Wedding FAQ

Start by settling on an approximate date and an overall budget — these two elements determine venue and vendor availability. Then book your reception venue, followed by the key vendors (caterer, photographer, DJ or band) who get booked first for the best dates.

Ideally allow 12 to 18 months for a high-season wedding on the French Riviera, especially to secure the most sought-after venues and vendors. A more intimate wedding can be planned in 6 to 9 months if availability allows.

It's not mandatory, but it changes the experience considerably: an agency coordinates every vendor, anticipates the unexpected, and frees you from logistical stress so you can fully enjoy your day. This is especially valuable for a French Riviera wedding if you don't live in the region.

It entirely depends on what you want: an intimate wedding often gathers 30 to 60 guests, a classic wedding 80 to 150, and larger celebrations can exceed 200 people. Guest count directly affects your choice of venue, caterer, and overall budget.

The May-to-September season offers the best climate, but it's also the most in demand (so book early). May, June, and September strike an excellent balance between pleasant weather, soft light, and venue availability.

Yes, it's actually very common: many couples travel from across France or abroad to marry on the French Riviera. A local agency like ours handles on-site coordination, venue scouting, and vendor relationships, so distance is never an obstacle.

Budget varies enormously depending on guest count, venue, and service level, but on average expect between €15,000 and €40,000 for a wedding of 80 to 120 guests on the French Riviera. Very high-end weddings at prestigious estates can far exceed this amount.

As a general rule, venue and catering represent 40-50% of the budget, music and entertainment 10-15%, photo and video 10-15%, with the rest split between decoration, outfits, and extras. Always prioritise the 2-3 items that matter most to you rather than spreading the budget evenly.

Watch for often-forgotten costs: corkage fees if you bring your own alcohol, overtime if the evening runs late, vendor travel fees, tips, and tourist tax for guest accommodation. An experienced agency anticipates these from the start to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Favour a weekday or shoulder-season date (May, June, September) rather than a Saturday in July-August, trim the guest list slightly, and bundle services with the same vendor when possible (e.g. DJ + lighting). Investing in a good coordinator also helps avoid costly mistakes.

Yes, a deposit of 30-50% is usually required at booking to secure the date, with the balance paid a few weeks before the event or on the day, depending on the vendor. Always check cancellation and postponement terms before signing.

No, the wedding budget and honeymoon budget are traditionally tracked separately, even though they're sometimes funded together through wedding gift funds. Many couples actually prefer a dedicated honeymoon fund rather than a traditional gift registry.

Always check recent reviews and references, ask to see a full example of a similar event (comparable size to yours), and have an initial call or video chat to gauge the fit. An agency that already works with a vetted vendor network saves you precious time.

Ask whether they carry backup equipment, whether they hold professional liability insurance, whether they can provide references from recent weddings, and what happens in case of an unexpected issue (illness, equipment failure). These simple questions prevent the vast majority of wedding-day surprises.

A DJ offers total versatility across every musical style and uninterrupted continuity all evening, while a live band brings unique energy and stage presence. Many couples combine both: a band for the cocktail hour or reception entrance, a DJ for the dance party.

Book these key vendors 8 to 12 months ahead, especially in high season on the French Riviera where the best professionals get booked early. For a peak-summer date, it's best not to wait longer than 6 months.

This is exactly where an event agency proves its worth, with a backup network ready to step in immediately. If you're planning independently, always keep one or two backup contacts identified in advance for the most critical roles (music, catering).

Yes, that's entirely possible, but remember to factor in their travel and accommodation costs, as well as logistical constraints (transport schedules, equipment setup). Working with local vendors already familiar with French Riviera venues often simplifies coordination considerably.

First define your guest count and desired atmosphere (château, wine estate, seaside, garden), then visit several venues if possible at the actual time of day your reception will take place. Also check indoor capacity in case of rain — essential on the French Riviera.

It's strongly recommended, ideally at the actual time planned for your ceremony or cocktail hour so you can judge the real lighting. If you can't travel, a local agency can visit on your behalf and share photos, video, and a detailed report.

The venue must offer an indoor backup solution (hall, marquee, orangery) able to host all your guests, including for dinner and the dance party. This is a criterion to check systematically before signing, even for a mid-summer wedding.

Yes, this is a very popular format on the French Riviera: for example a sea-view outdoor ceremony, a cocktail hour in the gardens, then dinner under a marquee or in a vaulted hall. This requires precise logistical coordination (guest transport, timing) that an agency manages seamlessly.

The venue is usually the very first thing to book, ideally 12 to 18 months ahead for the most in-demand dates (summer Saturdays). The most prestigious French Riviera venues are often fully booked more than a year ahead for peak season.

A saxophonist, violinist, or pianist creates an elegant, discreet ambiance, ideal for encouraging guest conversation without overpowering it. An acoustic group or gypsy-jazz ensemble, on the other hand, brings a livelier touch right from the cocktail hour.

The atmosphere usually evolves in stages: soft music during the cocktail hour, warm ambiance through dinner, a romantic first dance, then a gradual build-up to a full dance floor. A good DJ or band reads the room in real time to adjust the pace.

Absolutely, and it's strongly recommended: share your must-play songs, favourite artists, and anything to avoid with your DJ or band beforehand. Most vendors offer a questionnaire or a dedicated meeting to build the soundtrack together with you.

This depends on local rules and the venue: many French Riviera estates require outdoor sound systems to stop around midnight or 1am, with the party able to continue indoors. Always check with the venue before finalising the schedule.

A flashmob prepared with the wedding party, a surprise choir between courses, street performers (close-up magician, caricaturist) during the cocktail, or a reception entrance with cold spark effects all create memorable moments. The key is keeping the surprise intact until the very end.

