La Rascasse

Welcome Evening

Château Colbert Cannet

Wedding Day

Villa l'Escalinade

The Day After

Summer

The wedding weekend

Our Wedding

Flying

La Môle-Saint-Tropez - 20 km away (but Private Jets only, baby!)Toulon - 55 km away (with limited flights from the UK)Nice - 90km away (France's largest airport outside of Paris)Marseille - 145 km away. We consider Nice to be best option (availability / price). Direct flights to Nice Airport from the UK can be found from all London airports, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Leeds and Belfast and from the US can be found from New York, Washington D.C., Atlanta and Philadelphia. Google Flights suggests that the cheapest time to buy flights to Nice, from the UK, is generally around 6 to 7 months before departure. The current average cost of basic fare return flight from:- London: £110 - 190;- Liverpool: £155 - 200;- Bristol: £160 - 220. Please note British Airways and Ryanair lands and departs from Terminal 1, whereas EasyJet lands and departs from Terminal 2.

Getting from Nice Airport to Sainte-Maxime

BY BUSESYou can get the Bus 90 from Nice Airport (only from Terminal 2) and alight at the Frejus/Saint-Raphael - Gare Routiere bus stop (~20 euros).[If you're landing at Terminal 1, hop on tram line "2" (every 8 minutes) or tram line "B" (every 10 minutes) to get to Terminal 2 to catch the bus. This tram journey is free, but allow yourself a good amount of time to find the tram.] Bus 876 (~3 euros) then links Frejus/Saint-Raphael - Gare Routiere bus stop to Sainte-Maxime. We'd recommend alighting at Sainte-Maxime Théâtre de la Mer&nbsp;bus stop, which is located in the centre of Sainte-maxime. This route does take a while + the buses are relatively infrequent, so do check the schedules! BY TRAIN (+ BUS/TAXI)Please note that the nearest train stations (Saint-Raphael-Valescure or Les Arcs-Draguignan) are a 30 minute drive away from Sainte-Maxime. Getting to Nice Saint-Augustin Train StationYou can walk (in under 7 minutes, less than 500 meters) from Nice Airport Terminal 1 to Nice Saint-Augustin Train Station. If you're landing at Terminal 2, or don't wish to walk, hop on tram line "2" (every 8 minutes) or tram line "B" (every 10 minutes) located directly outside Terminal 1 or 2. Alight at Grand Arénas tram stop (which is only one stop on the tram from Terminal 1, and two stops from Terminal 2). This Grand Arénas tram stop is located immediately opposite Nice Saint-Augustin Train Station. You'll see a lot of confused passengers at the tram, as people are often unsure whether you have to buy a ticket for the tram or not. Please be assured that you are able to travel for free between the Terminals and Grand Arénas tram stop. Getting from Nice Saint-Augustin Train Station to Sainte-Maxime From June 2025, it has just been announced that the relevant train (~ 20 euros, terminating in Marseille) will depart from Nice Saint-Augustin every hour between 5.40am and 9.25pm. We would then recommend you alight at Saint-Raphael-Valescure or Les Arcs-Draguignan. Both are around a 30 minute drive from Sainte-Maxime. Bus 872 (~3 euros) links Les Arcs-Draguignan to Sainte-Maxime.Bus 876 (~3 euros) links Saint-Raphael Bus Station (a 3 minute walk from the train station) to Sainte-Maxime. If you're staying in the centre of Sainte Maxime, we'd recommend alighting at Sainte-Maxime Théâtre de la Mer&nbsp;bus stop. Please make sure you check your connections, as again the buses can be reasonably infrequent (i.e. only a couple per day). Naturally, the option is available of getting a taxi from either station - we would recommend pre-booking this, as there is no guarantee of any taxis being available at a taxi rank. Taxis are reasonably expensive in the area, and you can expect to pay 60-90 euros for the journey from the train stations to Sainte Maxime. BY CAR HIREPlease note there is lots of availability to hire cars at Nice airport - we would recommend ensuring however that your accommodation has or offers parking for free/a reasonable price, as parking can be otherwise really expensive in town ! There are some free parking lots on the outskirts of town which we can advise of, if you're planning on leaving the car for a couple of days. See <a href="https://www.sainte-maxime.com/en/stay/practical-info/parking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Where to park in Sainte-Maxime? - Sainte-Maxime Tourist Office – Official website</a> for more details. Car hire should cost around 70-90 euros/day. BY PRE-BOOKED TAXISecuring a pre-booked 7-seater/8-seater/9-seater taxi and splitting the costs would - in our opinion - be the quickest option. ﻿Once split, it would likely end up costing around 28-39 euros per person (around ~240 euros per car) for the 1h15 drive. BY TAXI RANKThere are taxi ranks at the airport, however please note these are likely to be more expensive that pre-booking. BY UBER?As we have mentioned on another page, Ubers are not yet widely available to Sainte-Maxime so please do not rely on being able to get one. Even if they were available, they'd likely charge a similar rate to pre-booked taxis.We'll monitor it and let you know if that changes !

