Provence, France in summer is a heavenly place to be. It’s very special also for photoshoots, so that’s why I was so thrilled when I was contacted by a young man who was coming on vacation to the south of France and was hoping to find a beautiful spot for a surprise proposal. This engagement photoshoot would start off like any other normal photoshoot, but a very serious question would be asked, celebration would be had, and it would be an absolute dream of a day. I was incredibly happy to be chosen as the professional photographer to document these precious moments!
From Marseille to Arles
Marseille is the unofficial hub of the south of France. As the country’s second largest city, after Paris, it has big city charm, but the real gem lies about 45-minutes north in southern Provence, a quaint and incredibly historic town called Arles. Arles, France has everything for an enjoyable holiday. It’s laid back, has tons of good restaurants, interesting old Roman sites to see, like the historic Roman amphitheatre, still used to this day for events. There’s also a great walk to see the sights that Vincent Van Gogh painted when he lived in Arles between 1888-1889, and famously cut his ear off. Getting to Arles is super easy and convenient on the train, there’s a regional train that runs regularly from Marseille, or you can take a short 20-minute ride to Arles from another lovely Provençal town, called Avignon.
Jacob and his love, Tessa, would be coming from Marseille. They got up early in the morning to get to Arles before the groups of tourists arrived, and while the light was still soft. I met them at the Arles train station, and from the moment I met them, I knew I’d be in for a treat!
A Walking Tour Around the Town of Arles
Jacob and Tessa were visiting from Kansas City, Missouri, and hadn’t been to Arles before. This was a great opportunity to give them a tour of the town, in addition to capturing spectacular photographs of their love story. Of course, Tessa had no way of knowing that this walking tour and photoshoot would turn into a surprise proposal!
I first showed them a map of the town outside the old city wall, to give them an idea of all there is to do and see in Arles. You can follow various arrows on the ground for a walking tour, based on your interests. For example, there’s a guided walk on the sites of Van Gogh, and another for Roman Arles. Our first stop was the refurbished fountain just inside the old center. Amédée Pichot is the name of the fountain, and it was a fountain created to honor Amédée by his son. The mosaic work is stunning. Great first stop!
Then, we headed one of my favorite streets because it leads to the old Roman amphitheatre, called les arènes, in French. This magnificent structure was built so long ago by the Romans, but no one is really sure when. One thing’s for sure, it’s a treat to visit, even when no events are going on, and there’s a stunning view from an overlook, too, it’s not to be missed.
I walked the couple then to some cute neighborhoods with cobblestone, flowering vines, one spot was an old convent, the arch still intact, with a lot of architecture details to see, weathered by time. Another walk past the old Roman theater, also still in use and then around to the main town square.
The town was absolutely buzzing, and people were out enjoying the fresh morning air. This square is home to the Hotel de Ville of Arles, the city hall, and the impressive church of St. Trophime. We had a lot of laughs and love, and gorgeous photos from the town square.
Time for a Nature Walk
Jacob had told me that he really desired a private place for his proposal. Arles is a small town, but bursts with tourists in summer. Not a lot of privacy to be had, but I had a great idea. It would though, require quite a bit of a long walk on a trail, going toward more of a rural area, and then I thought the perfect spot for Jacob’s marriage proposal would be an amazing stone bridge. He told me Tessa liked nature, and she wouldn’t suspect anything if we went on a nature walk.
So, we took this nature walk, with fields of crops on one side, and a residential area on the other, with beautiful sunlight shining down on us. On the walk we talked about Jacob and Tessa’s work, and also their European vacation. This was lovely conversation, but also was enough of a distraction that Tessa wouldn’t have a clue what was to come. It was a moment that would change both of their lives!
A Surprise Proposal on an Old Stone Bridge
There’s a beautiful suspended bridge, crossing the Rhone River, between Arles and a tiny village named Fourques, dating to 1830. From the moment I moved to Arles and was looking for a running path, I found this bridge and fell in love with it. It reminds me of a smaller Brooklyn bridge, and it’s usually quiet, as it’s closed to vehicular traffic. The townspeople pass by on scooters and bikes, but in general, it’s quite and a lovely place to pop the question.
I told Tessa that I had a surprise, we’d be visiting a really cool place, and then I unveiled the bridge and we walked across it to the perfect spot. I had Jacob and Tessa get into place, which was not at all a tip off of the proposal, because we’d already been doing a photoshoot. Jacob reached behind his back pocket, got on one knee and presented Tessa with a beautiful diamond with a very unique shape, which was exactly what Tessa had dreamed of.
She was so excited! I was excited for them both, as I captured this magic moment. When the the proposal was over, we switched into engagement photo session mode and then walked back into Arles, stopping to admire the gorgeous town on the other side of the river, and stopping in a patch of poppies that were still blooming for that nature touch.
The Grand Finale Engagement Session in Arles
Kudos to Jacob, who managed to keep his nerves calm until he got on one knee, now it was time to celebrate! No better place to celebrate an engagement in Arles, than in the cute-as-a-button neighborhood of La Roquette. Here, you’ll find the quaint and colorful faded 17th century homes, lots of greenery, and oodles of charm. Walking the streets, hand in hand, and so in love, and newly engaged, this friendly and warm couple melted my heart.
Our final stop was to admire the last remaining column from what used to be the Roman Forum in Arles, and by then, Jacob and Tessa were super hungry and a bit thirsty, so they chose one of the fabulous restaurants to grab a bit to eat and something to drink to celebrate their epic morning in Arles.
Karina Leigh Photography
Meeting couples from all over the world and capturing their sweet, and sometimes life-changing moments to treasure forever is my favorite thing in the world. If you’ll be passing through Arles or any part of Provence and would love your special moments captured, too, in this beautiful place, I’d love to hear from you!
