see in France, the house is just one part of a story with another part being the garden. And oh, boy Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild has 9 gardens in total. These gardens are some of the most beautiful gardens in France. This is where I as a wedding photographer in the South of France can guarantee your wedding photos will be taken and must be taken. I love the sea view that the villa offers. You can watch the sun going down in the gulf.
Top 5 questions and answers I thought you’d be interested in:
What do you as a wedding photographer like about Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild?
As a wedding photographer in Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, I love everything about it – love its location on the peninsula with the sea view, love the building with its attention to detail, the gardens, fountains, and that beautiful southern light. If you’re a wedding photographer and are shooting a wedding at the villa, it’s your lucky day.
What kind of wedding ceremonies can you have at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild?
You can have two options for an outdoor wedding in Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. Either has a ceremony and cocktails in Florentin Garden and/or dinner in French Style garden with the view over the fountains. This garden was built as an exact copy of the Temple de l’Amour in Petit Trianon at Versailles. The fountains were designed so that the water looks brighter than it actually is.
But, if you’re not lucky enough to have good weather during your wedding in Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, you can have an indoor wedding in The Oriental Room. The room offers phenomenal views over Villefranche Bay. There’s also the indoor patio available for your dinner or the afterparty. This is an internal Patio with marble columns. The patio was used as a film set for the James Bond movie ” Never say never again“
How many guests can Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild host?
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild hosts about 200 people for a seated dinner and up to 300 for a cocktail-type reception. There’s no accommodation available in the villa, but you can choose any of the nearby hotels like The Royal Riviera and Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat that are just a few minutes’ walks away.
How much does it cost to book a wedding venue Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild?
The price range varies from €20,000 for 30 guests including catering and venue and €29,500 for 80 guests. I found those numbers online, so be sure to check with Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild directly for the latest rates.
How to get to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild?
Well, you have at least 5 options:
- Yacht: For yacht charter guests berthed at Beaulieu-Sur-Mer, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is located just 30 minutes walk from Beaulieu port.
- Car: Go to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild by taking the N98 (RD6098) Basse Corniche to the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula.
- Train: The nearest train station is Beaulieu-Sur-Mer from where you can take the bus nr. 81 that goes to Villa.
- Bus: From Nice take the bus Nr.81 and stop at the “Passable” bus stop.
- Taxi: Well, you can always take a taxi to places, the Nice airport is about 25 minutes away in good traffic. I’d plan at least an hour on an average working day.
Wedding venue The Royal Riviera in French Riviera
The Royal Riviera is a fabulous wedding venue in French Riviera, conveniently located between Nice and Monaco in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. I chose this as one of my featured wedding venues in the South of France as this is the first “Grand Hotel” where I shot a wedding way back in 2009. Since then I’ve been a frequent traveler to the South of France shooting weddings in the top wedding venues in the Riviera. Here is why I recommend the Royal Riviera as one.
The Royal Riviera details
It’s a five-star hotel located on the coast of the Mediterranean sea. I was totally captivated by the looks of it – it looks very classical, early 20th-century architecture. It has a beautiful outdoor space for garden wedding ceremonies, you can enjoy a cocktail reception at Le Jasmine overlooking the sea and Villa Kerylos. For a seated dinner book the Panorama room with a beautiful sea view over “La Baie des Fourmis”
On the day before or after the wedding, you and your guests can enjoy either the private sandy beach or the heated outdoor swimming pool. The hotel has 94 rooms and suites, so there will be plenty of rooms for your guests to stay in.
As a wedding photographer in the Royal Riviera, I enjoy the ambiance of the French Luxury that can be seen in the spaces inside the hotel. Once you’re outside you definitely know where you are, the south of France has its special kind of light, yes, I know, the sun is the same, but it gives a different light in the afternoons and evenings, and it’s noticeable. Just a short walk later you’re down on the beach for some beach photos, so, in general, you have everything in the same location. However, I do suggest a photoshoot out in the town the following day as the region is so beautiful.