Getting from anywhere else to Sainte-Maxime?

Feel free to reach out - sufficiently in advance - to the bride or groom, who can advise on the best routes if you're not landing at Nice Airport.

Intl. Travel

The Wedding Day

Since the 13th century, Le Cannet has held an important place in Provence’s wine-growing history. The Rascas family, one of the region’s oldest, settled there in the mid-16th century. In 1746, Louis XV elevated Pierre Louis de Rascas’ lands to a marquisate, making him Marquis of Le Cannet. In 1754, Françoise Elisabeth Maxime de Rascas du Cannet married Monsieur de Colbert, uniting the marquisate with the renowned Colbert family. During the Revolution, the family fled to Italy, and the original château in Vieux Cannet was partially destroyed. Returning from exile in 1814, Louis Etienne de Colbert began restoring the estate. By 1835, he acquired the current château—then Château du Bouillidou—which remains in the family today. That same year, on the eve of his exile to Elba, Napoleon Bonaparte secretly spent a night at the château, visiting his sister Pauline. Disguised in enemy uniform and a cap, he avoided recognition by the hostile crowd. After World War II, Marquis Edouard de Colbert, a former artillery lieutenant, restored the 800-hectare wine estate. He served as Mayor of Le Cannet from 1959 until his death in 1971. Today, Clémence Demouy de Kergrist, Edouard’s granddaughter, and her husband Grégoire continue to preserve the family’s heritage.

The names of the estate's wine blends reflect its history: - "Demoiselle de Rascas" in memory of Françoise, the last descendant in the Le Cannet line, who married Monsieur de Colbert. - "Marquis du Cannet" in tribute to all family members who inherited and preserved the estate's legacy for today's descendants.

Villa L'Escalinade

The Town

Sainte Maxime

In AD 900, monks from the Lérins Islands near Cannes sought a place to settle and found the area now known as Sainte-Maxime—much like Sian, Catherine's mum, would centuries later! A small fishing village gradually grew around the monastery, named Sainte-Maxime after Maxime, the Count of Grasse’s daughter, who renounced her wealth to found a convent nearby. The village thrived, and in 1520, the monks built the Tour Carrée to protect against Saracen raids—a landmark still standing today. As the town expanded, so did its trade. Locals produced olive oil and wine, and harvested timber and cork from the Massif des Maures, trading with Marseille and Italy via small sailing vessels. By the early 20th century, Sainte-Maxime’s charm, unspoiled nature, and Mediterranean beauty began attracting artists, writers, and poets. During World War II, one of its beaches became a key landing point for Operation Dragoon on 15 August 1944, helping liberate Southern France. While nearby Saint-Tropez rose to fame in the 1950s with stars like Brigitte Bardot and Mick Jagger, Sainte-Maxime remained a beloved gem—what Sian calls "the best place in the world." Catherine was born in 1995 at the Oasis Clinique in Saint-Tropez and moved from nearby Port Grimaud to Sainte-Maxime at age six, growing up there until leaving for the University of Exeter. After many visits, James now has his own favourite spots—check out James' recommendations on Our Recommendations page. We can’t wait to share this special place with you all!

Venues

Wedding Day Coaches

How to get to Villa L'Escalinade

A visual guide

Find this sign, on the main road - then go through the gates:

If you see this sign, you're going the right way:

Climb these stairs - then you've made it and will be rewarded with lovely views:

Introduction

We’re so excited to celebrate with you, and we recommend that you base yourselves in Sainte-Maxime for the duration of the weekend. Sainte-Maxime is a relaxed and scenic coastal town full of charm. It’s also Catherine’s hometown, which makes it an especially meaningful place for us to share with you. While our wedding day will take place in Le Cannet-des-Maures, the surrounding celebrations like our welcome drinks the day before and the relaxed get-together the day after will be hosted in Sainte-Maxime. To make things easy for our guests, we’ll be arranging transportation for you between Sainte-Maxime and Le Cannet-des-Maures on the day of the wedding, so you can enjoy the day without having to worry about logistics.

