Venue Spotlight
Wedding on the French Riviera

The South of France and the Cote d’Aure in particular, have long been a favourite location for destination weddings.

Not only has the region some of the best wedding planners in France, but it’s also home to some of the most sought after wedding venues like Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc. However, it’s still possible to plan a wedding on the French Riviera on a more modest budget and with a little bit of research you’ll find the region is bursting with venues which are perfect for smaller or country chic weddings.

Bastide Bijou images courtesy of Oliver’s Travels

If you are on the lookout for the perfect venue, we have uncovered four private villas within 45 minutes of Nice, all ideal for hosting a destination wedding celebration.

With many couples now choosing to extend their wedding celebrations over a week, we have focused our search on private venues. These offer a completely different experience to a hotel or other structured wedding venues, providing a more personal and intimate feel to your wedding weekend/week.

So whether it’s an intimate gathering in a Provincial village or a lavish wedding on the French Riviera, we wanted to showcase different venue options that can provide this… without having to blow your budget.

Suitable for a range of styles, each venue has its own distinct qualities, offers privacy, exclusive use, onsite accommodation and are in an idyllic setting.

The Hidden Gem

Set in the foothills of Grasse, Bastide Bijou is in the heart of the Cote D’Azure. Located a mere 20 minutes from Cannes and 30 minutes from Nice, the 18th century Provençal-style manor house has been meticulously restored with an exquisite interior full of character and rustic charm.

Surrounded by a hectare of lavender filled gardens and olive groves, the house boasts a large swimming pool, ‘boules piste’, cuisine d’été and huge terraces for alfresco dining. Bastide Bijou makes an ideal venue for those who want a unique wedding on the French Riviera with beautiful surroundings and friendly staff to help.

What we Love: 

• Extremely well set up to host weddings
• Suits those who want an extended wedding weekend/week
• Six large bedrooms, optional 7th (sleeps max 18)
• Magnificent setting, ideal for wedding photographs
• Has the facilities of luxurious boutique hotel
• Child friendly – child safe pool
• Many hotels and gites within a few minutes for guests

Good to Know:

• Catering cost including hire of equipment usually €85 per head
• The Bastide has a list of preferred suppliers, using your own may incur an additional charge
• Indoor reception capacity: 60 / Outdoor reception capacity: 150+
• Music is contained within the Grand salon which opening onto the terrace dining area provides a very attractive environment for a dance party.
• The owner lives on site

Ceremony Options:

• Blessing / symbolic ceremony
• Religious ceremony in one of the many local churches

Price:

• Mid Range
• May be rented exclusively for three day week/weekend or week
• Find a similar venue – complete the form below

The Chic Hideaway

Nestled in a quiet leafy area close the medieval town of St Paul de Vance, Le Mas de Saint Paul is ideal for those wanting a relaxed and intimate wedding gathering. The property sits on a 5,000m2 garden, with swimming pool, tennis court and boules court, so plenty of fun to be had. The gorgeous covered terrace or beautiful gardens are suitable for smaller wedding parties.

Le Mas de Saint Paul is less “organised” or set up for weddings and you will have to hire all the required services, which may include tables and chairs. However with its enviable rural location but still within 25 minutes from Nice, this venue is perfect for a memorable and relaxed low key wedding week with close family and friends.

What we Love: 

• The “week away” from home feeling, all together and truly relaxing
• 5 bedrooms, plus 1 bedroom guesthouse, perfect for the wedding couple (sleeps 11)
• Stunning garden setting
• Child friendly – child safe pool
• Several famous Michelin star restaurants just a 5 minute drive away

Good to Know:

• One week minimum stay
• Best suited for garden wedding receptions
• Out of peak season (Oct to April) substantial savings

Ceremony Options:

• Blessing / symbolic ceremony
• Religious ceremony in one of the many local churches

Price:

• Budget friendly
• Minimum one week rental, seasonal discounts offered on longer stays
• Find a similar venue – complete the form below

The Wow Factor

Located in the exclusive Valescure area of the Estere, but only minutes from the sandy beaches of Saint Raphael, this gorgeous chateaux villa is just 30 minutes from Cannes and 45 minutes from Nice. Built in 1904 by Lord Amherst, Villa Amalie is perfect for high-end, luxurious and larger wedding parties.

What we love about Villa Amalie is that weddings parties are not restricted to an outdoor reception or marquee. The elegant tower reception room comfortably sits 160 wedding guests and offers beautiful pool views, a perfect option in case of rain or for those wanting a winter wedding. For alfresco dining, the historic cloisters provides a wonderfully romantic atmosphere and can sit up to 300 guests. 

The Villa’s experienced wedding planner and her helpful English speaking team offer a full wedding planning service and are available to assist and cater for your specific needs. This unique and special venue is an incredible setting for a wedding on the French Riviera.

