wow – now this was a pre wedding shoot with a difference !  Stéphanie and Mario contacted me about photographing their wedding towards the end of last year and they had very definite ideas about their pre wedding shoot – they wanted it to be different, and different it definitely was … and great great fun … and colourful and just brilliant !!   I left the idea side of things with them and we agreed to meet at the Musée d’Histoire Naturelle in the centre of Geneva …  but before we even got as far as the inside of the museum we were sidetracked by the wall painting in the best car park ever !   There is art all over the walls  – gorgeous bright colours just perfect to set off this fab couple … and THOSE boots (wow – gorgeous gorgeous – i want some !!!)

Once we were inside the museum (and had checked that we were allowed to take photos) we had great fun setting up the shots against the bright colours of the exhibits.  It turns out that they had both been frequent visitors to the museum when they were little so there were all sorts of memories (but we couldn’t find the crocodile !) , and the globe Mario is holding seemed like a direct reference to his amazing watch company  Magellan Watch . 

And for part two of the shoot ..?  we went to a car wrecking yard …. told you it was different.  The cars, the colours, the textures and Stéphanie & Mario ….. just brilliant!  and to top it off Stéphanie found an angel amongst all the broken cars – a perfect good luck sign !

I can’t wait for part one of their wedding celebrations in just under a month ! 

Wow !   2011 was an absolutely amazing year for Gill Maheu Photography.  I photographed some amazing weddings in some stunningly beautiful places the Chateau de Bagnols, l’Abbaye de Talloires, Hotel Trois Couronnes, Hotel Mirador Kempiniski,  Palace de Menthon and the Hotel Les Tresoms to name but a few. 

But the absolute best part of the year is having met and been privileged to be asked to photograph the wedding preparations, the emotional ceremonies and  "i do"s, the festivities of these brilliant couples – Marieleng & Joachim, Valérie & Damien, Claudia & Yves, Beatrice & Brice, the wonderful ‘mystery couple‘, Aurélie & Florent, Delphine & Hugo, Céline & Olivier, Naomi & Thomas, Adeline & Stéphane – each wedding was special and unique and totally wonderful – thank you all !

 I have had a fabulous time and i can’t wait to work with all the gorgeous couples who are getting married in 2012 and have asked me to photograph their weddings – it’s going to be magic!     In the meantime enjoy this "best of" of some of the wedding photos from 2011 …

I have been lucky enough to know this gorgeous couple for a while now and was absolutely thrilled to learn that there would be a new arrival to their family at the beginning of the year.  They asked me to photograph this special time in their lives so we headed off to the stunning Hotel Trois Couronnes in Vevey on Lake Leman and spent the afternoon together just before Christmas.  I am very grateful to them for allowing me to share some of their photos with you, i think you’ll agree that ‘mum to be’ looks absolutely radiantly beautiful ….

I’m really looking forward to meeting ‘little one’ soon x

here is part two of a very very happy wedding day with Adeline and Stéphane and all their wonderful friends and family.   the wedding ceremony was held at the Chateau de Coubert – where a friend of the family performed the wedding service, their adorable little niece carried their wedding rings and a group of friends sang their hearts out  – magic !  The evening festivities started with a huge surprise for Adeline – another one of their friends (told you they had a fabulous group of friends !!) had arranged to project a selection of photos of the happy couple onto the front of the Chateau de Nandy … so they arrived to a torch lit drive and magnificently lit venue.

 the evening was amazing full of fun and smiles and i left them partying on into the night …

thank you both for letting me be part of such a truly brilliant day !!!  

pre wed shoot             wedding part one

what a beautiful beautiful wedding – Adeline & Stéphane chose to start and finish their wedding celebrations at the lovely 17th century Chateau de Nandy, about an hour south of Paris.  What a setting to get ready in – Adeline looked gorgeous in her stunning ivory silk dress and her little nieces and nephew were adorable in their wedding outfits.  Adeline and Stéphane had been blessed with amazing weather for their november wedding and so because the light fades early in the evenings they decided to have a ‘first look’.   Stéphane waited for his bride to be in an alley of golden and bronze leaved autumnal trees in the grounds of the chateau …

here is part one of their wonderful day …

part 2 will be coming soon.  

the last wedding of the season for me was always going to be a special one but Adeline & Stéphane made it extra special, they are wonderful and just light up in each other’s company.  their wedding was beautiful and this is a shot from their first look …

more very soon -  congratulations to you both

a year today since this wonderful couple celebrated their wedding at the Chateau d’Aigle in Switzerland – i know they have had an amazing and very very busy year, and i hope that their second year together will be just as brilliant !

Congratulations again x

Here is the second part of Naomi & Thomas‘ beautiful wedding at the  Abbaye de Talloires on Lake Annecy.  After the wonderfully moving ceremony Naomi & Thomas and their guests spilled out into the garden to celebrate the occasion – petals, bubbles, smiles and happiness abounded.  A little while later we went off into the grounds of the Abbaye and down to the lake to do their couple shots – i think their happiness just shines out in the golden evening light.  Surprises galore, memories and dances were all part of their evening … a truly happy day…

 Huge congratulations to you both and my very best wishes for your future together x

pre wedding shoot   &   part one

venue : Abbaye de Talloires, 74290 Talloires

dress : Pronovias

make up & hair /  maquillage & coiffure :  Maéva – www.avant-premihair.fr

singer / chanteuse :  Caroline -  caroline.vindret@gmail.com

music/dj  : Pascal – chauxchaux@hotmail.fr

the whole day was magical and a very very happy one – here is part one ….

a huge congratulations to this brilliant couple and thank you for letting me be a part of your very special day  !

part two very soon.

venue : Abbaye de Talloires, 74290 Talloires

dress : Pronovias

make up & hair /  maquillage & coiffure :  Maéva – www.avant-premihair.fr

singer / chanteuse :  Caroline -  caroline.vindret@gmail.com

music/dj  : Pascal – chauxchaux@hotmail.fr

remember the painting of the landscape in the room where céline and olivier were married – well here they are an hour later at the very spot in the painting, in the pouring rain and wind and i don’t think they noticed the bad weather at all !!!!   Their celebrations continued at the Domaine de Faverges with a stunning view over the Lac Leman, made even more impressive by the dark storm clouds. The balloons with the good luck messages flew off at high speed when the guests let go of them  … and then it was time to catch the boat – a beautiful old steamer called La Suisse which was taking the wedding party back to Lutry and the restaurant …

 a wonderful day for a wonderful couple !