Côte d`Azur

Côte
d’Azur
March 2007 edition
Getting Married in the South of France
The mini-guide to organising a wedding on the Cote d’Azur or in
Provence
Contents
1. Why the Côte d’Azur and Provence are good wedding
destinations
2. When to get married in the South of France
3. How to get there
4. Côte d’Azur/Provence geography
5. The planning process in two easy stages
6. Considerations when deciding on your reception venue,
Accommodation & ceremony venues
7. The religious/civil ceremony options
7.1 Civil ceremonies
7.2 Catholic weddings
7.3 Protestant and other religious ceremonies
7.4 Blessing ceremonies
8. Reception and accommodation venues
9.
Florists
10.
Photographers
11.
Restaurants
12.
Wedding essentials
13.
Budgeting
14.
Aspects of French Riviera life to consider
15.
The Twenty Golden Rules of Weddings on the Côte
d’Azur
16.
The next steps
Cover photography by Adamo Morgese – see later listing
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1. Why the Cote d’Azur is a perfect wedding location
Many couples have come to us over the years wanting something different from a
typical wedding in the UK. All their friends have had the marquee in the stately
home, the ‘meringue dress’, the wedding singers and the speeches ….. and
sometimes a few unwanted guests! They may have already had them for their
first marriage. They are usually certain that they want something different and a
day that can be what they want and on their own terms. A wedding abroad can
provide them with this.
Here are the main reasons why the Côte d’Azur is one of the most popular
European wedding destinations in France:
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Together with Italy and Spain, France is one of the few Mediterranean
countries that can offer a high level of service and infrastructure for a
quality wedding. It is one of the true first world countries that borders the
Mediterranean.
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Nice, the main entry airport to the French Riviera, is less than 2 hours
away from most UK airports. If the wedding is to be in Monaco, there is a
direct helicopter link between Nice airport and the principality.
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The growth in the number of budget/low cost airlines has made it a readily
accessible wedding venue, and at a reasonable price, both for the bride
and groom and for their families and guests. For wedding locations that
are further along the coast, west of Cannes, there is also the option to fly
from the UK to Marseille or Toulon.
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A wedding on the Côte d’Azur also means that you have an excuse for not
inviting guests that you would have been obliged to in the UK. It can offer
you a more personal and selective approach when making your guest list.
However, if the word gets out that the celebrations are taking place on the
Côte d’Azur, everybody will want to come!
•
You will invariably spend proportionately less than on a wedding in the UK,
for a multitude of different reasons (unless of course you decide to pay for
everyone’s flights and accommodation!). And you will definitely enjoy
better food and weather!
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2. When to get married on the Côte d’Azur?
Time of year
The main season for weddings on the French Riviera is during the spring/summer
months, usually from April to October. During this period the days are long and
you would be very unlucky to have inclement weather. In reality, the Côte d’Azur
is a year round wedding destination, when compared to Italy or other parts of
Europe. This guide was actually written over several days in Antibes, in late
November. The weather was glorious, and a memorable salade niçoise was
enjoyed for an outdoor lunch one day along with a glass or two of local Provençal
wine!
We find that the best months of the year are April, May, September and October.
August can be too hot for elderly or very young guests and too busy with tourists,
and can feel like the whole world is holidaying around your wedding day!
Although June and July can be really quite hot, for sun lovers they are the perfect
months for a beach wedding. Guests can even take a dip in the sea, once the
formal part of the celebrations is over!
Time and day of the week
French Registrars are usually happy to conduct civil ceremonies during the week
from 9am-6pm (subject to the required minimum residency status, and the
provision of official documents). The principal Town Halls will also conduct civil
ceremonies on a Saturday, but bear in mind that this is the prime day chosen by
French couples, so you need to make arrangements well in advance. It is not
unusual to find a queue of brides outside the Mairie (Town Hall), due to one or
two earlier ceremonies running late!
Religious ceremonies can occur at any time of the day, or day of the week, as
long as the vicar/priest/rabbi etc is agreeable and available.
Certain conditions apply to both civil ceremonies and religious ceremonies, as you
will see in Section 7.
Blessings are usually completely flexible time-wise, depending on the chosen
venue and the celebrant. As with civil ceremonies, Saturday is always the most
popular day, so it is advisable to make an early reservation/booking.
Temperatures
We recommend that in the hotter summer months you have an afternoon
wedding followed by an evening reception to take advantage of the cooler
evening temperatures and the extended daylight. In the early autumn/winter
months we recommend a morning wedding with a lunchtime/early afternoon
reception for the opposite reasons. At this time of year, you can always opt to go
for an indoor celebration/reception, which is in no way dependant on the weather.
The climate temperature can be in excess of 34 degrees Celsius in the height of
summer, but the average is usually 29. In the winter months it very rarely gets
really cold and weddings are a possibility all year round.
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3. How to get there from the UK
Trains, boats and cars
It is possible to drive to the South of France using either one of the cross channel
ferries or the channel tunnel, from one of the UK channel ports. Once in mainland
France, the facilities of the French autoroutes are excellent. The trip from London
to Antibes, for example, will take approximately 10 hours, depending on car,
driver and traffic. However, it is always advisable (and enjoyable) to make an
overnight stop to break the journey (somewhere in Burgundy is ideal). However,
we only recommend driving if you have a fear of flying or want to take a few
extra day’s holiday en route. It is now so convenient and so cheap to fly from all
corners of the UK that to travel by car is virtually unnecessary.
If time is not of the essence, you can go by train all the way, with Eurostar and
the TGV. Spoil yourself and travel first class in style … with champagne en route.
You can even book a whole carriage for your group of family and friends!
From Waterloo you can travel directly, with just one change, to Marseille, Cannes,
Antibes or Nice. London to Antibes, for example, takes just 9 hours.
www.seat61.com/France.htm#TGV
Planes
The growth of European air travel over the past few years has created a myriad
of opportunities to get to Europe cheaply and conveniently in about two hours
from the UK.
For the Côte d’Azur and ‘eastern’ Provence, there are several airports to fly into:
Nice
Marseille
Toulon
Nice, however, is the most central for the majority of the venues and areas
referred to in the guide.
www.Ryanair.com
Stansted to Toulon
Stansted to Marseille
Glasgow to Marseille
Dublin to Marseille
www.easyjet.com
Gatwick to Marseille
Liverpool to Marseille
Bristol to Marseille
Luton to Nice
Stansted to Nice
Gatwick to Nice
Bristol to Nice
Liverpool to Nice
Newcastle to Nice
Belfast to Nice
www.bmi.com/www.bmibaby.com
Birmingham to Nice
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www.airfrance.com
London Heathrow to Nice
London Heathrow to Marseille
London Gatwick to Nice
London Gatwick to Marseille
London City Airport to Nice
London City Airport to Marseille
Aberdeen to Nice
Aberdeen to Marseille
Birmingham to Nice
Birmingham to Marseille
Manchester to Nice
Manchester to Marseille
Newcastle to Nice
Newcastle to Marseille
Southampton to Nice
Southampton to Marseille
Edinburgh to Nice
Edinburgh to Marseille
www.ba.com
Birmingham to Nice
Gatwick to Nice
Gatwick to Marseille
www.jet2.com
Manchester to Nice
Leeds Bradford to Nice
www.flybe.com
Southampton to Nice
www.firstchoice.co.uk
Glasgow
Gatwick
Manchester
www.flyglobespan.com
Edinburgh to Nice
Teeside to Nice
Airline schedules are seasonal so please expect far fewer flights (if any at all) in
winter from some of the above airlines.
