When couples start dreaming of eloping in the south of France, two questions come up right away: “How much will it actually cost?” and “What does an elopement day actually look like?” They can be hard to answer from far away, especially if you’ve never been to this part of France.
Unlike a traditional 150-guest wedding, an elopement in Provence gives you total freedom. Your day can be as simple as sunrise vows in a lavender field followed by coffee and croissants, with just the two of you. You add only what matters to you.
As an English-speaking elopement photographer living in Provence, I believe in total transparency when it comes to planning. Whether you’re using my Ultimate Guide to Eloping in Provence as your master plan or building your day around specific places, here is a realistic breakdown of the costs, plus two sample timelines.
1. What a Provence elopement really costs
A simple elopement can be just two things: photography and a beautiful public spot. Everything else is optional, booked directly with each vendor, and you only add what feels right for you. Flights and attire are not included in any figure below.
| Your elopement | What it looks like | What couples typically add (booked directly with each vendor) |
| Just the two of you | Photography from €1,800 for up to 5 hours, a morning session, plus help choosing locations. A public village or viewpoint for your vows is free. | Nothing is needed. Some add a bouquet or a nice dinner. |
| A few special touches | The same, plus a few extras that make the day feel more ceremonial. | A celebrant, flowers, hair and makeup, a hotel you love. |
| All-inclusive | My €6,000 all-inclusive package: | Whatever else you’d like. |
Here is what each piece typically costs in Provence, so you can pick what you want.
| Service | Typical cost | Notes |
| Photography, my starting package | €1,800 | Up to 5 hours, morning session. I also help choose locations and introduce you to trusted vendors. |
| Photography, all-inclusive package | €6,000 | Photography, makeup artist, small floral bouquet & private transportation |
| Ceremony location | Free to €1,500 | Public viewpoints and village spots are free. Private châteaux charge day rates. |
| Celebrant (optional) | €900 to €1,500 | A personalized English language symbolic ceremony written for you. |
| Flowers (optional) | €150 to €300 | Bridal bouquet, boutonniere. |
| Hair and makeup (optional) | €350 to €700 | On-site styling at your accommodation. |
| Accommodation (optional, 3 to 4 nights) | €1,000 to €5,000 | Boutique hotel, historic bastide or private villa. |
| Celebration dinner (optional) | €200 to €500+ | A multi-course dinner with wine, or a simple dinner at a local bistro. |
| Music (optional) | €400 to €800 | Acoustic ceremony music or a dinner serenade. |
| Car rental or private driver (optional) | €250 to €900 | A rental car is useful for rural villages and fields, or you can hire a private driver. |
A couple who adds most of the optional items above typically spends about €6,000 to €15,000+, excluding flights and attire. A couple who keeps it simple spends far less, starting at €1,800 for photography.
See my Provence elopement photography →
Sample 1: Morning in Gordes and Roussillon (5 hours, included in the €1,800 package)
Ideal for couples who want an intimate, romantic morning in two of Provence’s most beautiful villages. Times shift with the season: in summer we start around sunrise, and in spring and autumn a little later.
- 6:00 to 6:30 am: I arrive at your hotel for getting-ready details and a first look.
- 6:30 to 6:45 am: Drive to Gordes.
- 6:45 to 7:45 am: Your vow exchange in Gordes, in quiet early light before the crowds.
- 7:45 to 8:30 am: Romantic portraits through the lanes and viewpoints of Gordes.
- 8:45 to 9:15 am: Drive to Roussillon.
- 9:15 to 11:00 am: Coffee at a local cafe, then portraits among the ochre cliffs and colorful village streets. Photography ends here.
- Afternoon and evening: Rest through the heat of the day, then enjoy a quiet dinner at a local bistro on your own.
This is what we usually do. If you’d like something different, we can swap in an olive grove or a vineyard. If you’re here when the lavender is blooming (mid-June to early July), we can add a lavender field. Read more about Gordes, Roussillon and the other Luberon villages.
Sample 2: Afternoon to sunset (extended coverage, quoted separately)
This is possible, and it can be beautiful, but it isn’t an easy choice, so here is what to know first. In summer the sun sets very late and it stays light until around 10:00 pm. It is also quite hot in the afternoon, and by the time we finish, it’s late for dinner. I recommend a morning for most couples. If an evening is what you want, this is how it works. It is longer than my standard 5 hours, so it is quoted separately.
- 1:30 to 4:00 pm: Getting-ready details and a first look at your hotel, with portraits around the grounds.
- 4:00 to 6:30 pm: A long break to rest, cool off and change during the hottest hours. No photography.
- 6:30 to 7:30 pm: Drive to a quiet village viewpoint, olive grove or vineyard. In lavender season (mid-June to early July), this can be a lavender field.
- 7:30 to 9:00 pm: Your vow exchange and portraits as the light softens.
- 9:00 to 10:00 pm: Portraits as the sun lowers and the light turns golden. Photography ends here.
- After: A late dinner, so book a table ahead of time.
3. Key factors that affect your Provence elopement budget
- Season. Peak season runs from late May through September. Accommodation and venues cost more then than in the shoulder seasons (April or October).
- Public spots vs. private venues. Exchanging vows at a public village or viewpoint in the Luberon is generally free. Renting a private château or bastide for exclusive use costs venue fees. Lavender fields are private working farmland, so they are not a free public spot.
- Guest count. Even a small group of 6 to 10 guests raises the cost of dinner, transport, flowers and seating. If it’s just the two of you, none of this applies.
4. Smart ways to allocate your elopement budget
- Invest in photography and local guidance. You’re skipping the giant reception hall and 100+ meals, so put your budget toward timeless photos and a photographer who knows the area. I help you choose the best locations for your vows and portraits and introduce you to trusted vendors, such as a makeup artist, celebrant, private driver or florist, who you book directly. It takes a lot of stress off you.
- Stay somewhere you love. If you’re also using it as your getting-ready spot, afternoon retreat and honeymoon base, a place you love is worth the extra budget.
- Keep logistics simple. A rental car gives you freedom over your schedule without paying transfer fees for every move. You may also prefer a private driver, so you can avoid the stress of driving.
Ready to plan your Provence elopement?
Every elopement is unique, and your timeline should match your own pace and vision. I’m an English-speaking photographer in the south of France. My photography starts at €1,800 for up to 5 hours, and I’ll help you plan a simple day, introduce you to trusted local vendors, and capture the details that matter to you.