My Top Tips to Capture Your Dream Day in Paris

Having been a regular guest in this incredible city for so long, I am able to assure you that I know a lot about Paris wedding photography. For many couples, the prospect of planning their wedding can be daunting. There are so many details to consider, from the theme of the wedding to the dresses, flowers, and music that will set the tone. There’s no denying that selecting and then executing a wedding plan takes a lot of work. However, you’ll reap the rewards when you see the end result. If you’re planning your wedding this year, then this guide is a must-read to make sure that your big day is nothing short of perfect. Read on to discover my top tips for capturing your dream wedding.

Choose a Wedding Location in Paris that Reflects Your Style

 

Before you begin planning, you’ll need to pick a location that reflects your style and vibe. Is your fiancé obsessed with nature? Do you love old-world traditions? These are all important questions to ask yourself when choosing a location. The wedding location can greatly affect the overall feel and vibe of your wedding day, so it’s important to pick something that best reflects your personality. Another important factor to consider is the weather. Are you planning an outdoor ceremony or reception? Or perhaps you want to host your reception at your home? Understanding the weather conditions in your wedding location can help you plan your wedding accordingly. Finally, think about how you want your wedding day to look. You might have a favorite wedding dress or flower theme that you want to incorporate into your wedding, and these will all affect how you choose a location.

Get to know your Paris wedding venue

 

Before booking a venue, do your research and try to get to know it as well as you can. What are the different aspects of the venue? What is the style of each room? What are the amenities of the venue? Where will you have your reception? What are some must-have features of the venue? Begin your venue exploration by visiting the venue as if you were a guest. Try to be as objective as possible as you explore the venue. The venue’s ambiance and atmosphere can heavily affect how you feel while at the wedding venue. You might be wondering what you should be looking out for a while at the venue, and here are some things to think about: – The décor and style of the venue: What is the overall style of the venue? Are there any particular themes that run through the decor? The ambiance of the venue can greatly affect the tone of your wedding day, so it’s important to pick something that best reflects your personality. – The amenities: What are the key features of the venue that you’ll need for your wedding? This can include things like a reception hall, lighting, bathrooms, etc. – The location: Where is the venue located? How easy is it to get to the venue? Is there ample parking? – The price range: The cost of the venue is often something that couples are surprised by. It’s important to be realistic about the cost of a venue, but you also don’t want to skimp on something too expensive either.

Top 6 Best Wedding venues in Paris

 

So, I have prepared my top 6 best wedding venues in Paris. I hope it will help you to organize your wedding in Paris.

1. Shangri-La Paris

This 5-star luxury hotel is located close to Trocadero Eiffel Tower (10 Avenue d’Iéna). The view of the Eiffel tower brings the most Parisian atmosphere to your wedding day.  Additionally, the Seine riverside, as well as the Eiffel Tower gardens are nearby – all excellent spots for Paris wedding photos. The capacity of the venue is up to 200 guests. More information here.

2. Paris Four Seasons Georg V

The hotel is located between the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées (31 Avenue George V). This beautiful hotel offers beautiful interiors and stunning ballrooms for a dream come true Paris wedding. More information here.

3. Hotel de Crillon

If you want to have your wedding in a ballroom that has been around for over 300 years, then Hotel De Crillon is the perfect place for you! It was originally built as an inn for travelers who were trying to get from Paris to Versailles during King Louis XIV’s reign. Nowadays it serves as a luxury hotel and wedding venue in Paris. The capacity of this wedding venue is up to 100 guests. More information here. 

4. Musee Rodin

Musée Rodin is a monument and museum dedicated to the famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin. It can also be used for Paris wedding photos, Paris wedding receptions, or Paris elopement ceremonies. For an outdoor ceremony in Paris, the garden is the perfect place, but the indoor spaces are stunning as well. The capacity of this wedding venue is up to 100 guests. More information here.

5. Jardin du Luxembourg

If you are looking for a wedding venue in Paris that will give you the opportunity to have an outdoor wedding with lots of greenery around you, then I recommend choosing Jardin du Luxembourg as your venue! It’s located on Rue de Vaugirard, and it’s just a short walk from the Eiffel Tower. This garden has everything! There are fountains and sculptures all over the place that are absolutely beautiful! The garden also has many trees that provide shade for guests in case they want to escape from the sun for a little while. More information here.

Jardin du Luxembourg is one of my favorite places in Paris! It’s a great place to relax and enjoy some fresh air. I’ve been here a few times and I’ve always had a good time. There is also a playground for children, so you can take your kids there to have some quality time with them while you wait for the ceremony to start.