The following website is a brilliant resource that tells you the routes of all airlines
globally with route maps.
www.skyscanner.net
Our recommendations for flights to and from the UK.
All airlines are late, lose your bags, have long check-ins and provide mediocre
food (even if you have to pay extra for it). A two/three hour flight within Europe
has become a commodity with very little differentiation in the service provided by
each airline. In this market therefore price (and a degree of comfort) are the
main deciders for our clients and Easyjet does generally provide the cheapest
fares and best service, certainly to Nice. However, do check at the time of
booking as the others ca sometimes offer competitive prices.
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4. Geography of the French Riviera & Provence
The geographical coastline of the French Riviera is spectacular, and many people
agree that it is even more beautiful than the Amalfi coast (apart from the Italians,
that is!). This wonderful region embraces the winding strip of the sun-kissed
azure-blue Mediterranean, from Menton, close to the Italian border, to the
‘millionaire’s paradise’ of Saint Tropez, and then inland from the sea to the olive
groves and vineyards, and the hilly and heavily forested Var. This is where
geography meets history, and the two mingle with nature. It is difficult to imagine
a more evocative, sensuous and blissfully memorable location for a destination
wedding with a difference.
From the luxury yachts and glitz of Monaco and the chic smartness of Saint Jean
Cap Ferrat, to the cliff-hanging hill villages of Eze and Saint Paul de Vence, and
from the rustic Provençal towns such as La Colle sur Loup to La Napoule (and its
château), this special region offers a unique backdrop for the most magical of
weddings.
The possible wedding venues are as varied as the landscape itself - there are
super smart sea-front hotels overlooking ‘rugged’ rocky landscapes or glistening
sandy beach hotels as well as the tranquil peace of inland mas and traditional
manor houses in the medieval towns. The higher up you go, as far as
geographical location is concerned, the more spectacular the view. Eze is a
‘golden gem’ of the French Riviera for this very reason. All these locations are
within easy reach of Nice airport, or one of the other regional airports.
The Côte d’Azur and Provence regions have several travel guidebooks to choose
from, if you wish to buy any as part of your research. The Eyewitness Guide
(Dorling Kindersley publishers) seems to be one of the most comprehensive.
To make your selection and choice of a geographical location for your wedding
celebrations a little easier, the French Riviera can be broken down into five neat
‘slices’, as follows:
Monaco & the “Golden Corniche”:
This includes the Principality itself and Monte Carlo, Menton and Roquebrune-CapMartin. This is just about as close to Italy as you can get!
Nice, Villefranche, Cap-Ferrat … and the hills above, including the
spectacular Eze.
Antibes, Cap d’Antibes, Juan les Pins and the “arrières pays”:
This includes Saint Paul de Vence (so loved by Picasso), La Colle sur Loup,
Tourettes and Valbonne.
Cannes, Mandelien/La Napoule & Théoule:
This includes the inland towns/villages of Mougins, Grasse, Montauroux and
Magagnosc.
“All the Saints” - Saint-Raphaël, St-Tropez & Ste-Maxime:
Plus the Var villages, such as Fayence, Lorgues and Moustiers-Ste-Marie.
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5. The planning process in two easy stages
However daunting planning a wedding in another country may seem, it is easier
to digest if you break it into two stages of research and the decisions you need to
make. This is where a Wedding Planner who is on the spot can take away a lot of
the pre-wedding headaches and stress, especially if you do not speak French, or
are unfamiliar with the area.
Stage 1
Ceremony type & location, reception venue, accommodation options
Having these three variables agreed is the foundation of your wedding day and
the subsequent planning that follows. We recommend that you start to research
these areas first by using this guide, the internet, the phone and personal visits.
A personal visit is highly recommended, and well worth the investment of time
and money
A number of the key venues and suppliers are situated along the coastline of the
Côte d’Azur, and most of the desirable inland venues are very easy to reach by
car. Ideally the longest trip on your wedding day should take no more than an
hour (maximum). We recommend that for ease of research, and proximity on the
wedding day itself, you consider a combination of wedding location, reception
venue and accommodation, all within easy reach of one another. This will ensure
a short commute on the wedding day and a vast amount of time saved when you
visit the region for your further research. No one wants to spend half of the
celebration day on a coach!
If you are keen on having a religious ceremony on the Côte d’Azur, then
remember that the number of churches within the region that will host your
ceremony are limited. They are generally situated in the main towns such as Nice
and Cannes, and this could affect your venue choice for reception and
accommodation arrangements. All reception and accommodation venues will take
bookings immediately for your chosen date(s). The most popular will probably
have the major Saturdays in May, June, July, August and September booked by
the previous January, but always check. There are many important prestigious
corporate dates on the Côte d’Azur annual calendar, and some venues are prebooked one year in advance. If you are planning on having a blessing ceremony,
then ensure that your potential reception venue can hold them on site. (Most of
them will allow for this, including many of the private beaches). With so many
months of sunshine each year, a beach can make the most idyllic location for
your reception and blessing. It is also important to establish that your preferred
venue has sufficient accommodation either ‘on the spot’, or that adequate
overnight arrangements can be made close by.
Stage 2
Once the above is agreed and booked you can then turn your attention to the
other parts of the process:
Appoint a planner (if you need one)
Send out your invitations
Start the paperwork procedure
Caterers & menus
Approach photographers
Entertainment
Dress(es) & rings
Flowers
Ceremonial car & minibuses (if required)
Favours & other wedding trimmings
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6. Considerations when choosing your reception venue,
accommodation & ceremony venue
On the Côte d’Azur there are a wealth of properties which could serve as your
ideal wedding reception venue: châteaux bordering the sea, luxurious hotels with
sprawling gardens, central hotels with rooftop terraces, country manor houses
within landscaped grounds, private villas and yachts.
Here are the criteria we use in considering a reception venue for one of
our clients.
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How many people can eat comfortably there in proportion to the size of
the room/venue?
Can you eat outside?
Is there a bad weather alternative location for the same number of people
in the same venue? If not, are you prepared to accept the risk – no matter
how small?
How close is it to the Town Hall/church?
Is there a view?
Can you hire you own caterers? Or what is the standard of the in-house
catering/the approved catering companies.
Will the venue actively help out with other parts of the wedding planning?
Will you have the venue exclusively?
Can a blessing ceremony be performed in the grounds (if applicable)?
If so, can the blessing be of any denomination?
What is the hiring fee?
Is there enough power for the DJ/Band to perform?
Is there a separate area for aperitifs prior to the meal?
How close is it to the airport?
Does it have the wow factor?
Do the staff speak English?
How easily can your guests find it?
Is there accommodation on site or, if not, close by?
If yes, how many people can stay there?
Can the accommodation be booked by the night or does it have to be by
the week?
How late can the celebrations go on for, and what are the sound
restrictions?
Are there locations for fantastic wedding photographs?
Is the venue, and are the staff, used to doing weddings?
Does it do conferences? If the answer is yes then it rarely makes a good
wedding venue.
Does it have the right ambiance for a wedding venue? (Most of them do)
And finally (and most importantly) is it available for the date I want?
Your reception venue must be chosen in conjunction with your ceremony location
and where the guests will be staying. Although many of the best reception venues
have either restricted or no accommodation facilities on the spot, there is always
an excellent choice of accommodation wherever you are on the Côte d’Azur.
