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Lemon and Sea Blue at Chateau Martinay, Provence

A wedding workshop at Chateau Martinay near Carpentras, with lemon accents, sea blue glassware, and cypress-framed ceremony. 36 photos by Mathieu Pasques.

By Anne-Sophie Boubals | Published 31 July 2024 | Last reviewed
Lemon and Sea Blue at Chateau Martinay, Provence

A wedding design workshop at Chateau Martinay, a private Provencal estate near Carpentras devoted an afternoon to studying light, proportion, and the choreography of a celebration. Mathieu Pasques led the lens, with floral design by La Blonde et le Barbu Design and planning by Claire Yossman Weddings. The 36-image gallery reads as both instruction and inspiration from this exclusive wedding venue in the heart of Provence.

Ceremony

Bride and groom dip kiss under circular floral arch on cypress-lined gravel aisle with cane-back chairs
Outdoor ceremony aisle lined with cypress trees and two circular floral arches in white and peach roses with cane-back chairs
Bride and groom at circular rose arch on cypress-lined allee with aisle floral arrangements
Bride and groom kiss under circular white and peach rose arch on cypress-lined allee with floral aisle borders
Circular rose arch in blush and peach on cypress-lined gravel allee with chiavari chairs on each side
An outdoor ceremony setup on a gravel allée lined with tall cypress trees, photographed before the ceremony with no guests or couple present. A large circular floral arch serves as the focal point at the end of the aisle, densely covered in white roses, peach garden roses, white delphinium, and green foliage. The aisle is flanked on both sides by rows of natural wood cane-back Louis XVI-style chairs, with lush low floral arrangements at the base of each row featuring the same white and peach rose palette with trailing greenery. The color palette is soft white, cream, and peach throughout all floral elements. The composition is a wide symmetrical shot taken from the guest entry point looking toward the arch, creating a strong central perspective. Classic French style with a romantic garden aesthetic. Potential venue feature image.

The cypress corridor became the ceremony setting, chairs angled slightly inward to follow the path's natural curve. Claire Yossman Weddings mapped vow timing to the softest light window, mid-afternoon when shadows were long and directional. La Blonde et le Barbu Design marked the aisle with tall white delphiniums and eucalyptus, their height echoing the cypress verticals above.


Couple Portraits

Bride in lace gown with blush bouquet and groom in tuxedo touching foreheads in cypress-lined allee
A close-up portrait of a bride and groom outdoors, with tall cypress trees softly blurred in the background. The bride wears a deep V-neck lace gown with floral embroidery and sheer long sleeves, paired with a gold and pearl floral headpiece and delicate drop earrings; she looks directly at the camera while the groom rests his head against hers with eyes downcast. The groom is dressed in a black tuxedo with a black bow tie and white pocket square. The bride holds a lush bouquet of white and blush peach roses with greenery, which fills the lower foreground of the frame. The overall styling is classic and polished with romantic details.
A couple portrait taken outdoors on a gravel path lined with tall cypress trees, shot as a mid-length portrait with the couple walking toward the camera while holding hands. The bride wears a long-sleeve, deep V-neck ivory lace gown with intricate embroidery across the bodice and sheer sleeves, paired with a flowing tulle skirt featuring a front slit, white strappy heels, and a gold floral crown headpiece. The groom wears a black tuxedo with satin lapels, a white dress shirt, black bow tie, white pocket square, and black loafers. The styling is modern-classic with a formal, editorial feel. The cypress tree alley creates a strong natural corridor framing the couple in the background.

Mathieu Pasques positioned the couple at the point where sunlight broke through a gap in the cypress canopy, creating a single warm pool of light on the gravel. The silk charmeuse gown, ivory with the faintest champagne warmth, caught every shift of movement in that low, raking afternoon angle. Dark green cypress provided a vertical backdrop that made the ivory almost luminous.


