Inside a Fashion-Forward Wedding at Château Saint-Martin & Spa
A Glamorous French Riviera Celebration for S&S
There is something particularly beautiful about a wedding that feels entirely true to the couple.
For S&S, a German couple with a strong eye for fashion and an appreciation for beautiful details, their celebration at Château Saint-Martin & Spa was an elegant blend of glamour, romance, French gastronomy, and intimate moments shared with their closest friends and family.
As a French Riviera wedding photographer, I loved documenting this two-day celebration not only for its extraordinary setting, but for the personality woven into every detail: from the bride’s fashion-forward wardrobe and Vever jewellery to the colourful welcome dinner and the white floral designs of the wedding day.
Perched above the French Riviera in Vence, Château Saint-Martin & Spa offers a remarkable setting for a destination wedding, surrounded by gardens, mountains and panoramic views across the Riviera.
A Colourful Welcome Dinner on the French Riviera
The wedding weekend began with a relaxed and colourful welcome dinner in the gardens of the château.
Rather than a traditional seated dinner, guests could enjoy different culinary stations prepared by the Château, from pizzas and pasta to crêpes and drinks, creating an atmosphere that felt generous, convivial and distinctly French.
One of my favourite moments happened when an enormous bouquet of peonies was presented to the bride. The flowers echoed the soft tones of her outfit and became an unexpectedly beautiful part of the evening.
As guests sat down for dinner, the light transformed the gardens into something almost cinematic.
It was the perfect beginning to a wedding weekend centred around French gastronomy, fashion and togetherness.
A Bride With a True Fashion Sensibility
Fashion was an important part of S&S’s celebration.
The bride approached each day with the same attention to detail she brought to the rest of the wedding, wearing different jewellery from Parisian Maison Vever throughout the weekend.
Founded in 1821, Vever has a remarkable place in French jewellery heritage and was established in Paris on rue de la Paix in 1872. The house is particularly known for its Art Nouveau heritage and continues to create its jewellery in France today.
Her bridal wardrobe was equally spectacular.
For the wedding day, she wore a romantic Milla Nova gown, complemented by carefully chosen accessories. Later in the evening, she changed into the Russel gown by Milla Nova, an ivory A-line design featuring three-dimensional floral lace, sequins and delicate off-the-shoulder tulle sleeves.
These details gave me the opportunity to approach her portraits almost as I would a fashion editorial.
Editorial Bridal Portraits at Château Saint-Martin
The getting-ready photographs were intentionally different from traditional bridal preparation images.
I wanted to capture the bride’s personality as much as the beauty of what surrounded her: the dress, the jewellery, the architecture and the light.
We worked with flash, movement and a more editorial approach, creating images that felt polished but never overly posed.
And perhaps my favourite part came later that evening.
After changing into her second dress, I took the bride around different corners of Château Saint-Martin, through its elegant staircases, wood-panelled salons and quieter spaces, simply to make portraits together.
By then, we had developed an incredible connection.
We laughed, experimented and wandered through the château looking for the next beautiful backdrop. What could have been a simple portrait session became one of the most enjoyable parts of the wedding for me.
A Romantic Ceremony in the Gardens
The wedding ceremony took place outdoors, surrounded by abundant white flowers and the natural beauty of the Riviera.
With the mountains and gardens surrounding the château, the setting offered a beautiful contrast to the more glamorous and colourful atmosphere of the welcome dinner.
The ceremony was officiated by the bride’s sister, making it particularly personal and intimate.
With around 50 guests, S&S’s wedding had the feeling of a truly private celebration, elegant without ever feeling distant.
This intimacy is one of the things I love most about destination weddings in France: the opportunity to create something incredibly refined while still leaving space for genuine connection.
From the Ceremony to an Evening of Celebration
After the ceremony, guests gathered outdoors for cocktails before moving into the château for dinner.
The atmosphere gradually shifted from romantic afternoon celebration to a more glamorous evening.
There was music, beautiful food, heartfelt moments and, of course, another opportunity for the bride to reveal her second look.
For a photographer, these transitions are particularly exciting. The light changes, the atmosphere evolves, and the same setting can suddenly feel completely different.
Château Saint-Martin is especially beautiful in this respect: its gardens, interiors and panoramic surroundings offer a wealth of different atmospheres within a single wedding venue. The château itself highlights its gardens, panoramic Riviera views and gastronomic experience as central elements of its wedding offering.
An Intimate French Riviera Wedding, Beautifully Personal
What stayed with me most from S&S’s wedding wasn’t simply how beautiful everything was.
It was how personal it felt.
With only their closest people around them, they had time to enjoy the weekend, speak with their guests and truly be present.
And for me, that connection began from the very first day.
The bride and I immediately clicked. She trusted me completely, which allowed us to create images that went beyond documenting what happened. We could play, explore and create together.
That trust is something I value enormously as a photographer.
Because the most beautiful photographs are not always the most perfectly planned ones. Sometimes they happen when you feel comfortable enough to forget the camera is there.
If you liked those wedding photos and video, do not hesitate to follow me on instagram to see more photos and videos of my latest weddings!
Discover the vendors who elevated the day:
Photography
HERITAGE STORY
Florist
GLORIOSA
Makeup
YANA
Venue
CHÂTEAU SAINT MARTIN
Singer
LILLYE BRUYNEEL
Jewels
VEVER
Wedding dress:
MILLA NOVA
Hair :
MICHELLE
Brunch Venue
CHÈVRE D’OR
Planning Your Own French Riviera Wedding?
If you’re dreaming of your own celebration in the South of France and are searching for a refined, artistic, and discreet team, I would be honored to capture your weekend.
Learn more about working with a
and discover how I can document your Riviera celebration with elegance and cinematic storytelling, in both photo & video.