Some venues may even have their own chapel on site, which, if private, could be
hired for most Christian ceremonies. (This is quite a common feature with
manoirs in this part of France).
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Here are the criteria we use in considering accommodation options for
our clients
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Can you have the reception there as well?
How many people can stay there?
Is the selection and size of rooms applicable to my guests’ requirements
Will you have it exclusively?
Is there a pool?
Is there air-conditioning?
How far is it from the airport?
Is there a view?
Does it have self-catering facilities?
Can you book the rooms by the night or by the week?
What quality is the food?
How close is it to the reception venue and service/ceremony venue?
How will they react to late night partying?
Factors to consider when deciding a venue for a civil ceremony,
church/private chapel wedding or blessing ceremony
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How close is it to the reception venue/accommodation?
How close is it to the airport?
What is the building like?
Does it have the wow factor?
What is the ceremony location like - does it have the right feel for the
occasion?
Does it allow for a dramatic entrance/exit?
How many people can sit/stand in the venue?
How accessible is the location for minibuses and cars?
How near to the ‘tourist trap’ is it - this is important on what is a very
private moment of the day’s celebrations?
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7. The options for Côte d’Azur Wedding Ceremonies and
Blessings
“The Golden Rule to bear in mind when considering a Religious Ceremony
in France, of any denomination, is that it is only possible once a Civil
Ceremony has taken place beforehand, either in the UK or in France”
Civil Ceremonies
Civil ceremonies are performed for foreigners in a French Town Hall, or Mairie,
only if either the bride-to-be or the groom has been resident within the mayoral
vicinity for a minimum of 40 days, or if one set of parents either lives here
permanently or has a second home here. i.e. you need to have a French address.
You will be asked for both original birth certificates and passports, as well as
other applicable documentation. (See section 7.1) Some Mairies are less
beaurocratic than others. For further information, you can contact either the
British Embassy in Paris (35, rue du Faubourg St Honoré, 75383 Paris Cedex 08.
Tel:00 33 (0)1 44 51 31 00), or the British Consulate in Marseille (24 avenue du
Prado, 13006 Marseille. Tel. 00 33 (0)4 91 15 72 10.)
Religious Ceremonies
As France is a strictly Roman Catholic country (and ‘France being France’), it is
not as easy to arrange a religious church ceremony there as it is in the UK.
However, there are still many possibilities. You can source an Anglican or Roman
Catholic Church, with a minister/priest who is originally from the UK. For
example, there are Anglican churches in Nice, Cannes, Menton and Monaco.
Alternatively, you can look for a reception venue which has its own private chapel
(and is outside the French religious dictate), and have a ‘visiting’ minister/priest
from the UK to conduct the service there. Some churches or ministers may ask
for documentation from the couple's local priest or minister in the UK, stating the
couple's faith. Once again, the British Embassies and Consulates can be helpful
here.
Once couples return home, a civil/religious ceremony conducted in
France is legal and binding, and has the same validity as if it had taken
place in the UK.
Blessing Ceremonies
Any British couple is eligible for a blessing ceremony in France, if they have
previously had a civil ceremony, church wedding or synagogue marriage in the
UK. A blessing ceremony takes the difficulties out of legal requirements and
residency stays in France. Wedding blessings can be performed as soon as the
couple arrives in each country. Irrespective of religion or denomination, a
blessing ceremony can be arranged for anyone. Once you have spoken with
whoever is to conduct the blessing, you will need to clear that this is possible with
your chosen venue. You will need to provide the minister, priest or celebrant who
is to conduct your blessing with the appropriate marriage documentation from the
UK. The blessing certificate each couple receives is a momentum of their
celebration in the South of France, and each certificate is signed by the minister,
priest, or celebrant who has officially blessed the couple. This Blessing
Certificate in no way acts as a legal document.
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7.1 Civil Ceremony Guidelines
Most of the restrictions and conditions pertaining to a Civil Ceremony have
already been outlined in Section 7. Once you have complied with the conditions
outlined in Section 7, and have the necessary documentation to hand, the
arrangement of a Civil Ceremony in a French Town Hall should be relatively
straightforward. The documentation required can change for each country within
the UK, with Scottish couples, for example, requiring different paperwork to
English couples. It is advisable to contact the local Mairie (or Town Hall) where
you plan to have your ceremony, for specific details of your paperwork
requirements. (Alternatively, contact Anne Ager, the Côte d’Azur Wedding Planner
mentioned towards the end of this guide, and she will handle it all for you).
The advance publication of your banns in the Town Hall where the
ceremony will take place is obligatory in France. Most Mairies take
approximately four to six weeks to process an application.
The documentation that you will need to provide is as follows. Note that all
documents must be the originals, with official translation into French (see the
British Consulate web site):
° Birth certificates for both prospective bride and groom
° A Medical Certificate for both, dated less than 2 months before the Wedding
date
° Passports
° A non-impediment from your home Town Hall or Church (in French, an
Affidavit)
° A Certificate of Celibacy (or appropriate divorce documentation, or death
certificate if one party is a widow or widower). Divorcees are free to
re-marry in France, once they have proof of a Decree Absolute.
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7.2 Catholic Religious Ceremonies Guidelines
It is very difficult to arrange a Catholic Religious Ceremony in the South of
France, due to the reasons outlined in the main part of Section 7. You could,
however, be lucky in finding a Catholic Church that would conduct the religious
ceremony for you, once the obligatory Civil Ceremony has taken place. (A
Wedding Planner can be of great assistance with this delicate aspect in France).
7.3 Protestant & Other Religious Ceremony Guidelines
There are several English Anglican/Protestant churches within the region,
most of which are centrally located. Most of them will gladly conduct a religious
ceremony for you, once you have the appropriate civil documentation. Here are
some of the key churches:
° Holy Trinity Church, 2 to 4 rue Général Ferrie, O6400 CANNES
° Holy Trinity Church, 11 rue de la Buffa, 0600 NICE
° Saint John’s Church, Le Soleil de Menton, 2 avenue du Pigautier, 06500
MENTON
° St. Paul’s Church, 22 avenue Grande Brétagne, MONACO
° Church of Saint John the Evangelist, avenue Paul Doumer, ST. RAPHAËL
° International Baptist Church, 0600 NiICE
For Jewish Synagogue Ceremonies it is advisable that you consult you local
Rabbi, who could then provide you with the appropriate synagogue/Rabbi
contacts in the South of France; (The Jewish faith is a very close network). Juanles-Pins, for example, between Nice and Cannes, has a very strong Jewish
community, and could offer one of the best possibilities. Synagogues in the South
of France and Monaco have some of the most beautiful gardens, and provide the
perfect setting for the celebration of a Jewish wedding.
For Muslim Ceremonies, a similar contact structure would apply as above.
France has a thriving Muslim community, and the Côte d’Azur is no exception.
The Imam at your local mosque could possibly give you the best advice and
contacts for the region.
7.4 Blessing Ceremony Guidelines
The conduction of a Blessing Ceremony has been explained in Section 1.
Once you have a chosen venue that will host such a blessing, you need to contact
a Pastor or Celebrant who can conduct the ceremony for you.
