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A quiet Anglican ceremony in Beaulieu-sur-Mer
The day began in a small yellow church just a few minutes from Cap-Ferrat – St Michael’s Anglican church in Beaulieu-sur-Mer. Hidden on a quiet street behind trees and soft pastel houses, it is one of those places that does not look like much on a map, but feels intimate and very personal when you are standing inside it with your family.
The couple chose a simple English-language ceremony first, surrounded by close friends who had flown in from London, Tehran, and the US. No fuss, no performance, just a calm start before heading to Villa Ephrussi for the Persian part of the day.
Arrival at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, guests walking through the Italian garden towards the pink villa and fountains.
Dinner under the Riviera sky, long tables in the gardens of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild with fountains as the backdrop.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is one of those rare venues that is both grand and comfortable. It has the elegance of a museum and the warmth of a private home. For couples planning a destination wedding on the French Riviera, that balance is important, especially when family and friends are travelling from different continents.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild Wedding with a Persian Ceremony on the French Riviera
02
Portraits in the Villa Ephrussi gardens
After the sofreh aghd, we stole a little time for portraits. The good thing about Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is that you do not need to go far, everything is within a few steps, but each corner looks different on camera.
We started in the Italian garden along the main axis of fountains, then moved to the Florentine garden and the stone balcony overlooking the sea. The pastel colours of the villa, the deep green of the cypress trees, and the blue of the Mediterranean create a natural colour palette that works beautifully for both editorial style and documentary photography.
A quiet Anglican church in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, a Persian sofreh aghd, and a sunset reception at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat – this wedding is the perfect example of how elegant and relaxed a South of France celebration can feel.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is what people imagine when they think of a luxurious South of France wedding. Soft pink façades, symmetrical gardens, fountains dancing to music, and that open view over the sea on both sides of the cape. Every time I photograph a wedding here, I take a moment to slow down, the place deserves it.
Guests arrived by coach from Beaulieu-sur-Mer and walked through the Italian garden to the main terrace. It is always that first reaction I like, the quiet “wow” as the villa and the axis of fountains reveal themselves. From a photography point of view, this is where the story widens, the architecture, the water, the distant hills of the French Riviera all become part of the frame.
03
Dinner, fountains, and the French Riviera at night
As the sun dropped, dinner was set up along the garden axis. Long tables with soft linen, golden cutlery, and simple white flowers, nothing too busy, just details that worked with the existing architecture instead of competing with it.
Villa Ephrussi is special at night. The fountains are lit, the villa glows gently, and the coastlines of Villefranche and Beaulieu appear in the distance. From a photographic standpoint, this is where I like mixing natural light with subtle flash, keeping the atmosphere while still showing the details of the setting and the guests.
Yes. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is one of the most iconic wedding venues on the French Riviera. The pink villa, Italian garden, fountains and sea views on both sides of Cap-Ferrat make it ideal for couples bringing guests from different countries and cultures.
Beachfront elegance in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, perfect to combine with Villa Ephrussi portraits.
The couple wanted to honour Persian traditions with a full sofreh aghd at Villa Ephrussi. The loggia, that high columned gallery overlooking the gardens, was the perfect space. It feels almost like a theatre set, but when you place the sofreh in the centre, everything becomes very personal again.
Leaving St Michael’s Anglican church in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, a quiet heartfelt start before the celebrations move to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.
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Sunset portraits in the cypress alley
Before the evening truly began, we slipped away to the cypress alley for a few last portraits. This part of Villa Ephrussi is made for sunset, long leading lines, structured greenery, and a clear view of the sky changing colour.
For couples, it is a short break between dinner and dancing. For me as a photographer, it is where some of the most timeless frames from a Villa Ephrussi wedding usually happen.
For a full Villa Ephrussi wedding day with preparations, church or civil ceremony, sofreh aghd, portraits in the gardens and dinner outdoors, I usually recommend 10–12 hours of coverage.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in the South of France – Italian garden, fountains and the pink villa making a perfect wedding backdrop.
If you are planning a ceremony at St Michael’s Anglican church, a Persian sofreh aghd in the loggia, or a completely secular celebration in the gardens, Villa Ephrussi can adapt. It is a flexible canvas, you bring your culture and traditions, the villa provides the setting.
Soft evening light and structured greenery, classic French Riviera mood for Villa Ephrussi wedding portraits.
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How I would plan the photography here
The most useful photography plan for Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat protects the real flow of the celebration first. Portraits are kept short and placed where the light and movement already make sense.
For destination weddings, I also look at travel between venues, access, the ceremony direction, indoor alternatives and whether a second photographer would make the guest coverage stronger.
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An elegant Persian ceremony and Riviera reception at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
The photographs are arranged as a chronological edit, moving from the opening part of the celebration through the ceremony, portraits, dinner and evening atmosphere where those parts were included in the original story.
Yes. I photograph destination weddings across Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and the wider France cluster. Coverage is planned around the venue, guest count, travel, light and the number of events.
Yes. Welcome events, rehearsal dinners, the main wedding and day-after gatherings can be photographed as one consistent story.
Tell me what you are planning in France.
Send the date, venue, guest count and the events you want photographed. I will reply with availability and a clear recommendation for coverage.