One of the great things about being a wedding photographer in France is that when couples choose to have a destination wedding in a Romantic Chateau or in a beautiful church in a little Provencal hilltop village, often it’s only a couple of hours drive from where I live.

Sunset over Chateau De la Bourlie, Urval, France — Chateau De la Bourlie Urval, France

So what’s so special about a destination wedding in France? Destination weddings are fun, There’s nothing more romantic that running away together, it’s just with a wedding like this you get to bring all your friends too.

French wine, French food and not forgetting French sunshine. When you are lazing by the pool with a cheeky glass of bubbly or wending your way through the local market with beautiful locally produced food, or just passing the time with a coffee in the local café, watching the world go by.

Champagne Taittinger ad in a Bistro in France

It’s easy to get caught up in the romance of a foreign wedding and overlook some of the more mundane things that could scupper your plans before you even get started. I remember when we moved to France we were OK talking to people face to face but , on the telephone particularly with numbers “les chiffres” it was a bit of a challenge.

Fortunately there is a lot of help. There are a small groups of France based Brits who specialise in everything from actually planning your wedding to, car hire, food, Flowers, Hair & make-up, DJ’s, Live bands, photography of course and less obvious stuff like lighting to make for that perfect ambience when the sun goes down. (list at the end)

La Manoir de Longeveau with a field of sunflowers

So why do I think France is the perfect destination? Well I guess it’s a bit of a love affair, Having spent my holidays here as a child, I came back with my own children> Fast forward to today I’ve been shooting weddings here for 12 years and my children are fluent French speakers (still taking the Mickey out of my accent when I speak French)

The richness of the culture and of course the food and the wine are the stuff of legends. It’s the people though that make it. The French are genuinely interested in people who want to come to France, whether you are from the UK, Ireland , Australia or the USA there will always be a welcome here in France.

Would I change anything ? Definitely not.. I have found everyone here very friendly and welcoming and if you are prepared to speak even a little bit of French the locals will meet you more than halfway.