Provencal Refinement at Chateau de Grimaldi near Aix-en-Provence

Nicky and Daniel's wedding at Chateau de Grimaldi near Aix-en-Provence featured chapel vows and Lavender and Rose styling in golden Provencal light, by Greg Finck.

By Elena Moretti | Published 16 March 2015

Provencal Refinement at Chateau de Grimaldi near Aix-en-Provence

Latest Weddings

Chateau de Villette

Classic-Modern Romance Editorial at Château de Villette

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte

Château d'Arcelot

Modern Elegance & Calla Lilies Wedding at Château d’Arcelot

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

When Lavender and Rose and Greg Finck Photography come together, the result is always extraordinary, and Nicky and Daniel's wedding at Chateau de Grimaldi near Aix-en-Provence was no exception. The couple returned to the Provence region that held personal meaning for a day of stately architecture, private gardens, and golden Provencal light.

Photography

Greg Finck Photography

Venue

Chateau de Grimaldi

Region

Provence, France

Couple

Nicky & Daniel

Ceremony

A split diptych image showing two detail shots from a wedding. The left panel features an outdoor stone wall with warm golden-toned ashlar masonry, with a small flowering tree and trailing green ivy growing against it. The right panel is a close-up detail shot of a white ceremony program booklet placed on the white cushioned seat of a white spindle-back chair, with a trail of green vine foliage draped across the chair back. The overall decor palette is all-white and green, suggesting a classic, clean aesthetic. Potential venue feature image.

A diptych of two ceremony moments. On the left, the groom and a groomsman stand waiting inside a venue, both wearing dark navy suits with light pink ties and white boutonnières, hands clasped in front of them. On the right, the bride is being walked down the aisle by an older man, likely her father, who wears a grey morning suit with a pink tie; they are entering through a large stone archway doorway with bright natural light behind them. The bride wears a strapless white ballgown and carries a loose, rounded bouquet of ivory and blush flowers with greenery. The setting appears to be a rustic stone chapel or historic venue in France. Both shots are medium portrait-style compositions with natural daylight.

The ceremony took place in the chateau's chapel, transformed with flowers, greenery, and the glow of afternoon light streaming through the windows. Peter Madan led the service with warmth and sincerity, guiding the couple through vows that reflected their shared history. The intimate setting amplified every word, creating an atmosphere of focused emotion.

Bridal Portraits

A bridal portrait taken indoors in a hallway of what appears to be a chateau or manor house, decorated with wall sconces, framed paintings, and paneled wainscoting in pale yellow tones. The bride stands with her back to the camera and glances over her shoulder, wearing a full-skirted ivory satin ball gown with an open back and a cathedral-length veil trimmed with lace edging. She holds a rounded bouquet of blush and soft pink roses with small white filler flowers. The composition is a three-quarter portrait emphasizing the back of the gown and the trailing veil, with natural light coming from a window at the far end of the corridor.

A bridal portrait taken outdoors in what appears to be an olive grove or orchard setting, with the bride standing alone and turning back toward the camera with a smile. She wears a strapless ivory ballgown with a full skirt and an extremely long cathedral-length veil that trails across the grass behind her. The gown features delicate floral embroidery or appliqué detail along the hem and train. She holds a loosely gathered bouquet of blush pink roses, white blooms, and greenery tied with an ivory ribbon. The shot is a full-length portrait with soft, warm backlighting and a shallow depth of field that blurs the trees in the background.

A man, likely the father of the bride or groom, stands smiling inside a bright room with French doors open behind him, suggesting a chateau or country house venue. He is dressed in a dark charcoal pinstripe suit with a pale pink tie, a pink pocket square, and a white boutonnière with a small pink accent flower. A straw hat hangs on the wall to the left, and a decorative brass bell on a chain is visible to the right. The image is a medium portrait shot with soft, natural backlit lighting coming through the open doors.

A couple portrait taken outdoors in a lavender field at golden hour, with warm backlight creating a strong sun flare from the left side of the frame. The bride wears a white ball gown with a fitted bodice and full skirt, while the groom is dressed in a dark navy suit; the two stand close together, foreheads nearly touching, holding hands. Rows of purple lavender extend across the mid-ground, and mature green trees are visible in the background. The composition is a medium full-length portrait shot with the couple positioned to the right of center.

Greg Finck Photography captured Nicky framed by the chateau's Italian-inspired architecture and cypress-lined gardens. Her bouquet of white and green blooms by Wayne and Jeff added a natural accent to each composition. The interplay of warm stone, sculptured hedgerows, and the bride's flowing silhouette gave the portraits a painterly quality distinctive to Provence.

Cocktail Hour

A diptych of two wedding photographs taken at a French chateau estate during golden hour. On the left, the bride and groom walk joyfully along a gravel garden path, with the bride wearing a strapless white A-line gown and the groom in a dark navy suit with a white boutonniere; the formal garden behind them features topiary, a reflecting pool, and stone statues. On the right, wedding guests applaud and react during what appears to be a cocktail hour or outdoor reception on the chateau's terrace, with the stone facade of the chateau and mint-green shuttered windows visible in the background; string lights are strung overhead, and guests are dressed in smart-casual attire including a mint green dress and a patterned strapless dress. Both images have a soft, warm film-style edit with a light and airy aesthetic. Potential venue feature image.

A cocktail hour or reception setup photographed in a wide shot beside a rectangular pool at what appears to be a historic stone ruin venue in the south of France. Several round tables with white linens are arranged poolside, surrounded by white bistro-style chairs and shaded by large ivory market umbrellas on wooden poles. A single tall cocktail table with a white linen cover stands to the right. The backdrop is a multi-story crumbling limestone ruin with open arched window bays and no roof, with green shrubs growing within the structure. The overall decor palette is white and ivory against the warm sand-toned stone. Potential venue feature image.

