The Journal · French Riviera
Claudia & Greg, an intimate wedding at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc
When people think of the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, they often picture grand celebrations that take over the whole estate. Claudia and Greg chose something else: an intimate wedding, with only the people who matter most, over two days on the Cap d'Antibes.
The beauty of an intimate wedding
Small weddings are rarely the ones you see in magazines, and yet they are often the most moving. With fewer guests, every conversation lasts a little longer, every look is noticed, and the couple truly spends time with each person in the room.
The Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc lends itself beautifully to this kind of celebration. Its story began in 1870 as the Villa Soleil, imagined by Hippolyte de Villemessant, the founder of Le Figaro, as a retreat for writers. In 1914 the Eden-Roc pavilion was added on the rocks, right above the sea, and the place has kept that sense of privacy ever since.
A welcome evening by the sea
The day before the wedding, Claudia and Greg welcomed their guests at the hotel for a first evening together. Golden light on the pontoon, a long table facing the Mediterranean, a toast and plenty of laughter: the perfect way to begin a wedding weekend.
Getting ready
On the wedding day, the light in the rooms was soft and generous. A strapless gown with a long train, white calla lilies, a few precious details laid out before the ceremony: everything was calm, simple and elegant.
When the rain changed the plan
Then, just as the ceremony was about to begin, the sky opened. A true downpour, the kind no one can plan for. The ceremony moved indoors, into the restaurant next to the reception room, still within the hotel.
And it turned out beautifully. In that smaller space, surrounded by greenery and by the people they love, the ceremony felt even closer and more intimate. Sometimes the plan B becomes the part everyone remembers.
Indonesia meets Scotland
Claudia is Indonesian and Greg is Scottish, and their wedding brought both cultures together. Greg and his groomsmen wore their kilts, and the ceremony blended traditions from both families.
It is one of the things Maddy loves most about destination weddings: two stories, two families, two cultures meeting on the French Riviera, and a day that belongs to no one else.
An evening in red
For the party, Claudia changed into a striking red gown. The dance floor filled quickly, the kilts kept spinning, and the evening ended exactly as an intimate wedding should: with everyone together, until late into the night.
Questions couples ask
Can you have an intimate wedding at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc?
Yes. Beyond large celebrations that take over the estate, the hotel also hosts smaller, intimate weddings, with a welcome evening by the sea and a ceremony and dinner for a close circle of guests.
What happens if it rains on a wedding day at Eden-Roc?
For Claudia and Greg, a sudden downpour moved the ceremony indoors, into the restaurant next to the reception room, still within the hotel. Having an indoor option ready makes all the difference.
Who is a good wedding photographer for the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc?
Maddy Christina is a luxury, fashion and editorial wedding photographer who photographs weddings on the French Riviera, including at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, as well as in Monaco, Saint-Tropez, Lake Como and the Middle East.