Reception

Long reception table with pastel floral arrangements and crystal chandelier on gold arc stand before French chateau
Plated starter course with seaweed rolls and edible flowers on white charger with blush rose centrepiece behind
An outdoor reception table is set directly in front of a large French château, positioned on a gravel terrace at the base of the building's stone façade. The long rectangular table is dressed in a pale blue-grey floral-patterned tablecloth and lined with approximately ten natural oak cane-back Louis XVI-style chairs with cream upholstered seats. The tablescape features low arrangements of blush, peach, and ivory florals — likely ranunculus, roses, and sweet peas — with tall thin taper candles in glass holders running the length of the table. A crystal chandelier with lit candles is suspended on a tall gold stand above the center of the table, framed by an arched stone doorway behind it. The wide shot captures the full two-story château facade with white-shuttered arched and rectangular windows, a carved stone balustrade balcony, and classical French architectural detailing. Potential venue feature image.
An outdoor reception setup photographed in a wide shot in the gravel courtyard of a classic French château with cream limestone façade, arched central entrance, white shuttered windows, and a tiled mansard roof. Several round dining tables are dressed in white and pale yellow floral-print tablecloths and surrounded by natural rattan and white chairs, arranged in a loose semicircle facing the building. A central display table is draped in a bright yellow cloth and decorated with sunflowers, tropical green foliage, potted plants, and small decorative items including what appear to be wooden barrels and citrus accents, creating a cheerful yellow and green color palette. The décor style is relaxed and garden-inspired, blending Provençal and botanical influences, with topiary box hedges and lavender beds visible in the formal garden between the tables and the château entrance. Potential venue feature image.
A close-up detail shot of a long wedding reception dining table set for approximately 16 guests, captured from a low angle looking down the length of the table. The tablecloth features a soft blue-grey floral print with sage green botanical motifs. Place settings consist of stacked white plates with scalloped and lace-edged chargers, cut-crystal glassware, and silver flatware with ivory handles. A continuous floral runner runs the full length of the table, composed of blush garden roses, cream ranunculus, white sweet peas, and pale yellow blooms arranged at low height with occasional slim sage green taper candles in glass holders interspersed throughout. Scalloped white menu cards are placed on top of each place setting. The chairs visible on both sides have dusty pink upholstered cushioned backs, creating a soft, romantic pastel palette overall. The styling is romantic and classic with a pastel color palette of blush, cream, and sage green.

Ivory linen cloths, sea blue taper candles in low ceramic holders, and Rue Vendome place cards stood at each setting. Low centrepieces of white ranunculus, olive branches, and dried lemon wheel clustered at the base. Candlelight multiplied across the glassware and stone walls until the room felt lit entirely from within. Music drifted under the arches during the earlier courtyard cocktails, ice stirring in glasses held in easy conversation.


Design and Details

Cocktail menu card with wax seal beside crystal lamp, lisianthus, and fresh lemons on white linen
Cocktail menu with gold wax seal listing signature drinks crystal lamp cream lisianthus and fresh lemons on white surface
Stacked canape bites with caviar and borage flowers on silver mirror tray at reception
Garden-style table with botanical tablecloth, sage plates, fresh fruit, and wicker chairs
Lace-edged plates on sage floral linen with peach rose centrepiece, mother-of-pearl cutlery, and tassel menu
A close-up detail shot of a wedding reception tablescape styled with a blue and yellow floral-print tablecloth featuring botanical motifs on a white background. Place settings consist of white plates layered on woven rattan chargers, topped with blue-and-white patterned salad plates, paired with textured diamond-cut navy blue goblets and tumblers. The centerpiece runs along the table's length with white peonies, white ranunculus, and green foliage arranged in small vases, with halved lemons and a kiwi placed directly on the tablecloth as decorative elements. The overall color palette is navy blue, yellow, and white with a French country or Provençal styling influence.

Sea blue glassware caught afternoon light and threw small reflections across the limestone courtyard. Linen napkins in a washed, uneven weave softened the precision of place settings, while lemon motifs kept the mood bright. La Blonde et le Barbu Design used white ranunculus, eucalyptus, and trailing jasmine for arrangements that felt gathered from the estate grounds rather than constructed.


