Credits
The wedding team
- Lead photography
- @rickybailliephotography
- Planner
- @loveandprovence
- Château
- @chateaudefonscolombe
- Filmmaker
- @rostanfilms
- Floristry
- @bigdaydesign
- Hair & makeup
- @alexiabigaudmorin_hmua
- Shoes
- @loefflerrandall
- Groom’s outfit
- @roseandborn
- Singer
- @antonytylermusic
- Saxophonist
- @tomsaxmusic
- Cake
- @mjsbakeshop
A Château de Fonscolombe wedding in Provence
Words and photographs by Ricky Baillie
Avery and Gustav’s wedding at Château de Fonscolombe brought together everything I loved about their celebration in the South of France: beautiful fashion, thoughtful flowers, an extraordinary setting and a party with no shortage of energy. This was day three of their wedding weekend in Provence, culminating in a ceremony on the lawn, cocktails in the golden evening light and dinner beneath the open sky. It was a spectacular way to celebrate the new Mr and Mrs Larsson.
I have opened the gallery with Avery seated among the flowers and Gustav standing beside her, the château rising behind them. The composition brings the couple, the floral design and the setting into a single frame. For me, that is an essential part of destination wedding photography: photographs that show you both who was there and what made this particular place feel so special.
Editorial wedding portraits at the château
Avery wore Zuhair Murad with Loeffler Randall shoes, while Gustav looked incredibly handsome in Rose & Born. Alexia Bigaud Morin looked after hair and makeup. Their style felt entirely at home against the château’s pale façade and richly decorated interiors. Avery’s gown had a wonderful presence in the bridal portraits, with its full skirt and train extending across the floor beneath the carved details of the room.
Alongside those portraits, the gallery includes Gustav and his wedding party in black and white. I enjoy the contrast between a carefully composed group photograph and a quieter picture of the couple together. In the portrait beneath the trees, Avery’s veil catches the light as she faces Gustav. Those different moods give a wedding gallery its rhythm, bringing an editorial eye to the fashion while keeping the relationship at the heart of the photographs.
An outdoor wedding ceremony in Provence
The ceremony took place on the lawn, overlooked by Château de Fonscolombe. Big Day Design created the floral display, and it remains one of the details I loved most about this wedding. White flowers and greenery framed the couple against the building, giving the ceremony a beautifully considered setting without overwhelming the view of the château.
From above, the photograph reveals the arrangement of the lawn, the guests and the ceremony space. Closer in, the picture becomes about Avery and Gustav: their expressions, the movement of the dress and the joyful kiss in front of their family and friends. I want both perspectives in a story. The wider photographs establish the scale of a French château wedding; the closer ones remind you why everyone has gathered there.
Golden-hour cocktails in the South of France
Following the ceremony, cocktail hour unfolded on the north lawn, soaked in that golden-hour glow. The change in light gave the next part of the celebration a softer feeling, with time to enjoy the surroundings before dinner. Love and Provence was the planner behind the wedding, bringing together the team credited below.
For couples planning a destination wedding in Provence, this part of the day is worth discussing with your photographer and planner. Leaving a little flexibility around the drinks reception can create space for a few portraits when the light is at its best. It need not mean a long absence from your guests. A short walk together can add a different atmosphere to the photographs while allowing the celebration to continue naturally.
Alfresco dining, candlelight and dancing
Dinner was served alfresco, with candlelight, white flowers and greenery carrying the design into the evening. The table photographs show the smaller details alongside the wider setting: glassware catching the light, flowers gathered around the place settings and rows of chairs beneath the trees. Each of those details is presented separately in the gallery, giving the design room to be seen.
Then came dancing, dancing and more dancing. Avery and Gustav brought the same confidence to the evening that they had to their portraits, and the photographs become more animated as the celebration unfolds. The wedding team included singer Antony Tyler, DJ Amaxxy and Tom Sax, with the cake by MJ’s Bake Shop and filmmaking by Rostan Films. The after-party continued inside the château, rounding off a wedding weekend that was as spirited as it was elegant.
South of France wedding photography with an editorial eye
As a destination wedding photographer working in the South of France, I am drawn to celebrations where the setting, personal style and atmosphere all have a part in the story. Avery and Gustav’s wedding is a lovely example: the composed château portraits sit alongside an outdoor ceremony, intimate details and a wonderfully energetic evening. Together, those photographs preserve more than a collection of beautiful individual moments.
If you are looking for a Provence wedding photographer for Château de Fonscolombe or another South of France wedding venue, I would love to hear about your plans. Tell me where you are celebrating, your date and the kind of weekend you have in mind. We can discuss an approach that makes room for refined portraits, the details you have chosen and the people you want beside you. Avery and Gustav, thank you for trusting me to photograph such a spectacular celebration.
Enquire about your South of France wedding photography.
View Avery and Gustav’s original Instagram wedding carousel.
The wedding team
Lead photographer — Ricky Baillie · @rickybailliephotography
Planner — Love and Provence · @loveandprovence
Château — Château de Fonscolombe · @chateaudefonscolombe
Filmmaker — @rostanfilms
Floristry — @bigdaydesign
Hair & makeup — @alexiabigaudmorin_hmua
Gown — Zuhair Murad · @zuhairmuradofficial
Shoes — Loeffler Randall · @loefflerrandall
Groom’s outfit — Rose & Born · @roseandborn
Singer — @antonytylermusic
DJ — @djamaxxy
Saxophonist — @tomsaxmusic
Cake — @mjsbakeshop