🇬🇧 English version
If you're familiar with my approach, you know I love to break the mold. Creativity drives me, and I choose to document weddings only when the project inspires me and I have a good connection with the couple.
Meeting the future spouses is a rule I never break. I need to find meaning in everything I undertake. It's a choice I made ten years ago, and I stand by it today, convinced that there are no coincidences, only meaningful encounters.
This doesn't mean that traditional weddings don't interest me. On the contrary, whether alternative or classic, as long as they are unique, original, and personalized, I'm all in!
What touches me is when you also infuse meaning into your wedding. What interests me is that it reflects who you are. That's what will make it unique, as it will be inspired by your story, your personalities, your beliefs, and convictions.
There isn't just one style of "non-conventional wedding." The truth is, there are as many unconventional weddings as there are couples.
Your wedding is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful days of your life together. It's the day you can dare anything!
Choose your venue, your guests, your outfits, and especially your type of ceremony!
In 2022, there are no more "norms": in recent years, the United States has inspired us with "secular" ceremonies, allowing many couples to choose their officiant, their customs, and especially not necessarily to unite in a place of worship.
I've had the chance to follow couples from all backgrounds, all religions, in incredible places! And I've loved it!
From shamanic to indian weddings...
The Var region is known for its incredible landscapes, a place where people come on vacation and where anything is possible! Just stroll through the port of Saint-Tropez to see that here, boundaries are pushed, codes are broken, and boldness is celebrated!
But it's also a hub for spiritual retreats... nestled in nature, in small villages perched on the heights... You'll find charming little paradises, still untouched by mass tourism, perfect for practicing meditation, yoga, forest therapy, and many other methods to promote well-being, recharge, and rejuvenate.
That's how I met wonderful couples wanting to organize their wedding in unique locations, ranging from old Provençal stone houses to beautiful green settings lost in the heart of the garrigue.
I've had the privilege of attending outdoor wedding ceremonies with shamanic rituals, photographing spiritual celebrations honoring the four cardinal points corresponding to the four elements: water, air, fire, and earth, symbols of the origin of the world. We give thanks to our "Mother Earth" with colorful offerings, share spiritual songs while holding hands, and recite mantras... unforgettable experiences that, unfortunately, I can't publish images of here, to respect the privacy of these discreet lovers.
I've curated a selection of inspiring images sourced from Canva to set the mood...
10 years of alternative weddings
The originality of a wedding lies in a multitude of details.
Between 2012 and 2022, I've documented entirely traditional weddings: Saturday ceremonies, preparations, civil ceremonies at the town hall, religious ceremonies at the church, and the famous reception... but also:
- Weekday weddings,
- Three-day weddings,
- Weddings with 250 guests,
- Intimate weddings with 20 guests,
- Destination weddings,
- Weddings in other regions of France,
- Heterosexual weddings,
- Gay weddings...
I've experienced unique venues: by the sea, in the woods, in tents, under a marquee, in private homes, in hangars, in castles, on docks, on yachts, and more...
I’ve photographed couples making their grand entrance on a motorcycle—one pair even burst through a screen right into the reception hall!
Some showed up 15 people strong in a massive Hummer limo—so huge they had to get out on the road because the venue’s entrance was too narrow!
Others arrived on donkeys, on horseback, by boat, helicopter, mini-moke, Méhari… you name it.
There were daytime and nighttime ceremonies, ceremonies on the water, in the air, with shamanic rituals, Hindu rites, Native American traditions, German weddings, English, Moroccan, Franco-Indian, Franco-Swedish…
Some brides changed outfits twice, others three times—some wore black, some purple, one wore red… the rest wore white. I’ve seen short dresses, long dresses, suits, asymmetrical gowns, grooms in jeans, one in shorts, guys in sneakers, girls in leather jackets and motorcycle boots…
And I’ve taken the wildest group photos!
With “Kamehameha” poses, games like “Red Light, Green Light”, bare bums from girls, boys, and even kids (!), backs turned, funny faces, selfies at the photo booth, under the tables, even in the bathrooms…
At incredible venues like château Pampelonne, château Vaudois, Font du Broc, château Sainte Roseline, Saint Julien d'Aille, domaine de La Croix, Fondugues-Pradugues, le château Valmer, château Saint-Maur, domaine Sainte Marie, château des Anglades, domaine de la Baratonne, mas du Pourret...
On the iconic beaches of Saint-Tropez: Mooréa, l'Orangerie, Stefano for ever, Tropezina, les Jumeaux, la Réserve, la pinède at Gigaro, le Bellini at Cavalaire...
In luxury hotels: mas Bellevue, l'Orangeraie, Lily of the Valley, hôtel Sezz, Bastide des Adrets, Tourelles...
And restaurants like Pearl Beach Saint Tropez or Chez Bruno from Lorgues...
Not to mention two wedding cakes shaped like the Taj Mahal, a cheese wedding cake, giant Tarte Tropéziennes, crazy choreographies, shows, games, fireworks, food trucks… in short: everything!
Around you, weddings come and go and often look the same. But you can choose to make yours a truly unique celebration that everyone will remember.
Meet your vendors: every professional has a different approach to weddings. Thankfully, just like in all creative fields, there are many artists with different ideas, values, and sensibilities. You’ll definitely find the right ones for your vision!
This is your vision of marriage.
Dare to request a dress code: it's a visual gift for your photos and videos!
Think through each detail. Go DIY.
Get your witnesses and loved ones involved: this day should reflect your couple’s personality.
It will fly by, so make it count. Please yourselves first.
Breaking news!!!
At the end of this May, I’ll be covering another spiritual wedding.
A beautiful couple reached out for me to capture their day — and I’m absolutely thrilled (and honestly a bit impatient!).
Their plan is amazing: first, the traditional civil ceremony, followed by a boat trip through the Calanques so guests can meet and make offerings to the sea. Then, we’ll head to Lily of the Valley for drinks, before heading down to the beach for a Native American-inspired ceremony...
And there’s more: the bride asked me to join her and a group of women beforehand to sing a ceremonial song with drums and rattles. I happily said yes — especially since I now know quite a few gratitude chants by heart!
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