Jingjing & Alexandre — a summer celebration near Aix-en-Provence on film
There is a reason Provence has been the heart of destination weddings in France for decades — the light alone is enough. But when you add the stone, the cypress trees, the lavender, the scent of warm herbs in the evening air, you understand why painters and poets and now couples have been coming here for centuries.
Jingjing and Alexandre chose Bastide de Toursainte, a beautiful estate tucked into the hills near Aix-en-Provence. The venue has everything Provence promises without any of the pretension: honey-coloured stone walls, an inner courtyard shaded by plane trees, gardens that spill into the surrounding countryside, and a terrace where you can see all the way to the hills of the Luberon. It felt, from the first moment, like a place where celebrations were meant to happen.
Their wedding was joyful and warm — the kind of day where the energy is high from morning until the last dance. Jingjing got ready in the bridal suite with her bridesmaids, champagne in hand, the slow start of a wedding day unfolding the way it should. Alexandre waited in the courtyard with his groomsmen, calm and focused, straightening his cuffs and checking the sky. The ceremony took place in the garden, beneath the trees, with the late afternoon sun filtering through in long warm shafts. And by the time dinner was served — long tables under fairy lights, the stone walls of the bastide glowing in candlelight — the evening had become something genuinely magical.
I photographed the entire day on medium format film — Contax 645 with Kodak Portra 400. The Provençal light at Bastide de Toursainte is unlike anything I photograph in Barcelona: softer, hazier, almost golden-pink in the late afternoon. Portra captures this with a warmth and depth that makes every frame feel like it was painted rather than photographed. The florals — pastel pinks and creams against the grey-green of the olive trees — translated on film with an honesty that digital always oversaturates. And the evening reception under fairy lights, shot on Portra 800, has a glow and intimacy that I still come back to as some of my favourite frames from any wedding in France.
This wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty — a recognition that meant a great deal, because it reflects exactly the kind of celebration I love to photograph: beautiful without being overdone, planned with care, and lived with real joy.
If you are planning a destination wedding in Provence — at Bastide de Toursainte or any of the extraordinary châteaux and domaines in the region — I would love to bring the same care and knowledge to your day.
The ceremony hold place in the gorgeous tiny garden of Bastide de Toursainte with the arch placed near the French fountain wall framed with the seasonal flowers. Fr the flower-filled outdoor wedding ceremony space seasonal flower arrangements were used that were stunning in its simplicity. A dreamy Provence color palette of ivory, tender lavender and apricot created delicate and sophisticated floral design to enhance the bastide’s beauty.
After tying the knot the couple and the guests walked down to the enchanting fountain park afterwards for a champagne reception enjoying the jazz music and beautiful sunset.
WEDDING DINNER AT LA BASTIDE DE TOURSAINTE
The florals of the reception transformed the Bastide de Toursainte into a sumptuous botanical garden, the masterpiece of this day. The wedding reception table was set in front of the terrace of bastide, adorned with a white table linen that paired beautifully with the soft flowers and natural wooden chairs.
The dinner was served in front of the breathtaking terrace with the magnificent flower arch behind the newlyweds. Candle lights added an incredible atmosphere and intimacy to the entire wedding dinner. It looked a dream to dine directly under the stars and in the warm light of the glowing bastide.
I'm Olya, a fine art film wedding photographer based in Barcelona. I photograph destination weddings, elopements, and love stories across the Mediterranean — every image captured on analog film so it will be cherished for generations.