If you require a blessing of any particular denomination, then contact Rev. Peter
Madan (00 33 (0)4.93.69.52.00. He will dress in official robes, or more relaxed
dress as you wish, depending on the religion of the couple. Peter is a highly
charismatic pastor, who will design a blessing just for you, whatever your own
religious denomination.
For those who prefer a more low key, but none-the-less sincere blessing, which
can be inter-denominational, or even non-denominational, then contact Rev.
Anne Naylor (Tel/fax: 00 33 (0)4.93.42.15.44). Anne will discuss a wording of
service with you that suits your own particular requirements, even if they happen
to be non-religious.
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8. Reception and Accommodation Venues
Detailed below are the location options for having your wedding reception. We
have found that it is best to eventually restrict your options to about three or four
based on this guide, the internet, your planner and resultant personal visits. Then
make your choice based on availability, price, and friendliness of the
owner/manager and the feel of the venue if you make a personal visit.
There is a solution for every couple on the Cote d’Azur just make sure you enjoy
yourself in finding the right one for you - it should be a pleasurable decision, not
a headache. The use of a planner, with expert local knowledge and contacts, can
be invaluable at this stage in helping you choose the venues that meet your exact
requirements.
Restaurants & Beach Restaurants
The coast and the hinterlands are awash with restaurants of varying quality and
size. It goes without saying that it is best to pick one that has a track record of
providing good food and has hosted wedding receptions before. Generally a
restaurant wedding is the cheapest option but not necessarily the lowest quality.
If you want exclusivity then some restaurants will charge for this and some will
not (depending upon the number of guests). If you do have a restaurant
reception, then it may not be possible to have a blessing on site, unless it has
extensive terraces/grounds, or is a beach restaurant. For a summer evening
wedding, a beach location has to be one of the most romantic
Hotels
The Cote is littered with hotels of all shapes, sizes, standards and price ranges. It
is usual for the wedding reception to happen in the dining room/terrace of the
hotel (with sea views commanding a premium) and for some (or all) of the guests
to stay on site. For larger wedding parties only some of the party may be able to
stay at the hotel because of the number of rooms or because some rooms may
already be allocated to other private guests. A hotel wedding is by far the most
popular choice for weddings in the region because of their flexibility and because
many will also allow blessings on site. Unless they are at the grandest end of the
scale, they do not, however, have a great deal of character.
Villas, castles and stand alone properties
There are several old villas, monasteries and interesting historic buildings
throughout the region which can provide your ideal wedding location, reception
venue and accommodation. Many were originally built for purposes other than as
a hotel or celebration venue, so some are better than others, but these venues do
generally offer the ‘wow factor’ that a hotel may not. Most of these venues have
only limited (if any) accommodation on site. With these locations you can
generally bring in outside catering services which means you have a choice of
chef, menus and prices which wouldn’t be applicable in most hotels or
restaurants. In many of these venues a Blessing on site is also possible, with
many having their own private chapels.
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Yachts
Having the largest collection of luxury sea-going vessels in the world on your
doorstep does have its advantages. You will be spoilt for choice if you want your
wedding blessing and/or reception on a yacht which is either berthed in port at a
wonderful location (such as Antibes or St. Tropez) or anchored just off the coast.
If done well this can be the epitome of luxury and style. The interesting thing is
that the hire rates can be very competitive with that of a prestige ‘on land’ venue.
Although you may be able to have a drinks reception for up to 80 guests, please
bear in mind that very few yachts have more than eight berths so the whole party
cannot stay on board overnight, unless it is a very small intimate wedding. In
reality, very few wedding couples would want all their guests on board overnight
- they would naturally prefer a degree of privacy, for all sorts of reasons!
Cruise Ships
This is a relatively new idea for weddings, and has become a very viable
proposition, due to the flexibility of cruise itineraries, and ports of call. For ships
that specifically cruise the Mediterranean, it is possible, for example, to join a
ship in Southampton and cruise to Cannes, Nice, Villefranche or Monaco, to then
leave the boat for six hours for a wedding ceremony and reception ashore, and to
rejoin the boat for its onward journey to perhaps Livorno in Italy, or Barcelona.
This could be considered to be the ideal wedding/honeymoon combination - the
only drawback being that family and guests come on the honeymoon as well!
(Unless you send them back by plane after the ceremony). Contact: Either
Silversea Cruise Lines (www.silversea.com), or Sea Dream Cruises
(www.seadreamyachtclub.com)
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Booking guest accommodation
If there is one rule that we urge you to follow it’s this one.
FOR LARGER WEDDING PARTIES DO NOT BOOK YOUR GUEST’S
ACCOMMODATION FOR THEM. LET THEM DO IT THEMSELVES.
The majority of accommodation venues on the Cote d’Azur can be booked on a
short stay basis (i.e. less than a full week) and this is the root of our reasoning.
Your guests will say that they wish to stay for three nights and instruct you to
book accordingly. Then they will change their mind and want to come for four, or
only for two, or want a larger room, or now have another family member with
them which means they need an even larger room. Please do not do this work.
On your invitations, make it clear that they either book directly with a hotel, or
that they contact your wedding planner (include the relevant contact details on
the invitation). We have had experiences whereby organising the guest’s
accommodation has taken up more time than the wedding itself.
Naturally if you are holding your reception in a venue that is only hired in its
entirety by the day or by the week, this doesn’t apply, as your guests cannot
make changes.
Agents/Local Wedding Planners
We have found local agents and wedding planners invaluable over the years in
their ability to find new venues for us, to be a diligent ‘ear on the ground’, to
speak the local language, and to provide a better, quicker and more efficient
booking service, rather than going to the venue direct.
It is important to use local agent/planners in France, as UK and US agents have
generally higher prices to cover exchange risk and their mark up, and they rarely
speak French. Ironically, many foreign agents actually use local agents to make
their bookings for them. By approaching them yourself you are cutting out the
middlemen. You will pay the same price (or even lower) to a local agent/planner,
as to the venue directly, and the service is generally better.
An agent or planner, who handles all your bookings and arrangements, can also
be an invaluable contact for invited guests. (See invitation suggestion above).This
is preferable to putting down 6 or more possible accommodation venues, and
cluttering up your invitations. The agent/planner can advise on the best solution
for them and save you the hassle of dealing individually with your guests’
accommodation which, in our experience, can take up as much of your time as
planning the actual wedding.
The wedding co-ordinator at the end of this guide, Anne Ager from Côte
Congratulations & Celebrations, can act as an accommodation agent, should you
wish to book your accommodation through them (you will pay the same if not
less) and it can be very useful if they are also organising the rest of the wedding.
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Accommodation bookings over the web
We have teamed up with a global accommodation booking website engine that is
used by travel agents. This is a fantastic facility that guarantees the best prices
on the web and also provides guest reviews of every hotel.
The link below takes you to the French Riviera part of the site.
http://www.getmarried.co.uk/guide_cote_acc.html
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9. Florists and Flowers
Once you have secured your venue and date, start to think about your flowers.
Some venues will be able to organise them all for you, but naturally they will add
a considerable mark up on them. Alternatively get a planner to arrange your
flowers with their local suppliers. It will then be their responsibility to ensure that
they are seasonal, fresh and in optimum condition, and that they are delivered to
the right place at the right time – not something you want to be having to
troubleshoot on your wedding day.
Some flowers are grown locally, especially in and around the ‘perfume town’ of
Grasse. Otherwise they are imported through the global flower market based in
Holland. So there are no local flowers that go in and out of season. You therefore
have an infinite choice of what to have. They should be able to provide you with
exactly what you want, taking the time of year and wedding date into
consideration.
