A vibrant fruit-forward wedding in the french countryside

french countryside wedding

For their outdoor wedding in Provence, this lovely couple pulled inspiration from the farm-fresh produce of the countryside. From tomato-hued bridesmaid dresses and vibrant linens, this wedding is a refreshing and laid-back twist on the traditional French chateau wedding. Keep scrolling to see more of these warm sun-drenched photos by Lucy Birkead.

sun umbrellas for wedding ceremony

oscar de la renta lace wedding dress

the inspo: the beauty and magic of Provence

wedding ceremony with sun umbrellas for shade

Their planning and design team, Apricity Event Co., wanted to lean on the natural beauty of the region, opting for minimal table decor consisting of wild flowers by Atelier Prairies and local fruits. The overall color scheme was inspired by seasonal stone fruits. Our stationary design by the wonderful Katie Fischer Design was inspired by the abstract landscape painter, Nicolas de Stael, who had a studio in Menerbes in the 1950s.

french wildflowers for wedding

chateau wedding venue in provence

printed wedding program fans

their love story

bride and groom in lavender field

We were introduced by a close mutual friend at a summer party. From the moment we met, we were instantly connected. Oliver had an atypical approach to dating: on our first date, he invited me to have dinner with his entire family. We got very close very quickly.

the destination: the South of France

the french countryside for destination wedding

Oliver grew up spending the summers at his family’s home in Menerbes in the South of France, which is where Katie and Oliver took one of their first trips together and where they continued to visit every summer. We both agree it’s one of the most magical places on earth, and we wanted to share it with all of our loved ones.

the first look

first look in the woods

In a woodland area on the grounds of the chateau, Oliver awaited the first glimpse of his beautiful bride. Silhouetted by the sun, she tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned around, he was all smiles.

interesting first look locations

the food

outdoor wedding reception in france

It’s impossible to be in a bad mood in this idyllic part of the world. You are forced to slow down and succumb to a slower, peaceful pace. Plus, there is nothing like golden hour in the Luberon. We love exploring the area via electric bike and visiting local markets. It was really important to us that the food at the events be typical of the area. We always eat fresh local ingredients when visiting. We wanted all of our family and friends to experience that too.

colorful wedding reception table ideas

We worked with our brilliant friend and chef Harry Cummings of La Mercerie in Marseille on our rehearsal dinner. Harry and his team at The Small Group produced a very special welcome event at the local Pétanque field followed by a perfectly executed sit down dinner. The team produced dishes traditional of the region and ingredients from local purveyors. They could not have done a better job, everything was so delicious!

tomato decorations for wedding bright and cheery wedding flower arrangements

the fashion

3d lace oscar de la renta wedding dress

The bride was ravishing in a textured lace ballgown by Oscar de la Renta. The bridesmaids' dresses pulled from an unexpected and fresh color palette in shades of green, red, orange, and yellow–cherry tomatoes. The groom wore a polished blue suit and sky blue tie. Even the wedding guests were dressed perfectly for the outdoor fête in spring-forward floral prints. Later that night, the bride slipped into a sheer sequin midi dress to really break it down on the dance floor.

bride in oscar de la renta lace ballgown

wedding guests dancing in lavender fields

red bridesmaid dress ideas

tomato colored bridesmaid dresses

sheer sequin wedding reception dress

the cake

french cheescake for wedding

For dessert, the couple cut into a larger-than-life French country cheesecake dusted with powdered sugar and lit sparklers. We love it when dessert doubles as entertainment!