5 Questions about hotel Royal Riviera
1. Where is it and how far is it from anywhere?
It’s just 25 min drive from the Nice international airport between downtown Nice and Monaco. Both of them are just 15 min drive away. Royal Riviera is located in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat together with other Luxury wedding venues like Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat. My preferred way of getting there is a taxi, a trip to the airport is approximately €100.
2. What’s the best time of the year to get married there?
The peak season in the region is from June till October. But you can choose to have your wedding there any time. Please note that the Royal Riviera is closed for 7 weeks between mid-November and mid-January.
3. What else is there to do?
You can enjoy the private sandy beach and outdoor heated swimming pool. Or just visit the historical city Villefranche-sur-Mer which is located near the hotel or go for a walk in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat to look for that Fishing Village hidden between the coastal pathway and pines. You can also take a taxi to Nice and Monaco and enjoy everything that they provide.
4. How many guests can the Royal Riviera host?
Royal Riviera can host 140 guests for a cocktail reception and seated guests of up to 130 for the dinner. It has 94 rooms in total with 78 rooms and suites in the main building and 16 rooms in the private villa l’Orangerie, so I’d estimate they can sleep around 130-150 guests.
5. What do you as a wedding photographer like about the Royal Riviera as a wedding venue?
As a wedding photographer in the Royal Riviera, I like the ambiance of the location, it all somehow comes together and I still enjoy shooting weddings in the Royal Riviera.
Wedding venue Domaine du Mont Leuze
Villa wedding venue in South of France
They say that they’re located between the sea and the sky. And that might be true as I had to take the taxi uphill to the villa wedding venue in the South of France. It was a few years ago when I was invited to shoot the wedding on the mountain top, uphill from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
Domaine du Mont Leuze is a small wedding venue with large grounds. It’s quite opposite from the other few wedding venues described here, but I do like it for its unique qualities. First of all, I’ve fallen in love with the views you can see from the top of the hill. This is a truly great place to be a wedding photographer in. You can set up the ceremony place with the blue Mediterranean sea in the background. Have fantastic views over Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat or Villefranche-sur-Mer, the whole French Riviera is on your palm there. The other benefit of being up in the mountains is that during the summer season it gets quite warm down by the coast, so being higher up is certainly a big advantage if you’re in a three-piece suit or a wedding dress.
Domaine du Mont Leuze details
In front of the villa, there’s a 600 square meter patio overlooking the Mediterranean sea. You can sit back and relax on the quiet sundeck captivated by the amazing look over Franch Riviera. If it gets too hot you can go out in the Olive tree garden protected by the shade of 260 olive trees. There’s a very intimate reception space around two pools with cascades and fountains. The Villa itself is a classical Provence-style building with two reception halls that combine modern and classical style decorations.
Domaine de Mont Leuze can host various sizes of wedding parties starting with smaller groups of up to 400 persons for the sit-down meal if you choose to have the party out on the terrace. If you’re having your wedding earlier in the year and it gets chilly during the nights, then there’s an option to host the wedding party inside the Villa with a maximum of 190 persons for a sit-down meal or 370 for cocktails.
I suggest that you book the Domaine du Mont Leuze for several days as after the wedding you’ll be able to enjoy the tranquility of being separated from the world. The swimming pool up there is fantastic and you can spend your evenings on the “La Vista” terrace sipping fine wines and enjoying views over the most beautiful harbor in Southern Europe, Villefranche-Sur-Mer.
As a wedding photographer, I do not recommend having fireworks for your party down in the gulf. It’s a bit too long a stretch to associate them with yours. My two cents, based on experience.
5 Reasons to book Domaine du Mont Leuze as your Villa wedding venue in the South of France
- It’s close to everything – Nice, Nice international airport, Nice train station, Monaco, Villefranche-Sur-Mer.
- Villa is up in the mountains – you’re always away from the crowds, they are all down below.
- The parties you can host at Domaine de Mont Leuze are actually larger than in much bigger venues – up to 600 people.
- As a wedding photographer in the South of France, I recommend this wedding venue for its photo opportunities. You can use various backgrounds with scenic views over the neighboring towns. Gardens and pathways are spectacular and the olive tree garden is an amazing refuge from the sun.
