A Hilltop Elopement at Hotel Crillon le Brave in Provence

A romantic Texan elopement at Hotel Crillon le Brave in Provence, with monastery vows, custom rings, and vineyard views. Planned by Haute Wedding.

By Elena Moretti | Published 25 July 2016

A Hilltop Elopement at Hotel Crillon le Brave in Provence

Featured FWS Members

Hotel/Boutique Hotel

Hôtel Crillon le Brave

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · Vaucluse

Up to 70 guests

From €120,000 4.6 (518)

Latest Weddings

Chateau de Villette

Classic-Modern Romance Editorial at Château de Villette

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte

Château d'Arcelot

Modern Elegance & Calla Lilies Wedding at Château d’Arcelot

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Hotel/Boutique Hotel

Hôtel Crillon le Brave

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · Vaucluse

Up to 70 guests

From €120,000 4.6 (518)

A Texan couple chose Hotel Crillon le Brave, a luxury hilltop wedding retreat with guest accommodation in Provence for a romantic elopement defined by intimacy and elegance. Perched above terracotta rooftops and vineyards near Aix-en-Provence, the hilltop hotel set the stage for handwritten vows in a centuries-old monastery, planned by Haute Wedding.

Photography

Venue

Hôtel Crillon le Brave, Vaucluse

Region

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

Couple

Getting Ready

A couple shares a moment together beneath a stone archway passage in what appears to be a historic French village or chateau complex. The bride is wearing a white gown and holding a bouquet, while the groom is dressed in a dark suit. The wide shot frames them at the far end of a vaulted stone tunnel, with a second archway visible beyond them and greenery glimpsed in the background. The composition uses the deep archway architecture as a natural frame, placing the couple as small figures within the grand scale of the medieval stonework. Potential venue feature image.

Beneath a stone archway passage in the historic village, the couple shared a quiet first moment together. The bride wore a fitted gown with delicate lace and beadwork that caught the filtered light of the narrow lanes. Her blush rose and honeysuckle bouquet mirrored the muted stone tones of the Provencal buildings surrounding them.

Ceremony

An aerial wide shot of a bride and groom posing on a stone terrace of a historic chateau, with a sweeping valley landscape visible in the background. The venue features a rectangular pool surrounded by greenery, a separate terrace area with rows of dark chairs set for an outdoor ceremony or dining, and medieval stone tower architecture. The bride wears a white gown and the groom a black tuxedo; they stand near an olive tree on the upper terrace level. The decor is minimal in this shot, with the focus on the architectural layout of the property and its elevated hillside position. Potential venue feature image.

Close-up detail shot of a bride and groom's hands resting on a stone holy water font at the entrance of a chapel or church, likely following or preceding a religious ceremony. The bride, visible from the shoulders down, wears a lace white dress, while the groom wears a dark navy suit with a white dress shirt and a pink floral boutonnière. Wooden pews are softly visible in the background, confirming an indoor religious setting. The composition focuses on the hands and the carved stone basin, emphasizing a quiet ceremonial moment.

A bride and groom exchange rings during their ceremony inside a Romanesque stone church, characterized by rounded arches, barrel-vaulted ceilings, and rows of dark wooden pews visible in the background. A crucifix is positioned at the far end of the nave, illuminated by warm light filtering through stained glass. The bride wears a fitted lace gown with thin straps and has long blonde wavy hair, while the groom is dressed in a black tuxedo with a white boutonniere. The shot is a medium close-up portrait framing both figures from the waist up.

The private ceremony took place inside a Romanesque chapel, strong rays of light streaming through the vaulted stone ceiling and colored glass windows. The couple held hands beside a stone holy water font as the blessing unfolded in the centuries-old space. Their exchange of custom rings, her brilliant-cut diamond reflecting Provencal light and his simple white-gold band, anchored the moment in quiet emotion.

Bridal Portraits

A bride and groom walk together along a gravel path toward a Romanesque stone chapel with a square bell tower, photographed from behind in a wide shot. The bride wears a fitted, low-back white lace gown with a short train, and the groom is dressed in a dark suit; he carries a dark bouquet. Tall, narrow Italian cypress trees line the path on either side of the chapel, framing the building. The setting is outdoor and rural, consistent with a South of France or Provence landscape, with a classic, understated styling approach. Potential venue feature image.

A bride and groom walk hand-in-hand along a cobblestone courtyard path between stone walls of a Provençal-style chateau covered in ivy. The bride wears a fitted, sleeveless lace gown in ivory with a V-neckline, while the groom is dressed in a black tuxedo with a bow tie and a small floral boutonniere. The shot is a medium-wide portrait capturing the couple from head to toe as they look at each other and smile. Potential venue feature image.

A couple stands together on an outdoor terrace or balcony with a wrought-iron railing, looking out over a sweeping rural landscape with rolling hills and mountains in the distance. The groom wears a dark charcoal suit with a bow tie, while the bride wears a fitted lace gown with a low back, her long blonde wavy hair loose. She has her hand placed on his lower back as they stand side by side. The shot is taken from behind in a wide portrait composition, emphasizing the panoramic countryside view below.

