A Riviera Celebration at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes

Alexandra and Thomas's Riviera wedding at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes with a church ceremony in Nice, coastal portraits, and Mediterranean elegance.

By Elena Moretti | Published 11 February 2015

A Riviera Celebration at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes

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Alexandra and Thomas celebrated at the iconic Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on the coast of Cap d'Antibes. From a Rolls-Royce arrival at the Anglican Church in Nice to a waterfront reception with Mediterranean views, their Riviera wedding paired family tradition with coastal grandeur.

Photography

Venue

Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Region

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

Couple

Alexandra & Thomas

Getting Ready

A bridal portrait of a single bride standing indoors in a bright, window-lit interior space with a chandelier partially visible in the upper left corner. The bride wears an off-the-shoulder white ball gown with a ruched bodice, three-quarter length sleeves, and a full tulle skirt. Her blonde hair is styled in an updo adorned with a delicate crystal and pearl headband tiara. She is looking downward with her hands clasped at her waist. The image is slightly overexposed, giving it a very bright, airy feel. Medium portrait shot from approximately the hips up.

A two-image composite from the bride's getting-ready moments. The left image is black-and-white, showing a close-up portrait of the bride laughing, wearing a delicate crystal and pearl bridal headband and an upswept hairstyle, with soft contrast and bright highlights. The right image is in color, showing the bride standing in front of a full-length mirror in a white room, putting on an earring; she is wearing an off-the-shoulder white gown with three-quarter-length sleeves, a corseted back with button detailing, and the same crystal headband, with her blonde hair in a chignon updo. Both shots are portrait-style and capture solo getting-ready preparation indoors.

Alexandra prepared in a bright, window-lit suite at the Eden Roc, where her gown hung in the morning light. Nearby, Thomas and his family played a morning game of tennis on the hotel's courts. Hair and makeup by Dessange in Antibes set the tone for a day that blended Riviera ease with polished sophistication.

Ceremony

The groom stands at the altar inside what appears to be a church or chapel, smiling as he watches the bride approach. He is wearing a dark suit jacket with a pale blue cravat and a white rose boutonniere. Behind him, a row of at least five groomsmen are visible, all dressed in matching dark suits with pale blue ties and white rose boutonnieres. The interior setting shows warm ambient lighting typical of a traditional church ceremony. Close-up portrait shot focused on the groom with the groomsmen receding in the background.

A close-up detail shot taken during a wedding ceremony, showing the bride and bridesmaids standing in a row holding white ceremony programs. The bride carries a full, rounded bouquet of hot pink and blush sweet peas, pink roses, and blue hydrangea accents. The bridesmaids are dressed in pale powder blue strapless gowns and hold smaller bouquets of purple and blue hydrangeas. The composition focuses on the mid-section of the group, cutting off faces, with a shallow depth of field that softly blurs the background figures.

Three coaches carried guests from the Eden Roc to the Anglican Church in Nice for the afternoon ceremony. Alexandra arrived in a white Rolls-Royce, her gown trailing softly as she stepped toward the church. The service was both traditional and personal, with readings and music filling the elegant interior.

Couple Portraits

A couple portrait taken outdoors on a wide gravel driveway flanked by symmetrically trimmed hedges and topiary, leading toward a formal garden and a villa building visible in the background. The bride wears an off-the-shoulder white ballgown with a full tulle skirt and has her hair pinned up, while the groom wears a classic black tuxedo with a white shirt. Both are holding hands and have turned to look back toward the camera, posed mid-walk along the central axis of the driveway. The composition is a wide shot emphasizing the formal landscaped grounds, with the couple positioned in the lower center of the frame. Potential venue feature image.

Bride and groom kissing in front of white chateau with mansard roof and double staircases

A close-up portrait shot of a bride and groom standing together, cropped at the torso with neither face visible. The bride wears an off-the-shoulder white dress with ruched sleeves and holds a rounded bouquet composed of pink and pale pink sweet peas, blue hydrangeas, and soft blush garden roses. The groom, wearing a dark navy suit, extends one hand toward the bride. The background is softly blurred with a dark door or wall visible behind them.

Alexandra and Thomas posed on the wide gravel driveway flanked by symmetrically trimmed hedges, the white facade of the Eden Roc visible behind them. The portraits shifted between formal and relaxed, capturing quiet embraces and laughter against the backdrop of the hotel's elegant grounds.

Reception

Black-and-white close-up portrait of a bride and groom embracing on the dance floor, surrounded by a crowd of guests during what appears to be the first dance or open dancing at a reception. The bride is smiling broadly and wearing a delicate headband tiara and drop earrings, with her arms around the groom who has his back to the camera. A young boy and several other guests are visible in the background, also smiling and reacting to the moment. The image has strong contrast with bright highlights on the couple and softer tones in the crowd behind them.

A bride and groom are seated in a vintage powder-blue convertible sports car, likely from the 1950s, driving through a marina setting surrounded by moored boats and yachts. The bride, wearing a strapless white dress and holding a pink and white bouquet, is laughing, while the groom sits beside her. Several guests line the route in the background, including a woman in a red dress, a woman in an orange dress, a man in a grey suit, and a woman in a teal dress, some holding drinks and glasses. The wide shot captures a lively send-off moment with confetti visible in the air around the car.