6. Paris Opera house

It is without a doubt the most exclusive wedding venue in Paris. When I began shooting weddings in Paris, opera didn’t accept events like weddings. But times have changed and they started to welcome weddings there. In order to have your dream wedding at the lavish Parisian Opera House, you’ll need to close it off for 12 hours or 24 hours. This will cost a certain amount of money. Therefore, you can expect this place’s starting price of €200k+.

There are several ballrooms you may choose from:

  • The Main Auditorium
  • The Foyers and the First floor
  • The Rotonde des Abonnés
  • The Rotonde du Glacier
  • The Salon Florence Gould

Depending on your wedding budget and the number of guests, there is plenty of choice at Paris Opera House. More information here.

 

Don’t forget about the bridal party in Paris

 

There’s no denying the fact that you’ll be very busy throughout the wedding planning process. You’ll be planning the big day and also making sure that you and your fiancé are both ready to walk down the aisle. However, don’t forget to include the bridal party in your wedding planning process too. They’ll serve as your witnesses, and they’ll be a huge part of the day. Make sure that you have a sit down with the bridal party so that you can go over any last-minute wedding planning details with them. Besides, you might want to include the bridal party in your wedding planning process for another reason too: you might want to incorporate one of the bridal party’s favorite traditions into your wedding. Maybe your bridesmaids love to toss bouquets or do a quick dance during the ceremony. Whatever it is, make sure to include them in the wedding planning process.

Have the Parisian outdoor wedding ceremony 

 

One of the best wedding planning tips that you’ll ever hear is to have the ceremony outside. Why would you want to have the ceremony in the middle of a huge crowd? There are so many beautiful outdoor locations that you can choose from. You can even choose to have a destination wedding and have the ceremony on a beach or tropical location. If you can’t decide where to have the ceremony, you might want to consider having the ceremony by a lake, a river, an ocean, or in a park. Another beautiful wedding planning tip that you’ll want to follow is to have the officiant speak a little something about nature. Why not have your officiant speak about the meaning of love and marriage? This wedding planning tip is very romantic and will leave your guests feeling very inspired.

Celebrate your Paris Wedding with your Loved Ones

 

The wedding day is a celebration of your love for one another, and it’s important to make the most of the day. You’ll want to make sure that you and your loved ones have a good time. Therefore, during the reception, you’ll want to have a good mix of formal and informal dancing. Make sure that you find a song that everyone can get up and dance to. You can also go through some of your favorite wedding photos so that the guests can get an idea of what to expect. Besides, during the reception, you’ll also want to make sure that you keep your guests happy. You don’t want to make your guests sit at the reception all night, so you can always offer them drinks or appetizers. You can also try to register for some sort of wait service when you book your reception venue. This will allow you to take care of your guests without making you miss any important moments during the reception.

Tips for Capturing Your Dream Paris Wedding

 

There are so many wedding planning tips out there, and it can be a challenge to narrow down which ones are the most useful. To make it easier for you, here are some tips on how to capture your dream wedding: – Capture your engagement: Before you walk down the aisle, it’s important to capture the moment when your fiancé surprises you with an engagement ring. This will be an important part of the wedding day for you, and it’ll also be a great photo to use as an engagement photo. – Plan ahead: Yes, planning a wedding takes work, but it’s worth it in the end. You’ll be glad that you put the effort into it when you see the end result. – Keep your guests in mind: You’ll want to make sure that your guests feel included and welcome at your wedding. Therefore, you’ll want to include your guests in the wedding planning process by asking for their opinions and thoughts on different wedding planning decisions. – Make your dream wedding come true: It’s important to remember that your wedding is what you make of it. If you have a specific dream wedding that you want to make come true, make sure to work towards making that dream a reality.

Conclusion

 

As we’ve seen, planning a wedding is a huge undertaking, and it can feel like it will never end. However, once you’ve gotten through it, you’ll realize how rewarding it can be. The key to a successful wedding is taking the time to plan it thoroughly, and this guide is here to help you do just that.

Oh yes – Paris! My number one destination to shoot weddings. It’s 2 hrs train ride or 45 mins flight from London – no wonder I’m there every other weekend. Be it local French couples who fancy something different or destination weddings from the US or anywhere worldwide. The top photo must be one of my favorites – on the top of the Four Seasons George V, we got the permission for shooting up there, wonderful 5 minutes of pure joy and happiness. This is why I like shooting weddings in Paris. I like the diversity – you can have weddings in top hotels like The Ritz Paris, Le Bristol, and the Lancaster – or in a small chapel-like Chapelle Expiatoire or back garden of the Notre Dame or the amazing Invalides, everything seems to have a different scale over there!

Paris wedding photographer

 

And if you are looking for a Paris wedding photographer or anywhere else around the world, please contact me at [email protected] or call +44 7979974527.

Love!

Janis Ratnieks

 

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