gill maheu photography: professional lifestyle portrait photography based in Annecy, Geneva, Rhone Alpes

 i loved Valérie & Damien’s wedding from beginning to end – they are such a very very lovely brilliant couple, straightaway they make you feel like you’ve known them forever, and their friends and families are the same.  the weather was definitely not behaving itself in the morning but you can see from the grins and giggles it didn’t put a dampener on the day in the slightest.  the day started when i met up with Valerie at E-lounge Coiffure in Annecy le Vieux where she was getting ready with her sisters and bridesmaids, and she looked b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l !    

Valérie and Damien chose to meet for their ‘first look’ before their wedding ceremony at the town hall, damien was clearly the happiest and proudest man in the world as he watched his stunning bride to be walk to towards him, and more than a few tears were shed by the onlooking guests.  this post leaves them after the ceremony in the town hall in annecy le vieux ….officially Monsieur & Madame and on their way to the church ceremony  ….

 big HUGE congratulations to both of you     x

 and also a big thank you to emilie, stephanie, solene, geraldine, julien, katya, seb for your help throughout the day .

their  engagement shoot , wedding part two, part three

sunday morning bright and breezy i met the gorgeous Claudia & Yves at the Rolex Learning Centre in Lausanne to learn all about their plans for their big day and have some fun taking some shots of the two of them in this cool location.  we chatted for ages over coffee in this amazing place, seriously if you are into architecture or taking photos in fun places it’s a must !    they told me all the details about what was going to happen when and where from the ceremony in the gorgeous little church in St Saphorien, to the very beautiful Domaine du Daley in Lutry where they are going to have the reception, (check out the last few pictures – the view is to die for), and then to the sparkler lit entrance to their wedding dinner in the Hotel in Vevey!   (i also heard all about their amazing first dance plans – but sssshhhhhhhhh for the moment !)  

claudia and yves are a joy to be with and very obviously in love, it was a great morning ….

 really, really, really looking forward to your big day   x

their wedding part one, part two & part three

Once the ceremony was over and the rose petals had been thrown to congratulate the happy couple we headed off into the beautiful gardens of the Chateau de Bagnols to take the couple shots of the two happiest people on the planet .  Then it was back to their guests so that Marieleng could throw her bouquet … duly caught by the youngest young lady there, her adorable niece.  Champagne, laughter and a string quartet accompanied them throughout the afternoon and afterwards everyone made their way into dinner in the amazing hall  – speeches from those nearest and dearest to them brought the official part of the day to a close.  The dancing started with a beautiful first dance and i left them partying into the night …

a perfect day for a gorgeous couple -  x      

part one of their day is here

venue : Chateau de Bagnols, Clement Joubert

wedding registrar : Ms Josina den Burger, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

flowers : Amarylice

hair : l’Atelier de Coiffure, Caroline

make up : Apple Lips, Amandine Loutz

music : fred studio

Damien has to be one of the most romantic men on the planet !   He first got in touch with me just over a year ago after we had met briefly at Katya & Sebastien’s beautiful wedding … he rang me with a plan !   he wanted to propose to valerie and he wanted to do it in style, he had gathered together hundreds of photos of their life together, their families, their friends, their holidays and was going to make a photobook – on the last page there was going to be a shot of him proposing to surprise her.   Sworn to secrecy we met at menthon st bernard armed with post it notes ( a recurring theme !) and we took the proposal shots he needed !  

the short version is that after an agonisingly emotional  ten minute tearfilled pause when she turned that last page Valerie said YES !!!!   They are getting married next month and it will be brilliant, because they are totally brilliant, and totally brilliant together ! here are some of the shots from their pre wed shoot  in Menthon St Bernard down by Lake Annecy (oh … and there are some more post it notes !)

 i can’t wait for next month !       x

their wedding part one, part two & part three