Flower brief
When deciding on the flowers you require, it is always best to think of the overall
colour theme first, based on the style and colour of wedding dress /bridesmaids’
dresses as well as the location decorations and colours for the wedding day.
Often keeping the style simple, and with various types of complementary flowers,
can help the florist to build a floral design with you.
We always recommend that our brides think about the following floral
requirements.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Bridal bouquet
Bridesmaids
Buttonholes
Corsages
Floral headdresses required or single rose heads wired to be placed
directly in the hair
6. Ceremony – for the entrance/the table/chair ends
7. Rose/petal basket(s)
8. Order of service basket
9. Ceremonial car – for the front or in back window
10. Reception venue – entrance, central table decorations, napkin settings,
cake table, aperitif table
11. Finally what to do with your bouquet – throw it or keep it!
Once these have been thought about then we ask the brides to prepare a visual
brief for the florist/planner with all the images she has collected from bridal
magazines, plus ideas of styles she does not like, therefore providing a visual
mood board for the floral design for the wedding day. (Rather like going to the
hairdresser with a picture of a style that you have in mind).
In the heat of the Mediterranean, sun flowers can wilt very quickly, so ensure
that they are transported in air conditioned vehicles, and are not left in direct
sunlight for any period. You need flowers that look dramatic, but that will also last
the duration of the celebrations. (Birds of Paradise are an excellent choice, if they
are not too strong in colour). We do recommend that you take the advice of a
wedding planner to do this for you, as it really should be one of the last things
you need to be thinking about on your big day.
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For buttonholes, make sure that you have something simple and effective to
attach them to each person’s outfit with. A pin is not the ideal solution. They are
not particular secure, and can leave a mark on a delicate fabric. (Seek your
florist’s advice).
It is particularly important with table decorations (centrepieces), to ensure
that they are low, so as not to obscure guests the other side of the table.. There
is already plenty happening on each individual table with glasses, cutlery, menus,
favours, etc., so the less space the flowers take up the better, both for the
guests’ benefit and for the waiters. Free standing floral displays, on the otherhand, can be as large as you like, as long as they are not in a position where they
are likely to get knocked over.
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10. Photographers
You will find a wide range of photographers on the Cote d’Azur, of varying
degrees of style, ability, quality and price. It is worth noting that photography is
not a high priority on the list for most French couples in this region, and the
standard of the average French wedding photographer therefore is not the most
imaginative or innovative. They are used to doing static shots, posed shots and
group family shots, and reportage (in spite of being a French word) does not
come into their repertoire. In fact every ‘French’ wedding looks the same!
Generally, the best wedding photographers are Italian, British or American they have ‘the edge’.
In general, we have found that individual specialist photographers are better than
a company, as you can guarantee that the portfolio you have seen (and made
your decision on) has been done by that person. Your gut feeing for what you
want, having seen a portfolio, is the best judge of how to choose. Companies with
many photographers have less control over the quality of their output, and tend
to have higher costs and prices. The potential downside is that your photographer
could be ill on your wedding day, but, in our experience this has never happened.
(If you have booked a reputable photographer, there will be a contract covering
this, and a photographer of a comparable standard of expertise and creativity will
still be provided).
There are many differing styles of wedding photography: formal, fashion, stylistic
and the current vogue style: reportage. Every photographer or company has their
own style, with which they are comfortable, and we recommend that you stick
with the photographer’s own area of expertise. Do not ask a formal photographer
to do reportage, because of price, or because you like him/her. There are no
second chances on the day to re-shoot if you do not like the results. It also helps
if a photographer has taken photos of the venue on a previous occasion, as
he/she will know the angles and shots that work best. (Always ask to see
previous wedding web sites shot in the region).
Typically, European photographers will mount your photos in a wedding album for
you, or create a Photo Book, where each picture forms an accrual page of the
book. These albums and photo books can be of all shapes and sizes, and with
different quality covers. The most popular are the large leather-bound ones. You
will also find that photographers will now work mostly in digital format, and you
have the option of having images on a high resolution CD
As Italy is only a short flight or train ride away, you could in theory consider an
Italian-based wedding photographer, as well as French-based photographers.
Anne Ager has a comprehensive network of wedding photographers, of
all prices and styles, which she proposes to her wedding clients.
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Adamo Morgese
Adamo Morgese is a highly innovative wedding photographer, with almost 20
years professional experience in capturing the special moment of peoples’
weddings from around the world.
From London to Hong Kong, and from New Zealand to Florida, there are
treasured wedding albums displaying his original style and unique approach to
the most special day in many peoples’ lives. He specialises in reportage coverage
that is non-posed, relaxed and very informal. This is ‘fly on the wall’ wedding
photography, at its very best.
Adamo provides each couple with an on-line web site of their wedding shots, so
that they can make their personal choice of the prints or images that they would
like - and specify whether they would like them in black & white, colour, or
sepia. A simple ordering service is also added to the web site, so that family and
friends can order prints directly on-line. Photo Books are a speciality for Adamo,
where the whole celebration comes to life again, page after page, in a beautiful
Italian leather-bound cover. He also creates smaller Photo Books for the bride
and groom’s parents.
As a native Italian, Adamo is invariably shooting weddings in the most beautiful
parts of his country, including, of course, Venice and Rome. They are both
popular locations for many of his clients with the added magic that Adamo brings
to each picture.
However, Adamo spends much of his time living and working on the Cote d’Azur
and does most of his weddings there - he personally knows the best venues,
locations and angles, and has a special understanding of the natural French
Riviera light at different times of the year. From Monaco to La Napoule, he has
followed in the steps of many brides and grooms!
Adamo’s fees for a Cote d’Azur wedding start at about €1500.
Email: info@adamsbrides.com
Website: www.adamsbrides.com
Mailing address: 14 Avenues Thiers 06600 Antibes
Phone: 0033493344102
Mobile: 00393338615002
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Corbin Gurkin
Corbin Gurkin is a very talented young American who works in Europe
photographing weddings in a classic reportage style. It is an advantage that she
is an English speaker and can establish a relationship with the couple via
telephone and email prior to the wedding. She is extremely thorough in her
approach and asks couples to prepare a list of photos they would like to be
covered as well as discussing the styling of the photos they are looking for.
Corbin photographs in both black and white and colour and offers a range of
album services. Starting with the preparation of the bride and then developing to
the ceremony, the first dance and the party, she leaves no aspect of the wedding
undocumented, giving a real narrative feel to the images.
Following the wedding, Corbin provides the couple with a personal website of
their categorised images, including a “photographer’s selection” gallery where she
recommends the very best images that capture the wedding day to be produced
in the album. You and your family may also order any additional images directly
from the site. Once the couple decides on the “final cut”, Corbin then produces
the album with the option of photos mounted into a silk or leather Florentine
bound book or as a digitally designed “Capri” album. She specializes in custom
work and makes great effort to find just what the couple is seeking for their
album, even if not on her list of products. As an added bonus, you will also
receive a high resolution CD with all the images from the wedding from which you
can produce your own photographs. Corbin is based in Tuscany for the summer
months so it easy for her to travel to The Cote d’Azur to do a wedding.
