Wedding in Provence style: creative ideas from stylists and decorators for decorating the celebration, hall, invitations, procession, selection of dresses and bouquets for the bride with photos

A lavender wedding is always a timeless classic. Wedding trends change every season, but lavender color and style remain always relevant. Previously, it went well with rustic, but now it fits perfectly into the style of modern trends.

Photo: Sergey Kanzirenko

Therefore, when you choose lavender for your wedding, you can be sure that you have made a great choice. This soft lilac color will become a wonderful background for your feelings.

To make your lavender-style wedding the most unforgettable and stylish, we will help you take into account all the details: from invitations to the wedding cake .

Peculiarities

A Provençal wedding, also known as French country, is a mixture of naturalness and sophistication , expressed primarily in traditional cuisine and attention to detail.
Main features of the celebration:

the predominance of light, pastel, as if sun-scorched shades - sand, lilac, soft pink and blue, terracotta, olive;
absence of pretentious, pompous elements;
a lot of space - high ceilings, wide dance floor;
good lighting , preferably natural, but if this is not possible, you should think about how to position the lighting fixtures so that they imitate the bright sunlight - the southern zenith;
as many natural materials as possible - wicker baskets, cotton and linen, wildflowers;
French cuisine – cheese, wines, pastries.

Advice! The main thing is to create an atmosphere of village fun, carefree, and family at the celebration.

What is the meaning of the color lilac?

It is a light shade of purple. Purple or lilac color allows you to plunge into calmness, tranquility, and also immerses you in mystery. You can get this unique shade by mixing purple and light red tones. For newlyweds, it can only mean a direction to a bright future, a path to new beginnings. Most often, the color of lilac is chosen by those people who are balanced, but at the same time their energy is simply seething, while they become very attached to each other and have a very hard time in the event of separation.

Place

Usually the wedding is moved outdoors and celebrated during the warm period - late spring, summer, early autumn.

The ceremony looks fabulous against the backdrop of lavender fields, but if you can’t go abroad, then your native open spaces are perfect : a forest, the shore of a lake or river, a meadow with the enchanting aromas of flowering herbs or with mown haystacks.

The banquet can be organized in a country house with a terrace or in tents made of light untreated flax. It is permissible to take the table and chairs out into the fresh air or place them under a canopy if there is concern about the weather changing.

If you prefer an indoor celebration, then a restaurant with interiors in Provencal style would be an excellent option. Wooden decoration details, unplastered walls, wicker furniture, a lot of light will turn your celebration into a real French fairy tale, and bad weather will be completely harmless.

The main principles of decorating the hall

The design of a banquet hall in blue shades is based on several principles:

Choose white dishes with different blue accents. The floral pattern combines beautifully.
It is better to choose completely blue napkins for the table.
It is advisable to serve dishes with blue berries and fruits: blueberries, blackberries, plums, grapes. Silver vases work beautifully as they highlight the elegant design.
To decorate the hall you need to use flowers and composite compositions. Asters, hydrangeas, and irises are suitable. Depending on the decor style, the flowers you choose can be either natural or artificial. Flowers are the best decoration for an event. They are used in different ways: on walls, to hang from the ceiling, to be placed on a table. Glass vases are a good option. If desired, white glass vases with blue dye added to the water.
The festive hall is traditionally decorated with fabric. Tables and walls are also decorated. An important task is to choose the right fabric and drapery. Silk, chiffon, brocade, satin, voile, taffeta, organza and crepe satin are suitable for a banquet hall. Fabric is used to decorate the floor, walls, sometimes even the ceiling and, of course, the entrance area. With the right approach, any dining room can be used to create a chic hall for a special event.
Invitations or other blue cards are placed on the tables.
Covers for chairs, balloons for decoration, serpentine, ribbons, everything is selected in the right shades.

Bride's image

The image of the bride should embody innocence, naturalness and carefreeness.

Dress and shoes

It is better to choose a dress with a simple cut, from flowing, natural fabrics, the simplest possible silhouette, without unnecessary decoration.

Too shiny or tight fabric, corsets, crinolines, excessively fluffy skirts are inappropriate and too pompous. But a romantic lace dress is a great choice!