The Hotels

The below are our recommended selection of hotels 

 (in no particular order)

Le Petit Prince (3-stars)Best for those looking:(i) To drive: easy to drive in/out of and offers free parking for guests;(ii) For convenience: closest to our anticipated Friday venue, likely to be close to our pick-up/drop-off location, 5 minute walk from the beach and &lt;10 minutes into the main bars &amp; restaurants area;(iii) For good value &amp; recently renovated rooms with some private balcony-space. Wouldn't recommend if:(i) You want a pool, as it doesn't have one!(ii) You'd prefer old town charm;(iii) You'd not like your hotel being on a main road. Le Matisse (3-stars)Best for those looking for:(i) A more modern / recently renovated property;(iii) A super central location with a decently-large pool area; Wouldn't recommend if:(i) You're looking for good value for money, and don't mind an extra couple of minutes walk / forfeiting a pool - other properties offer similar quality rooms for much less;(ii) You don't want to pay for parking - as the parking options is close/convenient (the hotel is opposite a large public underground facility), but it is ~25 euros a day. Le Montfleuri (4-stars)Best for those looking for: (i) A beautiful and peaceful up-market property, in a quieter part of town but which is only minutes from the edge of the old town;(iii) A large and modern pool / garden area. Wouldn't recommend if:(i) You want to be closer to the expected Friday/Sunday venues;(ii) You don't want to pay for parking;(iii) You'd prefer a cheaper option. Les Palmiers (3-stars)Best for those looking: (i) To be in the centre of it all, surrounded by the charming old town;(ii) For proximity to the sea and port, for boats over to St Tropez;(iii) A nice large indoor-outdoor bar and restaurant within the hotel. Wouldn't recommend if:(i) You don't like the idea of an older building (no lift) and/or no-frills accommodation;(ii) You're driving - as parking options will be limited, not super close and/or expensive. Hotel Les Tourelles &amp; Residence Les Tourelles Apartments (3-stars)Please note: The Tourelles property offers two different types of accommodation - the Chateau (Hotel) and the Apartments (Residence). ChateauBest for those looking for:(i) An impressive property with grounds and large private outdoor spaces: it is located in some of the largest private gardens in central Sainte-Maxime;(ii) An old-town location, with access to a pool and free parking.(iii) Lovely restaurant on property. Wouldn't recommend if:(i) You need air-conditioning - the Chateau does not have any;(ii) You're looking for a cheap and cheerful option;(iii) You don't fancy walking up a short hill to your accommodation. ApartmentsBest for those looking for:(i) An old-town location on a budget, with access to a pool and free parking.(ii) A more self-catering style option. Wouldn't recommend if:(i) You wouldn't be ok/happy with quite basic and dated accommodation.(ii) You don't want the uphill walk from the town centre. Le Revest (3-stars)Best for those looking:(i) A budget and convenient option, with a plunge pool, minutes from everything - but slightly away from the busy bars &amp; restaurants;(iii) A more "quaint" bed &amp; breakfast family-run style property. Wouldn't recommend if:(i) You would find entry-level rooms being really quite small, an issue;(ii) You're driving - as parking options will be limited, quite far away and/or expensive.

A note on villas and Airbnbs

If you're planning to book an Airbnb, villa, or private rental, Sainte-Maxime has plenty of beautiful options for different budgets. Please note however that late June marks the beginning of the high season in this part of the South of France. As such, many owners (especially for larger properties) will require week-long stays, often from Saturday to Saturday, which can make shorter or more flexible bookings trickier to find. We've been asked to review some accommodation options that guests have considered, and based on that, we’d like to share a quick note on location: (1) While there are many lovely villas available, these larger properties are often located outside of town, near the Golf Course or La Nartelle beach. Please check location details and photos carefully, as some websites may misrepresent the map location. If you see the golf course in photos or it’s mentioned in the description, it’s a sign the property might be a 1-hour walk or more from the town centre. (2) On the wedding day, transportation for guests will depart from and return to a central location in Sainte-Maxime—not from out-of-town areas. Since most of the weekend’s events will take place in and around central Sainte-Maxime, we strongly recommend choosing accommodation within walking distance of the town centre for ease of access and enjoyment.

Accommodations

Getting around in the local area

Boats

The long-established and well-loved "Bateaux Verts" (Green Boats) shuttles link the port of Sainte-Maxime, located in the centre of town, to the picturesque towns of Saint-Tropez and Port Grimaud every 20-40 minutes, in under 20 minutes and for around 15 euros (for a return ticket).No need to book and, during the summer months, they will often run past midnight (though do check the schedules!). While Catherine often caught these during her late teens and early twenties—wine bottle not-so-surreptitiously tucked in her bag on the way to a night out—they’re just as perfect for a trip to the local markets or a romantic evening in Saint-Tropez. Link: <a href="https://www.bateauxverts.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Les Bateaux Verts - Navettes et excursions Bateau navette pour Saint Tropez et balades en mer</a>.

