DESTINATION WEDDING IN SOUTH OF FRANCE

It comes as no surprise that Provence is a well-loved wedding destination in the South of France, known for its lovely sunny weather, picturesque landscape, delicious food and wine (most notably Provencal Rosé). This region creates the atmosphere of celebration from the start. 

A short 10 miles journey from Marseille takes you to the alluring Provencal venue ,La Bastide de Toursainte which  Jingjing  and Alexandre chose to celebrate their wedding day together with their dearest ones. This venue is exactly what you’d imagine when thinking of the classic Provence wedding location. 

For couples traveling from Hong Kong, China, Singapore, or elsewhere in Asia, Provence has become one of the most sought-after destinations in Europe — and it's easy to understand why. The light here is extraordinary. The architecture is intimate. The scale of a Provençal château feels personal in a way that larger venues simply don't. And unlike Paris, Provence gives you the feeling of a France that hasn't been photographed to death — every corner still feels like a discovery.

For Asian couples planning a European destination wedding, Provence also offers something practical: a concentrated experience. Within a single venue like La Bastide de Toursainte, you have gardens for the ceremony, terraces for champagne, a fountain park for portraits, and a candlelit dining room for the reception — all within walking distance of each other. No shuttles, no fragmented timeline, no stress. Just the wedding day, unfolding as it should.

On the wedding morning, Jingjing and bridesmaids got ready in the gorgeous bridal suite, sipping champagne as the slow wedding day started to unfold. Later enjoying the couple shoot in the alley of the majestic plane-trees the couple had their ride on their get-away car.

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.

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.

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Olya Kobruseva is a Fine Art Wedding photographer in France and Europe. She documents engagements and weddings  in Europe on film format and published internationally.

Planning a destination wedding from Asia requires a different kind of trust. You are choosing vendors, venues, and a photographer — often without visiting in advance, often across significant time zones, often in a language that isn't your own. This is something I think about with every international couple I work with.

From our first message, I aim to make the process feel clear and calm. I photograph entirely on analog film, which means our portrait sessions are unhurried — there's no reviewing shots on a screen, no interruptions. There's just us, the light, and the day as it happens. For couples who are sometimes camera-shy or unfamiliar with extended portrait sessions, this approach tends to feel natural very quickly.

For Jingjing and Alexandre, the morning began with bridal preparations in the château's gorgeous suite — champagne, bridesmaids, and a slow, luxurious start to the day. The couple session took place in the alley of majestic plane trees that lines the property, followed by a getaway in a vintage Citroën 2CV that felt like it had driven straight out of a French film.

he entire wedding was photographed on analog film — not as a stylistic choice made for its clients, but because nothing else captures the warmth of Provence light the way film does. The colors feel like memories before they've even faded. The grain adds texture. The stillness adds intention.

If you're planning a château wedding in France — whether from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, or anywhere in the world — I'd love to hear about it. I work with a small number of couples each year, which means every wedding gets my full creative attention. Drop me a line through the contact form and let's start a conversation.