Shoes made of natural material with medium or low heels , light and comfortable. If you want to completely give up heels, then not shoes, but elegant sandals look wonderful.

Hair and makeup

If you choose a hairstyle, then loose, easily flowing hair, perhaps slightly curled into fluffy curls, is best suited for a wedding in Provence style. Smooth glamorous outlines, an abundance of varnish, complex weaving, excessive decoration, and intricate updos look foreign. But a careless low bun or braids look fresh and fit into the style. A wreath of real flowers or a sprig of lavender tucked behind the ear will wonderfully complement the look, making it especially romantic.

If your style and hair color allow such experiments, we recommend doing light highlights - the effect of burnt hair will be a wonderful finishing touch to a natural Provencal look.

Idea! The final touch of the look can be made with vintage antique jewelry. It is important that they look calm, restrained, and unpretentious. It is more correct to give preference to elegant things that are not conspicuous, but only emphasize the bride’s impeccable sense of style.

As for makeup, the best option is nude , barely noticeable, without bright contrasting touches, they will be completely inappropriate. If you want to add color, it is better if it is soft pastel colors - lilac, pink, blue, beige.

Bouquet

Modest, small bouquets of wildflowers, dried flowers, and ears of wheat look original. A wonderful addition to the composition will be lavender - the lilac symbol of Provence.

The ideal complement to a simple dress will be a bouquet made entirely of charming lavender. For a boutonniere, they also use a sprig of this flower, tied with a ribbon.

A wedding cake

A wedding cake is one of the most important elements of a wedding celebration. After all, this is not just a dessert to complete the meal. This is also a decoration for the hall, as well as a certain symbol that denotes the sweet future life of the newlyweds. Confectioners can create stunning multi-tiered works of culinary art that will cause everyone's delight and admiration. Those who are prejudiced against food dyes can order a lilac cake with natural decoration. To decorate these delicious delicacies, candied violet flowers and rose petals are used. A white wedding cake with purple flowers is equally beautiful to look at and taste.

Groom's outfit

The groom is asked to abandon excessive solemnity. A tuxedo or a formal black suit looks heavy and out of place in a carefree village setting. Light colors, large checks, stripes or polka dots look much more harmonious at a Provencal wedding - the style allows you to play with different prints.

You can go further and choose a lavender or blue-gray suit color. Instead of a jacket, it is appropriate to get by with a vest, and a tie can easily be replaced with a colored scarf.

Advice! Provencal style allows you to combine pants with a jacket of different colors, and also does not require classic low shoes at all. It is better to replace them with comfortable and simple moccasins.

Suspenders, a straw hat, natural fabrics, pastel tones, as if bleached by the sun, will wonderfully complement the image. A boutonniere that echoes the bride’s bouquet - made from a sprig of lavender or ears of wheat - will beautifully complement the image.

Use of decorations

Silver jewelry or chains, bracelets and earrings made of white gold will help complete the look. You can also choose products interspersed with amethysts, pearls and other stones.

Silver earrings with amethyst and cubic zirconia, SL (price on the link)

The groom is recommended to choose the shade of the suit that will harmoniously match the lilac color: beige, gray-blue , linen, dark blue. A lavender shirt decorated with purple cufflinks will be an excellent addition to the outfit. It is better to choose a purple or lilac tie or bow tie. The shade of the boutonniere must match the tone of the tie.

Lilac tie for the groom

The image of a young man should be combined with the image of the betrothed and not seem provocative.

Dress code for guests

Bridesmaids can dress in shades of lilac. Firstly, this is the brightest of the wedding colors of the Provencal style, and secondly, this tone will wonderfully set off the snow-white (although, given the specifics, it is more likely to be milky or ivory) of the bride’s dress.

However, any other pastel colors, as well as large checkered patterns, are also acceptable. Fabrics should be selected that are natural, non-shiny, and discreet. Small bouquets of lavender and dried flowers look good - a smaller copy of the bride’s bouquet or a simplified analogue.

The groom's friends can repeat his suit in a simpler design or emphasize the style with a “lavender” element - a scarf, boutonniere, bow tie. Simplicity and lack of pomp and solemnity are also welcomed.

