Destination Wedding in the South of France at Château de la Rode

The Welcome Dinner

One of the great things about destination weddings in France is that venues are often available for the entire weekend. Sure, most of the time these are dry hires, meaning you have to find all your suppliers and manage the styling yourself (unless you hire a planner). But still — having extra time to enjoy with your guests, especially when they’ve travelled from abroad, is such a gift.

N. had everything planned beautifully. She even booked a shuttle to take everyone from the airport to the venue… except, well, Ryanair was being Ryanair. The flight was delayed and overbooked — one guest couldn’t even board! Luckily, the rest arrived, just fashionably late.

I joined them for the Welcome Dinner, and it was such a lovely evening. Destination weddings are usually more intimate, and this was no exception. I stayed for a couple of hours and was warmly welcomed by everyone. There were drinks, lawn games, lots of laughter, and a moving speech by the bride before dinner. She got quite emotional — after organizing most of the wedding herself, seeing it all come together really meant the world.

I left that evening feeling so happy, and super excited for the next day.

Getting ready to say “yes”

The next morning, I returned to the venue: the gorgeous Château de la Rode in Lempaut. I started with the groom and his groomsmen, then headed over to the bride’s side.

Apart from the bride feeling a little under the weather, things were going smoothly! We had a good laugh when she told me how surprised she was to learn Lemsip isn’t a thing in France — the pharmacist had sold her some holistic essential oils instead. Not ideal when you’re trying to fight off a cold on your wedding day! Luckily, one of her guests had brought Lemsip in their suitcase. Lifesaver.

We were all enjoying a calm, relaxed morning… until one of my cameras broke. The shutter jammed (a known issue with that model). I knew I’d have to shoot the whole wedding with just one body. Not ideal when you’re used to two cameras and prime lenses, but totally manageable. I let the couple know, just so they wouldn’t be surprised if I paused occasionally to switch lenses. They were incredibly chill about it and completely trusted me — which, honestly, makes such a difference in moments like that.

After everyone was dressed and ready, we took some bridal portraits on the château’s staircase — a spot the bride had mentioned wanting photos in. As we wrapped up, she suddenly got a nosebleed. Thankfully, by some miracle, her dress stayed spotless! We gave her a moment to rest, a bit of sugar, and once she’d cooled down, she was all set for the ceremony.

One of the many perks of a celebrant-led wedding? No need to be right on time.

A beautiful, emotional ceremony

We all gathered in the château’s park for the ceremony. The celebrant had a minor mic issue, but the DJ saved the day and fixed it in no time.

The bride walked down the aisle with her dad, and the groom teared up seeing her — it was such a touching moment. As I snapped photos, I listened to the celebrant tell their love story: how they met in secondary school and had been together ever since. It was the second time in 2024 I photographed a couple who had been together for 20 years — and they’re only in their thirties! It’s incredibly moving to witness people who’ve grown together for so long.

Yes, I absolutely teared up behind my camera. You know me — hopeless romantic.

They sealed their ceremony by sharing a glass of Champagne and exited under a rain of dried lavender. A perfect ending to a beautiful moment.

Group photos and cocktail hour… with a bit of magic (literally)

A few days before the wedding, the bride’s mum phoned me to plan a surprise — she’d hired a magician for the cocktail hour and asked if I could help coordinate with him. I called him up, and he turned out to be amazing — a true crowd-pleaser.

He arrived just as we were wrapping up the group photos. I mingled with the guests during cocktail hour, capturing candids while everyone was enjoying the magician’s tricks, sipping drinks, and playing lawn games. And then… a moment I won’t forget anytime soon: the newlyweds started playing cricket in their wedding outfits! So wonderfully British, and definitely a highlight.

When the weather forecast plays tricks

As the sun started to dip, I took the couple away for some portraits. They’d planned a champagne spray — F1 style — and I was 100% up for it (though I did veto the Shoey. If you know, you know).

It was a lovely, calm moment for them to reconnect before the evening.

But as we walked back, we noticed the sky darkening. The dinner was supposed to be outdoors… and the forecast showed a chance of rain. Thing is, this area of France is tucked between mountains and not far from the sea — so the weather can change in an instant.

The venue owner, the caterer, and I had a quick chat and suggested moving dinner indoors. It meant a slight delay, but at least everything would stay dry. The couple agreed, and we all got to work — the tables had to be dismantled to be moved, so it was truly a team effort.

A beautiful reception

Dinner kicked off with speeches. Even though they wanted to steer clear of some typical British traditions, N&M still made room for heartfelt toasts. It was the perfect blend of emotional and funny — a true merging of two families.

Just to keep the theme of quirky moments going, the lights decided to play up during the meal! Nothing dramatic — the venue owner fixed it straight away.

After dinner, the cake was brought out French-style: with music, sparklers, and a bit of fanfare. The newlyweds shared their first dance, which was beautifully choreographed and super romantic, before opening the dance floor to all their guests.

Later that night, I gathered all the Polaroids from the day, an empty champagne bottle, and the bride’s bouquet to take a fun little detail shot before I left them dancing the night away.

Planning a destination wedding in the South of France?

As perfectly as you might plan your wedding day, there are always a few surprises. What really matters is having vendors you can trust — people who’ll help smooth over any hiccups so you can fully enjoy your day.

If you’re planning a destination wedding in the South of France, it’s easy to feel unsure about how things work. That’s why I offer a planning service alongside photography — I bring both local knowledge and a trusted network to the table, so your day goes smoothly no matter what comes your way.