Category: DESTINATION WEDDING

  • Wedding Venue Spotlight: Restaurant La Fontaine Gaillon

    As Paris wedding planners, we are always thrilled to find new places in town to host a perfect destination wedding. We went to check out La Fontaine Gaillon, a venue recently used by our California friends at No Worries Events for a destination wedding they organised in Paris. We love that the establishment offers the unique combination of a beautiful terrace to conduct a ceremony and lovely private rooms in which to host the reception. La Fontaine Gaillon opened as a restaurant in 2003 and is owned by none other than the famous French actor, Gerard Depardieu. His vision was to create an intimate space where clients would feel truly at home, and that is certainly what he has achieved. The mansion also has a rich history having had many royal owners in its time; and the fountain was restored in 1928 by Visconti (famed for being the architect of Napoleons tomb at the Invalides). 

    The venue is situated in the heart of Paris between Opera and Palais Royal, tucked away in Place Augustine. The fountain is set into the wall of the historic mansion creating a beautiful backdrop to saying “I do.” Ceremonies can take place on the terrace, which holds 30-40 people, between 5 and 6pm, Monday through Friday.

    Guests can then move on to dine in your chosen room up until 11:30pm. Aside from the Italian terrace there are 5 private rooms each with a different ambiance and capacity. The smallest private room is the “Empire” which holds up to 6 people; and the largest is the “Régence” which holds up to 30. Renting a room ranges in price from 30 euros – 120 euros depending on which size you choose.  

    Private Room Victorien holds 4-10 guests
    Private Room Michodiere holds 8-16 guests

    Source: www.zagot.com

    This makes it the perfect venue to host a reception no matter how many guests you have.  The rooms are full of character with intricately patterned walls and chandeliers creating a regal feel. Smaller rooms allow guests to sit around a single table in complete privacy truly creating a feeling of being at home. Being able to host the ceremony and reception together in the same venue provides huge advantages in having a relaxed day in which guests can enjoy. The warm and welcoming atmosphere adds to this feeling of serenity. Floral decorations can also be arranged with their local florist “Un Jardin Imaginaire”, to personalise the space and complete your big day.

     

     

    Private Room Régence holds 17-30 guests


    La Fontaine Gaillon is passionate about serving genuine traditional cuisine and the menu changes according to season and produce available each day. It is designing the menu in this way which allows them to create exceptional dishes, they are also therefore very adaptable catering to all dietary requirements and tastes. For your reception you can choose either a 3 course menu priced at 58 euros per person, or a 5 course menu for 110 euros per person. Typical dishes include Roasted Filet of John Dory, and Entrecote Black Angus in Béarnaise Sauce; with deserts such as strawberries in Anjou wine. A truly delicious selection to choose from.  Their wine and champagne list is also excellent with 150 choices from small local vineyards and some more exotic choices from Morocco and Sicily.

    We hope this combination of luxury cuisine, beautiful surroundings and history will inspire one of you to choose  La Fontaine Gaillon  as your destination wedding venue in Paris soon!

     

  • Paris Elopement: Tara & Michael from Illinois, USA

    The lovely Tara and Michael recently eloped to Paris. They had an outdoor ceremony at the Park Monceau; one of our favorite public parks in Paris. If you are considering an elopement in Paris and are looking for the perfect location for your ceremony, you may want to read one of our previous blog posts on some of the best locations for a Paris elopement.

    Of course there are numerous gorgeous places one might choose. Some are quite famous such as those around the Eiffel tower; others are more quaint  and charming, tucked away on a hidden street or a lovely boutique hotel’s courtyard. It is really all up to you and as a wedding planner, we are here to help, guide and advise.