The rest of the guests should be warned in advance about the theme of the wedding , communicating their wishes regarding outfits in person or in invitations.
These can be general recommendations - rustic style, pastel colors, or more specific elements, for example, any lilac accessory, a sprig of lavender pinned to a suit, a straw hat. Identical accessories will add originality and warmth to the celebration. If you are afraid that your guests will not fulfill your wishes, stock up on accessories yourself and hand them out at the banquet when welcoming guests.

What it is

“Provence” is a foreign word, or more precisely French, translated as province. Provence is a historical place in France where people practice agriculture and grow various herbs and plants, mainly lavender. This style suggests a natural environment and praise of nature. Involves natural fabrics - linen, cotton, chintz, chiffon, lace and burlap.

A wedding day in lavender style is simplicity and grace, aristocracy and countryside in one bottle. This theme will appeal to people who love naturalness and naturalness, and who want to make their holiday elegant and unusual. “Provence” is very close to the “Rustic” style, because it is also a village, only French, and slightly echoes the views of “Boho-chic”, its common love for nature and simplicity, naturalness and naturalness.

The color scheme for such a wedding includes pastel colors, such as:

And also light shades of purple, for example:

Celebration decoration ideas

At a Provençal wedding, artificially aged furniture looks most harmonious - worn wooden surfaces, wickerwork, heavy forged elements. If you find antique furniture (or a restaurant with such furnishings), it will be a real success!

Use natural materials - burlap, linen, cotton, including untreated cotton. Don’t forget about small flower patterns and cute details - a bouquet in a teapot or a small birdcage , which will add romance and tenderness to the atmosphere. If the wedding is indoors, make sure there is plenty of space and light. The walls must be either unplastered or wooden. If you couldn’t find such a room, you should drape the walls. Light colors - milky, cream, beige, soft yellow, terracotta will visually expand the space , so stick to this color scheme when choosing draperies.

In floral design, lavender will be an absolute favorite. You can use this wonderful plant solo or in compositions, adding other wild flowers and herbs, dried flowers, and ears of corn. Avoid bright shades of scarlet and blue, they stand out from the overall picture.

Cortege

If you want to immerse yourself in the spirit of the Provencal village, then the best option is a horse-drawn carriage. Yes, this is a capricious transport, but what an unusual one!

If you prefer cars, then a great idea is to decorate the motorcade with wreaths of wildflowers . Lilac ribbons or balloons, a vintage car, rented - all this will add sophistication to the ceremony.

Invitations

It is better to print invitations or even handwrite them in a vintage style.

Advice! In the invitation, be sure to indicate the thematic focus of the celebration and your wishes for guests in terms of clothing.

Envelopes with French stamps and stamps, drawings of bird cages, sprigs of lavender, lilac color - such a delicate combination will immediately put guests in the right mood. The lovely gifts that guests receive at the end of a Provençal wedding are:

French cheese;
jars of honey or jam;
sachet with lavender;
handmade lavender soap;
fruit baskets;
spices.

Banqueting hall

It is best to use small vintage parts, because they are the ones that create the perfect look. Each interior element should have its own story, or they can simply look mysterious and intriguing.

Chests of drawers, cabinets, antique suitcases, typewriters standing against the walls will transport those present to a distant, calm village, where life flows smoothly and happily. Lace details are perfect for vintage style , especially if the lace is not snow-white, but grayish, milky, yellowish - with such a color it is easy to create the illusion that the lace was inherited from a great-grandmother.

The inscriptions look good, including those in French. They can be forged or wicker - from dry grass, wildflowers, ears of corn. An interesting idea would be an arch made from ordinary connected doors, wooden, painted white. They can stand either in the middle of a banquet hall or in a field, creating an interesting angle for a photo shoot. An arch woven from fresh flowers looks no worse, but creating such a sweet and romantic solution will require more effort and time.

Don’t forget about herbs - the wonderful smell of mint, thyme, sage will not leave anyone indifferent, filling their hearts with the atmosphere of Provence.

Combinations

Purple is a capricious color. You need to be able to combine it correctly so as not to end up with a tastelessly decorated room. The purple decoration of a wedding hall looks most advantageous in combination with a number of colors and shades.

