An elopement in the gorgeous hilltop village of Gordes in Provence is a pure delight. As one of France’s most beautiful villages, it’s a sight to behold, whether seeing it for the first time or the tenth. Surrounding this gorgeous village is some of the most pristine countryside in the south of France, vineyards and olive groves surround the village. I was so excited when I was contacted to photograph an elopement in Gordes, with a request to have the ceremony in one of the beautiful olive groves. As an elopement photographer in Provence, it’s a joy to plan wedding photoshoots in this beautiful region, and I knew this one would be one for the record books.
Meeting the Couple
I first met the bride and groom over a WhatsApp video call, and their energy was infectious, we were a great fit. Daniela and Chris live outside of Washington, DC, and they dreamed of an intimate wedding, just the two of them, somewhere beautiful. They’d planned to visit Paris during the 2024 Olympic Games, and after the Games, they’d be headed south to continue their tour of France, and wished to be married in a beautiful place. They decided Gordes, in Provence, was very appealing for its beauty and laid back vibe. What they loved best though, was the nature surrounding the village, and requested that their ceremony be in an olive grove. Olive trees grow in abundance in Provence, its one of the major olive oil production regions of France, and the trees have a beautiful green color and just say “Provence”, so I thought the idea was perfect!
Finding the Perfect Olive Grove
You’d think a place surrounded by olive groves, it would be easy to find the perfect spot, but it wasn’t that easy, actually. I spent a lot of time scouting the perfect location, and found it, around 4km outside the village of Gordes. There, there was a large, beautiful tree, and surrounding it, olive trees. Across the road, rows and rows of vines, creating a rustic, gorgeous atmosphere.
The plan would be to have the ceremony in the olive grove, followed by a wedding photoshoot in the village of Gordes, and then a short drink and snack break, followed by a little picnic in the olive grove.
The Most Amazing Wedding Vendors
As a Provence wedding and elopement photographer, I’m fortunate to know and work with some of the best vendors you can find anywhere. We all work together as a team. Not every couple desires the same thing for their wedding. For example, some couples prefer to say their vows to each other, without an officiant or celebrant present. Some brides prefer to apply their own makeup, rather than have a professional makeup artist. This is what makes each elopement so special, and personal, it’s designed exactly to the bride and groom’s wishes.
I put Daniela and Chris in touch with my favorite vendors, and then we started to plan. The timeline came together quickly, and I was feeling so confident that this day would be amazing!
The Elopement Day Has Arrived
The elopement day arrived sunny and warm, with temperatures forecast to be around 90F during the afternoon. This is typical for August, and is why we start early, before the heat gets too intense. I arrived to the couple’s hotel, which was right outside of Gordes, and photographed Daniela getting her makeup done by the fabulous Alwine Nogier, a makeup artist I met a couple of years ago in Provence. Chris was getting ready in his tuxedo. There was a sense of excitement in the air.
The plan was for Chris to go to the main overlook in Gordes for sunrise, he’d wait for Daniela there for the First Look. As I was photographing Daniela, I took a look around the room and spotted her beautiful floral bouquet. I started to photograph it and was in awe of the colors, until I moved closer and realized this wasn’t a fresh flower bouquet, it was a wooden flower bouquet! Another bride of mine had wooden flowers, which sounds strange in principle, but they look so real! They’re also a wonderful keepsake of an elopement, as they never die, and the bouquet can be a beautiful souvenir. You can also design your wooden bouquet as you wish, and they look so real!
After Daniela’s makeup was done, and the final touches of flowers put in her hair, it was time for her to put on her gown. That wonderful moment all brides wait for, the moment they can finally wear their gown. I helped Daniela with the buttons on her gown, and before we knew it, it was time to go meet Chris for the First Look. Our private driver was waiting, and took us to the viewpoint, which is the most famous in Gordes, because it has a view of the entire village, and the countryside beyond.
Due to it being the most famous viewpoint in Gordes, there are usually people stopped here to watch the sunrise, or to take pictures, so we just work around those people. Daniela stepped out of the van, and walked to Chris, who was waiting on the rock, he couldn’t wait to see her, and turned around and was captivated by the moment. The sun had just come up and the whole countryside was bathed in warm, orange light. I photographed the bride and groom here, and they’re some of the loveliest photos!
Ceremony in the Olive Groves
After the sunrise First Look and pre-ceremony photos, we arrived to a beautiful olive grove outside of Gordes. There was a large tree here too, which made a beautiful backdrop. It was on this beautiful spot that Daniela and Chris were married, with the services of a wonderful officiant, who crafted a personal and heart-felt ceremony, complete with music that the couple chose played on a small speaker.
Then, the time came for the couple to say their personal vows to each other, and these get to me each and every time. I’m an emotional person by nature, but when I hear the vows between two people, they’re so incredibly touching, it’s difficult not to shed a tear. This is what I love about elopements. When it’s just the couple, there is the freedom to be exactly who you want to be, and say what you want to say. There is no protocol one must follow, no family or guests to influence the ceremony, it’s exactly as the bride and groom design it.
Most couples handwrite their vows into vow booklets, some very nice ones can be purchased by artisans on Etsy, and can be completely customized with the names and date of the wedding.
After the ceremony, the couple did something quite special. In three separate boxes were three bottles of wine. One to celebrate the first year anniversary, one to celebrate the five year anniversary, and one to celebrate the ten year anniversary. In these wooden boxes, which were personalized with the couples names and wedding date, the couple placed handwritten sentiments in the boxes, that will serve as sort of a time capsule, and bring a lot of joy as the couple celebrates their upcoming wedding anniversaries.
Wedding Photoshoot in Gordes
After the ceremony in the olive groves, it was time to return to Gordes for a gorgeous wedding photoshoot around the old village. I love to stop along the way at the fern wall at the bottom of Gordes, where it’s nice and cool, and then we climb up through the village to some of the most scenic spots, including my absolute favorite place for portraits.
The walk has stairs, but the rocks can be slick, so I always advise my couples to bring flat, comfortable shoes for walking, and can be slipped in and out of for photos. This is the best part of any wedding day in Gordes, in my opinion, capturing love stories in this grand setting is incredble.
Time for a Break
As it was a warm day, a break was in order after the Gordes wedding photoshoot was completed. We stopped for drinks and croissants at Cercle Republicain, right in town. After some time relaxing and cooling down, we made a quick stop to the La Duree shop for some cute macaroon, which would serve as edible props for the olive grove picnic. Daniela and Chris selected their favorite flavors and then we returned to the olive grove where we’d had their ceremony.
A Picnic in the Olive Groves
A cute picnic basket, some pillows, some colorful macarons and a bottle of white wine. This set the stage for the grand finale of Daniela and Chris’s wedding day in Gordes. They enjoyed their wine, purchased from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and fed each other macarons. It was so cute for a wedding photoshoot! After the picnic, the couple returned to their hotel to enjoy some air conditioning and rest before their wonderful lunch in Gordes.
Karina Leigh Photography
I was so thrilled to meet this couple, who are so kind, funny and easygoing. I loved hearing about their love story and participating in this special day in their lives. I hope that Gordes will always hold a special place in their hearts, and that they will return to Provence one day. I love working with couples from all over the world who are looking for a personal, intimate, and very special elopement day. Feel free to contact me to start imagining your own special day!
VENDORS
Photographer: Karina Leigh Photography
Celebrant: Lucy Till, Celebrant
Makeup/Hair: Alwine Nogier, Makeup Artist
Tranportation: Voyages Provence Transportation
Hotel: Les Bories