- I don’t have exact numbers of pricing for this wedding venue but I believe it’s quite fair considering it’s a wedding venue in the South of France.
Wedding venue Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, a Four Seasons Hotel
South of France wedding photographer at Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat
I’m very proud that I’m a Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat wedding photographer as I’ve shot several weddings in this luxury large capacity wedding venue where many celebrities have had their weddings. Unfortunately due to NDAs, I can’t share most of the weddings I’ve shot there, but this venue has a special place in my heart, so it’s on my list.
The Grand Hotel du Cap-Ferrat is a five-star luxury hotel and it dates back to 1908. It’s pretty much the same period as all famous luxury villas of Cap-Ferrat in the French Riviera were built. That must have been a great time for the local building business. Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat was built as a hotel initially, only during the First World War, it was used as a hospital. Many famous people have stayed in this world-class hotel like Elisabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin, and Winston Churchill. The hotel is located at the highest point of the peninsula, which is why it has the best view of the sparkling Mediterranean.
Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat details
Famous Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons Hotel is one of the biggest luxury wedding venues in Cote d’Azur, it has 74 rooms available including 24 suites and the Penthouse, and Villa Rose-Pierre with its sea view. Also, small weddings are welcome, this venue is capable of providing an excellent experience for everyone.
The hotel has the Michelin-starred La Cap restaurant that attracts foodies from around the world, there are Provencial classics on the menu created by Executive Chef Yoric Tieche. The infinity pool is another reason I would love to host my wedding there.
Top 5 questions and answers I thought you’d be interested in for booking a wedding venue in the South of France:
What do you as a wedding photographer like about Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat?
When shooting a wedding at Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat it feels like you’re a part of something huge. Is it a thing, or is it an event? I don’t know, but it feels great. With the variety of options the hotel provides, the grounds, and interiors this is the perfect place for your wedding in the South of France. Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat itself is an iconic background for wedding photos.
How many guests can the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat host?
Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat can host about 100 guests in Salon Ferrat & La Rotonde for dinner, 165 guests in Salon Ferrat for a cocktail party or reception, 100 guests in La Rotonde or the Lobby for drinks or reception, and 60 people for dinner in the Lobby. You can also have an outdoor wedding with about 120 people. Club Dauphin can host 120 people for a seated dinner and 200 people for a cocktail party. If you’re hosting a smaller party then I’d recommend going for a seated dinner at Terrasse Panoramique Inferieure.
What kind of wedding ceremonies does Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat provide?
There are two options and many variations available at Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat. The previous question pretty much answers this question.
How much does it cost to book a wedding at Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat?
The price will depend on the scale of your chosen option for a wedding reception and ceremony. For more information please contact the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat directly.
How to get to Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat?
Well, you have two options. The easiest way is by taxi, as it’s very close to other wedding venues described here, it’s about a 30-minute drive from Nice airport in good traffic.
Other lovely wedding venues in the South of France
I – Janis Ratnieks as a wedding photographer in the South of France am proud to be working with some of the South of France wedding venues. Whether you’re looking for an exclusive five-star hotel, a beachside restaurant with stunning views, or a unique warehouse with an industrial-chic vibe, you’ll find your perfect South of France wedding venue at janisratnieks.com
The French Riviera is one of the most stunning places on the planet to hold your wedding. Think exclusive villas, luxury hotels, top-range restaurants, and polished superyachts. Destinations such as Nice, Cannes, Saint Tropez, Antibes are some of the best choices.
Here’s my comprehensive list of the best wedding venues within the South of France and its surroundings.
Be inspired by the diversity and romance of South of France’s best wedding venues for the year 2022!
- Château Saint- Martin and SPA
- Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
- Domain des Lys
- Château Saint Georges
- Château des Lavandes
- Château Canet
- Cap Estel
- Château de la Chèvre d’Or
Thank you for checking out my favorite wedding venues in the South of France. I will be sharing more locations with more weddings in the South of France here. I hope you enjoyed my guide to the 5 best South of France wedding venues.