Purple. Bold decision. The color symbolizes luxury and strength. Together with muted shades of lilac, you can get an elegant design even in a modest room.
Green. Creates an atmosphere of tenderness, summer warmth and energy. Refreshes the atmosphere at any wedding held in the winter season.
Pink. A good choice for spring and dreamy natures.
Silver. Emphasizes the elegance and severity of the hall.
Beige. Muffles the aggressive notes of purple. Makes the design soft and delicate.
White. Classic combination. Any shade of purple against such a background will sparkle with bright colors and exquisite shine.
Black. Ideal for extraordinary individuals.
Blue. The fusion of two self-sufficient and noble colors creates an atmosphere of harmony and mutual understanding.
Orange. The combination symbolizes the explosion of energy and hot temperament of the newlyweds. Conducive to positive celebration.

Table decor

The main highlight of the Provencal style is the replacement of traditional vases with a variety of tableware - tea cups, porcelain teapots, transparent bottles, small jars of jam or honey.

Unusual dishes are used to place small compositions. And how original are the wildflowers, diluting the wooden comfort with muted, delicate colors and peeking out from the most unexpected vessels.

Choose a tablecloth from natural materials - linen, cotton, chintz. It can be either plain or in a small pattern - polka dots, flowers, checkered patterns. Lace details are also possible.

Cake

The ideal solution would be a standard-shaped cake consisting of several circles covered with icing. You can decorate it with lilac glaze or mastic, sprigs of lavender, the main thing is that the decor is discreet. But the filling can amaze with its variety - honey, berries, and everything the newlyweds desire.

Idea! Brave couples can use an alternative to the traditional wedding dessert - a cake consisting of heads of cheese of different varieties lying on top of each other. Guests will definitely not forget this dessert!

Idea 2. 50 shades... or deciding on a color

Bright colors

Pants and a jacket of a rich color for the groom are very unusual, unique, and most importantly, fashionable in the coming year. The color can be absolutely any, from red to purple.

It is important that a man in such clothes looks harmonious and feels comfortable.

But the bride’s dress should be, on the contrary, a calm neutral shade - white or beige, otherwise it will look too colorful and inappropriate for a wedding celebration.

One color scheme

Wedding dresses in one color are another feature of 2022. This way the newlyweds look especially harmonious and stylish, creating a single whole with their images, and what more do lovers need?!

But remember! The colors should be dim. It is ideal to choose white, gray, beige tones.

In shades of gray

This color has recently been very popular both in wedding decorations and in the images of young people. The gray color on the groom looks very noble and sophisticated. But in this case, the bride can choose a white, delicate, flowing dress with lace inserts.

Accessories

In any themed wedding, maximum attention is paid to the details.

The glasses should be decorated using the decoupage technique, painted with traditional Provençal landscapes or sprigs of lavender. Lace or satin ribbons of a soft lilac color decorating the crystal legs look very cute. As a pillow for the rings, use a sachet - a bag filled with lavender or other herbs. Choose the fabric as simple as possible - raw linen, cotton, chintz with a small pattern of flowers or polka dots, ancient noble lace.

A book of wishes simply must be vintage - craft paper, a beautiful applique of a dried herbarium of herbs lying on the cover, lace or satin ribbons. An interesting idea is to completely cover the cover with lace or burlap, and use regular twine or ribbon instead of a bookmark.

Scenario

A Provençal wedding is a celebration where family and close friends gather to eat delicious food and have fun. In general, the scenario is not much different from the traditional European ceremony - meeting the newlyweds, congratulations, sprinkling with petals or grains, competitions, toasts, a banquet. In the finale, the bride throws a bouquet to her unmarried bridesmaids, after which the guests solemnly escort the newlyweds to a happy family life. If desired, the holiday is complemented with national flavor. French music will wonderfully highlight the atmosphere. The enchanting sounds of waltzes, giving way to fast fiery melodies, will make your guests either admire the romance or dance until they drop. Live music will add a nice touch to the atmosphere.

