A Lavender Field Elopement Along the Route de la Lavande, Provence

Liza and Eugene's lavender field elopement in Provence, featuring a handfasting ceremony, sunset portraits, and macarons on a meadow picnic. Captured by Marina Millepied.

By Elena Moretti | Published 25 June 2015

A Lavender Field Elopement Along the Route de la Lavande, Provence

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Liza and Eugene chose the lavender fields of Lagarde-d'Apt along Provence's Route de la Lavande for an intimate elopement during their honeymoon in France. Mariage Parisien orchestrated every detail while Marina Millepied followed them from morning preparations at La Villa Augustine to sunset vows among the purple rows.

Photography

Marina Millepied

Venue

Lavender Fields of Lagarde-d'Apt

Region

Provence, France

Couple

Liza & Eugene

Getting Ready

A couple shares a champagne moment outdoors in a lavender field in Provence, with rolling countryside visible in the background. The groom, wearing a navy suit with a mint green tie and a white floral boutonnière, stands opening a champagne bottle while the bride sits on the ground below him holding a wine glass. The bride wears a white one-shoulder gown with her auburn hair styled in an updo adorned with small white floral pins. A white hydrangea bouquet and a small arrangement of pink roses and greenery are visible on the ground beside her. The shot is a medium portrait taken at mid-distance, capturing both figures in a relaxed, candid picnic-style setting.

A couple's portrait taken outdoors on stone steps beside a rustic arched wooden door set into a stone wall, likely at a historic village or chateau property in southern France. The groom wears a navy suit with a mint green bow tie and a white boutonniere, while the bride wears a white strapless gown and has her auburn hair styled up. The bride leans into the groom as they sit together on the steps, with a wrought-iron stair railing visible behind them. The composition is a mid-range portrait shot with warm, slightly soft lighting.

Liza prepared at La Villa Augustine in Apt, a 1912 villa where soft morning light streamed across vintage interiors. Auburn hair was styled in a loose updo adorned with small white floral accessories and a delicate wire bow detail. Iryna Skomoroshko applied finishing touches of makeup as the Provencal countryside waited beyond the stone balustrade terrace.

Ceremony

A wedding ceremony is taking place outdoors in a lavender field in full bloom, with rolling hills visible in the background. The bride, wearing a simple white sleeveless gown with a relaxed silhouette and a small floral hair accessory, stands across from the groom, who is dressed in a navy suit with a mint green tie and a boutonniere. A female officiant wearing a black outfit and a white lace sun hat holds an open white binder, conducting the ceremony while the couple reads from small booklets. The portrait-style, medium-wide shot captures all three figures against the expansive purple lavender field, giving the scene a relaxed, boho-influenced aesthetic.

A handfasting ceremony took place among the lavender rows, linen ribbons binding their hands as they exchanged vows near a ruined stone tower. Simple floral vases echoed the violet tones of the landscape around them. Champagne and pastel macarons waited on a nearby picnic blanket as the sun dropped low over the Vaucluse hills, washing the scene in soft gold.

Bridal Portraits

A couple portrait taken outdoors in a blooming lavender field, with rolling hills visible in the background under warm golden-hour backlight. The bride wears a strapless white ballgown and stands in front of the groom, who is dressed in a dark navy or black suit, with his arms wrapped around her waist. The purple lavender plants surround them at mid-height, creating a dense floral foreground. The shot is a medium portrait framed to show the couple from approximately the knees up, with soft lens flare from the low sun adding a warm, hazy glow to the overall image.

A bride and groom pose together in an outdoor couple portrait set in a blooming lavender field in Provence, with a ruined stone tower visible in the background. The bride wears a white A-line sleeveless gown with a flowing train that extends across the lavender rows, while the groom wears a dark navy suit with a green bow tie and a white boutonniere. A white pedestal stand holds a bouquet of white flowers, likely white peonies or hydrangeas, placed beside the couple in the field. The wide-angle shot captures the expanse of purple lavender rows and rolling hills in the distance, with the color palette centered on white, navy, and green accents against the purple field.

A couple portrait taken outdoors in a lavender field in Provence, with a panoramic valley and mountain backdrop. The bride wears a one-shoulder white chiffon gown with a layered skirt and holds the groom's arm as they walk together; she has auburn upswept hair and carries no bouquet, though a white vase with white peonies and greenery is positioned to their left. The groom wears a navy suit with a mint/teal bow tie and a white boutonnière. The color palette combines navy, mint, and white against the purple lavender rows. Full-length couple portrait shot at mid-distance.

