Garden wedding in the Rain

French Riviera

When we arrived at Maude’s family home in Grasse, on the French Riviera, Manu was waiting for us by the driveway. Friends and family had already gathered and had just finished lunch in the garden—the same garden that would host the wedding later that evening.

It was a hot summer day, but there was a storm building in the air. Rain felt inevitable. Still, the mood remained untouched—relaxed, almost holiday-like. A large tent had been set up over the tables and dance floor, a quiet acknowledgment of what might come. The plan was to celebrate outdoors, and no one seemed willing to reconsider. Just as guests went inside to get ready for the church, the sky finally gave in.

Then, almost on cue, the rain paused. Long enough for the bride to step out of the house, long enough for everyone to make their way to the ceremony. By the time we returned, it had started again.

And yet, none of it mattered. The evening unfolded into something far better than anyone had planned. By the end of the night, the white wooden dance floor had all but disappeared into the garden. Shoes were abandoned, hems soaked, and guests danced in the mud without hesitation—as if it had always been part of the design.