A Romantic Provençal Garden Wedding in France with Pastel Blooms & Antique Details

Silk, old-world charm, and modern romance in the French countryside

Against the rustic charm of Provence, Chloe and Adam’s day captured everything we love about destination celebrations in the South of France – fragrant gardens, historic stone walls, and a warm, effortless atmosphere that felt both intimate and unforgettable. Designed with an old-meets-new sensibility, the couple’s vision blended classic European refinement with a contemporary coolness that reflected their story perfectly. Every element – from the soft floral palette to the candlelit tablescapes beneath a canopy of string lights – was styled to perfection. The result was a celebration that felt natural and deeply personal, yet strikingly chic. Every moment – from the sun-drenched ceremony beneath tall plane trees to the joyful cocktail hour by the pool and the moonlit dinner under the stars – was captured beautifully by our member photographer, Nina Wernicke.

A Romantic Provençal Garden Wedding in France with Pastel Blooms & Antique Details

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

We first met in Sydney in early January 2017, introduced by mutual friends. I had just traveled to Australia from the UK via Southeast Asia, and although we were both still quite young and not looking for a relationship, we couldn’t deny the instant connection between us. Despite neither of us expecting it, there was a spark that felt special. Fast-forward five months, and we were in a relationship. I ended up staying in Australia for almost seven years, and eventually, we decided to move to the UK.

^{The Proposal}

Adam proposed to me in one of our favourite cities, Amsterdam. On our first evening there, we went out for dinner and found a cosy local bar near our stay in this beautiful neighbourhood. After a few margaritas, we headed back to our apartment, which had a lovely bay window overlooking a quaint street. As we sat by the window watching the soft glow of the streetlights, I turned around to see Adam on one knee with a ring. His speech was impromptu and from the heart.

^{The Engagement Ring}

I’ve always loved antiques and envisioned my ring to have a timeless, classic design. We found a beautiful jewellery store in London called Hancocks, which specialises in antique stones. The diamond we chose was handcrafted in the 1920s and has such a unique character and sparkle, especially under candlelight. Adam then incorporated the diamond into a new gold band, giving it the perfect balance of modern elegance and classic charm.

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

We both knew we wanted our wedding to be in Europe — a small, intimate celebration surrounded by our closest family and friends. Coming from opposite sides of the world, we wanted a destination that felt meaningful for us both, and after a trip to France the year before, Provence felt like the perfect choice. We imagined a day that was romantic and outdoors, framed by the natural beauty and charm of the region. Our vision was very much old meets new — elegant yet relaxed, with an effortlessly cool feel that reflected us as a couple. From the moment we saw the venue, we knew it was everything we had hoped for: authentic, full of character, and the perfect backdrop to bring our wedding to life.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

Our vendors were incredible and brought our vision to life. We booked our venue, photographer, and caterers first, followed by our wedding planner. Our caterers went above and beyond the amazing food, adding creative touches to the dining setup — from styled stations to overseeing cocktails and drinks throughout the night. Our florist did an incredible job, using soft, romantic tones to add colour and enhance the beauty of the gardens. We were particular about the details, and each of our vendors truly exceeded our expectations.

^{The Location}

The venue was nestled in a picturesque town in the Provençal region. The town was filled with charming boutiques, wineries, and antique shops lining the canal, with cobbled streets and a vibrant atmosphere. It felt romantic and very us. I actually came across it on Instagram, and just two weeks later we flew out to see it in person. It turned out to be one of the most breathtaking spots we’d ever visited — the house and gardens were even more beautiful than we had imagined. We knew instantly it was the perfect setting, and our goal was simply to enhance its natural beauty.

A Romantic Provençal Garden Wedding in France with Pastel Blooms & Antique Details

^{The Ceremony}

The ceremony took place in the heart of the garden, along a beautiful pathway framed by tall plane trees. Guests arrived in the early afternoon and were greeted with welcome drinks before Adam led them to their seats. Elegant vases stood at the end of the aisle, which our florist enhanced with soft, romantic arrangements. As guests settled in, some of our favourite songs played in the background, perfectly setting the mood.

^{The Cocktail Hour}

The cocktail hour was one of our favourite parts of the day — a moment to soak everything in and celebrate with our guests. Bubbly and signature cocktails flowed as our DJ spun vinyl records, mixing artists like Jungle and playing some reggae. The cocktail station was set around one of the prettiest features of the house — the pool area — which was bright, lively, and full of atmosphere. The sun was shining, the drinks were crisp, and everyone was mingling, laughing, and just having a great time.

