Catherine & Cedric chose the beautiful surroundings of Domaine de Saint-Germain for their wedding. This gorgeous venue sits amongst olive groves in the shadow of the Pic Saint-Loup mountain. As with a lot of destination weddings in Mediterranean settings, I arrived to find many of the guests in the pool.
The couple had travelled from their home in the UK, but Cedric is actually French. He had a chilled out morning with his family and friends around him. Meanwhile, the bride and her party were having their hair and make-up perfected in the main building. There was fizz flowing there and outside as the guests gathered for the ceremony.
Wedding Photographer at Mas de St-Germain in France
The beautifully converted barn was the setting for the wedding ceremony. There was some piano music and a couple of readings, and also a few tears. The celebrant performed a traditional hand-fasting, then the guests grabbed a handful of olive leaves to greet the newlyweds!
Wedding Photography at Domaine de Saint-Germain
The drinks reception followed, taking place in the sunshine around the pool. There were fresh oysters for everyone to snack on, as well as prawns and scallops cooked on the plancha. The happy couple found time for a few moments alone, and I got some shots of them having a wander amongst the olive trees.
Soon it was time for the guests to take their seats at the back of the venue, under festoons of lights. Bride and groom made a grand entrance, and gave an introductory speech before the wedding breakfast was served.
Mas de Saint-Germain Wedding Photography
As the sun set and the tables were cleared, it was time for a favourite French wedding tradition of mine. The arrival of the croquembouche! For the uninitiated, this is a tower of cream-filled choux buns, wrapped in spun sugar, that serves as the wedding cake. It’s usually adorned with sparklers and indoor fireworks, and makes quite a spectacle.
After that, we had a few more speeches from family and friends. Then it was time for the hosts to open the dance floor with their first dance, concluding a memorable Domaine de Saint-Germain wedding day.
Documentary Wedding Photographer in France
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