    The time of the day is an important factor to consider, firstly in terms of lighting for the photographs,  and secondly simply because with spring comes the tourist season. Some locations might get quite crowded with tourists and people passing by. The French love brides, and will stop to watch and satisfy their curiosity! You might even get a horde of Chinese tourists gathering around with their cameras and iphones if they notice that a wedding ceremony is taking place … We saw this happening a few time during a ceremony at the Park Jean XXIII right behind Notre Dame.  Personally I think it is quite fun and part of the experience of getting married out in the streets of Paris. However if you are looking for somewhere quiet and discrete while you exchange you vows, choose your location carefully!

    Every couple who decides to  plan their wedding and elopement with us have different ideas for their very special day. This is why we customize our wedding planning services to everyone’s individual  dreams. Our clients are unique; our services are as well.

    You can view more of the photos of this beautiful elopement on Paris wedding photographer WeddingLight’s blog. If you have any questions about getting married in Paris, we would be more than happy to help out. 

    Photography by WeddingLight Photography
    English Speaking Photographer in Paris

  • Paris Celebration: Sara & Zaid from New Zealand

    Yet another beautiful elopement in Paris for a couple flying in all the way from New Zealand with their closest family members. Sara and Zaid had celebrated their wedding in New Zealand a few weeks prior to their arrival in Paris. However because of their  love for Paris they wanted to do something special in the city of lights as well. Our WeddingLight English speaking photographer in Paris took them around town for a fun photo shoot. They had diner at ” the Zuriand by Noura ” the restaurant on the last floor of the Arab institute with a killer view over the seine and Notre Dame at night.
    Marco from WeddingLight did a very sweet video of the afternoon as well. Here are a few of the photos of their elopement and more on the WeddingLight website.

    ELOPEMENT Video by WeddingLight Paris wedding videographer

  • Paris Wedding: Jacquelyn & Livingston’s Elegant Georges V Wedding Celebration

     Paris Wedding Photographer Olivier Lalin of WeddingLight Paris

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    An escape to Paris from the Big Apple for Jacquelyn & Livingston’s wedding was like a fairy tale. I still cannot believe how beautiful and romantic the entire celebration turned out… When they arrived in Paris it was freezing cold, which was expected really. Despite the weather though, it did not stop the wedding party and guests from making an appearance in front of the Eiffel Tower for a seemingly impromptu flash mob dance, (if 15 people dancing to music supplied by our DJ’s speaker can be called a mob). After making it through the initial stage fright, they had a blast and the memory of it all was captured forever by our wonderful photographer, Olivier of WeddingLight Photography who turned videographer for our enjoyment of the memory for many years to come.

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    The next day was the wedding ceremony. Officiant, Minister Rudolph Nickens, is a long time friend of the family. He knew all the right words to make the ceremony meaningful, as they began their new lives together. Every detail from the flowers — especially the flowers were perfect. The wedding theme colors were coral, peach and ivory.

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    Jeff Leatham created a design of mixed roses and hydrangeas displayed on mirror stands with candles, and using glass candelabras for a more elegant feel. Everything down to the candles — to the three, yes three — cakes were perfect. To explain the cakes: Jacquelyn and her mother are something of cake-a-holics and so they each had their own, and of course the groom could not be left out either.

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    The bride’s cake was prepared by our pastry Chef Lucien Gautier and was a 4-tiered cake with different whimsical flavors, inspired by yellow cake, red velvet cake and carrot cake, topped by a chocolate cake and covered with white vanilla and buttercream icing. Livingston’s (the groom) cake was made of chocolate and peanut butter and the bride’s mother also wanted a cake for herself; this was a traditional French Croquembouche made of small chocolate and vanilla cream puffs.

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    Oh, Jacquelyn had fallen in LOVE with Romona Keveza wedding dresses, so not only did she buy one but TWO. She could change to a more manageable wedding gown for the reception party. Following the diner we all went to the V.I.P Club and danced until the early hours of the morning. Two days after the wedding they donned their wedding attire once again and went on a tour of the city with our lively photographer, Olivier.

    ” The pictures will be the best I will ever have taken — thanks to our make up stylist of the Stars, Angélik Iffennecker and because of Olivier’s exceptional talent.”