Email: photo@corbingurkin.com
Website: http://www.corbingurkin.com
Mailing Address: 4501 Broadway 3a New York, New York 10040
Tel: USA 1 (704) 6414355 ITALY +393201451079
Nick Stubbs
Nick Stubbs of Pan Photography is a British, licensed, professional wedding
photographer with over 20 years experience in both the UK and Europe.
His work is in a predominantly reportage style capturing the entire day with a laid
back, as-it-happens approach but also includes various, more traditional shots as
and when required. Full consultation and co-operation from the moment he is
booked right up to the day itself ensures that nothing is left to chance.
A full dry run is normally done by Nick one week beforehand to prepare himself
for lighting situations at the exact times and to look for suitable areas for all the
group and special shots.
He will always ask the couple for details of any special shots required including a
list of group shots that are needed for the day plus details of any special friends
or relatives from out of town. He will then work these into the day in a way that
doesn't encroach on your time too much, leaving you to enjoy your celebration
with your family and guests.
Nick prides himself on his use of composition and colour especially when shooting
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in beautiful, sunny European settings. He also works meticulously on each image
during post processing for the maximum time required to ensure each of your
wedding photos is clean, stain and litter free with nothing in view to detract from
your big day.
All images are presented and included at high resolution in both colour and black
and white. As a bonus, if Nick thinks a certain shot deserves extra attention such
as filtering, sepia toning or anything else that catches his creative eye, he will
include this work free of charge along with a copy of the original.
Images can be presented in many different album styles from a variety of
suppliers including the stunning new designer coffee table wedding books of all
shapes and sizes which are designed by Nick and printed in the United States.
A 90-100 image slideshow is also included in the price which is set to music of
your choice and really tells the story of your entire day from getting ready to the
reception in full swing. The DVD slideshow comes in a personalised DVD case for
playing on your TV or computer with a copy hosted online for all your absent
friends and family to enjoy."
Email: nick@panphotography.com
Website: www.panphotography.com
Tel: +34 647 993855
WARNING
A lot of photographers consider themselves artists rather than photographers and
they can therefore potentially be a little tricky to deal with. They may not always
want to do what you tell them to or be forthcoming in handing over their work
quickly or in a manner that you request. When we organise weddings ourselves
for private clients, if there are any problems (and they are very rare), they have
usually been based around a photographer prejudicing his artistic talent or
leaving just before the first dance because his eight hours are up.
It is imperative that from the outset you show your photographer who is boss and
tell them specifically what you want in order to eliminate any ambiguities. If they
question this role then look elsewhere as you are simply asking for trouble later
on. We recommend that you include the negatives (or original files for digital
shots) in your price negotiations together with the duration of the photographic
day and the quantity of shots you can expect. We also recommend that you pay a
deposit of about 50% to secure the booking and only pay the balance when you
have received your album, all the negatives, and you are happy with the result.
You will have no problems whatsoever with the photographers listed above.
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11. Restaurants
The Cuisine of the Region:
The smells and tastes associated with Provence are evocative, sensuous and
blissfully memorable. It is a region bursting with brilliant colours and heady
fragrances - a ‘mélange’ of purple lavender, rich green basil, shiny red and yellow
peppers, the unmistakable and all essential pungency of garlic and, the one small
fruit which immediately conjures up this cocktail of sunshine flavours ... the olive.
Provençal cuisine is all about really pungent and gutsy ‘head-on’ flavours and
textures. Food that actually talks to you! - unlike the more bland cuisines of some
other regions. Fish is always ‘top of the menu’, and you will find many restaurants
specialising in Bouillabaisse (it is generally classified as half fish soup/half fish
casserole). Daurade (sea bream) and Loup (sea bass) are two of the other local
fish specialities ….. and then you must not forget the moules (mussels), sardines,
oursins (sea urchins), squid, langoustines and lobster. The menu is not all fish,
however, far from it. The meat is of exceptional quality, especially the lamb.
(The lamb from Sisteron is to die for!). And then there is the foie gras! The
market garden of the area produces superb fruit and vegetables - asparagus,
globe artichokes, wild mushrooms, Ratte potatoes (which are unlike any other
potato) a wealth of fresh herbs, 14 to 15 different varieties of tomatoes (including
yellow ones, miniature aubergines, baby turnips, fresh figs, cherries, berry fruits
(when in season),apricots and nectarines …….. plus some of the finest olive oils
and cheeses, and the diamont noir (the black truffle). This is just to whet your
appetite.
Some of the Best Restaurants:
There are hundreds of good restaurants on the Cote d’Azur, and you are really
spoilt for choice, as long as you avoid the obvious tourist traps. The following are
amongst some of our own personal favourites, where we believe that you can eat
very well for a reasonable price (well, fairly reasonable usually!). For a
comprehensive selection of other restaurants, look at The Guide Gantié 2006
Provence-Côte d’Azur, the Guide Hubert 2006 France du Sud & Paris, and, of
course, the Michelin Guide Rouge 2006.
Monaco & the “Golden Corniche”
* Le Louis XV (in the Hôtel de Paris) - Monaco
This is one of Alain Ducasse’s ‘palaces’, adjacent to The Casino , where you will
enjoy very fine cuisine. Expect to remortgage your house to dine here. The risotto
alone costs €76! For somewhere a little less formal, less expensive and with a
wonderful view from the terrace, try the rooftop Grill Room.
* Bar et Boeuf – Monaco
This is another Alain Ducasse establishment, designed by Phillipe Stark, with an
innovative ‘surf & turf’ menu that blends with the décor.
* Café de Paris - Monaco
Directly opposite the Hôtel de Paris. This is the best people-watching location that
you could find in the Principality, whilst sipping on a flute of champagne.
* Le Mirazur, - Menton
Stunningly beautiful modern cuisine, prepared by a highly imaginative Italian
chef, and enjoy looking out directly over the Mediterranean.
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Nice, Villefranche ….. and the hills above
* Restaurant Chantecler (Hôtel Negresco) - Nice
If you are really ‘pushing out the boat’ in Nice, then this is definitely the place to
be! Magnificent Regency décor, opulence, luxury …. And divine food.
* L’Acchiardo – Nice
One of the few remaining authentic bistros in Vieux-Nice. This is a real place for
locals, offering one of the best fish soups, and wine is served by the barrel.
* Mère Germaine - Villefranche
Right on the Port, this rustic restaurant concentrates on fish and shellfish dishes,
using produce that has been bought in by the fishermen each morning. In the
heart of one of the prettiest fishing towns along the Riviera coast.
* La Voile d’Or - St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
The Hôtel la Voile d’Or has one of the finest views in St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, with the
restaurant terraces rolling down to the sea. The gastronomic cuisine is excellent,
as is the service. Once installed at your table, you will not want to move.
* Château de la Chèvre d’Or - Eze Village
The best has been left until last! The Château is pure gold, in every respect. From
a tiny, very smart, but inconspicuous entrance in one of the side streets in this
hill village, you discover one of the Côte d’Azur’s jewels (rather like Alice in
Wonderland). On the other side of the door is a magical terrace, literally
suspended on the rocks, and looking out to the azur-blue sea. Picturesque,
enchanting and utterly unforgettable. Try the fondant de pigeon et de foie gras de
canard aux aubergines. You can also sleep here!
Antibes and the Arrières Pays
*Les Vieux Murs - Antibes
As the name suggests, this renowned restaurant is situated right on the old
Medieval city walls, or remparts. The restaurant looks straight out to sea, with
uninterrupted views, and a chef who knows exactly what he is doing. The
welcome and ambience are delightful, and the service is very slick and attentive.