Buses

Sainte-Maxime offers the SimpliBus network. SimpliBus provides regular bus services servicing the Sainte Maxime area (and notably, the beautiful beaches which border the town - see Our Recommendations!). Link: <a href="https://www.simplibus.fr/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Le réseau SimpliBus - Bus de Sainte-Maxime</a> For coaches heading out of the Sainte Maxime area, the region offers the "Zou!" bus network - which stops in a number of local towns (but please note these are often delayed due to heavy traffic in the area):–&nbsp;Line 876&nbsp;: Saint-Raphaël / Sainte-Maxime / Saint-Tropez.–&nbsp;Line 874&nbsp;: Cavalaire / Sainte-Maxime / Saint-Raphaël.–&nbsp;Line 872&nbsp;: Plan de La Tour / Sainte-Maxime / Les Arcs (Gare SNCF) / Draguignan.

Public Transport

Dress code?

To be completely honest, we hadn’t planned on setting a dress code at all. But after a few requests for guidance on what to wear, we thought it might be helpful to share some thoughts—particularly for the ladies attending.Please don’t feel pressured or concerned by any of the below: (i) this is meant to be helpful rather than restricting/prescriptive and (ii) it matters to us that you're there, not what you wear!

French Riviera casual cocktail

Fabrics: linen, cotton, silk For Women:Short/midi/maxi dressesWide-leg trousers + silky camisoleFluid refined jumpsuitElegant flats, embellished sandals or casual heels For Men:Linen shirts; chinos (or smart shorts if the weather is very hot!).Neutral tones: sand, navy, olive, light blue.No flip flops.

With our wedding day taking place at a château on the French Riviera, and relaxed Provence as our inspiration, we invite our guests to dress in a way that is elegant and with a sense of classic French ease, but is light enough for a hot summer’s day! A light cover-up may be advisable for the evening, depending on forecasted temperatures.

Ladies Dress Code Recommendation:

Elegant French Riveria summer event = pastels & Vivids 

Think of flowing midi or maxi dresses in pastels, large prints or joyful brights, in elegant fabrics - relaxed silhouettes are all beautifully suited to the setting. Block heels or wedges recommended as we'll be stood on grass for parts of the day but not essential! We kindly ask that ladies avoid all white or anything close thereto — including cream, ivory, very pale shades, dresses in such colours with coloured patterns, or coloured dresses with large white patterns — as well as black or very dark tones.

South of France Casual

Whatever you'd wear on holiday in the South of France! For men: t-shirts; trainers; shorts; flip-flops all acceptable. Bring your swimwear &amp; a towel with you if you fancy a dip!

Dress Code

Welcome to the South of France

Sainte-Maxime boasts some of the most picturesque beaches on the Côte d'Azur. Whether you're looking to soak up the sun or take a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean: - Plage de la Nartelle is the least crowded and has a range of nice restaurants/beach clubs (Prao, WYC...), but is slightly out of town so you may wish to get the local Simplibus; - Plage de la Croisette hosts the Sainte Maxime Sailing School, for the more active amongst you; - Plage du Centre Ville (meaning "Beach of the Town Centre) is the most convenient for those staying in the town centre and has 3-4 restaurants/sunbed rentals options! Alternatively, there is the world-famous Plage de Pampelonne located a short drive from St Tropez.

BEACHES

For a baguette/croissants: O Pin Cho, Tarte Tropézienne or Boulangerie ColombFor the complete allrounder, that's been around forever: Café MaximeFor ice-cream: Les Parfums d'Italie, which has been around forever!For a health-conscious lunch spot: RootsFor a locals' casual dinner spot: Les PalmiersFor a "nice" dinner in town: La Maison Bleue, Boho, L'Admiral or La Petite MaisonFor a pizza in the centre of it all: Fato BeneFor a dinner with atmosphere into the later evening, or a late evening spot: MaimoJAMES' RECOMMENDATIONS:For the meal on the beach (for lunch or dinner): Le Prao on Plage de la Nartelle or Maxim' Plage on Plage de la CroisetteFor the afternoon drink in town: La Rascasse or Nino, if you're wanting to be on the beach / Le Sud or Millésime, if you're wanting a shady square at the entrance to the old townFor the quick and easy cheap lunch: Le Sunset Café, in the old port area in the town centre or you could buy a baguette and a rotisserie chicken from O Pin Cho !St Tropez?You should definitely check out St Tropez while you're here - but it's pretty expensive (and Ste Maxime is friendlier!).You could check out the following places for a drink:For the iconic historical stop frequented by celebrities and French presidents: SénéquierFor the balcony overlooking the port: Le Sube Hotel BarFor the instagrammable spot: Dior CaféFor the ice-cream while exploring: BarbaracBut - to be honest - anywhere is going to serve you a cold glass of rosé so take your pick !If you have a car, the Pinède restaurant in not-so-well known locals' spot which offers better value in quiet area which is short drive from St Tropez town centre.

