Paris Elopement

Imagine planning a Paris Elopement of your dreams. Then the day before, was informed that the Tour De France was ending in the city. Imagine hearing your ideal ceremony spot was no longer the best one, and you had to change locations. That is how this styled elopement started. Nonetheless, the day still ended up being magical and it was all you could hope for.

Paris Wedding Photographer

Hey, there! My name is Dana Arnold and I am a destination wedding photographer. My style is all about serving fun-loving and adventure seeking couples getting married in Europe. Whether in the South of France or country-side of the UK, getting to be the one to document your wedding day means so much to me. Along the way, I love sharing the real life as a photographer who travels. Along with real weddings, elopement inspiration, tips, and more.

Destinations with Dana

The moment I decided I wanted to become a destination wedding photographer, I knew that Paris was the location I wanted to plan a shoot in. My first international trip was to Paris, and it’s where the idea of traveling stole my heart. Once a retreat was booked with AMV Retreats, the plan was to arrive in Paris days before and plan a shoot. Being a part-time wedding dress consultant, I get access to beautiful dresses that motivate me to create shoots all the time! This was no different.

I went with a classic ivory strapless ballgown that had pockets and included was a pearl veil, a hand-made bow with pearls, and pearl earrings. Connecting with many vendors in the area of Paris, I knew the team I wanted to invest in to make this vision come to life! We decided to go with spring colors. The florals were yellows, ivories, blues, and pinks. The suit? Navy and yellow! Carrying dresses across the world can be difficult, but I made it work and was just so excited this was finally happening.

Paris Elopement

The day before the shoot, after having my own headshots done, I started to get worried. Exploring the original location for the ceremony, not only was it packed, but construction was taking place. On top of this, it was the weekend of the Tour De France ending in Paris. So, placing two and two together, it was set to be very challenging. I wanted to do this photoshoot in the late afternoon, to showcase that you can still get beautiful photos in all light if you have the right photographer. However, I did not take into effect how crowded it was going to be. For both summer vacation and the Tour De France.

Last minute, I changed spots for our “ceremony” and we traveled to Alexander III bridge. Placing florals on each side, we made this the spot for our couple to say I Do.

Aside from us, there were about 30 other photoshoots happening around us at the same time. Not surprising, because of the view! The sun was in a good spot and you still have the Eiffel Tower in the background. Not wanting to take up too much time, we staged our ceremony, took some fun portraits, and then left to our next spot!

Palais Royal

If you are having a Paris Elopement, this is one location to consider! There was one particular pose that I wanted to do with our bride, Agnes. We were approached by an employee asking for permits and information, and this was something we had to send and report. There was no issue to continue though, and I was able to capture the vision I had. Worth it, because this shot is one of my favorites!

Portraits at the Louvre

Our final stop was at The Louvre and the Pyramids. This was a vision of mine that I had for years, long before I started to photograph destinations weddings. It was to have a photoshoot at The Louvre and it was a dream and vision come to life. Although packed, the spot was amazing and the light gave way to warm and glowing photos.