Flat Lays

Flat lay of save-the-date card with rococo frame, olive oil bottle, white roses and peonies on cream linen
Flat lay of save-the-date card with sage green baroque frame, white roses, olive oil bottle, and gold wax seal on cream linen
Bridal flat lay with Bella Belle lace heels, Chanel perfume, pearl headband, rings in a peach rose
Stationery flat lay with sage envelope gold wax seal calligraphy cards olive oil and sunflower
A flat lay detail shot of a wedding stationery suite arranged on a light linen-textured surface. The centerpiece is a white deckle-edge save-the-date card printed with a sage green ornate botanical frame, featuring calligraphy-style script reading 'April Fisher and James Kotel, May the 14th, Two Thousand and Twenty-Four.' Surrounding the card are a sage green envelope sealed with a gold monogram wax seal, two sage green silk ribbon place card tags hand-lettered with the names 'April' and 'James,' a blush pink embossed decorative tile or card holder, and a wooden-handled wax seal stamp with a brass head. Additional styling props include a bottle of Estourlon olive oil or fragrance with a golden-amber liquid, scattered cream garden roses, white lisianthus blooms, and a single yellow sunflower, with trailing green foliage throughout. The overall color palette is sage green, cream, and gold with a classic, French-inspired aesthetic.

Rue Vendome's stationery anchored the arrangement: thick ivory card stock hand-lettered in deep forest ink, paired against washed linen. La Blonde et le Barbu Design introduced citrus accents, a half-slice of dried lemon, a sprig of olive, a single stem of white ammi majus laid across the suite. Warm champagne ribbon connected everything to the palette the day would carry forward.


Venue

18th-century limestone chateau with ornamental pond, lavender hedges, and box topiary in formal garden
Aerial view of a honey-stone French chateau with long reception table set on the gravel forecourt
An aerial drone shot looking down the central axis of a classic French château property, with the stone manor house centered in the background featuring a terracotta tile roof, arched pediment, and ornate façade. The formal forecourt includes a circular fountain surrounded by a symmetrical parterre garden with low boxwood hedging and geometric plantings. Flanking the gravel courtyard are large mature trees forming a natural canopy on both sides, with outbuildings visible at the lower left and right edges. In the foreground, two rectangular reception dining tables are set with white linens, blush/nude chairs, and blue-toned floral centerpieces alongside potted topiaries, indicating outdoor reception setup. The overall styling is classic French formal garden with a refined, understated decor palette of white, blush, and blue. Potential venue feature image.

Chateau Martinay opens with a tree-lined drive, gravel underfoot, then a courtyard of aged limestone that holds the afternoon heat. Formal geometry softens into old cypress groves and lawns rolling toward the Provencal hills. Every path, arch, and lawn edge suggests where the eye should rest and where guests should move.


More from the Day

Bride in white lace dress with sheer sleeves holding blush rose bouquet, wearing gold floral crown and pearl earrings
A full-length bridal portrait taken indoors against a white panelled double door, likely inside a château or classical French venue with marble-tiled flooring visible at the base. The bride wears an ivory A-line gown with sheer, lace-embroidered long sleeves, a deep V-neckline, and a floor-length tulle train. She accessorises with a gold floral crown and drop earrings, with her hair styled in a soft updo. She holds a loose, generously sized bouquet of white and blush garden roses, peonies, and soft greenery tied with an ivory ribbon. The overall styling aesthetic is classic and formal, consistent with a French heritage venue setting.
Bride and groom at cocktail bar with pink drinks, sunflower arrangement, and lemon decor at French chateau
Close-up of bridal updo with gold floral crown pearl earring and lace open-back dress from behind
A groom portrait taken indoors in what appears to be a billiard room within a château or manor house. The groom is seated on the edge of a wooden-framed pool table with a green felt surface, wearing a charcoal tuxedo jacket with satin lapels, a white dress shirt, black bow tie, and a white pocket square. The room features gold damask-patterned wall covering, dark carved wood paneling, a wrought-iron candelabra chandelier with taper candles, and a patterned tile floor. The composition is a three-quarter portrait with natural light falling across the groom's face as he gazes to one side.
Aesthetic
Editorial Workshop
Guest Count
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Budget Range
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Bride's Dress
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The couple chose Château Martinay, a chateau in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

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