An Intimate Wedding in a the garden of a private villa
Imagine the perfect setting: a garden of a villa for your wedding on the French Riviera, somewhere between Cannes, Grasse, Antibes and Nice, or in the heart of a Provençal estate surrounded by Var vineyards and overlooking the sea. Just one or two dozen people gathered together for a few days. A swimming pool surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation, a few olive trees providing shade from the sun, and a large table beautifully set in the garden.
What if luxury meant simplicity?
Your loved ones are there not only to witness your wedding ceremony, but also to share a magical few days with you.
The evening before, you all sit down to dinner together. On the morning of the wedding, you enjoy breakfast by the pool. Then, in the afternoon, your guests settle into the shade of the umbrella pines. Your celebrant arrives and the wedding ceremony begins. And around you, only the people who truly matter.
What if this were the secret to a magical wedding on the French Riviera?

A Villa Instead of a Traditional Wedding Venue: A Different Way to Get Married
When you start planning your wedding on the French Riviera, you naturally think of estates, châteaux, hotels or restaurants that traditionally host weddings. But there are other equally elegant alternatives.
If what matters most to you is gathering with a small group of the people who mean the most to you, then renting a villa for your wedding on the French Riviera can be a particularly appealing option. The villa becomes much more than a wedding venue. It becomes your home for a few days. And perhaps that is where the real magic begins, especially when your family is travelling from far away and your friends are scattered all over the world.
Why choose a villa for an intimate wedding on the French Riviera?
1. Turn your wedding into an elopement
When your guests are travelling from abroad, or even from another continent, why ask them to cross seas and oceans just to attend a few hours of celebration? Renting a villa for several days completely changes the perspective.
Your loved ones arrive a few days before the wedding. They settle in. You have time to reconnect. You share a dinner, a walk, an aperitif at sunset, breakfast on the terrace. The children play together in the garden.
Your wedding becomes an experience to share together, a few magical days that will make your celebration truly unforgettable.

2. Accommodate your loved ones in the same place
Renting a villa for your wedding on the French Riviera is an especially attractive option when your guests are travelling from far away. Instead of booking several hotel rooms in different establishments, you can look for a villa with enough bedrooms to accommodate a small group of your closest loved ones.
A group of around ten people, for example, could share a beautiful home with several bedrooms, communal living spaces, a terrace and a garden. Everyone stays in the same place. No need to drive to the wedding venue. No need to organise transfers between the hotel, restaurant and ceremony.
And above all: you are together.
A more intimate wedding, focused on what really matters
Rather than renting a large estate for just one day, you can choose a venue that is better suited to a smaller number of guests and invest more in what truly matters to you.
For example:
- a fully personalised wedding ceremony;
- a photographer whose vision you truly love;
- an excellent caterer;
- beautiful loral arrangements that transform the garden;
- a few musicians to accompany the most meaningful moments;
- a beautiful table for your dinner;
- an activity to enjoy together with your loved ones;
- and, above all, a few extra days to enjoy a unique home and setting.
The luxury of an intimate wedding is having the time and creating meaningful moments with the people around you.
What type of villa should you look for for an intimate wedding?
Of course, not every villa available for rent is suitable for hosting a wedding. If you are considering this option, there are several criteria worth checking before booking.
Accommodation capacity
For around ten people, look for a villa with several bedrooms and enough communal space for everyone to enjoy time together while still having some privacy.
The garden
This is probably one of the most important elements. Imagine exchanging your vows beneath a pine tree or olive tree, overlooking the sea or surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation.
Shaded areas
On the French Riviera, sunshine is often guaranteed, and so is the heat! For an outdoor ceremony, a covered terrace, a pergola or simply the generous shade of old olive trees can make all the difference.
The swimming pool
It is obviously not essential. But for a multi-day summer stay, a swimming pool can transform the villa into a true holiday retreat. (You could even have your bouquet toss from the edge of the pool, beautifully illuminated in the evening. Trust me as a wedding celebrant: there will be plenty of girls ready to jump in!)
A large outdoor dining table
Because meals are an essential part of the experience. Lunch beneath the trees, a candlelit dinner, brunch the day after the wedding. These are the moments your guests will remember.
