A Destination Wedding at Rocabella on the French Riviera
Evelyn + Mike
Evelyn + Mike
Evelyn and Mike traveled from New York to the South of France for their destination wedding at Rocabella, bringing together friends and family from several countries for a weekend on the French Riviera.
It was my first wedding of the 2026 season in Provence, and I traveled down for four days, giving myself plenty of time to arrive, settle in, enjoy the sun and the beaches around Toulon, and be fully present for the different celebrations throughout the weekend.
A TRADITIONAL CHINESE TEA CEREMONY and welcome dinner
The celebrations began on Friday with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, one of the most emotional moments of the weekend. In Chinese culture, the tea ceremony is a way of honoring the couple's parents and symbolizing the union of two families. Evelyn and Mike each served tea to the other's parents, who in return shared their wishes and advice for married life, and offered gifts and red envelopes.
After the ceremony, we took some family photographs before taking some time to wander around Rocabella for a pre-wedding session. I particularly love photographing couples the day before their wedding. There is nowhere to rush to and no timeline pulling us away. It gives us a chance to get to know each other, gives the couple time to become comfortable in front of the camera, and allows us to create portraits that feel a little different from those we'll make on the wedding day. Evelyn wore a beautiful red dress she had chosen for the tea ceremony. Against the blues and greens of Rocabella and the Mediterranean landscape, it looked incredible.
The evening continued with a laid-back welcome dinner as the rest of their guests arrived. There was a generous buffet, French cheeses and food from the region, and most importantly, plenty of time for everyone to be together before the wedding day.
GETTING READY AT ROCABELLA
I returned around midday the following day for the beginning of the preparations. It was an incredibly hot weekend in Provence, so we spent the first part of the day indoors or in the shade whenever possible.
After photographing Rocabella and the details of the day, we joined Evelyn and Mike as they got ready separately. Mike got ready on his own, while Evelyn was joined by her mother and one of her bridesmaids. She chose to have a first look with her friends and closest family members. It was such a tender and emotional moment.
Evelyn and Mike then had their own first look in the main hall, at the bottom of Rocabella's staircase. The architecture gave us the perfect perspective for the moment they saw each other for the first time. Afterwards, we headed upstairs for a few portraits, making the most of the bedroom balcony, its incredible view and, of course, the staircase.
While guests began arriving and taking their seats for the ceremony, we photographed Evelyn and Mike with their bridesmaids and parents before giving them a little time to themselves inside the villa.
AN INTIMATE CEREMONY ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA
The ceremony began simply, with Evelyn and Mike each walking in with their parents.
One of their closest friends officiated the ceremony in both English and Chinese, reflecting the different cultures and families that had come together for the celebration. Evelyn and Mike exchanged their vows and wedding bands before walking back down the aisle to the applause of everyone they loved.
From there, everyone made their way to another part of the Rocabella estate: La Corniche.
Before joining their guests, Evelyn and Mike took a little time to themselves. It is something I always recommend: wedding days go by incredibly fast, so taking a few minutes to slow down, be present and simply spend time together is always worth it.
COCKTAIL HOUR AT LA CORNICHE, ROCABELLA
Overlooking the Mediterranean, La Corniche and the Temple create an incredible setting for an outdoor celebration. Guests spent cocktail hour enjoying drinks and petits fours, listening to the live band and stopping by the ice cream bar, while Evelyn and Mike finally had time to mingle with everyone who had traveled to celebrate with them.
Toward the end of cocktail hour, I slipped away to photograph the dinner setting in front of the Temple before everyone took their seats. It remains one of the most beautiful reception settings I have photographed. The Mediterranean in the background, the architecture of Rocabella and the work of the entire design team came together beautifully.
DINNER OVERLOOKING THE MEDITERRANEAN
Evelyn and Mike joined their guests with a few words to open dinner. The evening was warm and joyful, filled with conversations, laughter and speeches from their closest friends and family. As night fell, Evelyn disappeared for another transformation, changing everything from her hair to her dress before returning to dinner. Dessert became a moment of its own when the catering team arrived carrying a giant tart, turning its presentation into part of the celebration.
And then came the first dance. Rather than a traditional slow dance, Evelyn and Mike had learned a tango for the occasion. They opened the dance floor with a beautifully executed performance before everyone joined them and the party carried on late into the night. Evelyn changed into a third look for the after-party, once again surprising everyone.
I love capturing the atmosphere of a wedding day on film, with its nostalgic tones and beautiful imperfections.
Curious to discover more? Explore my film photography here →
Planning your wedding in Provence?
THE WEDDING TEAM
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VENUE
Domaine Rocabella
WEDDING PLANNER
Sonya Aumis
SUPER 8
Julia Allio and Jules Marais
DESIGNER
Jessica Da Veiga Designer
STATIONERY
Marion Chateau, Koklyqo
HAIR & MAKEUP
Joyxuan Li
WELCOME DINNER CATERER
La Cocotte de Sandrine
WEDDING DAY CATERER
DV Traiteur
DRONE
DV Traiteur
RENTALS
Joli Bazaar
LIVE BAND
Cordelia Palm
ICE CREAM
Ice To Meet You Saint-Rémy
DRESS
Wink Atelier
JEWELRY
Mikimoto
WEDDING BANDS
Cartier
TUXEDO
Proper Cloth & Todd Snyder
Looking for more wedding inspiration?
Discover more real celebrations and stories on the Journal, or get in touch if you're planning your own wedding in France.
Looking for more wedding inspiration?
Discover more real celebrations and stories on the Journal,
or get in touch if you're planning your own wedding in France.
