REAL COUPLES AND THEIR ELOPEMENTS
ELIZABETH & STEVEN
PARISIAN ROMANCE:
BREATHTAKING TERRACE CEREMONY AT A UNIQUE HOTEL
EARLY MARCH ELOPEMENT
Planning and photography by Tim
Story by Helene
Elizabeth and Steven wanted to have a romantic elopement in the City of Love. They planned for early March and were afraid of the weather. The bride booked a private Eiffel Tower terrace to have an intimate ceremony under the sky of Paris. Here is a story about the whole process with all the details.
Helene: "Bonjour all the beautiful, adventurous, and ambitious ladies, our wonderful brides who are exploring this article. And our respect to the intelligent handsome future grooms. Hope you have a good time reading this case study. Let's begin!"
ELIZABETH AND STEVEN
The couple met in 2017 at a restaurant
where they shared an appetizer of meatballs
Meet Elizabeth and Steven, a lovely couple from Virginia, near Washington DC. They love staying active, exploring wineries, hiking, playing with their golden retrievers, and cheering for their favorite American football team.
In November of 2023, Steven and Elizabeth got engaged at a beautiful Virginia winery.
Elizabeth knew that eloping was just right for their couple: "We decided to elope because we love traveling and seeing new places together. This trip signifies more than just our wedding; it's the closing of one chapter and the opening of another."
WHAT ELIZABETH AND STEVEN WANTED
Elizabeth wanted her wedding to be very romantic. She was a little scared of the weather surprises that Paris might bring because she wanted her day to be perfect. So, she asked about an indoor ceremony option.
Elizabeth asked us : "One thing I am concerned about is the wind. I read your blog post that Paris is a windy city. Are there any indoor options ? Do you have any recommendations for the prettiest terrace locations in Paris in March? We are ready to book something private."
Elizabeth's favorite color is pink, so that was her elopement style. She wanted the details to be light pink.
For the photoshoot, Elizabeth and Steven wanted to visit the most famous Paris locations.
OUR CHALLENGE
The Do It Paris Way team faced the challenge of finding the perfect private location for the couple and executing the Carousel package at that location. We recommended the private Eiffel Tower terrace, where the entire elopement took place.
EIFFEL TOWER TERRACE AT HOTEL MARIGNAN CHAMPS-ELYSÉES
Hotel Marignan offers two terrace options: one large terrace for elopements with guests on the 6th floor, and a smaller terrace on the 7th floor. Elizabeth opted for the smaller one, known as the SUITE TERRASSE EIFFEL. This room features a 40m2 (430.56 square feet) terrace with a view of the Eiffel Tower, making it ideal for intimate elopements for two.
The Eiffel Tower Terrace at Hotel Marignan Champs-Elysées offers a stunning panoramic view of the iconic Eiffel Tower, providing a romantic backdrop for weddings and events. Situated in the heart of Paris, this elegant terrace provides an intimate setting for couples to exchange vows and celebrate their love surrounded by breathtaking views of the city.
This terrace is not a part of our default location list and needs to be booked separately directly at the hotel's website.
THE PLANNING PROCESS
Working with Elizabeth was absolutely wonderful! The entire elopement planning process unfolded over about 2 months. Here's how it went:
1. Elizabeth initially reached out via our website's contact form
2. We confirmed the dates and selected the elopement package together
3. Elizabeth and Steven reviewed our Carousel package PDF. After securing the deposit and signing the contract, everything was set
4. Elizabeth asked about private location options. We recommended some terrace options and Elizabeth chose Hotel Marignan
5. Elizabeth booked Hotel Marignan room herself via their website. She also sent an email to the hotel explaining that she was planning a ceremony there and asked for a table with a white tablecloth and ice bucket for champagne
6. Elizabeth and Steven went shopping for their outfits
7. Elizabeth shared her inspiration board with Helene for flowers and makeup ideas
8. Elizabeth booked pink balloons for their photoshoot at the company called Wow Factory
9. Three days prior to the elopement, Tim crafted a detailed wedding day timeline.
10. A day before the elopement, Elizabeth and Steven went shopping for pink macarons and found them at Ladurée
On the wedding day, everything ran smoothly as planned, and we all enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere.
ELOPEMENT STYLE
Seasonal color palettes for women categorize colors based on the tones that complement their natural skin, hair, and eye colors.
Every woman falls into one of four categories: Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter. Each palette is tailored to enhance the individual's features, with Spring featuring warm, bright hues like coral and turquoise, Summer embracing soft, cool tones like pastel blues and lavenders, Autumn showcasing rich, earthy colors like olive green and rust, and Winter highlighting bold, contrasting shades like deep blues and jewel tones.
Elizabeth falls into the summer color type category, characterized by low contrast in natural appearance and typically light, muted, delicate features:
If you're a summer and unsure where to start with your flower selection, any of those colors would be a safe choice for you.
Pink is an ideal color for Elizabeth, given her summer color type. She incorporated this hue into every detail of her elopement, from balloons and macarons to flowers and more:
Let's take a look at bridal flowers. Elizabeth wanted a round bouquet made of ivory and blush pink roses. Without any greenery, simple ivory ribbon:
Bouquet by Helene
THE CEREMONY SETUP
The hotel arranged a table with a white tablecloth, while Elizabeth brought along some macarons. She went to Ladurée the day before the elopement. We also had champagne and glasses ready. Together, these elements created a beautiful ceremony setup on the terrace. Romance under the Parisian sky.