On villanovo.fr, in the celebrations and weddings category, you will find a selection of exceptional villas available to rent on the French Riviera.
I want to organise my wedding in a private villa. How do I do?
Be careful: the fact that a villa is listed on Airbnb, Booking or another holiday rental platform does not necessarily mean that you are allowed to hold a ceremony there or invite additional guests.
Before booking, always check:
- that the owner allows wedding ceremonies to take place on the property;
- the maximum number of people allowed on the property;
- any restrictions regarding music and noise;
- the permitted hours for using outdoor areas;
- whether you can bring in a caterer;
- the conditions regarding external wedding vendors;
- local neighbourhood rules;
- any restrictions relating to the swimming pool or garden;
- and, of course, the specific terms and conditions of the rental platform and contract.
Ideally, explain your plans to the owner before booking and obtain their clear approval.
What does a wedding ceremony in the garden of a private villa look like?
An intimate ceremony can be even more moving than a ceremony with a hundred guests. Emotions are often heightened because the couple and their loved ones share their feelings more openly. With a smaller group, a secular wedding ceremony gives even more space to your story and the people you love.
Imagine: a few beautifully arranged chairs beneath an olive tree or umbrella pine, a delicate floral arrangement, a violinist or a small acoustic duo. The children bring the rings. A brother, sister or best friend, even the most introvert among them, may feel confident enough to speak and share a precious memory.
And what could be more moving for your loved ones than hearing you exchange the vows you have secretly prepared? Because every person gathered around you holds an essential place in your story.
Telling your story with sensitivity and delicacy, making your loved ones smile and moving them to tears is at the heart of my work as a wedding celebrant. I am here to understand what connects you, gather memories from your loved ones and transform all of this into a ceremony that feels truly like you. (And if your guests join me at the Storytelling Station, I can even turn their memories into a book!)
French Riviera: looking for a villa for an intimate wedding
The French Riviera offers an incredible variety of landscapes and atmospheres.
You can rent a villa for a wedding on the French Riviera:
- near Cannes, to enjoy the atmosphere of the Côte d’Azur while retreating to a private garden;
- around Grasse, for a more Provençal atmosphere, surrounded by olive trees, rolling hills and fragrant landscapes;
- around Antibes or Juan-les-Pins, combining your stay with the Mediterranean;
- in the Nice hinterland, for greater peace and a more natural setting;
- between Nice and Monaco, if you want to remain close to the sea and the elegance of iconic French Riviera destinations;
- or in a Provençal estate around Saint-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime or Ramatuelle, surrounded by vineyards and breathtaking views.
And why not plan a little getaway with your loved ones during your stay? A walk through a hilltop village, a day at the beach, a visit to a Provençal market or dinner together overlooking the sea.
Your wedding then becomes an opportunity to introduce the French Riviera to the people you love.
How many people can you have at a wedding in a rented villa?
This type of wedding is particularly well suited to couples who want to gather a small circle of loved ones. Ten people can already create a beautiful celebration. Fifteen or twenty guests can still preserve that warm, intimate, family atmosphere.
A few bedrooms in a beautiful villa are all you need? Then perhaps you have found the perfect solution for your wedding: renting a villa in a dream location.
Words from an English-speaking couple following their wedding ceremony in a villa garden in Grasse
Dreaming of an intimate humanist wedding ceremony on the French Riviera?
If you are imagining an intimate wedding or even an elopement for two, in a villa, private garden or a place that feels truly like you, I would be delighted to hear from you.
As your wedding celebrant, my role is to write and officiate a completely personalised ceremony, whether in French, English, German or a combination of these languages.
Tell me your story, the moments you have shared, and let me turn you into the main characters of a true love story.
Yes, a simple garden can become the perfect setting for your wedding and the unforgettable backdrop to a brand-new chapter in your love story.
Emma — Writer & Wedding Celebrant, Côte d’Azur
PS: Looking for a personalised gift for your wedding guests? At the Poetry Bar, I create personalised poems for your guests, typed live on a vintage typewriter. A truly unique and original keepsake!