A couple shares a kiss in an outdoor portrait taken in a lavender field, with the bride and groom intentionally blurred in the background while rows of purple and white lavender blooms fill the sharp foreground. The bride wears a white dress and has small white floral pins in her hair, while the groom wears a dark suit. Warm golden-hour sunlight backlights the scene, creating a glowing halo effect around the couple. The composition is a mid-distance portrait with the lavender field used as the primary foreground subject, shot with a shallow depth of field.

Standing among endless rows of blooming lavender with rolling hills stretching behind her, Liza's strapless white ballgown created a striking contrast against the violet landscape. The warm golden-hour backlight washed every frame in soft amber tones. Marina Millepied captured the couple close together in the fields, the scent of lavender and the quiet of the Vaucluse hills framing each portrait.

Design and Details

A styled detail shot presented as a diptych. The left image shows an outdoor picnic-style vignette set in a grassy area, featuring a glass cloche covering fresh strawberries and cherries placed on a white doily, alongside a small vase with pink ranunculus and white flowers, a mint green decorative item, and a purple woven textile draped nearby — suggesting a romantic outdoor picnic setup with a pastel and jewel-tone palette. The right image is a close-up detail of a polished silver champagne bucket or ice pail resting against a stone wall, with lavender visible in the foreground. The overall styling has a rustic-romantic, French countryside aesthetic.

An outdoor picnic-style wedding detail shot set in a wildflower meadow. A white painted wooden box serves as a surface, holding a decorative white wire birdcage with a bird figurine on top, a white pedestal cake stand with golden muffins or small cakes, a glass swing-top water bottle, and a clear drinking glass. To the right sits a round plate or box lid with a colorful floral print featuring coral, orange, and teal botanicals. A purple/magenta knit blanket and a teal lace or crochet textile are visible on the left, along with what appears to be a wrapped food item. The overall styling is boho and whimsical, with a white, floral, and jewel-tone color palette. Close-up detail shot with a slightly wide angle to capture the full picnic vignette.

A close-up detail shot of a dessert display styled outdoors in a wildflower meadow setting. A white ornate cake stand holds an assortment of French macarons in pastel shades — pink, olive green, and yellow — covered by a glass cloche with a crystal knob, tied with a mint green lace ribbon bow. The stand sits on a white decorative serving tray. Pink and white lisianthus blooms are arranged behind the display, adding a soft, romantic floral backdrop. The overall styling palette combines mint, pastel pink, and white in a vintage, shabby-chic aesthetic.

The dessert display was styled outdoors in a wildflower meadow setting, with pastel macarons in pink, olive green, and yellow arranged on a white ornate cake stand. Liza's simple bouquet and the linen ribbons used in the handfasting ceremony reflected a sensory, minimal approach. Mariage Parisien curated every pause to let the natural rhythm of the Provencal countryside lead.

Flat Lays

Close-up detail shot of a bride and groom holding open a pale blue-grey keepsake box together during what appears to be an outdoor ceremony. Inside the box is a folded letter or vow card tied with natural twine and decorated with a small sprig of dried lavender. The bride is wearing a white gown with a rhinestone or crystal embellished waistband, and the groom is in a dark suit with a white shirt. The styling incorporates a Provençal rustic theme, with the lavender and twine detailing complementing the soft blue-grey palette of the box.

Close-up detail shot of an outdoor wedding table display featuring a bridal bouquet of cream/ivory roses with white waxflower and green foliage, placed beside a small grey metal birdcage lantern holding a lit tealight candle. The birdcage is topped with a decorative bird figurine. In the background, a tiered dessert stand holds what appear to be golden muffins or cupcakes, and a hint of teal fabric and magenta/purple textile are visible. The overall styling is whimsical and romantic, with a soft, vintage-inspired palette of grey, cream, and pastel tones.

A bride and groom share a playful picnic moment outdoors in a lavender field, with rows of purple lavender blooms visible in the background. The bride, wearing a strapless white dress with loose red hair, laughs while feeding the groom a small pastry or macaron from a glass dessert stand. The groom is dressed in a light grey suit with a mint green bow tie. A white blanket is spread on the ground with glass bottles and white linens arranged around them, giving the scene a relaxed, romantic picnic styling. The shot is a medium close-up portrait capturing the couple's candid interaction.

On the stone balustrade terrace of La Villa Augustine, the couple's attire and accessories were laid out against the Provencal manor backdrop. The bride's white gown, delicate floral hair pieces, and the groom's tailored suit formed a curated arrangement that set the tone for the day. Handwritten vow letters, sealed in a time capsule to be opened one year later, anchored the display.