An Indian-Inspired Vineyard Wedding at Chateau Val Joanis, Provence

Nina and Ian's vibrant multicultural wedding at Chateau Val Joanis near Avignon with Indian traditions, vineyard setting, and joyful warmth captured by Caroline Cuinet Wellings.

By Elena Moretti | Published 11 April 2016

An Indian-Inspired Vineyard Wedding at Chateau Val Joanis, Provence

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Nina and Ian gathered 105 guests at Chateau Val Joanis near Avignon for a celebration that wove Indian heritage with French artistry. From a saree-inspired Tadashi Shoji gown to the Hindu Saptapadi beneath Provencal skies, their day was captured by Caroline Cuinet Wellings with colour, warmth, and cultural depth.

Photography

Venue

Chateau Val Joanis

Region

Provence, France

Couple

Nina & Ian

Getting Ready

A couple portrait taken outdoors in a sun-drenched garden setting, with the groom leaning in to kiss the bride on the forehead or temple. The bride wears a floor-length ivory gown with a lace illusion neckline and flowing chiffon skirt, accessorized with a delicate beaded headpiece and her dark hair styled in loose waves. She holds a rounded bouquet of blush roses, white roses, and green succulents with palm leaf accents. The groom wears a dark navy suit with a bow tie and a white boutonniere. The composition is a full-length portrait with warm golden backlight creating a soft lens flare, suggesting late afternoon sun. The styling leans toward a romantic, slightly bohemian aesthetic with the embellished headpiece and succulent bouquet details.

In the garden of Chateau Val Joanis, the couple shared a tender moment in warm sunlight. Nina's Tadashi Shoji gown from BHLDN draped like a saree, subtly honouring her Indian heritage. Her Jimmy Choo Ivette sandals were chosen for the ceremony, with Valentino Rockstuds waiting for the evening.

Ceremony

A processional shot taken outdoors showing a group of approximately five people — including two young girls and two or three adult women — walking along a gravel path beneath a curved green pergola arch covered in foliage. The girl in the foreground wears a navy, cream, and red embroidered lehenga with a decorative maang tikka headpiece and carries a small ornate handbag, while the younger girl behind her wears a red and gold traditional Indian outfit. The adult women in the background wear navy floor-length dresses with embellished tops. The styling reflects an Indian-fusion wedding aesthetic with traditional South Asian dress elements. This is a medium wide shot with a shallow depth of field, keeping the foreground child sharp while the background figures are softly blurred.

An outdoor ceremony moment in which the groom, wearing a navy blue suit with a white boutonniere, shakes hands with an older man in a dark suit who has a bright orange boutonniere, likely the bride's father during a hand-off or greeting. The bride stands between them in a white lace dress, holding a bouquet of white roses and eucalyptus. The backdrop features a woven willow or twig arch decorated with green foliage. The shot is a medium close-up focused on the handshake, with all three figures partially cropped.

An outdoor cocktail hour or post-ceremony moment captured in a medium portrait shot, showing a waiter in a white shirt and black trousers pouring champagne from a dark bottle into flutes while balancing several glasses in one hand. The bride stands to the left wearing a draped, embellished ivory gown with a jeweled headband and holding a bouquet of white roses and greenery, smiling warmly. The groom stands beside her in a navy suit with a patterned bow tie and a white boutonniere. Several guests are visible in the background, and the setting appears to be an outdoor garden or lawn with trees, photographed in bright natural daylight.

The outdoor ceremony blended Western vows with the Hindu Saptapadi, or seven steps of marriage. A friend officiated beneath the sculpted gardens and Luberon hills as 105 guests looked on. The result was both personal and symbolic, reflecting Nina and Ian's shared values and the multicultural spirit of their celebration.

Bridal Portraits

A bridal portrait of a single bride standing outdoors on a gravel surface against a pale stone wall. She wears a fitted ivory sleeveless gown with an intricate lace bodice and a flowing chiffon skirt with a small train. Her dark curly hair is worn down and accessorized with a delicate pearl or crystal headpiece draped across the crown of her head. She is turned slightly to the side, glancing back toward the camera with a smile. The shot is a full-length portrait with natural warm lighting suggesting late afternoon sun.