^{The Reception}

Our reception took place outdoors in the garden, set along one long table draped in soft white linen and illuminated by string lights overhead. We loved every detail of the setup — flowers staggered along the table, silver cutlery, vintage-style plates, and simple glassware creating a refined yet relaxed feel. Guests were served olives in silver coupes and homemade butter to start, followed by the most delicious food and flowing wine as the sun began to set.

Nearby, an incredible large pavlova stood as the centrepiece — the perfect sweet touch to end the evening. After dinner, I changed dresses, and we walked together down the outdoor stairs into the courtyard, where everyone was waiting for our first dance. The atmosphere was filled with excitement as we danced the night away, ending the celebration with late-night wood-fired pizza.

A Romantic Provençal Garden Wedding in France with Pastel Blooms & Antique Details

^{The Special Touches}

The speeches were incredibly special and personal — you could truly feel the love and energy that had carried throughout the day. Just before we walked out to dinner, Adam and I shared a quiet moment together in the garden, taking it all in before heading out to cheers from our guests. We both felt an overwhelming sense of happiness, reflecting on how perfectly the day had unfolded and feeling excited to continue the celebrations into the evening.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

Our favorite moment was walking out together after the ceremony, with petals falling all around us. It was such a special feeling — that rush of joy and relief all at once — and then getting to greet all our guests together for the first time made it even more memorable.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

I wore a silk two-piece from Kricket Marie. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was perfect — beautifully simple and effortlessly elegant. I styled it with a silk scarf that tied the whole look together. For my second outfit, I wanted something comfortable to dance in and found a beautiful lace dress from a London boutique called De La Vali. I’d always envisioned wearing both silk and lace, so it felt like the perfect combination — one for day and one for night. Wedding dress shopping can be quite pricey, so I loved that everything I chose could be mixed and re-worn for other special occasions. For jewellery, I kept things understated with classic diamond studs and paired both looks with Tom Ford heels.

^{The Groom’s Look}

Adam wore a fitted Hugo Boss suit, opting for a timeless black-tie look that was both sharp and elegant. He added silver and pearl cufflinks for a touch of refinement and finished the ensemble with modern chunky dress shoes from Samsoe, giving a contemporary edge to the classic style.

^{Our Groomsmen’s Looks}

We wanted the groomsmen’s looks to complement Adam’s suit, so he chose classic black-tie suits from a store in Sydney, tailored to fit each of the guys and work well overall. Most of the groomsmen were already living in Australia, so it made sense to find the suits there. Luckily, we had visited Sydney for a friend’s wedding not long before our own, which gave the guys the perfect opportunity to finalise their outfits.

A Romantic Provençal Garden Wedding in France with Pastel Blooms & Antique Details

^{Our Bridesmaids’ Looks}

I always envisioned the bridesmaids’ dresses being different in style and colour while still complementing one another. I wanted my maids of honor and bridesmaids to feel comfortable, so I shared a selection of colours and styles and let them choose their favourites. I loved the idea of pastel tones for the dresses, which tied in beautifully with the overall look and feel.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

We quickly realised just how much time and effort goes into planning a wedding. Knowing ours would be overseas, we felt it was essential to have a wedding planner based in France. We already had a clear vision of what we wanted and the vendors we hoped to work with, so it was important to find someone we could trust to manage communications and coordinate the day itself — someone who truly understood the style and atmosphere we envisioned. We decided on partial planning, which aligned perfectly with our needs and vision.

^{For On The Day}

What mattered most to us was being able to slow down and truly take in every moment of the day. We’d 100% recommend having a planner or coordinator to handle the setup and keep everything running smoothly. After all the effort that goes into planning, it’s such a relief to switch off, be present, and just enjoy it — because that’s what you’ll remember most.

^{For Post-Wedding}

For destination weddings, we’d definitely recommend planning a recovery brunch — it’s such a lovely way to catch up with guests again and relive the moments from the day in a more relaxed setting. Ours was held at a local winery bar in town — the sun was shining, and the atmosphere was perfect. We’d also recommend a mini-moon; it gives you both the chance to unwind and reminisce about the unforgettable experience.