Provence has a few subtle details that read like the region’s signature the second they show up. Morning and evening light here hits like a built-in filter. It’s exactly why artists like Cezanne, van Gogh, and Matisse were drawn to the South of France again and again. What feels special about Anastasiya and Ivan’s wedding is that they didn’t choose the soft Provence aesthetic at all.
Instead, they leaned into the idea of a noble countryside residence, designed for real life. This direction was shaped together with their planner Kate, Weds in May, and grounded in structure: black tie silhouettes against the garden, sculptural floral compositions with lilies and grasses instead of romantic blooms.
Location: Côte d’Azur, Provence, France
Style: Modern, Minimal, Chic
Time of planning: 10 months
Number of guests: 22
Setting: Bastide
Season: Summer
Anastasiya and Ivan met at the University of Vienna, when Ivan switched seats just to say hello. When it came to the proposal, it happened in New York, on top of the Rockefeller Center, but only after a full series of almost-moments. Ivan had the ring with him every single day, except for the one time they randomly ended up on the top of the Empire State. After that, he kept trying to get her onto rooftops and skyscrapers, but she kept refusing.
She wasn’t expecting a proposal until the elevator ride, when she noticed Ivan was nervous and realised what was about to happen. He picked a spot with the fewest tourists, went down on one knee, and after she said yes, the people around them started clapping. From the start, they knew they wanted a chic, elegant wedding with plenty of fun and dancing, a feeling that carries straight into the film by Stepan Smolyakov.
Wedding Morning
The morning unfolded at La Bastide de Laurence, one of those places that was invented for postcards. From the terrace, you get a straight-on view of Mont Ventoux, one of Provence’s most iconic landmarks, while the grounds feel quietly cinematic: a pétanque court tucked into the garden, a wood-fired pizza oven, rose gardens in full bloom, and plane trees that have been around for nearly 200 years.
As Kate of Weds in May shared, “Our bride had always imagined starting her wedding morning quietly by the pool with the groom and a cup of coffee and that’s exactly how it happened. It became one of their favourite memories of the day.”
Anastasiya later added that what she valued most was Kate’s mindset. “Kate always remained calm, responsive, and solution-oriented. Even when I thought something was impossible, she’d say: ‘You want it, so let’s try!’ and somehow, she made it happen.”
That energy set the tone early on, relaxed, confident, and quietly in control. Matching sleepwear, bare feet, coffee cups in hand. Everything was captured by photographers Irena Balashko and Nikita Zharkov.
Bride's Look
The morning energy spilled naturally into everything that followed. The bride and groom got ready separately, each in their own sun-filled room, with soft summer light bouncing off warm stone floors.
Anastasiya’s beauty look was handled by Landtwing Makeup, who kept everything effortless and fresh. Accessories followed the same logic: nothing loud, nothing competing with the dress, just clean lines and delicate pieces that supported the overall look.
The bride wore a gown by Divine Atelier, and it’s one of those dresses that quietly does a lot. Fluid fabric with a subtle weight to it, gentle draping that gathers around the hips, and a silhouette that feels sculpted. The bodice is where it gets interesting: a clean, architectural cut paired with crossed straps that frame the neckline and shoulders in a way that feels modern, precise, and very intentional.
Groom’s Fashion
Ivan’s look stayed firmly in classic black tie territory: a sharply tailored tuxedo, crisp white shirt, and a perfectly proportioned bow tie. The fit did all the talking, clean lines, relaxed confidence, and that quiet polish that doesn’t need styling tricks to land.
Ceremony
“One of my biggest fears going into wedding planning was ending up with a day that didn’t feel like us,” the bride shared. After speaking with several planners and feeling increasingly overwhelmed, everything shifted during their very first call with Weds in May. Kate didn’t just listen, she translated scattered thoughts and half-formed ideas into a concept that immediately felt right and unmistakably theirs.
The ceremony unfolded in the villa’s garden, framed by tall plane trees that created a naturally intimate setting. Anastasiya wanted something classic, but not predictable, so the floral design by Finestems leaned into modern contrast: clean lilies, ornamental grasses, and a sense of movement rather than symmetry.
“When I felt unsure about colours, ideas, or whether something really fit our style, I always turned to Kate. That trust is so important.”
Moments Together
With nearly 12 hectares of grounds surrounding the bastide, Anastasiya and Ivan had all the space in the world to disappear for a moment and just be together. They wandered through manicured garden paths and hedge-like labyrinths, moving between perfectly trimmed cypress trees, with the air scented by lemon trees, olive groves, and that mix of Provencal greenery.
Along the way, sculptures appeared almost unexpectedly, classical figures tucked into the landscape, turning simple walks into cinematic pauses. These moments naturally blended into time spent with family and close friends, captured in a mix of colour and black-and-white frames.
Reception
For the dinner setup, еру palette grounded in natural earth tones: brown, green, beige, and white, echoing the villa’s stone walls and the surrounding landscape. Each floral arrangement was intentionally different in shape and composition, paired with softly draped linens that kept the tables relaxed, tactile, and thoughtful rather than overly styled.
Dinner was set in the garden, tucked among blooming rose bushes, with the house itself acting as a quiet backdrop. As the sun went down, the evening unfolded with heartfelt speeches and toasts. Since it was an international wedding, the couple prepared translations for every speech, a small detail that made everyone feel included.
The first dance took place under strands of glowing lights, creating one of those effortlessly cinematic moments where everything just clicks. From there, it flowed naturally into lively dancing and a celebration that carried on well into the early hours.
Kate connected the couple with talented, reliable vendors they never would have found on their own, and the team she brought together became an essential part of the day. Just as importantly, she helped them stay within budget. From the very beginning, they were clear that going over wasn’t an option, and Kate respected that completely, even gently reminding them of their own boundaries when excitement took over.
One of the most emotional moments of the evening was the bride’s dance with her father. Captured partly in black and white, these frames strip the moment down to pure emotion.
The cake design stayed true to the overall aesthetic: minimal, graphic, and bold, with a clean white base topped by a dense layer of fresh berries, striking in its simplicity. Cake cutting blended seamlessly into the flow of the night, followed by carefree dancing with friends and family, where everything felt relaxed, natural, and genuinely fun.
Advice from the couple:
• Make sure to have a wedding planner on board! We had the absolute pleasure of working with Kate as our wedding planner, and we truly can’t imagine our day without her. She understood our vision completely and made our dream wedding come true!
PLANNER Weds in May | PHOTOGRAPHER Irena Balashko, Nikita Zharkov | VIDEOGRAPHER Stepan Smolyakov | VENUE La Bastide de Laurence | FLOWERS Fine Stems | MUAH Anastasia Landtwing | DRESS Divine Atelier | CAKE Le Part Fait | RENTALS Options Aix-en-Provence, Oravis Location | OFFICIANT Un Mariage en Provence | DJ Eugene Bertolucci, KDF Sound