The couple walked together along a gravel path toward a Romanesque stone chapel with a square bell tower, photographed from behind in a wide composition. Portraits moved through the cobblestone courtyard of the rustic stone-built hotel, the bride's fitted lace gown and the groom's black tuxedo creating a refined contrast against weathered walls.

Design and Details

Exterior shot of a multi-story stone building with a pointed tower/spire, characteristic of a French chateau or historic mas, shot from ground level with an olive tree in sharp focus in the foreground and the building softly blurred in the background. No people or wedding-specific decor are visible in the frame. The composition uses the gnarled olive tree as a foreground element against the warm honey-colored stone facade with small rectangular windows. Potential venue feature image.

A close-up detail shot of two champagne flutes filled with sparkling wine placed on a stone surface in front of a bridal bouquet. The bouquet is composed of blush pink peonies, light pink spray roses, and trailing greenery including eucalyptus. The styling palette is soft blush and pale pink with green accents, consistent with a classic romantic aesthetic. The background is softly blurred, keeping focus on the glasses and florals.

Close-up detail shot of a vintage cast-metal bell with a verdigris patina, mounted on a carved stone wall via a curved iron bracket, with a rusted link chain hanging below it. The bell features decorative floral engraving around its base. The background shows a rustic dry-stone wall softly blurred through shallow depth of field. No people are present; this appears to be an architectural or venue detail shot at an outdoor French property with rustic character. Potential venue feature image.

A vintage cast-metal bell with verdigris patina mounted on a carved stone wall spoke to the monastery's centuries of history. The chapel's Romanesque architecture, with its vaulted ceilings and filtered shafts of light, provided both ceremony space and visual narrative. Haute Wedding ensured every element, from the private blessing to the terrace celebration, felt seamless and rooted in place.

Flat Lays

Close-up detail shot of a climbing rose bush in full bloom, featuring densely petaled roses in blush pink and cream tones against dark green foliage. The image is shot with a shallow depth of field, with foreground blooms in sharp focus and background roses softly blurred. No people, decor, or wedding-specific elements are visible — this appears to be a natural floral detail shot, likely captured at an outdoor venue setting. Potential venue feature image.

A nine-image collage from a French wedding featuring a consistent couple throughout. The bride wears a fitted ivory lace gown and carries a bouquet of blush pink roses, pale pink peonies, and eucalyptus greenery. The groom is dressed in a black tuxedo with a bow tie and a pink rose boutonniere. Images include: a close-up portrait of the bride holding her bouquet; the couple posing in a narrow stone archway corridor; the couple from behind on a terrace overlooking a green valley with a black iron railing; a detail shot of the boutonniere being pinned; a close-up of the couple toasting with white wine glasses alongside the bridal bouquet; the interior of a Romanesque stone chapel with barrel-vaulted arches and wooden pews where the couple stands at the altar; a flat lay of blush and light pink florals resting in a champagne coupe glass; an aerial shot showing a stone property with a rectangular turquoise pool surrounded by landscaped gardens and countryside; and a romantic portrait of the couple embracing outdoors among olive trees. The overall styling is classic and refined, with a blush and ivory color palette. Potential venue feature image.

Close-up detail shot of a ring exchange moment during an indoor wedding ceremony. The groom, dressed in a black tuxedo with a white dress shirt and boutonniere, is placing a wedding band onto the bride's finger; the bride is wearing a lace or embroidered white dress with cap sleeves. The setting appears to be an ornate interior space with a decorative iron railing and warm stone or marble flooring visible in the background.

A close-up detail shot of a bride's hands pinning a boutonniere onto a groom's lapel. The groom is wearing a black tuxedo jacket with a white dress shirt and black bow tie. The boutonniere features a cream rose and a smaller dusty pink rose, accented with small green leaves and wrapped with twine at the stem. The bride's left hand is partially visible, showing a ring. The background is softly blurred with neutral stone tones. The overall styling is classic and formal.

A close-up of the ring exchange showed the groom's hand sliding a brilliant-cut diamond onto the bride's finger inside the chapel's stone interior. The stationery and accessory details reflected understated Provencal refinement. Delicate lace beadwork on the bride's gown and a blush rose bouquet tied together the tactile, personal quality of the day's design.

The Venue

The couple chose Hôtel Crillon le Brave, a hotel/boutique hotel in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

Premium

Hotel/Boutique Hotel

Hôtel Crillon le Brave

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · Vaucluse

A luxury boutique hotel in a hilltop Provençal village, featuring 26 rooms and 17 suites designed by Charles Zana, with authentic Provençal character, panoramic Mont Ventoux views, and exclusive-use capacity for up to 70 guests.

Up to 70 guests

From €120,000 4.6 (518)