Restaurants & Bars

If making a week of it, and wanting to explore more of the South of France, you could: (1) head east for a Riviera-focused itinerary, during which you could visit any combination of Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Menton, St Paul de Vence, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Villefranche-sur-Mer...

Making a week of it ?

(2) head west, for a Provence-focused itinerary (particularly nice in late June, as the lavender - which is iconic in the region - is in full bloom!) during which you could visit any combination of the Gorges du Verdon, Tourtour, Gordes &amp; other charming provençal villages (Lourmarin, Roussillon), Aix-en-Provence, Marseille...

(3) stay local, for a Gulf of St Tropez-focused itinerary, giving yourself more time to check out Saint-Tropez &amp; Pampelonne beaches, Grimaud &amp; Port Grimaud, the old towns of Gassin &amp; Ramatuelle, or to do the Sentier du Littoral hiking trail !

Recommendations

Questions & Answers

Where are the venues located?Please see the home page for full addresses &amp; the Villa L'Escalinade page for visual guide on how to get to the Sunday venue. How do I get to the Château Colbert Cannet from Sainte-Maxime?We have arranged for a private coach to transport guests from Sainte-Maxime to Château Colbert Cannet at 1.30pm. The return journeys shall be at 00:30am and 2:00am. To the extent that you wish to make the journey at different times, we would ask that you arrange your own private transportation. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no public transport which operates a route linking Sainte-Maxime with Le Cannet (the town in which the Château Colbert Cannet is located). Is parking available at the venue?Yes. Please do let us know if you plan on driving, so that we can ensure that there is enough space for everyone! Will the ceremony &amp; reception be outdoors?Unless it's raining, the entire day's events shall be held outside. Should I eat lunch before attending the wedding?Yes! Will children be attending the wedding?In order to allow all guests, including parents, an evening of relaxation we have chosen for our wedding day to be an adult-only occasion. We hope this advance notice means you are still able to share our big day and will enjoy having the evening off! Do you have a gifts registry / should I bring a gift with me?Since you’re traveling for our wedding, making the trip is a gift in itself — gifts are absolutely not necessary! A card box shall be available to drop off any well-wishes on arrival. Where should I stay / do you have any accommodation recommendations?We would recommend that you stay in Sainte-Maxime for the duration of the wedding weekend and would encourage you to stay in one of the many hotels within walking distance of the town centre - this will provide far better access to all that Sainte-Maxime has to offer (restaurants, bakeries, bars, beaches, local ferries and buses etc.) as well as the transport which shall be arranged to and from the Wedding Day venue. For those amongst you who wish to book villa accommodation suitable for larger parties, please note that Sainte-Maxime does offer this - but only a limited amount of them are within walking distance of the town centre. When should I book accommodation?While Sainte-Maxime is a reasonably small town of 20,000 year-round residents, it is used to an influx of tourism during the summer months and is known to host over 60,000 during the peak month of August. The keen amongst you will note that certain options for accommodation may be available to book now however we'd suggest that there is no particular need to start looking or book until, at the earliest, 9 months before the wedding weekend. When should I book flights?Flights to Nice are not available to book until, at the earliest, one year before departure. Even at one year before departure, we have noted that the full timetable is not yet available to book and only becomes available closer to the time. ﻿Google Flights suggests that the cheapest time to buy flights to Nice, from the UK, is generally around 6 to 7 months before departure. Can we get Ubers to get around?Ubers are starting to become available in the area but getting one cannot be guaranteed. We would highly recommend pre-booking taxis. Further details of taxi companies shall be made available on the "Travel to Sainte-Maxime" and "Local Transport" pages of this website.

Q + A

Do you have a registry?

Having our favorite people travel to France to celebrate with us is the greatest gift we could ask for. We know attending a destination wedding requires time, effort, and expense, and your presence on our big weekend means everything to us. Gifts in addition to this are therefore absolutely not necessary or expected! For those who, despite the above, have asked for our registry or to contribute to our honeymoon - we have set up the below facility:

<a href="https://www.weddingshop.com/giftlist/littlebeardwedding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Littlebeardwedding | The Wedding Shop</a>

Catherine & James

Catherine & James

Villa L'Escalinade

How to get to Villa L'Escalinade

A visual guide