A couple portrait taken outdoors in a vineyard setting during golden hour light. The bride wears a sleeveless ivory gown with a lace illusion neckline and flowing chiffon skirt, accessorized with a beaded headpiece, and carries a bouquet of white roses, succulents, and greenery. The groom wears a navy blazer with black trousers, a patterned bow tie, and a white rose boutonniere. The two are walking and laughing together, captured in a full-length portrait shot with vineyard rows visible in the soft-focus background.

A close-up portrait of a bride and groom looking at each other and smiling outdoors in warm golden light. The groom wears a navy suit with a patterned floral bow tie, while the bride wears a lace dress with fringe or feather detailing along the neckline. The bride holds a bouquet composed of cream and blush roses, white ranunculus, succulents, baby's breath, and eucalyptus foliage. The composition is tightly cropped, keeping both faces partially in frame while centering the bouquet in the lower portion of the image.

A couple portrait taken outdoors in what appears to be a vineyard setting, with lush green foliage framing the foreground. The bride wears a sleeveless lace-detailed white gown and an ornate pearl and crystal headpiece draped across her dark upswept hair, while holding a bouquet of pale blush and ivory roses. The groom is dressed in a navy tuxedo jacket with a white dress shirt and a patterned grey bow tie, and wears a white rose boutonniere with greenery. Both are laughing and facing each other in a candid, relaxed moment captured in a medium portrait crop with soft natural light.

Nina and Ian posed in a vineyard setting framed by lush green foliage, the warm golden-hour light catching the silk chiffon of her gown. The portraits balanced the glamour of the Cannes Film Festival connection with the relaxed warmth of the Provencal countryside around them.

Bridal Party

A groomsmen portrait taken outdoors on a gravel path at a vineyard, with rows of grapevines and cypress trees visible in the background. Four men are posed together — the groom is distinguished by a grey bow tie and white boutonniere, while the three groomsmen wear navy suits with dark ties and matching white boutonnieres. All four wear sunglasses and hold champagne flutes. The styling is modern and classic, with a consistent navy suit palette across the group. Medium full-length group shot.

Three young girls pose together for a portrait against a pale stone wall, dressed in traditional Indian-style wedding attire. The center girl wears a navy and cream embroidered halter-style lehenga with a maang tikka head piece, while the two younger girls on either side wear matching red and gold lehengas with jeweled neckline embellishments, gold-striped cream skirts, and small orange beaded handbags. All three girls wear red bindis on their foreheads and gold bracelets, coordinating with a South Asian wedding aesthetic. This is a close-up portrait shot with all three children facing the camera.

Close-up portrait of three bridesmaids standing in a row outdoors, with the foreground figure in sharp focus and the two behind progressively blurred. All three wear matching navy blue dresses with heavily embellished gold and crystal beading across the shoulders and neckline. The foreground bridesmaid holds a small dried lavender bouquet tied with twine and a champagne flute, while the others also hold champagne glasses. The styling has a formal, jewel-toned aesthetic with the gold embroidery creating a decorative contrast against the deep navy fabric.

Ian's groomsmen gathered on a gravel path at the vineyard, with rows of grapevines and cypress trees behind them. Their navy suits and relaxed postures reflected the couple's approach to the day, where elegance and ease sat comfortably side by side.

Reception

A newlywed couple walks through a confetti exit along a tree-lined gravel path, surrounded by approximately 20-30 guests on either side cheering and throwing colorful confetti. The groom wears a navy suit with a floral bow tie, while the bride wears a lace-detailed ivory gown and carries a white and cream bouquet, with a small hair accessory. The outdoor setting features a formal avenue of tall, trimmed trees in warm late-afternoon sunlight. The composition is a wide portrait shot taken straight down the path, capturing the couple mid-stride and laughing as confetti fills the air around them.

A bridal party portrait taken outdoors on a stone terrace in front of a French chateau, featuring the bride and four bridesmaids. The bride wears a white sleeveless two-piece outfit with a lace crop top and wide-leg trousers, accessorized with a delicate headpiece, and holds a bouquet of white and pale blue flowers including what appear to be white roses and dusty blue thistles or hydrangeas. The four bridesmaids wear matching navy midi dresses with gold and navy beaded, embellished cap sleeves, paired with silver strappy heels, and each holds a small bundle of dried lavender tied with twine. The styling has a classic Art Deco-inspired feel, with the beaded embellishments on the bridesmaids' dresses adding gold and silver detail to the navy palette. The image is a wide portrait shot taken in bright natural sunlight.