You might like some cute French traditions. For example, at the beginning of the banquet, the key to the groom’s house is ceremoniously handed over to the bride. She attaches the key to her belt and wears it proudly until the end of the holiday, artistically playing up the role of the hostess and hinting who will run the affairs in the new family.

Positive and negative sides

Before planning your holiday together, we suggest that you first familiarize yourself with all its advantages and disadvantages.

pros

Saving money. The main costs at any wedding are, of course, organizing a banquet, which includes food, alcoholic drinks, hall rental and decoration, host, musical accompaniment, and the like. Accordingly, the more people at the celebration, the more money you need to spend. If you are organizing a holiday for only two, then almost all of the above automatically becomes unnecessary.

You can get married absolutely on any day, because you don’t have to wait for a day off so that every relative can attend the wedding. And since you are planning a wedding without guests, then your registration will probably be informal, which will take place from Monday to Thursday.

The opportunity to choose any beautiful place and make your dreams come true. It’s a good idea to get married abroad on a snow-white sandy beach, in some ancient castle, take a ride in a convertible or fly in a hot air balloon, in general, whatever your heart desires!

The wedding day scenario will also depend only on the desires and fantasies of the two of you, and it will definitely not be like anyone else’s celebration.

You can arrange a touching outdoor ceremony. To do this, you need to find someone to play the role of a registrar, as well as a beautiful place and site.

It will be just the two of you. Many people are annoyed by large, noisy groups, while some are embarrassed to be the center of attention, while others don’t want to invite all their relatives, but they have to do this at the insistence of their parents. In your case, such points are excluded, because there are no people and no problems. You will enjoy only each other's company, which is very romantic and sweet.

You don't have to worry about whether everyone enjoyed your day

For many newlyweds, especially girls, the opinions of others about their holiday are important. After all, a huge part is done for the invited people, so that they are satisfied: transport, delicious food and drinks, entertainment and a music program, a photo shoot are organized for them

And it’s quite unpleasant to find out after so much effort that everything was “not very good.” In this case, this definitely does not threaten you.

Minuses

This decision may not be understood by parents and friends. Surely on the list of relatives there will be people of the old school who have long dreamed of going to your wedding and they will simply be offended that they were not invited. The comrades with whom you were at the celebration may even think that you “squeezed” the banquet and do not want to treat them.
You may not get enough of each other. After all, if it’s just the two of you, then no one will shout “Bitter”, appreciate the wedding images, cry during registration, give bouquets of flowers, and generally congratulate you. Think about it, are you ready for this?
You will be left without gifts.

So, after the above, we can conclude that the “for two” option is definitely suitable for you if:

You have a limited budget;
want to get married as quickly as possible;
don’t like unnecessary hassles;
Your family and friends will understand this choice;
dream of a celebration abroad;
are ready to be left without gifts and congratulations;
don't like to be the center of attention;
You have non-standard views and ideas about the wedding.

Way out

To prevent the family from being offended, many do the following:

they gather their closest relatives and friends at one table and talk about their intention to get married, thereby celebrating the so-called engagement;
they meet after marriage, treat their relatives to cake and show them wedding photos;
invite family and friends to the registry office, accept congratulations, drink champagne, and then spend the rest of the day together; In this case, the registration of the marriage should be solemn so that guests have the opportunity to attend the ceremony.
organizing two weddings. One just for you, for example, the day of painting, and the second for relatives, where you can arrange a staged registration and a banquet. This is not a budget option, but it will allow you privacy and not offend your loved ones.

Photo

If you want something unusual, sophisticated and super photogenic, a wedding in Provence style will be just the perfect option for you. This photo will help you verify:

Lavender wedding invitations

Invitations for guests to a wedding reception in lavender colors should also correspond to the chosen theme. To accentuate your holiday style, use lavender-scented lilac paper. Let it be decorated with many small flowers. It is recommended to fill out all invitations manually.

Another option for designing invitations is to buy or order snow-white cards and put them in lilac envelopes. Glue ribbon bows on them and thereby make the invitations more festive.

Lavender wedding invitations

An excellent solution would be invitations that resemble scrolls. Tie them with ribbons, inserting dry lavender under them.

The invitations look elegant, printed on lilac-colored paper and with a guipure flower glued to the corner.