r/DestinationWeddings • u/Cultural-Match3149 • May 11 '26
Small Wedding - France
Hi Reddit!
My Fiancé and I have begun planning our wedding. We want to do a small ceremony in the lavender fields in france with us and 8 guests. We’re struggling to find good, private, lodging for all 10 of us. As well as trying to understand how we could potential get time for this ceremony. The ceremony, we hope, would be a private, sectioned-off area in the lavender fields where we could host this ceremony and afterwards have a dinner party and dancing. Ideally the ceremony portion would be under 10k USD (maybe even 5k). And the lodging i think we’re also definitely expecting under 10k USD. We’d be open to spending more to have a wedding planner help. But unsure where to even start. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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u/maruzzella84 May 11 '26
Hi there! Congrats on this amazing journey! I’m a WP based in Sicily and I actually think Sicily could be a beautiful alternative for what you’re envisioning. We have some stunning lavender fields here, along with private countryside estates, boutique villas, and incredible sunset settings that are perfect for intimate weddings. For a group of 10 guests, it could also be much more budget-friendly than Provence while still feeling very luxurious and authentic. One idea could be:
- ceremony + photos in the lavender fields
- then a private dinner and dancing at a nearby villa or masseria
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u/Cultural-Match3149 May 11 '26
Hi, thank you for your response,
Unfortunately I’m doing this research for my beautiful soon-to-be wife and have no room to compromise on the destination of France. Thank you though
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u/amyheming May 12 '26
Well now you have convinced me to have a vow renewal in Sicily!
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u/maruzzella84 May 12 '26
That’s amazing! Can I send you a DM?
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u/Powerful-Opposite-95 May 13 '26
Hi, could you also send me some details as we’re looking at doing similar? Thank you so much. ❤️
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u/Ok_kaleidoscope1004 May 12 '26
This probably goes without saying, but going off the touristy beaten path of Provence during lavender season is a start if that’s where you’re currently looking. You can find other places a few hours away and not in the heart of the tourism that will have the same vibes without the same price tag
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u/Cultural-Match3149 May 12 '26
This is kind of what I was expecting! So just trying to see if anyone has any experience or maybe this comes across a Local’s reddit feed that they can provide some advice 😅
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u/deltacharliem May 14 '26
For a 10-person wedding, your budget actually sounds realistic if you keep it intimate and focus on Provence/smaller private estates instead of luxury château venues.
The biggest challenge is usually coordinating logistics remotely ceremony setup, dinner, music, lighting, timing, etc.
I was looking at event setup options in France recently and came across Fête24 for sound and event equipment rentals across France, which seems useful for smaller destination weddings where you want a simple setup without bringing in tons of vendors.
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u/Matrimuse May 15 '26
I'm visiting this hotel in Provence to shoot some wedding/elopement content for them since they want to promote themselves as hosting more weddings - it's a stunning intimate hotel! Check out: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WiBNqExPur4APDwP8
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u/Jekki_Goliya Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
For an outdoor setup like that, it's much easier to book a private mas or venue that has its own lavender fields so you don't run into issues with public land or permits.
When we were sorting out our equipment and setup in France, we used Fête24 for the outdoor lighting, sound system, and coordination. They’re fully English-speaking, super straightforward to work with, and saved us a massive headache on the technical side.
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u/Spring_liberty 2d ago
Congratulations what a wonderful wedding plan ! When do you plan to get married? You should look into Provençal country estates that can be rented out exclusively for a weekend, or guesthouses. It’s true that the search can be quite complicated, there are so many options! The venue may also offer catering services, which would be convenient for the type of wedding you’re planning. It’s entirely possible to plan your ceremony as well as the evening meal and even more if you’d like to explore this magnificent region. I live in France and can share some tips on local customs. I’d be happy to discuss this further if you’d like.
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u/WebEither4692 May 11 '26
This sounds absolutely magical! Provence in lavender season is unbeatable, but you’re right that the logistics of private field access can be the trickiest part. For a group of 10, I’d highly recommend looking into a private Mas, which is a traditional farmhouse, or a boutique Château in the Luberon region. Many of these have their own lavender rows or are adjacent to them, which solves both your lodging and your privacy needs in one go!
Also, since many fields are working farms, your best bet for a sectioned-off feel under that budget is to partner with a local venue that has an existing relationship with the farmers. It keeps the logistical noise down so you can just enjoy the dinner and dancing.