A diptych of two cocktail hour scenes shot outdoors. On the left, three guests converse animatedly in front of a stone building entrance; a woman in a navy dress holds a champagne flute and laughs, flanked by two men in navy suits — one wearing sunglasses and a blush pink tie. On the right, a close-up portrait of a waiter in a white dress shirt and black bow tie holding a silver tray lined with approximately 15 filled champagne flutes. Both images are warm-toned and suggest a classic, formal wedding reception style with a champagne service element.

Cocktails unfolded on the chateau terrace beneath the shade of mature trees, where guests gathered with champagne and canapes as the Provencal afternoon softened. The atmosphere was unhurried and warm, with conversation flowing easily against the backdrop of the Grimaldi gardens. Wayne and Jeff's floral styling extended to the cocktail space with elegant greenery displays.

Reception

An outdoor wedding reception tablescape set in a courtyard, with a stone building featuring sage green shutters visible in the background. The round table is dressed in a white linen and set with white china, folded napkins, silver cutlery, and multiple wine glasses arranged around each place setting. The low centerpiece features blush pink roses and green hydrangeas arranged around a pillar candle in a glass hurricane vase, with small votive candles and a framed table number card completing the arrangement. The styling palette is soft white and blush pink with greenery accents, giving a classic romantic tone; the shot is a close-up detail image with shallow depth of field, with additional guest tables and large terracotta planters softly blurred in the background.

A split image showing two reception detail close-ups. The left panel features a floral centerpiece arrangement with blush pink and peach garden roses, white hydrangeas, and variegated green-and-white foliage. The right panel shows a silver wine/champagne bucket holding two bottles — one white wine and one rosé — placed on a white-linen reception table set with champagne flutes, a small mercury glass votive, printed menus or place cards, a bread roll, and silverware, with candles softly lit in the background. The overall decor palette is blush, peach, silver, and white, suggesting a classic and romantic styling approach.

Dinner took place in the chateau's candlelit reception room, where long tables dressed by Lavender and Rose created an atmosphere of intimate grandeur. Wayne and Jeff's centrepieces of lush white blooms and trailing greenery ran the length of each table, glowing in the candlelight. The evening built from elegant toasts to spirited dancing as the warm Provencal night wrapped around the celebration.

Design and Details

A wedding guest book alternative is displayed outdoors at what appears to be a French stone venue courtyard. A large canvas painting on a natural wood easel features a watercolor-style illustration of the wedding venue, including architectural arches, a wedding cake with blush pink floral accents, and a floral urn, all rendered in soft pale greens, whites, and blush tones. A small chalkboard sign beside the easel invites guests to write messages directly onto the painting, and a gold ornate urn holding white tissue or fabric is placed next to it. The setup reflects a classic, personalized decor touch, and the image is a medium-distance detail shot.

A split image showing two venue detail shots at what appears to be a French chateau property. The left frame features a classical stone cherub statue standing on a pedestal in the center of a formal reflecting pool, surrounded by manicured hedges and mature trees in warm evening light. The right frame is a close-up detail shot of a large white stone urn overflowing with white hydrangeas, garden roses, and cascading eucalyptus and trailing greenery, placed on a window ledge beside French doors with aged white shutters; two white pillar candles sit nearby, and warm candlelight is visible through the glass. The overall decor palette is white and green with a classic, formal French estate aesthetic. Potential venue feature image.

A two-panel detail shot taken outdoors in a garden setting. The left panel shows a small chalkboard welcome sign reading 'Welcome & Willkommen' hung with twine from a leafy shrub, indicating a bilingual (English and German) wedding. The right panel shows a close-up of blooming lavender plants in soft purple alongside a small tree trunk, with a white flower visible at the lower edge of the frame. Both shots have a soft, light-filled quality consistent with outdoor natural light photography.

Lavender and Rose designed a visual story rooted in the Provencal landscape, with soft whites, greens, and touches of dusty blue threading through every element. Wayne and Jeff created floral arrangements that balanced abundance with restraint, from the ceremony arch to the reception centrepieces. The design honoured the chateau's Italian-style architecture while feeling distinctly contemporary.

Flat Lays

Close-up detail shot of a bridal bouquet resting on a pale stone surface outdoors. The bouquet is composed of garden roses and peonies in blush pink, peach, and cream tones, accented with small green leaves, delicate wispy stems, and a single closed bud. Trailing greenery extends loosely from the arrangement, giving it an organic, unstructured shape. Purple flowering shrubs are softly blurred in the background, adding a contrasting color note to the composition.

A close-up detail shot of a wedding seating chart display featuring white escort cards with calligraphed guest names and table numbers, attached vertically to a blush pink ribbon. Five cards are visible, each handwritten in dark ink script. The display is positioned outdoors near a flowering tree branch with small white blossoms. The soft bokeh background shows warm golden and green tones. The overall decor palette is blush and white with a classic, romantic styling approach.

Close-up detail shot of a guest amenity station featuring a white wicker basket filled with folded white and natural wood hand fans, lined with white tissue paper. One fan is displayed open to show its full shape. A printed card in the basket reads 'Keep cool with a fan. Please help yourself' in soft grey lettering on a white background. The setup is placed on a stone floor, suggesting an outdoor or semi-covered ceremony or cocktail area. The overall styling is clean and minimal with an all-white and natural wood palette.

Detail shots revealed the considered layering behind Lavender and Rose's design. Calligraphed stationery in soft blue ink sat alongside hand-tied ribbon, olive sprigs, and delicate ring shots. The flat lay compositions echoed the celebration's Provencal palette, each arrangement telling a miniature story of the couple's refined yet relaxed taste.