A close-up detail shot of a wedding send-off table set outdoors, with a garden visible in the background. A small white table holds a wicker basket filled with dark-packaged branded goods labeled 'Nina' alongside individually wrapped favors in white translucent tissue, likely containing dried herbs or lavender, tied with small bundles. A black chalkboard-style sign with gold script reads 'Send off,' indicating these items are intended for guests departing the event. The styling uses a mix of natural textures (wicker, dried botanicals) and dark packaging for a rustic-modern aesthetic.

The couple walked through a confetti exit along a tree-lined gravel path, surrounded by cheering guests. Dinner moved to a courtyard beneath olive trees and candlelight, where Caroline Cuinet Wellings captured the speeches and toasts that followed. The evening ended with dancing that kept the Provencal night alive.

Flat Lays

A close-up portrait of a bride and groom standing together, cropped from the neck to the hips. The bride wears an ivory beaded and lace gown with a flowing skirt, a pearl bracelet, and holds a bouquet of white garden roses, dusty blue-green succulents, and soft greenery with wispy grasses. The groom wears a navy blue suit jacket with dark trousers and a black wedding band, and has a small white floral boutonniere with greenery. His hands are placed around the bride's waist. Both wedding rings are visible. The setting appears to be outdoors near a wrought iron gate, with a classic or rustic styling approach.

A flat lay close-up of bridal jewelry arranged on a worn, rust-and-blue painted metal surface. The pieces include a multi-strand pearl bracelet with a central gold and crystal floral medallion, a pair of drop earrings featuring a crystal and pearl flower motif, and a small sprig of dried lavender placed in the upper right corner. The jewelry has a vintage-inspired aesthetic with gold-tone settings, cream pearls, and clear crystal embellishments. The composition is a detail shot with soft natural lighting.

A close-up portrait of a bride and groom during what appears to be a cocktail hour or post-ceremony reception, each holding a champagne flute. The bride wears a fitted sleeveless ivory gown with intricate beaded lace detailing and holds a loose, garden-style bouquet of white roses, succulents, and eucalyptus foliage. The groom wears a navy blue suit jacket with a white shirt and a boutonniere of white flowers with greenery accents, and a dark wedding band is visible on his hand. Guests are softly visible in the blurred background, suggesting an outdoor setting with bright natural light.

A collage of six wedding photographs from what appears to be a French chateau wedding with a classic, modern aesthetic. Top left: a close-up portrait of the bride and groom gazing at each other; the bride holds a bouquet of ivory roses, dusty blue-green succulents, white scabiosa, and eucalyptus, and wears a lace sleeveless gown, while the groom wears a navy suit with a patterned bow tie. Top right: a flat-lay detail shot of silver strappy Jimmy Choo heeled sandals placed on a stone surface beside lavender sprigs. Middle left: a detail shot of a custom wedding sign on a stone wall reading 'NINA & TIAN' on a dark chalkboard panel, with a decorative crest and small lavender sprig. Middle center: a wide outdoor reception shot showing long tables set with white linens and tall floral centerpieces in a shaded courtyard of a stone chateau, with a large white balloon visible. Middle right: a portrait of three children — two boys and a girl — dressed in matching red, navy, and ivory traditional folk-style outfits, holding orange handbags. Bottom left: a wide portrait of the bride walking with four bridesmaids, all wearing navy midi skirts with navy and gold sequined tops, carrying small bouquets of white and blue flowers, set on a terrace with open landscape behind. Bottom right: a portrait of the couple sharing a close moment outdoors, with the bride in her lace gown holding her bouquet and the groom in his navy suit.

A six-image collage captured the wedding's classic aesthetic, from Jimmy Choo sandals to the hand-lettered stationery suite. The invitation details, floral arrangements, and accessory pairings were styled against the chateau's warm stone surfaces, each piece echoing the couple's refined yet approachable palette.