Wedding Guide France - South France

Time stops for a moment, during the l’heurebleue (blue hour) when the sky turns a unique deep blue during the twilight hours in the morning and evening. The quality of light attracts artists and photographers and adds magic and romance to southern France weddings.

Highlights

The southern region of France provides a plethora of wedding venues.

Hotel Tiara Yaktsa

A five-star hotel located in a former fishing village, 10 miles from the famous hotspot, Cannes, overlooks the sea and has a backdrop of the Esterel Mountains.

Hotel Tiara Yaktsa is available to be fully hired for your wedding, all 21 rooms and suites. The Michelin-starred restaurant can seat 60 guests or accommodate 80 guests for a cocktail party. If you prefer to make the most of the views and sun, the gardens are available for 60 guests for a sit-down meal.

The restaurant serves a ‘Surprise Menu’, reflecting its commitment to using the finest and freshest ingredients of the day. Dishes include, freshly caught sea bass and pigeon. However, the hotel’s chef will personalize a wedding menu to suit you. Prices start from US$163 (€160) per person, excluding drinks.

Airelles Gordes, La Bastide

A former stately home, La Bastide is set in the Provence region, famous for its lavender fields and historical sites. The hotel’s team assists in making a tailor-made wedding perfect for you.

You can partially or fully privatize the hotel to suit your needs, including up to 34 rooms, six suites, reception rooms, a bar, gardens, and terraces.

The hotel caters from 70-seated in the La Citadelle restaurant, to 180 for a cocktail party in the ballroom leading onto the terraces. In the restaurant, you can enjoy roasted lobster or lamb.

For the morning after your wedding, you can continue the celebrations with a brunch for a minimum of 120 guests.

There is a spa and swimming pool for total relaxation.

Lieu-dit-Armagnac

Positioned in the countryside, 20 minutes south of Toulouse, the Lieu-dit-Armagnac estate is an eco-responsible choice that can cater to up to 150 people.

The venue is appealing to those looking for a south of France wedding venue, on more of a budget. You will have exclusivity of the place, including a fully equipped kitchen, where you can self-cater or arrange catering. There is a BBQ provided.

Accommodation includes a bridal suite and a dormitory for 20 guests, perfect for younger guests. There is plenty of parkland for camping under the warm night-time skies. A shower and toilet are available for campers.

For more luxurious accommodation, there are several lodgings and a hotel in the local area.

Extras can be arranged, including a singer, gospel choir, pianist, or guitarist.

Chateau Du Clair De Lune

Located just over two miles from the elegant seaside town of Biarritz, the hotel is a combination of a manor house and a hunting lodge.

Chateau Du Clair De Lune is available for fully privatized weddings in the south of France. The venue can cater for up to 180 guests, seated or for an additional fee, extended to 250 guests. There are a total of 18 rooms available.

The Michelin star restaurant is independent of the hotel, although it sits on the estate’s grounds. You can enjoy monkfish and pigeon.

There is also a bar by the pool, where you can soak in the views of the Pyrenean mountains and try the local delights of Basque pâté. In the center of the hotel is a lounge for relaxing. You can play the piano, sip a cocktail or savor a Basquaise chicken or a seafood platter.

Before the big day, you can be energized by a massage or take a trip to the partnering spa.

Weather and Climate

Southern France has a Mediterranean climate, with long summers and mild winters. During the summer months, the temperatures are kept comfortable with the help of the Mistral winds.

Rain rarely falls throughout the year. The winter has up to ten days of rain per month and the summer has up to five days of rain per month.

Coastal regions are the most popular destinations where the averages are:

January to April, October and November average 57°F-64°F (14°C-18°C).

May, June, and September temperatures average 71°F (22°C)

July and August average 82°F (28°C). Temperatures occasionally exceed 104°F (40°C), albeit rare,

December has an average temperature of 52°F (11C).

Culture and Etiquette

French people are polite and reserved, only showing their true selves to close friends and family.

The French value greetings, although they reserve kissing on each cheek for family and friends.

Using first names should only be used when invited. It is also polite to use the following keywords when entering and leaving any establishment:

Bonjour                                  Hello

Bonsoir                                  Good evening

Monsieur / Madame              Mr / Mrs

Au-revoir                                Goodbye

Food and Drink

Cuisine varies from region to region and uses local fresh ingredients. Traditional foods for weddings in the south of France include:

Bouillabaisse is a famous dish in the Cote d'Azur, made with seafood shells cooked with garlic, tomatoes, saffron, and olive oil. Then add a generous helping of white fish, shellfish, and prawns, accompanied with crusty bread and a red pepper sauce.

This dish is so traditional to the area, that a group of 17 restauranteurs formed an alliance to protect the originality of the recipe.

Cassoulet and Sausage, a traditional dish from the Occitanie, originated when the town of Castelnaudary was under siege by the English. With white beans as the base, plenty of tomatoes, confit of duck, Toulouse sausage, and various other types of meat all slow cooked to form a thick stew.

The South of France is home to some of the most famous wine regions in the world. Areas including The Rhone Valley and Languedoc Roussillon to the west and Bordeaux to the east.

Bordeaux boasts some of the best wines in the world, such as Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac,retailing at US$925 per bottle!

Money and Wedding Costs

Weddings in the south of France can be expensive. However, with a wide choice available, there is something for all budgets.

A rustic venue could be as little as US$2,050 (€2,000) up to US$8,200 (€8,000) for a castle venue per night.

Catering comes at a considerable cost, ranging from US$102 (€100) to US$195 (€190) per guest, with an average of US$11,300 (€11,000) for 100 guests.

The final cost of weddings in Southern France depends on many choices and the number of guests attending. A general guide for 100 guests is US$15,350 (€15,000) to US$92,000 (€90,000).

To compare other French wedding destinations, read our France wedding guide.

Legal Requirements for Marrying in the South of France

A civil wedding is the only legally binding marriage in France. The service must take place at your local Marie (town/city hall), the mayor’s office or the town hall, where you live. A foreigner can’t usually marry in France unless one partner resides in the area for a minimum of 30 days. For more about French law see French Republic, Service-Public. Always check with your embassy.

Most couples legally marry in their own country of residence before going to France for a symbolic ceremony.

Check our legal requirements for marrying in France.