Crimson Ranunculus and Limestone Arches at Couvent Notre-Dame des Pres
Brooke and Daniel's summer wedding at Couvent Notre-Dame des Pres, Provence, with scarlet ranunculus and a Weddings Secrets gown. 49 photos by Gaetana Valastro.
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Brooke and Daniel chose Couvent Notre-Dame des Pres, a 12th-century convent wedding venue in the hills above Marseille for a summer celebration built around deep crimson, chalk white, and noir. Planner Pauline of Mamma Mia Events shaped every detail to answer the bold colour story. Explore more historic wedding venues and chateaux across Provence for your own celebration.
Getting Ready






Maeva B. built a look that held its own against the bold palette with a deep berry lip and skin full of warmth. Haingo worked with equally confident lines on the hair. The bridal suite caught the soft, directional light of a summer morning in Provence, and Gaetana Valastro captured a quiet moment at the window, earrings not yet on, before the day began.
Ceremony



Beneath tall willow trees, the ceremony unfolded with theatrical stillness in the June light. Two floral pillars of scarlet ranunculus and dark anthuriums framed the couple against open Provencal sky. The groom's black tuxedo was a deliberate counterpoint, the one dark vertical in a composition built from crimson, ivory, and gold afternoon sun.
Bridal Portraits



The gown by Weddings Secrets is architectural in the best sense: a sleek silhouette with precise seaming that photographed like sculpture against rough stone. No lace, no volume, just clean ivory crepe that let the crimson florals speak. In one frame, the bride stands alone beneath a stone arch, a single stem of red ranunculus held loosely at her side.
Couple Portraits






Moving through the convent's grounds, the styling held its logic: black tuxedo, ivory crepe gown, and the recurring crimson of a bloom carried loosely. The stone corridors and sun-bright courtyards gave Gaetana Valastro a full range of light to work with. There is one portrait, the pair close together in a stone doorway, foreheads almost touching, that needs no explanation.
Reception






Mamma Mia Events delivered a reception tablescape that rewarded slow looking. White linens, tall glassware, and restrained geometry created a foundation from which the crimson florals and grape clusters rose with real impact. The summer evening light through the convent windows turned everything slightly golden, and the sound of laughter and the acoustics of old stone filled the space.
Design and Details






La Serra par Le Petit Jardin's floral work is the emotional core of this wedding's visual identity. Red ranunculus, dramatic anthuriums, and clusters of deep-hued grapes built the ceremony pillars into something almost architectural. Joli Bazaar's white linens and polished glassware created negative space that made every crimson accent vibrate. Claire's cake featured hand-applied details in the same red.
Flat Lays




The flat-lay details read as a precise colour edit: an ivory and deep crimson invitation suite, clusters of ruby-red ranunculus buds beside a single anthurium bloom, and a custom cake detail from Claire at Celebrons Joliment. Zephyrade jewellery, delicate pieces with a subtle glint, lay beside the bridal accessories. Gaetana Valastro captured the waxy sheen of the anthurium and the parchment grain of Tezenas Studio stationery.
Venue






Standing inside the courtyard of Couvent Notre-Dame des Pres, the tension between old and new is immediate. Rough-hewn stone archways filter the June afternoon light into warm amber bands, while the clean interiors offer a gallery-like calm. La Serra par Le Petit Jardin threaded glossy burgundy grapes and trailing greenery through the architecture, softening hard edges without dulling the drama.
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The Venue
The couple chose Couvent Notre-Dame des Prés, a domaine in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
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