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    “All in all, our time in Paris was the best time of my life!  Thank you, mother and father for putting it all into place and making it to this point with me. Can’t wait for my vow renewal !!! I hope every single person is available in five years (or is 2 years too soon?)! Paris is the most romantic city in the world. I wanted to have an excuse to come every year for our anniversary. “

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    Paris Wedding photographer – From Olivier Lalin of WeddingLight the Photographer: I first met Jacquelyn and Livingston on the Pont de Iena, where we filmed their “impromptu” flash mob dance. It was cold on that day, Marco, my videographer and I got so exited about the whole thing, we forgot we were freezing. It simply rocked and we had a great time capturing Jacquelyn and Livingston’s special mini flash mob event. From that moment on, I knew the wedding itself was going to be above and beyond a whole lot of fun. It was great seeing this young group of people so excited to be in the “City of Lights,” especially since for most of them it was their the first time! The flash mob dance was the first highlight of the week end, but more was on its way..

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    Our second meeting on the roof of the Georges V Hotel, where we did a short portrait session. It is very rare that a hotel will let a photographer roam freely, but when you actually do get permission, I can certainly say it is bliss! The view was magnificent and Jacquelyn and Livingston looked just perfect. I loved the whole wedding and especially going to the V.I.P Club for the after party, which was the third highlight of the weekend. We mingled with the crowd and just had a great time celebrating. The French love their brides and Jacquelyn was getting the “VIP” treatment, which I am sure made the evening even more memorable.

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     Then, a couple of days later, we met again for a three-hour photo shoot through Paris. We hopped in our car and were off to have some fun shooting through some of the city’s most iconic spots like the Eiffel Tower, along the Seine and its gorgeous bridges and many more wonderful places. Then I took them to the Tuilerie garden, down rue de Rivoli, rue de la Paix, Place Vendome, the Opera area, and of course, the Louvre. From those three hours, I took over 400 photos of the gorgeous couple. It is such a wonderful feeling seeing love and a couple who is so happy and and ready to spend the rest of their lives together. All in all, I have to say that this was a gorgeous wedding and fun-filled weekend and I feel so lucky to have been able to be a part of it!

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    wedding+photographer+Paris

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    Wedding Photographer Paris – Olivier Lalin from WeddingLight photographed the wedding of Jacquelyn and Livingstone at the Georges V Paris.

    By the way, if you are looking for a cocktail dress to wear in Paris, make sure you visit our interview of Max Chaoul in Paris on WeddingLight Events blog.

  • Paris Wedding: Jan and Jeremy from California, USA

    Our dear clients Jan and Jeremy from San Diego married in Paris yesterday under a big cloudy sky and hardly a drop of rain. With 32 friends and family it was one of the biggest weddings we’ve  organized this year but we love a good challenge! Everything ran like clockwork, from the ceremony in front of the Eiffel Tower to the boat ride along the Seine… not to mention the delicious reception dinner at L’Ilot Vache. Olivier had the pleasure of accompanying the happy couple on their intimate photo tour of Paris – here’s a sneak peak of what they got up to!

    Yanique from WeddingLight Events throwing Petals at Jan and Jeremy overlooking the seine yesterday! Dedicated and happy wedding planner

    Photography by Paris Wedding photographer Olivier Lalin of WeddingLight

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    Jan and Jeremy were a joy to work with and we loved hearing their romantic tales – Jan’s dress was worn not only by her mother but also her mother’s friend, then it was tailored to fit Jan by Jeremy’s mother… that’s her something borrowed ticked off! Oh and if you’re wondering (and we know you are) that beautiful bouquet was made by our friend Estelle from Estelle Flowers.

    Photography by Paris Wedding photographer Olivier Lalin of WeddingLight

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    We can’t thank Jan and Jeremy enough for letting us be a part of their amazing day, what a way to start a lifetime together! For more gorgeous photos of the lucky couple visit Olivier’s WeddingLight blog