What we Love: 

• World class facilities and services
• Equipped with a professional kitchen which will delight the most demanding chef
• Indoor and outdoor reception options
• Fifteen bedrooms, (sleeps 30)
• Magnificent setting, surrounded by pristine landscaped gardens
• BYO with no corkage charge
• Onsite chapel for religious blessing
• Live-in staff and daily housekeeping

Good to Know:

• The chef can provide wedding meals from €80 per head which can be fully personalised
• You are free to select an alternative chef of your choice
• Indoor reception capacity: 160 / Outdoor reception capacity: 300
• Helicopter landing pad
• Spring and early Autumn are the best time of year for weddings
• Used as the X Factor judges house by Simon Cowell (2014)

Ceremony Options:

• Blessing / symbolic ceremony
• Onsite chapel for religious blessing
• Cathedral and churches 5 minutes away

Price:

• Healthy Budget
• Two day minimum rental
• Find a similar venue- complete the form below

The Beach Venue

If location is key then is doesn’t come much better than this. Situated 100 meters from the beach, this magnificent Belle Epoque-style property has been entirely renovated and benefits from a magnificent view onto the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Caught between the mountains and the Mediterranean, Villa Sol sits in the historic village of Villefranche, a mere 7 km from Nice and a 15 minute drive from Monte Carlo. It’s extremely central without compromising on privacy in what is probably the best part the the Cote d’Azur.

Built in 1880, the villa retains its period features and has been beautifully decorated. Ceremonies can take place on the villas gorgeous roof terrace or in the garden overlooking the bay.

What we Love: 

• Location, location, location
• No matter what time of year the views across the bay are stunning
• Indoor or outdoor reception options, depending on number of guests
• 6 bedrooms, (sleeps 13)
• Child friendly – child safe pool
• Daily housekeeping

Good to Know:

• Reception capacity: 50
• Events can be held in the dining room, terrace or garden
• Daily maid service

Ceremony Options:

• Blessing / symbolic ceremony
• Many local churches

Price:

• Mid to high budget depending on season
• Weekly rental basis / July and August one month minimum rental
• Find a similar venue – complete the form below

Tips for selecting your Wedding Venue

When searching for private venues for a wedding on the French Riviera, it’s imperative to do your homework… research, research, research! For guidance read my tips about reviews and what to look for.

Be aware that the advertised hire fee may incur an additional fee for hosting an event. It’s also helpful to find out the venue’s level of involvement, will they leave you to your own devices or can they assist you in finding suppliers?

As a starting point, I have listed some of the obvious and not so obvious matters to consider when choosing a private venue for your wedding on the French Rivera.

Bastide Bijou

Pre-Wedding Visit

Although not always possible, I think that this is THE one thing that should be on the top of your list. Photos don’t always tell the entire story. Not only will you get a feel for the location and venue on your visit but it will also allow you to scope out your ceremony options.

If it’s not practical to have a pre-wedding visit then use “Google Street View”. This fantastic tool is a must, it will help give you a little piece of mind knowing that there are no big surprises out of sight.

Logistics

Does the venue have adequate toilet facilities, appropriate power supply, parking, suitable access for caters and other suppliers. Also consider accommodation options for guests and possible pre and post wedding day celebrations or activities you would like to organise as part of your wedding on the French Riviera.

Plan B

One thing that you will have absolutely no control over is the weather. So no matter what time of year you are planning to hold your wedding on the French Riviera, it’s important that the venue offers a suitable “Plan B.”

Decor, Music and Entertainment

Confirm if the venue has any restrictions on decor and more importantly check if an outside loud speaker for music is permitted and if there is a music curfew. If you are in a residential area, the likelihood is that you will not be permitted to party till 4am.

Recommended / Preferred Supplier List

A venue may have a list of recommended suppliers, which is great as it can save you an enormous amount of time and stress. However, if you have your heart set on using a supplier not on their list, check:

1. if this is permitted; and
2. if using your own supplier will incur an additional charge.

DIY vs Getting Help

DIY is a growing trend for destination weddings and one that’s obviously made easier by the wealth of information and resources which are now available on the internet. However, don’t be shy to ask for help where needed! It can save an enormous amount of stress, time and even money having a professional deal with the details.

You will find fabulous Wedding Planners who are members of our Directory that are the perfect match for DIY couples. Many offer venue and supplier search as stand alone services and will provide you with as much or as little help as needed, making them a trusted choice for providing whatever resources you need from finding a florist to wedding musicians. If you would like to find out more please complete the form below.

Venue Checklist

For those who like to make sure they have it all covered, I have created a comprehensive venue checklist which contains over 50 things you may want to consider when choosing your ceremony and reception venues for a wedding on the French Rivera. You can download a copy of it here.

Final  Thoughts – Wedding on the French Riviera

Hiring a private venue can not only be more cost effective but offers you the freedom to relax with family and friends both before and after your wedding day. Although France is studded with gorgeous wedding chateaux, private villas and county houses, they can be sometimes be a little difficult to uncover. But help is here…. complete the form below to contact Wedding Planners who have a portfolio of handpicked venues across France.

Find Out More – Wedding on the French Riviera

I hope the above will be a useful starting point in your search for a private venue for your wedding on the French Riviera and France. If you would like any further information on finding a  venue in France, or more information about how a Wedding Planner can help you with your venue search, use the form below.