Arcachon wedding photographer: the bay boat is sailing at the botton of Dune du Pyla and all the wedding guests take this opportunity watch the paragliders flirt with the sand

A wedding in Arcachon

Arcachon bay

A lovely intimate wedding!

So, 2020 and weddings in France…My guess is the wedding season here ended up being as complicated as everywhere else: cancellations, date changes, difficult conditions for the brave couples that went through with theirs anyway…I think we’re all ready for 2021! I think we’re all ready for 2021! My wedding season started in August, 4 months after what was supposed to be my real first wedding of the season in Paris. But I guess there are worst things in the world than to start with a wedding in Arcachon – especially aftert the long wait!

Roxane and Saad had planned on hosting their wedding in and around her parents’ home, over two days so they could have plenty of time to enjoy their guests. Because of Covid, most of Saad’s family could not make it to France, but the guests that could make it did their best to fill that void and to make this an unforgettable and intimate Arcachon wedding.

The wedding celebrations were to take part in two parts. First the actual union was to take place at the Pyla-Sur-Mer town hall, followed by a reception at their family home in Arcachon. The next day would then be dedicated to activites around the Bassin d’Arcachon and Dune du Pilat, for which they had privatised a boat. The wedding celebrations were then wrapped up in one of the famous Arcacon oyster huts.

The civil ceremony in Arcachon

And so the day starts in the family home with Roxane getting ready in the little pool chalet . Roxane is surrounded by talented friends and her dress was created by one of them, while her hair and make up was taken care of by another one. A friend’s story!

Once ready, we head out to the Pyla-sur-Mertown hall and its very nice mayor, who, aware of the fact that only some of the guests would be allowed into the wedding room due to covid restrictions, decided to start the ceremony outside. Thankfully some people like this mayor made getting married this year a little sweeter for the brides and grooms!

After the ceremony, we take a few minutes together to do a very quick couple photo shoot and that’s when all the stress and emotion of the day starts getting to Roxane. I let them be for a few minutes and we’re off to the least stressful part of the day: the party!

Back at the femily house in Arcachon,all the friends and family are ready to help the newlyweds celebrate their day with plenty of love,laughter, champagne but also, less common, with a piñata! I scared the guests by getting a little close to it, but, spoiler alert, nothing bad happened.

An excursion around the Bassin d’Arcachon for the newlyweds and their guests!

The next morning, the guests’ heads are more or less feeling some pounding, nevertheless they make their way to the Arcachon pier for a day of fun and shenanigans around the bay. The nice little picnic on board and the gentle movement of the waves is too much for some guests to handle, ending in some of them giving in to Lady Siesta. We then dock at Le Canon, a very popular place on the Arcachon Bay, famous for its small coloured oyster shacks. Some guests use the opportunity to stop for a coffee, while others go for a walk. All then meet up at the main beach where a couple of people have a dip in the water.

Back on the boat, we sail past the beaches and nice villas of the Cap Ferret and then head down to the bottom of the Dune du Pilatand its many paragliders. On our way we’re met by a lovely half sun half cloud light, making for an even more magical experience.

After that we make our way back to Arcachon – and, to the relief of many guests for whom a nap seemed like the only way forward, enjoy a small break before dinner time. And talking about dinner, it’s in pure Arcachon fashion that we all meet at one of the oyster huts, Kabane 171 to wrap up this lovely wedding weekend around some oysters, good wine and lovely sunset!

So yes, 2020 has been challenging on so many levels, and I’m definitely hoping the 2021 wedding season will be easier. But Covid also made for a different type of wedding, one where the bride and groom can enjoy their guests more and come up with activities they wouldn’t have been able to offer them if they had been 200 strong. I have to say the Arcachon bay was also perfect for that, and my guess is most of the region around Bordeaux could have offered the same kind of experience! Maybe intimate elopments in France are the way to go to fully enjoy one’s wedding day? If you’re thinking about coming to get married over this way, and are looking for a French wedding photographer then do get in touch so we can discuss your project!