Southwest France destination elopement inspiration by the sea

Published by Claire Gould on

We’re sharing this delicate loveliness to inspire those of you dreaming of a wedding in France. Lovely French wedding photographer Joanne Rabenarisoa got in touch earlier in the year to send this dreamy photoshoot, and we couldn’t resist sharing it with you! There’s a full supplier list below. Enjoy! Claire's signature

With thanks to these talented creatives:

https://joannerabenaphoto.com/
https://josephinebono.com/
https://www.arnaudduprat-floraldesigner.com/
https://www.lescouronnesdevictoire.com/
@_.mea.makeup._

This styled shoot has been inspired by the bay of Arcachon, in the Southwest of France, near Bordeaux. This area is very famous for its fresh and delicate oysters that can be savored all year long. As a French wedding photographer from this region, I wanted to bring up a small group of local vendors and models to help me illustrate the charm of our winter season.

Despite the grey weather and the winter storms, you will always find your daily dose of colour here. Several oyster farmers villages line the bay. They are easily recognizable by the bright and joyful colors of their cabins. What a delight to stroll in the tiny alleys, discovering a new hidden cabin each time.

For our photoshoot, I chose the village of l’Herbe. It is one of the must-see places of the Cap Ferret. During the summer, the village is invaded by tourists, but in the cold season, it is a peaceful place were the sounds of the waves and the seagulls prevail.

From the top of the hill you can admire the beautiful view over the village and the bay. The Arcachon bay is also very famous for counting among its attractions the largest sand dune of Europe: The Dune of Pilat, that you can also catch a sight of from the hill.

The wedding dress is fully handmade by Nancy, the owner of the brand Joséphine Bono. This dress is delicately made with modern French lace and soft tulle. The advantage of this dress is to be very lightweight. For the couples who are getting married in this area, walking on the beach right after the ceremony is a must, so this dress is perfect for that. Lea, our makeup artist, gave our gorgeous model Louise a subtle and romantic look.

The bridal bouquet and the boutonniere made by Arnaud Duprat from Arcachon, are in a very typical style and represent the French tradition of floral arrangement. To perfect the minimalist but still refine bridal look, we added earrings made with real natural flowers from the French brand Les couronnes de Victoire.

I was really happy to plan this styled shoot because it gathers local vendors and shows the simplicity of the Southwest way of life. It also allowed me to shine the light on the typical village of the l’Herbe and get people know about Cap Ferret.


Claire Gould

Claire spends her days writing - either in beautiful calligraphy or online. She lives on the edge of the English Lake District only minutes away from the beach, where she loves to escape and unwind. Claire's calligraphy can be found at www.byMoonandTide.com. Claire launched the English Wedding Blog in November 2009 - it's been a top 10 UK wedding blog ever since, with a regional focus we hope you LOVE.

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