HOW TO PLAN THE PERFECT PARIS ELOPEMENT
KAREN & DAVID'S STORY
ARE YOU DREAMING OF RUNNING AWAY TO FRANCE TO SAY YOUR WEDDING VOWS, BUT FEEL OVERWHELMED BY HOW TO PLAN AN ELOPEMENT IN PARIS FROM THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY ?
Many couples looking for Paris elopement packages want more than just standard vendors, they want a dedicated team that can handle the entire experience. As a destination wedding planning, photography, and videography team, that is exactly what we do. Our collections are completely all-inclusive: we don't just capture your day; we design it from scratch, including curating the perfect team of local experts like the officiant, florist, and hair & makeup artist.
Today, we’re sharing Karen and David’s intimate, cross-continental journey from Los Angeles to a breathtaking, rainy elopement at Bois de Vincennes in Paris
The Journey : From LA to Joshua Tree
Our process with Karen and David started a full year before their wedding. Since we offer all-inclusive photo, video, and planning collections, we love connecting with our destination couples as early as possible to build a meaningful relationship.
Last year, while our team was shooting a wedding in California, we took the opportunity to meet up with them for a Joshua Tree engagement shoot. Booking a pre-wedding session with your destination wedding photographer is the single best way to get comfortable in front of the camera before the big day!
Designing the Vision :
The Production Booklet, Timeline & Vendors
Planning a seamless luxury wedding from another continent requires perfect alignment. To bridge the gap between Los Angeles and Paris, we designed a custom Production Booklet for Karen and David months in advance.
This multi-page document served as our creative, logistical, and vendor blueprint, featuring :
- The Custom Timeline : A detailed, minute-by-minute breakdown of the multi-day coverage to maximize the best natural golden hour light.
- Full Vendor Coordination : Because our packages are all-inclusive, we sourced and managed the dream team for their day, including a talented floral designer, a professional hair & makeup artist, and a wonderful celebrant to officiate their lakeside ceremony.
- Visual Moodboards & Inspirations : Defining the exact color palette, floral aesthetics, and editorial vibes for both the photo and video teams.
- Location Mockups & Layouts : Mapping out the best aesthetic angles and backdrops at the Jardin des Tuileries and the Bois de Vincennes.
By curating this full production brief and managing all the vendors in advance, we ensure that on the wedding day, our couples can completely let go, relax, and trust the process, knowing every single detail has already been meticulously planned.
Day 1 : Editorial Pre-Wedding Shoot in Paris
A few days before the elopement, we met Karen and David for a 2-hour editorial session in the heart of the city. To capture that effortless, chic Parisian aesthetic, we split the shoot into three distinct vibes :
- Jardin des Tuileries : For timeless, elegant, and classic French portraits.
- The Paris Subway : For a moody, modern, and editorial fashion look.
- Quais de Seine : For romantic, candid strolls along the riverbank.
Day 2 : The Elopement at Bois de Vincennes
On May 19th, it was finally time for the main event. While many couples instinctively choose the Eiffel Tower, Karen and David wanted a lush, poetic, and highly private sanctuary. The Bois de Vincennes was the absolute perfect choice.
First Look & Lakeside Ceremony
The day started with an incredibly emotional First Look under the park's historic, romantic Greek-style temple. David’s reaction to seeing Karen in her gown with her hair and makeup flawlessly styled by our team's artist is exactly why we highly recommend hiring a luxury elopement videographer. Video captures the breath, the tears, and the motion in a way photos alone cannot.
Shortly after, they walked down to the lake for the ceremony, beautifully conducted by our handpicked officiant. 9 of their closest friends flew all the way across the Atlantic to stand by their side under the weeping willows, holding gorgeous custom floral bouquets designed by our florist.
Embracing the Unexpected : Why Rain Makes Paris Magical
After exchanging their vows, the newlyweds rented a vintage wooden rowboat for some lakeside portraits. That is when the unpredictable French weather decided to surprise us with a sudden rain shower !
As experienced destination wedding planners, we quickly pivoted to our Plan B. We brought the couple and their guests back up to the shelter of the temple and set up their wedding picnic right there.
The rain actually transformed their day into something completely unique, cozy, and exclusive. Sheltered by the stone pillars, they shared deeply emotional speeches, cut their wedding cake, and popped champagne while overlooking the rainy lake. It felt like a private movie set, completely closed off from the world.
Seeing a vision we planned together for a year come to life & turning an unexpected rainstorm into pure magic is why we love what we do. Karen and David trusted our vision completely and walked away with an unforgettable experience and stunning galleries.
Whether you are looking for an intimate elopement in Paris, a chic wedding on the French Riviera, or a celebration anywhere else in the world, we handle it all. From the planning, moodboards, timeline, and booking your officiant, florist, and HMUA, to the photography and cinematography, we take care of everything so you can just focus on each other.
THE TEAM
Planning, photo & video : @rawstudio.paris
Content creation : @kyleeinfrance
HMUA : @crystalbride77
Florist : @arts_distributor
Officiant : @khanhpduong
Cake : @uneideedjenny
READY TO PLAN YOUR ELOPEMENT IN PARIS OR WOLDWIDE ?
We’d love to get in touch !
