Destination weddings in France are the epitome of luxury and romance. As French wedding planners with over 12 years of experience, we have worked with many international couples to create unforgettable experiences for their guests. From elegant Parisian weddings to sea views celebrations on the French Riviera, we have done it all and share with you what we feel make a destination wedding feel truly luxurious.
Follow our 6 rules to make any wedding feel luxe and an experience guests will never forget!
Create a New Experience
The best way to make your event feel unique and be memorable is to offer your guests something they have never done before. This could be through selecting a venue that is really special (like the centuries old chateau ruins above), unique entertainment, special carriage arrangements to transport guests to the venue, or an atypical food service. The key is to make your wedding guests feel and experience something new, fun and exciting!
Arrange Quality Accommodation
Ensure that your guests have access to quality accommodation, whatever their budget. If the area you are getting married in is pricey, be ready to allocate some of your wedding budget to subsidise some rooms on site of your venue or nearby for guests who may not be able to afford it. This will ensure everyone will be able to enjoy your luxury destination wedding in France to the full and feel part of something really special.
Make it Feel Like a Vacation
Prepare your guests stay as if they were on a vacation from arrival to departure, taking care of them for the whole duration of their trip. Ideally, considering that your guests will be travelling to attend your wedding and will probably stay for a few days, the festivities would extend beyond the wedding day itself, typically over three or more days (to include a welcome evening, the wedding day and a fare well brunch). You could then organise activities and excursions that guests can choose to participate in or not, to keep them entertained throughout. Ideally there would be a person on site of your venue or you would hire a wedding concierge to be available to inform the guests on departure times and locations, and to manage any last minute changes.
It is all in the small attentions
Consider your guests’ preferences and arrange for personalised touches. If a guest loves a specific beverage or food, have it waiting for them in their room. If someone is celebrating a birthday, have a birthday cake and some candles ready! Of course it may be difficult to arrange something special for each and every guest, especially if you have a fairly large guest list, but not to worry, the care you will have brought to one guest will be seen and felt by many…
Design and Comfort
If your aim is to provide a luxury destination wedding experience to your guests, you will want to pay extra attention to design and comfort. Ensure that there is enough comfortable seating at any time and be careful of heat and shade, especially if you are planning a spring or summer wedding in the South of France. Try and arrange your furniture in an interesting way and do plan for a few beautiful statement pieces in each space. Quality tableware will also hugely enhance the luxury feel of your wedding so do pay attention to these elements.
Guest Care
Have enough staff on hand to assist guests with anything they may need. A wedding where guests do not have to queue for food or drink and that feels effortless will instantly feel luxurious!
At Et Voila Weddings, we specialise in planning luxury destination weddings in Paris, Provence, and the Cote d’Azur. With our expertise and attention to detail, we can help you create the wedding of your dreams. You can see our work on Style Me Pretty, Carats & Cake and more.
Contact us today to discuss your wedding plans via email, phone, or WhatsApp.
Creating a luxury destination wedding experience for your guests is all about the little touches that make them feel valued and special. With the right planning and attention to detail, your wedding will be an unforgettable experience for everyone involved!
Images @oliverflyphotography