They have a great wine list, featuring many of the best wines from the region.
* L’Auberge Provençale - Antibes
Originally an old coaching inn, the Auberge is one of the best fish and shellfish
restaurants within the old town (it should be city, as Antibes has a cathedral).
The plâteaux de fruits de mer are awesome, and, if you are planning on having
dinner there, then it is better to miss lunch. In the spring and summer months,
the outdoor flower-decked terrace is one of the most delightful dining venues.
* La Colombe d’Or - Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Picasso loved this village, as did many other artists, and art is very much
reflected in the Manor and grounds of La Colombe d’Or. Inside it is like an art
museum, and the gardens are full of sculptures. A traditional very refined cuisine
is served, which can be enjoyed on the terrace on many days of the year.
* Restaurant Le Bacon – Cap d’Antibes
Exquisitely situated on the boulevard Bacon, this rather chic family-run fish
restaurant attracts numerous celebrities, and faithful local customers alike. The
setting is stunning, with uninterrupted views of the passing yachts, and the food
is exceptional, especially the bouillabaisse, and the warm oysters.
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* Auberge des Seigneurs - Vence
This is a truly local restaurant, which oozes atmosphere, especially with its
Medieval open chimney, where lamb and fish are open-roasted in front of your
eyes. You need to be hungry.
Cannes, La Napoule and Théoule
* La Méditerranée (Hôtel Sofitel) - Cannes
The restaurants within ‘chain’ hotels, are often something to be avoided.
However, La Méditerranée is one of the rare exceptions. Situated at the end of
the Vieux Port, you can see everything from the terraced restaurant sur le toit
(rooftop). Classic Provençal cuisine with a modern twist.
* Hôtel 3.14 - Cannes
This is one of the most recent hotels to take Cannes by storm, both for its
innovation and ‘daring to be different’, to the vibrant colours in décor and cuisine.
Amidst strident mauves, deep turquoise and crushed strawberry (colour that is),
you can enjoy a menu that is distinctly Mediterranean, ‘spiked’ with spices and
herbs from far flung countries. If you like something that stands apart, then this
is the place to be.
* La Mère Besson - Cannes
Traditional and typical regional cuisine, served in a charming and welcoming
atmosphere, and at very untypical Cannes prices. If you like garlic, and Aïoli, then
head for La Mère Besson.
* Le Moulin des Mougins - Mougins
This has been a bastion of fine eating for many years. Originally run by the
legendary and fêted chef, Roger Vergé, Alain Llorca now heads up the kitchen.
When the stars hit town for the Cannes Film Festival, this is where they all want
to go to dine. The food and hospitality are sublime but it does not come cheap!
* L’Oasis - La Napoule
With a lush verdant patio, this elegant restaurant offers an elegant cuisine,
‘peppered’ with all the distinctive Provençal flavours, plus a subtle touch of the
Orient. The Provençal wines are wonderful. The restaurant lives up to its name it is truly an ‘oasis’, but never deserted!
St-Tropez and the Var villages
* Restaurant Leï Mouscardins - St-Tropez
Right on the edge of the Old Port, this refined, elegant, intimate and tranquil
restaurant offers a blend of typical Mediterranean dishes with more than a
generous sprinkling of fish and shellfish dishes. Good prices for St-Trop!
* Spoon (at Hôtel Byblos) - St-Tropez
Just to throw in a little expensive chic! This is a typical Spoon-style menu, served
under the St-Tropez sun. Vibrant, modern cuisine, including the likes of Tajine de
poisons and Nems au parfum de paella. It has the typical and unmistakable
Ducasse touch.
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* Le Mas du Langoustier - Île de Porquerolles
Situated on the western part of the island, you will find a sanctuary of
gastronomy hidden amongst pine and eucalyptus trees. A team of bright young
chefs produces a selection of fresh and highly imaginative menus: The Cicadas
Song menu, The Dégustation Menu, and The Under the Shades of an Olive Tree
Menu.
* Dominique Bucaille - Manosque
Dominique cooks what could be termed a cuisine de térroir (food from the land),
with a menu that is based on the best of locally produced ingredients, including
the wonderful olive oils, cheeses and wines. He even presents a special menu
concentrating on potatoes!
* Restaurant Chez Bruno - Lorgues
Situated in the heart of the Var countryside, Clément Bruno, fondly referred to as
the ‘King of truffles’, runs an undeniably gourmet restaurant, where truffles
feature on most dishes on the menu including the ice cream! This is a ‘must have’
edible experience, and is well worth the detour inland from the coast.
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13. Wedding Essentials
Car Hire
The Cote d’Azur airports are like any other major terminals in that there are a
plethora of car hire companies all bidding for your business. All the major
companies are there – Avis, Rentacar, Hertz, Budget etc and some local ones as
well. Ryanair has an agreement with Hertz so most people on their planes will
end up queuing behind each other at the desk. So if your bags come off the
carousel last you could have a long wait for a car.
We have partnered with a company called Car Trawler who literally ‘trawl’ the
market for the best deals. Simply input your dates and it searches all the car hire
providers for the best prices for you. Click on the link below to search
http://www.getmarried.co.uk/guide_cote_car.html
Invitations
Just by browsing the web or any bridal magazine you will be bombarded with
companies offering wedding stationery. We have no direct advice on which type
of stationery you should buy so just try to find a style that fits in with the rest of
your wedding. Stationery is generally not just limited to invitations, but can
extend to ceremony cards, menus and place settings.
We do recommend, however, that you do not send out your official invitations
until your venue confirms the date of your wedding. Beforehand, you should send
a simple ‘save the day’ card out to your guests, to ensure they are aware of the
up-coming date. Then send out the ‘official’ invitations in January of the year of
the wedding.
Website
We have found, however, that traditional paper invitations are gradually being
replaced by electronic media. It is now commonplace for card invitations to be
supported by emails, along with a wedding website that can contain more
information and is updatable. The website can also become a ‘community’ behind
the wedding, with bulletin boards and contributions from the guests, both pre and
post the big day. We have also found that, as the wedding is abroad, the website
can contain a vast amount of information for guests to peruse, and prepare
themselves for the day. This in itself will save you no end of questions from
relatives about where to stay, how to get there, what car hire, is there a golf
course, can I go shopping etc.
A website can be a cheap and very effective method of communicating this
information. We have even found recently that some couples are opting for email
invitations with a password protected website, and no card stationery at all.
Get Married has teamed up with the wedding website company www.weddingscomplete.com to offer its customers an easy way to create a wedding website for
each of our guide buyers. A template has been prepared, and Get Married will
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supply most of the details of the location, venue, local info, etc and then you
provide the personal details of your wedding. The price is very low starting at
only £200 per site.
The following website is an example from a current wedding. The couple have
given their permission for Get Married to use it for promotional purposes.
www.carrieandjosh.co.uk
If you wish to have Weddings Complete design your wedding website then
contact Nancy at
Nancy@weddings-complete.com
Insurance
For obvious reasons we recommend that both the couple and their guests have
travel insurance in place for the wedding trip. The costs of such insurance have
come down dramatically over the past few years and now most people take out
an annual policy to cover all foreign trips made in the year. The link below to our
webpage has a link to a company which offers exceptionally good prices for travel
insurance.
