Top Three Destination Wedding Venues in Provence
GATHER Events photo session with Thomas Raboteur
Last autumn we planned a trip to meet up in Paris to visit some friends and then pop down to the south of France. As destination wedding planners, we always combine business and pleasure (fun is what we do, right?!) so we spent a few days in Paris (living the cafe life and eating great Vietnamese almost every night) and met up with Thomas Raboteur for a Sunday photo session along the Seine before taking off the next day to Provence.
Traveling to Provence from Paris is easy. There are high speed trains that run from central Paris to Avignon, that can have you there in a few hours. From the station you can rent a car and explore Provence at your leisure. While in the region, we highly recommend visiting Avignon’s beautiful walled historical city center, a scenic trip to the picturesque village of Gordes in the Luberon region, and drives through the countless fields of grapes, olives, lavender and flowers. Just be sure to give yourself time to enjoy the ride and stop in the charming towns along the way.
Provence has so many beautiful castles, villas and bastides to choose from when it comes to finding a location for a destination wedding. The mild climate and stunning scenery make it an ideal setting to welcome guests for days of fun and celebration. Our favorites venues in the region are properties that offer full exclusivity, beautiful grounds, top notch accommodations, full service staffing and close proximity to transport hubs + cultural spots.
Here are our top three favorite exclusive use destination wedding venues in Provence!
Château d'Estoublon
Oh how we love Chateau d’Estoublon! If your guests expect modern conveniences, luxury and full service and yet you want the privacy and charm of a historic chateau on a large property- this is the spot for you. The castle has been fully retrofitted to meet contemporary needs and tastes in a way that embraces heritage with a modern approach in its twenty-two rooms and ten bedroom suites. The property (which is only twenty minutes south of Avignon) produces world renown olive oil and wine, the kitchen garden keeps the cuisine fresh and local, there are ample grounds to use as you please throughout your stay and there is even a chapel for small ceremonies. The chateau is owned by the Airelles group which is known for 5-star luxury and owns Versailles, Bastide de Gordes and more.
Thirty minutes northeast of Avignon lies Chateau de Tourreau, a 17th century neoclassical architectural gem on a 20 acre estate where Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas chose to stay with their guests for their local wedding. We love the courtyard garden of this beautiful chateau, it’s an ideal spot for receptions and ceremonies with the house serving as a dramatic backdrop. The property has a chapel, courts, fitness center, infinity pool, overnight accommodations for 29 guests and numerous event spaces. Extra staffing, chefs and services can be added as needed. All of which, in our mind, makes it a fantastic location to welcome your nearest and dearest.
Our last, but certainly not least, favorite in the region is the remarkable Chateau Martinay. The chateau with its long driveway and extensive grounds makes it feel a world away, yet it’s only thirty minutes from Avignon. The twelve roomed chateau was lovingly restored to keep her many historical details intact, but remodeled with a keen design eye and infused with modern luxury. We were entranced by the sprawling English style gardens, that includes a cypress alley that makes a distinctive wedding ceremony backdrop. The courtyard, terrace and orangery offer a variety spaces that can be used throughout the stay. The property is currently remodeling a farmhouse on the property as well as developing a Provençal style building across from the bastide that can host two hundred plus people for functions. All in all, it’s a special spot that ought to be on your list.
If you still have time after you’ve thoroughly wandered the fields and hills that inspired Van Gogh, make a quick trip down to the riviera for an aperitif on the sea side terrace at the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc and swim in their iconic saltwater pool!
XO- The GATHER Girls