The short answer: The best months to get married in Provence are May, June and September to mid October. Days are warm, evenings are long and it is not yet too hot. Most couples from abroad marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in Provence, because a civil wedding in France requires one of you to have lived in the town for at least a month. Plan around a year ahead for venue and photographer. Venues are usually either a château (larger, more formal) or a bastide (a Provençal country house, more intimate).
When to get married in Provence
May, June and September to mid October are the months we recommend. If we could pick one window, it would be the second half of September or the first two weeks of October. The heat has gone, the light turns warm from about four o'clock, and the vineyards are being harvested.
If your guests are travelling anyway, consider a weekday. Venues and suppliers often have more availability, and nobody flying in from the US or Australia minds whether it is a Thursday or a Saturday.
| Month | Average high | Rainy days | Sunset (15th) | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 19 °C | 6 to 7 | 20:19 | Green and fresh, cool evenings |
| May | 23 °C | 5 | 20:54 | Recommended. Warm days, long light |
| June | 28 °C | 3 | 21:20 | Recommended. Light until after nine |
| July | 31 °C | 2 | 21:17 | Hot, peak season, lavender in bloom |
| August | 31 °C | 3 | 20:43 | Hottest month, villages full |
| September | 26 °C | 5 | 19:50 | Recommended. Harvest, softer light |
| October | 21 °C | 6 | 18:56 | Recommended until mid month |
How far ahead to book
Most couples book us around a year before the wedding. Popular venues in May, June and September go first, often earlier than that. Book the venue, then the photographer, then everything else.
Château or bastide
Most Provence venues are either a château or a bastide. The two estates below are one of each, and the table at the end of this section compares the two types.
Bastide de Toursainte, Marseille
An 18th century bastide in the hills of Marseille, about 20 minutes from the airport. You drive through the gate onto an avenue of old plane trees, with the house at the end of it. Ceremonies usually take place at the fountain, which has a staircase on either side and makes a backdrop we would happily photograph all day. Read more in our Bastide de Toursainte wedding guide.
Château de Pradines, Luberon
A listed château on a family estate below the village of Grambois, about an hour from Marseille Provence airport. What stayed with us is the family who runs it, and how many different places there are to photograph within a few steps: frescoed rooms, a colonnade, a fountain, the garden and an olive grove. Read more in our Château de Pradines wedding guide.
| Château | Bastide | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A larger estate, often a listed monument | The Provençal country house |
| Feel | Grand rooms, formal park | Lighter, built around a courtyard and garden |
| Ceremony | In the park or on a terrace | In the garden, often at a fountain |
| Getting ready | Painted salons, long hallways | Smaller rooms, close to everything |
| Best for | Larger guest lists, a weekend on one estate | Smaller weddings, a relaxed day without transfers |
Where in Provence
We have not seen every corner of Provence. The area we keep coming back to is the hilly country between Marseille and Aix en Provence: beautiful old houses, open landscape and small French villages where you can stay on for a holiday after the wedding. The Luberon, an hour further north, is quieter and greener, with fewer venues and more space.
Getting married in France as a couple from abroad
A legal civil wedding in France takes place at the town hall. One of you, or one of your parents, must live in that town, either as your permanent home or for at least a month without interruption before the banns are published (service-public.gouv.fr). For couples living abroad, that is rarely realistic.
So most couples marry legally at home, before or after, and the day in Provence is a symbolic ceremony. Your guests will not notice the difference, and you can hold the ceremony anywhere you like. Rules change, so please confirm them with the French consulate in your country.
How a wedding weekend in Provence usually flows
- The day before: depending on how much of the weekend you would like photographed, we join you for the welcome dinner.
- The wedding day: getting ready, ceremony, portraits in the last light, dinner and the party.
- The day after: a pool day or a long brunch, if you want it photographed as well.
The most common mistake we see is a day that is too full. Your family and friends have travelled a long way to be there. Leave room in the timeline to spend time with them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month for a wedding in Provence?
May, June and September to mid October. July and August are possible but hot, with average highs around 31 °C in Aix, and they are the busiest months for venues and travel.
Can couples from abroad get legally married in Provence?
Usually not on the day. A civil wedding in France requires one partner to have lived in the town for at least a month, so most couples marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in Provence. Check the current rules with the French consulate.
How far in advance should we book a Provence wedding?
Around a year ahead for venue and photographer. Popular venues in May, June and September often book out earlier.
Which airport is closest for a Provence wedding?
Marseille Provence is the main airport for venues around Aix, Marseille and the Luberon. Nice works for venues further east. From Paris, the TGV to Aix en Provence takes about three hours.
What is the difference between a château and a bastide?
A château is a larger estate, often a listed monument with formal rooms and a park. A bastide is a Provençal country house, more intimate and built around a courtyard and garden.
Do you photograph weddings in Provence?
Yes. We photograph and film weddings across Provence and the south of France. Depending on how much of the weekend you would like photographed, we join you for the welcome dinner and stay until the pool day.
Thinking about Provence?
Tell us a little about your plans, even if you have not chosen a venue yet.
If you are still comparing countries, have a look at how to elope in Spain.
Written by Vanessa & Bernhard · Updated October 2026