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Do it paris way

DO IT Paris WAY

How to plan an elopement on a private Paris location

"Bonjour all the beautiful, adventurous, and ambitious ladies, our wonderful brides. And our respect to the intelligent handsome future grooms. Hope you have a good time reading. Let's begin!"

Article by — HELEN
will help you with planning

Paris has so much to offer

getting
married like 1%

We offer a complete elopement package that includes the ceremony itself and everything you need. This means the planning, the ceremony, the coordination of the day, makeup and flowers, and all the details that make it feel super special. You can always add an extra touch by booking a private venue. Once your venue is booked, we bring the full elopement experience to that space.

French Wedding at a Chateau

venue booked.
what now?

The booking is made in your name, directly with the hotel or property. This is how private places in Paris work, and it keeps everything clear and simple. On the day of your elopement, we come to your location. We set up the ceremony, guide you through it, and take care of the timing. Your private space becomes your wedding space.

paris wedding
prviate venues

Our venue selection
We have a list of private locations we recommend. You book the location on your own. This is usually a hotel, a luxury Airbnb, a terrace, or another private place in Paris.

In short, there are two main types of venues we recommend :

1. Paris venue like a hotel or an Airbnb






Paris is the capital of events. Every year, millions of tourists come here for weddings, private events, and fashion shows, which means demand is extremely high and venue prices are high as well. Unfortunately, there are no magical or truly budget friendly options here. You will not find anything under 1000 euros.

So if you are dreaming of a luxury venue, it is important to be prepared in advance for a solid budget. The only real exception can be Airbnb, sometimes you can find beautiful apartments with character, nice interiors, or even terraces. This is usually the most budget friendly option, and it is definitely worth exploring.

2. Chateau near Paris





 The second option is a chateau. It is important to keep in mind that castler are usually located outside the city, so there will be additional transportation costs. They are not significant though, usually around a 40 minute drive.

Think about the venue you envision, your budget, and, overall, your style as a couple. Ask yourselves what truly resonates with you more. A Parisian venue in the city or a French chateau outside of Paris? 
Shangri La terrace
Château de Champlâtreux
Olga helps with the veil before the ceremony

We will be there for you!



The most important thing is to contact your hotel in advance and discuss everything with them, let them know there will be a ceremony, so they can provide a table and ice for the champagne. Our team will come to your venue and take care of everything, we will officiate the ceremony and create beautiful portraits for you.

Tim is directing bridal solo shots

the art of
decoration

After brides book their private venue, the next question usually is, how should we decorate it? There are 2 paths here.

If this is a location that already has a strong luxury look, for example a terrace with a close Eiffel Tower view that looks beautiful on its own, we often recommend not adding extra decor. Too many elements can feel overdone. Maybe some petals and champagne, and that's it.

If, however, the venue is a more simple Airbnb, or an empty chateau room, then we do recommend adding floral arrangements, even small ones. This helps visually define the space and creates a more intentional, refined atmosphere.

When it comes to style, this is something we always discuss individually with each bride. Some prefer a very minimalist look, others love flowers and decorative details. Everything depends on your vision and, of course, your budget.
All white ceremony flowers by Atelier Mimoza

Location that does not need any major docorations





For example, if this is a terrace with a very luxurious view, where you already have a beautiful background. Panoramic Paris, plenty of light, clouds and sky...flowers here are optional.

In this case, rose petals and a champagne table (out of shot) is usually more than enough.

The perfect view, nothing to add!

Simpler terraces work amazing with flowers and petals




There are also smaller terraces where the flooring and the space itself are more simple, so in that case we definitely recommend adding flowers to visually elevate and decorate your ceremony area.

Something simple but chic?

Castles love flowers, they instantly level everything up and make the whole elopement feel stunning



At castles, decor is almost always a win. These are large venues with a lot of space and air, so we recommend adding flowers, to clearly define your ceremony area. Castles truly shine with decor, flowers make the space YOURS and make it feel absolutely stunning.

Spaces are big, so flowers help define the ceremony spot
Either way, whether you add flowers to the ceremony or not, one thing we always recommend for any setup is a small champagne table. It can also hold your rings, ring box, and vow books, totally optional and depending on the details you choose.

The table does not have to be placed right at the ceremony spot. It can be off to the side and used for photos when you open the champagne. You can also style it in your wedding color palette.

A celebratory lunch, madame?

If you are planning a stay at a 5* hotel, there is a really good option to have a lunch planned after the ceremony. You can order it in advance and request a special celebratory room service experience.

They usually offer a dedicated celebration menu, with a beautiful table setup and full service. It can be delivered right after your ceremony and enjoyed privately in your suite or a terrace. They can also bring a dessert bar, which looks amazing in photos too.

This is basically the only way to have a truly styled elopement meal experience in photos. The key is that the hotel must offer this service delivered directly to your suite. From our experience, it is one of the most relaxed and romantic ways to end the day.
French cuisine by Alain Ducasse
You can also place your rings, ring box, and vow books on it, totally optional and based on the details you bring. It always looks good and adds that intentional touch.
If you ordered a special meal from your hotel, please kindly let us know early so we can include it in your day timeline. Since the lunch is delivered at a specific time, we need to make sure all locations, especially the sunrise spots, are timed perfectly. So if you’ve booked this option, please tell us right away so we can coordinate the whole day smoothly.

luxe elopement
ideas for your soul

So let’s say you’ve already picked your venue, booked flowers, thought about petal toss, what’s next? If you’re booking, for example, a hotel room with no time restrictions, meaning it’s yours all day, we can add a ton of different photoshoot setups there. Think getting ready, first look, dress shots, couple portraits in the hotel, using the interiors, and more. Depending on the hotel, the possibilities are basically endless. Reach out to us and we’ll personally recommend ideas and create an amazing program just for you.
Elopement vows our bride ordered with her castle-inspired style

what we love shooting

Vintage Car Grand Exit

Bridal Getting Ready

Your Details, Styled

First Look

Shall we go on a dessert date and spend more time together?

We should have included 3-4 articles on similar topics here to recommend to you. But we don’t want you to just read these top picks. Please read all of our articles from beginning to end. We promise, it's FOR YOU.







— tim & helen

© Do It Paris Way 2026/27 

by Tim and Helen

videos by: Sou in Paris, Ohana Paris

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