The Wedding Atlas · France
Getting Married in France
From the lavender plateaus of Provence and the Riviera coast to the wine estates of Bordeaux and Burgundy, the châteaux of the Loire and the cliff villages of the Dordogne, France offers a wedding setting for every taste. Choose the region first, and let the venue follow.
Part of the France destination guide.
Where to marry
Explore France
France offers lavender plateaus, a sunlit coast, great wine regions and river valleys of châteaux. Each guide has its own settings and its journey.
The south
Photo: Domaine de Canaille Provence
Lavender plateaus, limestone villages and bastide farmhouses in the south of France.
Photo: Domaine de Canaille
Photo: Chateau Saint Georges Côte d'Azur
The Riviera in full sunlight, with a coastline that books years ahead.
Photo: Chateau Saint Georges
Languedoc
Provencal landscape and wine country on the Mediterranean plain, with lower demand.
Wine country and châteaux
Bordeaux
Wine estates and medieval stone, reached from London by a short flight.
Burgundy
The Cote d'Or in autumn, a wine landscape of named vineyard parcels.
Dordogne
Cliff villages, river gorges and castles built into the rock of the Perigord.
Photo: Chateau Challain Loire Valley
Renaissance châteaux along the Loire, many privately owned and open to exclusive hire.
Photo: Chateau ChallainNot sure which destination suits you? .
On the map
Where the guides are
Each marker is one guide. Tap a marker to read a line about it and open the guide.
Choosing where to marry
Which France suits you
For lavender and bastides
Provence has led French destination weddings for two decades. Its landscape is known worldwide: lavender on the Luberon plateau, limestone villages along the Alpilles ridges and bastide farmhouses ringed by cypress and oak.
For the Riviera
The Côte d'Azur is costly, understood across the world, and one of the few destinations where the name alone signals the tone of the occasion.
For wine estates
Bordeaux became a serious wedding destination only in the last decade. The Cote d'Or, a narrow limestone escarpment running south from Dijon through Beaune, makes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that other regions work hard to match.
For châteaux
The Loire Valley is where the French court built a run of major residences: Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise, Villandry and Cheverny. The Vezere and Dordogne rivers cut through limestone gorges, past cliff-face villages and below chateaux built into the rock.
Planning
Planning by destination
Each guide sets out how guests reach the destination and what to do once there. The links below are grouped by the destination they describe.
Provence
Most venues lie within road reach of Marseille or Avignon.
- Read the guideThe Provence Wedding Atlas
Côte d'Azur
Nice airport is directly linked to New York, London, Paris, Dubai, Amsterdam and the major European cities.
- Read the guideThe Côte d’Azur Wedding Atlas
Languedoc
A high-speed line links Montpellier to Paris, and Carcassonne is reached by TGV via Narbonne.
- Read the guideThe Languedoc Wedding Atlas
Bordeaux
Bordeaux airport has direct flights from London, Edinburgh, Manchester and most large European cities.
- Read the guideThe Bordeaux Wedding Atlas
Burgundy
Dijon is reached by TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon, and Beaune lies south by road or regional train.
- Read the guideThe Burgundy Wedding Atlas
Dordogne
Bergerac has seasonal direct routes from London and several UK regional airports, and Bordeaux-Merignac is the most reliable gateway from major London airports.
- Read the guideThe Dordogne Wedding Atlas
Loire Valley
The TGV from Paris Montparnasse reaches Tours at Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, with Angers a little further.
- Read the guideThe Loire Valley Wedding Atlas
Alsace
Strasbourg is reached from Paris Gare de l'Est by TGV, with Colmar a short run south.
- Read the guideThe Alsace Wedding Atlas
Questions couples ask
Before you decide
Which area suits a wedding best?
The Luberon, because the landscape reads most clearly as Provence and the venue pool is deepest. The Alpilles offer comparable quality with more availability and lower pricing.
How early should a Riviera venue be booked?
Far ahead. The most requested villas for July and August are reserved years in advance, and June and September dates also go early. The Cannes hinterland and inland villages stay much more available.
When is the best season for a Bordeaux wedding?
September and October, which experienced planners prefer for the harvest and the gold landscape. June suits couples who want long daylight and green vineyards. July and August work but are hot and in peak demand.
How do guests travel from the UK?
Bergerac has seasonal direct routes, Bordeaux-Merignac is the year-round alternative, and many guests drive via the Channel Tunnel or by ferry.
How does transport work?
Dijon TGV is the hub. Lyon Saint-Exupery gives direct London links. Coach transfers to Cote d'Or venues are simple.
Why choose Languedoc over Provence?
Availability, price and originality. A comparable domaine may be free on much shorter notice, and the less photographed landscape gives images that read as distinctive.
The venues
A glimpse of venues across France
Meet Aura
Your wedding planning companion for France
Ask Aura about wedding destinations, venues and planning possibilities across France, drawing on the information available through 5 Star Weddings.
The directory
Ready to look at venues and people?
The guides help you choose where. The destination page lists the venues and wedding professionals themselves.