An outdoor wedding reception table styled in a courtyard or garden setting, photographed at dusk as a wide detail shot. The round table is dressed in a white damask linen with deep burgundy/plum napkins, gold charger plates, glassware, and a lush centerpiece of hot pink, deep red, blush, and cream roses. Six gold Chiavari chairs with cream cushions surround the table. Above the table, small glass jars holding individual blooms in matching shades of fuchsia, pink, and white are suspended at varying heights from a tree branch, interspersed with warm Edison-style globe lights and string lights. Lavender taper candles are placed on the table. The overall decor palette is jewel-toned with gold accents, leaning toward a romantic garden style.

A two-image collage capturing the wedding cake cutting moment at an indoor reception. The top image shows a close-up detail shot of a three-tiered square white fondant wedding cake decorated with cascading silver and pearl beaded embellishments and ivory satin ribbon bands between each tier, with a glass topper visible and guests in the background. The bottom image is a close-up of the couple's hands holding an ornate engraved silver cake cutting knife as it touches the edge of the beaded cake, with the bride visible in a sleeveless ivory gown with a cowl neckline. The overall decor palette is white, ivory, and silver with a modern classic styling.

The reception unfolded in a grand ballroom where black-and-white candid shots captured the couple dancing amid cheering guests. Dinner was served as the Mediterranean light faded, with champagne toasts and speeches setting the evening's warm, celebratory tone. Dancing continued into the early hours beneath crystal chandeliers.

Design and Details

This image does not appear to be a wedding photograph. It shows a coastal seascape with two boats — a black sailing yacht and a dark green motor yacht — anchored in calm blue-green water, with a shoreline village visible in the background featuring residential buildings and dense tree coverage. There are no people, wedding attire, decor, or any wedding-related elements visible in this image.

Close-up detail shot of a wedding seating chart display using a large white decorative birdcage as the centerpiece, placed on a white linen-covered table. The birdcage features three tiers holding white pillar candles, cream garden roses, trailing green ivy, and individual white escort cards or table assignment cards hung throughout. To the left of the birdcage sit two small glass vases with compact green button chrysanthemum arrangements, and to the right are two white pillar candles in glass holders. The overall decor palette is white and green with a classic, clean aesthetic, and the setting appears to be an indoor venue with water visible through a window or railing in the background.

The coastal seascape of Cap d'Antibes framed the day's natural design language, with boats anchored in the blue water and pine trees lining the shoreline. The couple's styling drew from the Riviera's inherent elegance, keeping florals minimal and letting the Mediterranean palette speak for itself.

Flat Lays

A close-up detail shot of a pair of bridal heels placed on a textured beige patterned surface. The shoes are ivory lace peep-toe pumps with a pink insole lining and a stiletto heel, featuring delicate floral lace overlay on the upper. A small blue ribbon detail is visible inside one shoe, likely a nod to the 'something blue' tradition. The composition is a flat lay-style detail shot with a shallow depth of field, keeping the foreground shoe in sharp focus.

Close-up detail shot of a formal wedding reception table setting featuring branded Eden Roc crockery — white plates with a mint green and gold rim — arranged on a white linen tablecloth. A folded white napkin sits on the main charger plate, alongside silver cutlery and clear crystal glassware. A white place card printed with a gondola illustration and the guest name 'Lita' is propped against the setting, suggesting a Venetian or nautical theme. The overall decor palette is mint green, gold, and white.

A close-up portrait of a bride and groom sharing a kiss outdoors with a wide expanse of open water visible in the soft-focus background. The groom wears a dark suit jacket with a light blue cravat-style tie and a white rose boutonniere. The bride wears an off-the-shoulder white dress and has her blonde hair styled in an updo accessorized with a crystal or rhinestone tiara headband; her engagement ring is visible as she rests her hand on the groom's chest. The image is slightly overexposed, creating a bright, airy feel with pale tones throughout.

A close-up portrait captured the bride and groom sharing a kiss with open water stretching behind them, the Mediterranean light softening every detail. The stationery suite, bridal accessories, and the couple's paired rings were laid out among the hotel's architectural details.

Venue

Wide shot of the entrance gates to the Hôtel du Cap and Eden Roc Restaurant, showing ornate black wrought-iron gates flanked by stone pillars with lantern-style lamp posts and white bollards. A paved driveway leads through the gates toward a large white multi-story building visible through the tree-lined grounds. No people or wedding activity are present in this image. Potential venue feature image.

Wide exterior shot of a large white French chateau or villa viewed through mature pine and deciduous trees, with manicured shrubs and a green lawn in the foreground. The building features classic French architecture with tall white-framed windows, grey roofing, and pale yellow facade accents. No people or wedding-specific elements are visible in this image. Potential venue feature image.

Wide-angle exterior shot of a large white multi-story hotel or venue building perched directly on rocky coastal cliffs above the sea. A group of people, likely wedding guests, are visible gathered on one of the venue's terraces or balconies along the seafront facade. The building features multiple levels of white-railed terraces overlooking the water. The shot is taken from water level or a low coastal vantage point, emphasizing the dramatic positioning of the venue on the rocks above the Mediterranean. Potential venue feature image.

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc's white facade emerged through mature pine and deciduous trees, its grandeur visible from every approach. The waterfront terrace set for cocktail hour offered panoramic views of the Mediterranean, while the surrounding gardens and pathways provided a series of distinct, cinematic settings.