Wedding insurance is also something that we recommend the couple take out just
in case of any unforeseen problems with the actual wedding itself. Whilst there
are many companies that offer such insurance there are few that are currently
offering it for weddings abroad. The link to our web page below has links to a
company that does with reasonable prices and good service.
http://www.getmarried.co.uk/essentials_insurance.html
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14. Budgeting
Your budget is where your wedding begins and ends. Your choice of venue, guest
accommodation, quality of catering, flowers, etc will all depend upon your budget.
How you break it up is also up to you with there being no hard and fast rules as
to what proportion of the budget you usually spend on the reception/flowers etc.
Some couples want a particular ceremonial car that has to come from Italy and so
is twice the normal price, and as a result will have fewer flowers. For others it can
be the other way round.
A large proportion of the wedding costs are fixed no matter how many guests you
have to the ceremony. You will still need the ceremony to be organised, the
photographer, the flowers, hair and make up and a ceremonial car. So bear this
in mind when preparing the budget. A wedding in the same venue for 20 guests
will not be half the price of one for 40.
Please bear in mind the following items which have to be accounted for in
preparing your budget.
Costs of ceremony will include the following costs:
Town Hall/church fee
Venue charge for a blessing ceremony on site
Witnesses (if appropriate)
Consulate fees
UK registrar fees
The reception will incur the following costs:
Hire fee (if applicable)
Cost per head for the food
Cost per head for drinks
Wedding Cake
Specific extras to that venue e.g. cloakroom staff, candles etc
Other costs to bear in mind:
Wedding Planner’s Fee (if applicable)
Ceremonial car
Minibuses to transport guests from accommodation venue to wedding venue to
reception venue and back at night (if applicable)
Flowers
Photographer
Entertainment
Guest accommodation (if you’re paying)
Favours
Other events based around the wedding day
As you probably expect, the Cote d’Azur is not a cheap location for a wedding and
prices are comparable to those charged in the UK (if not more for the luxury
end). As a rule of thumb if you have 80 guests then expect to pay a minimum of
£15,000 for your wedding. Obviously this lessens with smaller parties, but it
probably isn’t the location for you if you want a cheap wedding abroad.
29
15. Aspects of Cote d’Azur life to consider
Wealth
This is by far the wealthiest stretch of coast in the world. The displays of
ostentation can be jaw dropping, as can the bizarre antics that only the super rich
can demand and get away with. Don’t be overawed and just join in the fun. You
can easily feel like a multi-millionaire just by sipping a coffee in the Café De Paris,
even without the bank balance to match.
People
It sometimes seems that the whole of Paris has upped sticks and moved to the
Cote d’Azur for Summer, especially in the month of August. The area can become
almost unbearably busy, with both French and foreign tourists mixing with the
permanent residents. This naturally leads to traffic and parking problems,
together with booking issues for the best hotels and restaurants. Our best tip is
to avoid the main towns in August, and head for the countryside.
Language
In catering for an international monied clientele, English is widely spoken
throughout the Cote d’Azur. But there is a trait which you may encounter. Even
though they may speak English, they are often reluctant to speak it, especially if
you initially try to communicate in rusty GCSE French. A simple ‘Parlez-vous
Anglais’ at the beginning of the conversation should, however, do the trick.
Arrogance
The French are an insular nation of people who rarely feel they need to seek
outside help or expertise. They rightly or wrongly believe that their products,
services and expertise are the best in the world. You will also find no shortage of
French people who will tell you this, and spend hours doing so in the minutest of
detail. In some ways they are right, and some of their food, wines and services
are, without question, the envy of the world. Many, though, are not.
Taxis
This mode of transport can be one of the greatest rip-offs on the Côte d’Azur,
especially if they realise that you are not French. This particularly applies at
French airports, or if you are trying to book one by telephone in pigeon French.
Always ask for a price to your required destination, before you get into the
taxi. At Nice Airport, for example, there is a printed tariff for taxi journeys
between the airport and the principal Côte d’Azur destinations.
30
16. The 20 golden rules of successful Cote d’Azur weddings
•
Send out a ‘save the day’ card to your guests when you know the date of your
wedding, but do not yet include the specific details.
•
Arrange the Town Hall/church, reception venue and accommodation venue as
your first planning task, and leave the other parts until these are in place.
•
Avoid December and January, so as to virtually guarantee the weather.
•
Keep your Town Hall/church, reception venue and accommodation venue in
close proximity, so as to avoid long trips on the wedding day.
•
Choose a reception venue with an indoor alternative, should bad weather
occur.
•
If possible, have all your guests stay at the reception venue, or within walking
distance, to avoid 2am minibuses.
•
Visit the area beforehand to view properties and meet suppliers/planners.
•
If flying from the UK, go low cost – there’s very little difference in the quality
of service, and usually a great deal in price.
•
Book an extra seat on the plane for your wedding dress. Or, if you’re a ‘bride
with balls’, ask the pilot to hang it in the cockpit.
•
Have a light wedding dress/wedding suit. The French heat can be unforgiving
on your wedding day.
•
Ensure that the date you have chosen for the wedding day is convenient for
your guests and their kids’ school holidays.
•
Under no circumstances send your invitations out, or book flights, until the
venue confirms the day and time of your wedding.
•
Be there at least 3 days before the wedding to tidy up any loose ends and sign
any required documentation.
•
If the whole party is staying in one place, make the guests book directly with
the accommodation(s). If they aren’t, then get an agent or planner.
•
Go to a very posh restaurant, or the Café de Paris in Monte Carlo – have the
true Riviera experience whilst you are in the area.
•
Don’t plan too much activity for your guests. They may need a rest.
•
When budgeting, allow for local taxes, exchange fluctuation, and for add-ons.
•
Remember it’s your wedding and organise it the way you want it, without any
outside influences.
•
Use Anne Ager to plan it for you – she is truly fantastic
•
Remember to enjoy yourself - it’s the best day of your life.
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17. Next Steps
Having a helping hand to organise your wedding on the Cote d’Azur is a very
good idea. A great deal of time and hassle can be saved.
Get-Married has, over the years, assembled a network of trustworthy wedding
planners throughout Europe. If you wish to have a wedding on the Cote d’Azur,
that has any degree of size and complexity, then you will need to use a local
planner.
This wedding guide has been written with the help of a local wedding planner
whom we recommend you contact, as below:
Anne Ager
www.anne-ager.com
anne.ager@tiscali.fr
Mailing address: 14 Avenues Thiers 06600 Antibes
Phone: 0033493344102
Having qualified as a chef in London & Paris, and worked for numerous
food/hospitality companies, on both sides of the Channel, Anne Ager now heads
up her own organisation, Côte Congratulations & Celebrations, on the French
Riviera. Anne, and her team, specialise in arranging Boutique Weddings in the
region, and catering for special corporate events, such as the Monaco Grand Prix,
the Cannes Film Festival and MIPIM. Google her for more information.
Please contact Anne with questions, or to get further information on her services.
She has been automatically given your details when you downloaded this guide,
so she may also contact you directly.
Disclaimer
The contents of this guide are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time
of writing. However, prices and circumstances can change. It is only to be used
therefore as a guide to planning your wedding yourself rather than a wholly
accurate document to be relied upon.
This guide is copyrighted by get married ltd and the contents are owned by the
company. The purchaser of this guide must only use it to plan their own wedding
on the Cote d’Azur and must not re-sell wholly or partly the contents of this
guide.
© Get Married Ltd 2007
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