Steven's portrait
Pretty details in pink
Decorated Champagne table
The macaron flavor is raspberry and rose petals
A delightful French dessert
THE FIRST LOOK
Elizabeth and Steven shared a special moment as they saw each other for the first time on their elopement day. Their eyes met with excitement and love.
Moments before saying I DO...
Getting ready in style
They exchanged smiles and excitement as they saw each other
WEDDING CEREMONY FOR ELIZABETH AND STEVEN
Elizabeth and Steven, with just the two of them, exchanged vows and rings and said their I DO's. The moment was filled with love and promises for their future together, creating memories they would cherish forever.
A dream wedding ceremony with a beautiful view.
The moment we've been waiting for
When they say I DO, forever begins
Elizabeth and Steven's private ceremony
Ring exchange
Vows said, rings on, and sealed with a happy kiss
Elizabeth and Steven exchanged vows and then shared a special Champagne moment. With the Eiffel Tower in the backdrop, they raised their glasses in celebration.
Yay, finally married!
Celebrating love in bubbles
PARIS PHOTOSHOOT
In the Carousel package that Elizabeth and Steven booked, we include 3 Paris locations and around 140 edited photos.
Elizabeth shared her photoshoot vision: "We want to capture memories of us in Paris. We're really excited. The one thing we want to avoid is crowds."
We ensured that Elizabeth and Steven had no people around them during their photoshoot.
A Parisian love affair
Elopement joy
Catching the most beautiful Trocadero angles
First dance at Trocadero
How to have giant balloons for your Paris photoshoot? There is a company that has been in the business for more than 5 years, their name is “Wow Factory” and we always recommend Christina and her team for balloon delivery. You can reach out directly through their DMs at @wowfactoryparis and explain what type of elopement you are having. Christina will schedule the delivery for you and take a payment. Then, on the day of your photoshoot, a handsome gentleman will bring the balloons. But please always have a chat with us before securing a balloon delivery, so we can confirm that the weather is not too windy and discuss how to add that to your day plan.
Fly away with giant balloons
Balloons make every moment magical
A touch of whimsy at Trocadero stairs
Our second photoshoot location was Pont Alexandre III. Pont Alexandre III is one of the most iconic bridges in Paris. The bridge features stunning Beaux-Arts architecture. It is known for its exquisitely designed Art Nouveau lamps.
Pont Alexandre III has been featured in numerous films, including James Bond movies
Exquisitely designed Art Nouveau lamps
Simple walk, a pose that works for everyone
Such a great photo spot
We continued our photo journey. Our third photoshoot location was the Louvre Museum. The Louvre's glass pyramids offer a stunning backdrop for wedding photos.
Hold hands and look at each other, candid and simple pose
Iconic Louvre architecture behind
Adding your love story to the Louvre's rich history
A kiss on the hand, one of the prettiest poses
It's not just a museum, it's a symbol of Paris
Walk into forever side by side, a pose symbolizing the journey together
Once a royal palace, it's been home to kings and queens
BEFORE / AFTER
Elizabeth is a summer type, that's why we made colors cool and pink.
During editing, we removed the people from the background and made the photos clean and sharp.
Even though there was a crowd behind the couple at some spots, we deleted every single person:
The before and after
The before and after
The before and after
FINAL THOUGHTS
Elizabeth and Steven's wedding was truly magical, just like their love story. Elizabeth looked stunning. She chose the perfect color palette with soft, muted tones, especially pink, which complemented her natural beauty. From the charming balloons to the delicate macarons and the blush-hued flowers, every detail was so pretty!
We are so grateful to Elizabeth and Steven for choosing us to be a part of their special day.
THE TEAM
The team that worked together with Elizabeth and Steven to help them create a fashionable elopement day:
Tim, elopement planning and photography
"My job was to make sure Elizabeth and Steven had a stress-free day. They wanted help with posing for photos, so I happily gave them tips. We paid close attention to all the little details together, so they could just enjoy the moment."
Helene, communication with the couple and flowers, and putting together this article
"Right from the start, I worked closely with Elizabeth to make sure everything was just how she wanted it. I made sure to create a bouquet that matched her vision perfectly. I'm excited to share this article, which tells the story of this elopement."
Yana, bridal hair and makeup @makeupparisyana
"My goal was to make Elizabeth look even more beautiful with a natural bridal look. I kept everything light and simple."
Olga, ceremony Officiant and assistant during the photoshoot
"Working with Elizabeth and Steven was so much fun! Their love made the ceremony feel truly magical. As their officiant, I made sure everything went smoothly and helped out during the photoshoot too. Whether it was fixing their clothes, hair, makeup, or flowers, I was there to help."
THANKS FOR READING! ELOPING TO PARIS MEANS CELEBRATING THE EXTRAORDINARY IN YOU. BECAUSE YOUR LOVE DESERVES A CANVAS AS UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL AS YOUR STORY!
THE ELOPEMENT PACKAGE
The Carousel elopement package is a smart wedding option and we are super proud of it. It combines price and quality, and our 12 years of wedding planning experience in Paris.
With years of experience, we have carefully selected top-tier vendors and perfected the logistics to ensure a seamless and stress-free wedding day. From the stunning ceremony location to Tim's skilled photography, designed to create lasting memories.
Our team takes immense pride in creating unforgettable experiences for couples from all over the world.
Book now and let us take care of the rest!
THE CAROUSEL ALL-INCLUSIVE PARIS WEDDING PACKAGE
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