LUDMILA & FRÉDÉRIC, A WEDDING IN THE GARD
Ludmila and Frédéric married at Marguerittes town hall, then at Manade Briaux in Bouillargues, between Nîmes and the Camargue. Ludmila is the best friend of Coline, whose wedding with Flo I had photographed a few years earlier: Coline is the one who told her to call me. With them, everything flowed: joy, a lot of love and a lovely bond.
THE FIRST LOOK AND MARGUERITTES TOWN HALL
For the first look, we had planned to meet at a precise address along a park in Marguerittes. A few days before, while checking every location of the day, I found that the address no longer existed: the street had been renamed. Without that check, we would have lost precious time. Frédéric saw Ludmila in the shade of the trees, then on to the town hall: rings, the register and an exit under petals.
ARRIVAL AT MANADE BRIAUX
At Manade Briaux in Bouillargues, the guests welcomed the newlyweds with applause, then I took a few portraits of Ludmila under the stone arch. The Les Mariées d’Avignon dress, Mister Vendôme suit, Glam by Houda make-up and L’Atelier de Daisy flowers suited the manade perfectly.
COCKTAIL HOUR TO GIPSY GUITARS
For the cocktail hour, the band Rumbeando Gipsy set the tone: guitars, rumba and guests dancing before dinner had even begun. Canapés from Au Délice Provençal and wines from Vilavigne Générac went round. Between two songs, I took Ludmila and Frédéric aside for a few minutes under the olive trees, without taking them from their party. Later, the bouquet toss took place along the cypress avenue.
COUPLE PHOTOS, LIGHT BEFORE SCENERY
During the day, several guests showed me “perfect” spots for photos. The places were beautiful, but the light was not: harsh sun and strong shadows on faces. I explained why I preferred to wait. Ludmila and Frédéric trusted me. Late in the day, under the olive trees and oleanders, the low evening light did the rest. They are delighted with their portraits.
FIRST DANCE AND AN EVENING UNDER THE ARCHES
The first dance took place outdoors, beneath the lit arches and flowering oleanders, surrounded by their loved ones. DJ Fabio took over, the dance floor filled, then the wedding cake arrived with its sparklers. The night ended under heart-shaped confetti. Their words on seeing the first photos: “It’s beautiful, we love it, thank you for your work, you were amazing.”
GETTING MARRIED IN THE GARD OR NEAR NÎMES?
Getting married near Nîmes, in the Gard or in the Camargue, at a manade or a mas? Let’s talk about your date and your photo timeline. You can also discover Marie and Thibaud’s wedding at Manade de Caillan in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, and a ceremony at Le Grand Belly in Rochefort-du-Gard, to explore other venues and light.