Yes, a minute-by-minute run sheet (arrival, speeches, reception entrance, first dance, entertainment) is essential to keep the DJ, band, and MC in sync. This is one of the key documents your day-of coordinator prepares with you.

Expect generally between 400 and 800 professionally retouched photographs for a full day, delivered within 3 to 6 weeks depending on the photographer. Always ask for the exact delivery timeline before signing.

It's strongly recommended to have two distinct professionals: each craft requires different attention and equipment, and one person can't simultaneously capture the moment in photo and in motion with the same quality. Some agencies, like ours, coordinate both teams so they work in perfect harmony.

A drone captures spectacular aerial shots (venue flyover, guest arrival, an overview of the ceremony) that add a cinematic dimension impossible to achieve from the ground. It's particularly suited to venues with a remarkable natural setting, such as a wine estate or a seaside terrace.

Yes, more and more couples choose this private moment before the ceremony to see each other in wedding attire, away from onlookers. It also allows some couple portraits to be taken before the reception, freeing up time to enjoy the cocktail hour with your guests.

It's a self-service photo or video station where guests can take pictures or record themselves with props, creating spontaneous and fun keepsakes. It's especially popular during the cocktail hour or evening party, once the mood relaxes.

Yes, most videographers let you select the musical mood of the final film, while accounting for copyright if it will be shared publicly (social media in particular). Some also offer to use an excerpt of your own first-dance song.

You must file a marriage file at the town hall of one spouse's place of residence, generally 2 to 3 months before the desired date, including birth certificates, proof of address, and ID documents. The town hall then publishes the banns, a mandatory 10-day notice period before the ceremony.

Yes, in France only a marriage performed at the town hall has legal standing, so any religious or symbolic ceremony must take place after the civil marriage. Many couples hold the civil marriage privately a few days beforehand, then celebrate the main ceremony and reception on the big day.

A symbolic ceremony is a personalised, non-legally-binding celebration, usually led by an independent officiant outdoors or at the reception venue. It offers total freedom in staging, readings, and rituals, unlike the civil marriage, which follows a strict legal framework.

Yes, it's possible under certain conditions (at least one month's residence in the town for one spouse-to-be, or French nationality), but the paperwork is more complex and often requires additional documents (certificate of custom, official translations). Many foreign couples prefer to marry legally in their home country and celebrate a symbolic ceremony in France.

Yes, "wedding cancellation" insurance covers major unforeseen events (illness, death, vendor bankruptcy), and public liability insurance is often required by reception venues. Also check that your vendors carry their own professional insurance.

Fireworks and pyrotechnic effects require prior notification to the town hall and, depending on their power, a certified pyrotechnician. Cold spark fountains, on the other hand, are safe and generally permitted both indoors and outdoors without special authorisation.

A good backup plan starts at venue booking: an elegant marquee, an indoor fallback room, or flexible timing that allows shifting the ceremony by a few minutes. Weather should never compromise your wedding if the planning has anticipated this possibility.

Summer on the French Riviera is generally hot and sunny, with temperatures between 25 and 30°C and very little rainfall from June to August. The mistral, a sometimes strong wind, remains the main factor to plan for during an outdoor ceremony.

Provide shaded areas (shade sails, trees, a marquee), cold water and fans for guests, and favour a late-afternoon ceremony rather than midday. These simple touches make a real difference to guest comfort.

The decision is usually made 2 to 4 hours before the ceremony, in consultation with the coordinator, the venue, and yourselves, based on the most reliable short-term local forecasts. A good day-of coordinator makes this call for you, sparing you the stress.

The coordinator oversees the entire schedule (vendor arrivals, timing, handling the unexpected) so you have nothing to manage and can fully enjoy your day. They are the single point of contact for every vendor, from caterer to DJ.

Allow around 3 hours for the bride and her party's full preparation (hair, makeup, dressing), and 1.5 to 2 hours for the groom. Always build in a 30-minute safety margin before heading to the ceremony venue.

A typical schedule runs from preparations (morning), the ceremony (midday or afternoon), the cocktail hour (1.5-2 hours), dinner, then dancing late into the night. Each stage should include a 15-30 minute buffer to absorb the unexpected.

This is generally the coordinator or an MC's role, often supported by venue staff, guiding guests to parking, the ceremony, and then their table. This prevents the couple or their close family from being pulled into this logistical task.

This is precisely an experienced coordinator's role: anticipating backup scenarios (a delayed vendor, a technical issue, a weather change) and handling them discreetly without ever involving the couple. A well-coordinated wedding stays smooth for guests, even when things don't go exactly as planned behind the scenes.

Yes, this is one of the essential documents your agency or wedding planner prepares, minute by minute, shared with you and every vendor beforehand. It serves as the common reference so everyone works in perfect coordination on the day.

It's customary to send a personalised thank-you card in the weeks that follow, sometimes with a keepsake photo from the wedding. Some couples also share an online photo gallery so all guests can relive the day.

Expect generally 3 to 6 weeks for retouched photos and 4 to 8 weeks for the full film, with the teaser or highlight video often delivered faster (1 to 2 weeks). These timelines vary by vendor and should be confirmed before signing.

Many couples opt for professional cleaning followed by specialised preservation (UV-protective garment bag, airtight box) to keep the outfit as a keepsake. Others choose to resell it, donate it, or have it altered for another occasion.

Yes, consider the name change on ID documents if either spouse chooses to do so, updating the family record book, and possibly a joint tax filing. These administrative steps are simple but take a few weeks to sort out after the wedding.