Mediterranean Destination Wedding in the South of France

The Tiara Miramar Beach Resort on the French Riviera

An outdoor ceremony and reception in front of the sea 

The Tiara Miramar Beach Resort was the venue for this intimate sea-front destination wedding in the South of France.

The day had an intimate, relaxed, and sentimental vibe, with poignant, moving speeches and exchanges set against the electric blue sea. The destination wedding location was the Tiara Miramar, from the bridal preparation to the first dance. The hotel is in the quieter part of the French Riviera in Theule Sur Mer. 

An outdoor ceremony and reception in front of the sea 

On a clear day this region’s area’s blessed with surreal red, rocky mountains and electric blue sea. It’s easy to get to, being only half an hour away from the hubbub of touristic centers such as Cannes, Nice, and Monaco.

This part of the French Riviera is very tranquil compared with the towns and cities to the east such as Cannes. It’s popular with locals, cyclists, and people in the know, but only about 45 minutes’ drive from Nice airport (and also benefits from regular trains on the Nice to Marseille train line) making life easier for visiting guests.

Ceremonies don’t always take place on this platform, but today it happened to be the perfect size for a smaller wedding (just about!), and it was in the shade during the early afternoon – which is when I think the sea can look its most blue.

The right time of year for a destination wedding in the South of France

This wedding took place in early September, which is hot – but not quite as hot as mid-August. It’s mostly sunny at that time of year, but in late August there are some dramatic thunder storms which clear away some of the high-summer heat. If you book a wedding at this time of here in southern Europe and you are unlucky enough for it to rain; I’d just enjoy the day and the memories anyway – almost all wedding venues have an indoor space as a Plan B.

From a pragmatic perspective, I’d discuss with your photographer about the possibility of having a wedding photoshoot on a surrounding date so at least you can return home with some beautiful, sunny imagery.

(From my perspective, there’s generally less to do on a rainy wedding day and so if a couple want to book a photoshoot because of the rain I’d agree if my diary was free and the transport costs were covered.)

French Riviera Vs South West of France for a Destination Wedding

If your thinking about a destination wedding in France you may be torn between one on the Mediterranean Coast and one in the vineyard regions to the east of Bordeaux / north of Toulouse. They’re two completely different backdrops for your wedding. I think the French Riviera is usually easier logistically due to the popularity of Nice airport, it has stunning mountainous terrain and a genuinely charming Southern Mediterranean vibe that the rest of France doesn’t have. However, anything east of Theule Sur Mer can be busy unless you hire a fancy venue such as the Chevre d’Or.

A final gripe with the French Riviera that I sometimes struggle with is there is are parts of Riviera with significant affluence, but not as much taste or charm compared to other regions of France. It depends if you prefer older, established, rustic places or more modern ones (which to me, can feel a little sterile). Once you go west of Cannes, into the Le Var region in into the countryside of Provence, (or anywhere inland for a few miles), then the French Riviera is far more quiet and charming than the hubbub of the larger towns and cities.

The South West of France (where I’ve also photographed many times) is more rural, flat, and rustic. The drive from Toulouse or Bordeaux airports can be two or three hours but you’ll be rewarded with the beautiful, charming, rustic French countryside which will feel huge and expensive (especially if, like me, you’ve grown up in England!).



It may be cheaper, and I’m always stunned at how many English people there are in this region (I’ve spoken people in French on more than one occasion only for them to look at me blankly, then I realise I have to switch to English!). So, this could be a positive or negative depending on what level of escapism you want. I’ve met amazing French and English service providers, and the level of service is always fantastic. 

Organizing a Destination Wedding in France

If you’ve got a question about organizing a destination wedding in France, don’t hesitate to ask. I usually find a ten-minute chat with a me can usually save hours of internet research.

Wedding Image Gallery