French Riviera Wedding Handbook
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2021 edition FRENCH RIVIERA WEDDING HANDBOOK by Claire Macintyre www.clairemacintyre.com ABOUT THE AUTHOR Based in the South of France, Claire Macintyre is an international wedding photographer known for her timeless, elegant, sentimental and iconic wedding, lifestyle and editorial photographic work. Her talent for storytelling, capturing the most delicate of emotions and her ability to connect with her subjects makes her work unmistakable. Her unique style is full of romance, light and beauty, inspired by the mid century modern glamour of the French Riviera and cinematic documentary style photography, making her a favorite with wedding and commercial clients worldwide. British born Claire moved from London to the South of France for the light and the almost endless days of sunshine and is based in Nimes, traveling across all of France working with clients from all over the world. PHOTOGRAPHER | VIDEOGRAPHER | AUTHOR bienvenue The French Riviera, known the world over for its glamour and beauty, also known as the Cote d'Azur, this legendary region in the South of France evokes images of glitzy Cannes and star-studded Saint-Tropez, metropolitan Nice, majestic Monaco and of course sun, sand, sea and luxury. Planning a destination wedding on the French Riviera, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed with the options, decisions, and etiquette involved in organising this once in a lifetime event. In this guide, I’ll share my insider knowledge, experience, and local insights to help you plan the perfect stress-free Riviera wedding. As a British born, professional wedding photographer and videographer with nearly a decade of experience, and having lived and worked in the South of France for the past 4 years I have created this guide to help you navigate planning a destination wedding on the Cote d'Azur. Specialising in working with international clients for weddings and elopements I have captured memories for over 300 couples from all over the world. My couples seek me out to not only create timeless wedding memories but also for my expertise and insider knowledge. From the most glamourous venues to perfecting a wedding day timeline, this guide covers all of the essentials for a truly memorable Riviera wedding. This guide is designed and written to share with you my insider knowledge and advice so that you can make the most of the French Riviera and avoid some of the pitfalls that can happen when planning a destination wedding here. Bisous, Claire Macintyre xoxo W W W . C L A I R E M A C I N T Y R E . C O M TABLE OF CONTENTS Why the French 0Ri1viera? An introduction to the Cote d'Azur and destination weddings here. Regions and wedding 0ve2nues Discover the towns and cities and the hidden wedding venues only insiders know about. 0W3hen to Get Married? Discover the weather, climate and choose the perfect season for your wedding. 0PL4ANNER VS DIY Go it alone or enlist the help of experts? 0Ce5remonies From spiritual ceremonies to civil services, discover the options available to you. Rivera Wedding Day 0Ti6meline Plan for the perfect day with my insider knowledge and detailed timeline. Riviera Wedding 0Es7sentials Insurance to Insect repellent, everything you need to know for your Riviera wedding. Riviera Professional 0W8edding Services My little black list of go to wedding professionals on the Cote d'Azur. 0T1HE FRENCH RIVIERA, THE MOST GLAMOROUS PLACE IN THE WORLD. The French Riviera, or Côte d’Azur, a sun-soaked The area includes such illustrious cities as St. stretch of coastline that skirts the Mediterranean Tropez, Cannes, Nice and the sovereignty of in the southeast corner of France. Monaco, as well as quieter spots such as Grasse and Menton. Sandy beaches nestle between rocky The rich, famous and fabulous can all be found coastline and the shimmering sea that nips at the strolling the vibrant coloured streets, sipping waterlines of whitewashed yachts. Champagne in street side bistros, sunning themselves in a warm summer breeze along miles On shore, the French cities live and breathe la and miles of azur coastlines, the gentle swaying of belle époque and centuries-old villages crown the palm trees and more designer boutiques than you peaks of the rugged landscape whose inhabitants could ever need, The French Riviera is full of tend the olive trees and grapevines that traverse sensory romance and it is a truly special place to the countryside. From museums to castles and have a destination wedding. storied resorts, the beauty of both nature and culture in the French Riviera abound at every corner. F R E N C H R I V I E R A W E D D I N G H A N D B O O K P A G E 6 The French Riviera is a blissful place where palm trees sway in the warm breeze and the sea is more blue than you’ve ever seen' where you can still spot the influence of European royalty from long ago, and where A-listers have called “home” for years. Set in the south-east of France, the French Riviera stretches from Menton to Nice, Antibes, Cannes to Saint-Tropez, but there are many more show stopping towns dotted along the coast that you might not have heard of, like Villefranche sur Mur, Antibes, St Jean Cap Ferrat and the magical hilltop town of Eze. Once you have visited the French Riviera, it’s easy to see why this corner of France attracts so many artists, celebrities, sun seekers and jet setters.Traveling to the French Riviera is a feast for the senses and is every bit as glamorous as you’ve heard. Peak season on the Riviera takes place between June to September so expect less availability at hotels, venues, and with quality wedding suppliers during this time — unless you book a year or more in advance. This is particularly true of limited, quality, English speaking suppliers. F R E N C H R I V I E R A W E D D I N G H A N D B O O K P A G E 7 Getting Married on the French Riviera. Whether you enjoy luxury surroundings, are drawn to the ocean, a frequent visitor or simply want to get married in one of the most glamorous places in the world, there are seemingly endless reasons to choose to get married on the French Riviera. Whether you are dreaming of a beachfront soiree, a chic 5 star hotel or an intimate family gathering in a private hillside villa, the Riviera can offer a multitude of locations where you can create a wedding limited only by imagination. But one thing all couples have in common when choosing the Riviera as their wedding destination is that they come for the sun, the romance and the “je ne sais quoi”. Weddings on the French Riviera are particularly appealing to couples looking to host a memorable experience for their guests and family with even the grandest of weddings being like one big family holiday. Riviera wedding celebrations tend to stretch from 3 days to a few weeks with the couple and guests alike having the opportunity to relax, swim, eat, drink wine, tour the local sights and spend time together during the extended stay. The Cote d’Azur wedding experience is so much more than just a wedding day. It’s a chance to create shared memories and bonding between families and guests. F R E N C H R I V I E R A W E D D I N G H A N D B O O K P A G E 8 02REGIONS AND WEDDING VENUES CLAIRE MACINTYRE The French Riviera is a region full of sensory romance and glamour, rewarding travelers with its breathtaking vistas, mouthwatering cuisine and jet set style. But how do you decide which region to marry in? o For the purposes of this guide when I talk about The French Riviera I define it as a localand as a local, I can tell you it is defined differently by almost every person you will meet! I like to think of the Riviera as being less of a definable geographical location and more a moveable feast. The Riviera is where you feel it or where you want it to be. w For me, to get that authentic Rivera feel you need to look at the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France. There is no official boundary, but it is t usually considered to extend from Saint-Tropez on the west to Menton at the France–Italy border in the east. The coast is entirely within the Provence-Alpes- Côte d'Azur (Région Sud) region of France. The Principality of Monaco is a semi- enclave within the region, surrounded on three sides by France and fronting the Mediterranean. r In this guide, you might notice that I don’t talk about Provence, and that’s because, in my opinion, The Riviera is a place unique unto itself and in my experience Riviera weddings are very different to Provence weddings but I do cover weddings e in Provence in my other book. Provence Wedding Handbook, which is also available and can be found on my website at www.clairemacintyre.com. t p a h c REGIONS TO DISCOVER Nice- The gateway of the Cote d'Azur Belle époque architecture, beachfront promenades and landmark hotels, Nice has it all. Nice is the gateway to the Cote d’Azur. Fashionable but relaxed and fun, it is the unquestioned queen of the French Riviera. A lively city and a prime location for exploring the rest of the Riviera.