Winnie & Kim's Elopement Story

While Winnie and Kim were planning their big wedding in their home town Chicago they realised they much rather have an intimate ceremony with just their most dearest friends. As big fans of old architecture and the city of light, the choice for a microwedding in Paris didn't take long to make. And so the American couple started to plan their elopement for 15 guests at The Ritz Hotel in Paris.

Elopement ceremony at The Ritz

In the oasis that is the Grand Jardin at the Ritz, the ceremony was lead by a good friend (and a bridesmaid) of Winnie and Kim. Needless to say the ceremony was a super personal one in which there was lots of laughter. But when Winnie had a tearful moment, Kim had a handkerchief at hand immediately, which made for a supersweet moment. Contrary to traditions in a lot of European countries, for US ceremonies it is customary that the bride and groom stand during the entire ceremony. Something that does give pretty photos, especially with the beautiful floral arch backdrop that was created by Kahina Events.

The Reception at The Ritz Paris

After the ceremony followed a reception with champagne and a lunch at the Ritz's Salon d'Été. This beautiful salon is adjacent to the terrace of the Grand Jardin. Among other things they were served watermelon soup (which was so good, I'm never going to forget it!), citrus verrine, brioches, vanilla eclairs and other Parisian delicacies ánd speeches of the groom, the bride, the 'best man' and both the 'maids of honour'. The lunch ended with the cutting (and of course eating ;) ) of the wedding cake.

Hereafter the entire bridal party travelled to the Louvre, Trocadéro and Tuileries Gardens for a photo shoot in some of the most icon places of Paris. Apart from 3 guests everyone was part of the bridal party, consisting of the bridesmaids, the maids of honour (2 in this particular wedding) and the best man. We had only just finished up the shoot when it started to rain. Perfecte timing! After the shoot I said my farewells to the wedding couple and their guests, while they stepped on board an evening cruise along the river Seine. They ended the night with a candlelit dinner with a view on the twinkling lights of Paris.

Paris wedding photographer

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