A Magical Elopement in Annecy, France: Sunrise Vows & Lakeside Celebrations
Picture this—a sparkling, crystal-clear lake nestled within the majestic French Alps and surrounded by the calming melody of cowbells. Welcome to Annecy, often called the "Pearl of the French Alps." This picturesque town, located near the Swiss border, became the setting for Milan and Austin's unforgettable elopement.
When Milan and Austin first reached out to me, they knew Annecy was the place for their special day. For Milan, it was more than just a beautiful destination. Having studied abroad in Annecy and with distant family ties to the area, it held a special place in her heart. Initially, they envisioned an intimate ceremony—just the two of them, or maybe a couple of friends. But as plans unfolded, something magical happened. Friends couldn’t resist the opportunity to fly across the globe to join them in France, turning their elopement into an incredible celebration of love and adventure—exactly as they’d hoped. So this Blog post will have three parts:
A Private Morning Ceremony in the Mountains
At the heart of the elopement, was a deeply private ceremony. Milan and Austin wanted to share their vows with no one around—just the two of them in nature's purest setting. For this, we planned an early morning, sunrise ceremony in the French Alps.
We met in the dark close to the shores of Lake Annecy at dawn, they jumped into my van, and we drove into the mountains. When the first light broke through thesky we arrived at our parking spot in the mountains. After a short, peaceful hike surrounded by breathtaking views, we arrived by our well-chosen Ceremonyspot. There, under the cool mountain air, Milan and Austin got ready outside, side by side but separate. Milan's stunning dress hung from a nearby tree while she got ready. When they were both dressed, we captured an emotional first look—surrounded by nothing but towering peaks and the soft glow of sunrise.
What followed was one of the most heartfelt moments I’ve had the honor of witnessing. Milan and Austin exchanged their vows with such raw emotion, their words brought tears to my eyes behind the camera. It was a still, quiet moment just for them—no interruptions, no distractions—simply their love and their words.
Afterward, they embraced, held onto the moment, and soaked in the beauty of the mountains. With the sun rising higher, creating an ethereal glow over the peaks, we took advantage of the light for a short photo session. The backdrop was nothing short of cinematic, with every picture capturing the joy and serenity of their intimate elopement. Milan said: “Some people need church bells at their wedding, we have cow bells ringing for our Elopement day!”
I don’t know if you’ve ever been to the European Alps, but the cows here in the mountains wear heavy bells, so you could say that’s the sound of the Alps.
We hiked down the mountain and had a little lunch, fresh bread, delicious French treats, and crisp, sweet fruit tasted even better under the summer alpine air. It was a wonderful pause after their ceremony, giving Milan and Austin time to reflect and relax.
A Touch of Adventure
Adding a little unexpected adventure to the morning, we encountered a father and son who had a bicycle accident while driving back down the mountain. Thankfully, Milan spoke French, and we were able to call for help and transport them down to safety in my van. It’s little moments like these that make elopements so memorable—unique, unscripted, and full of humanity.
Celebration with Friends
After some midday rest at the gorgeous Imperial Hotel in Annecy, it was time to reunite with friends and family for the second half of their day.
The couple had arranged for a private boat to take everyone across the glimmering waters of Lake Annecy. All the guests gathered onboard for drinks, delectable French finger foods, and an impromptu mini-ceremony led by two of their closest friends. It was a lovely way to celebrate their love without any pressure. So they could celebrate their second "I dos" with their loved ones in an intimate, relaxed setting.
The boat delivered the group to Talloire, a small lakeside village with a chic and cozy restaurant waiting to host the main reception. Glasses clinked, laughter echoed, and love filled the air.
A Picture-Perfect Ending
As the evening wrapped up, thunderstorm clouds gathered in the distance, creating a dramatic and awe-inspiring scene over the lake. The vibrant energy from the day lingered as we said goodbye, knowing their elopement had been everything they dreamed of—an intimate ceremony, meaningful moments with loved ones, and memories to last a lifetime.
Why Annecy?
Milan and Austin’s elopement perfectly demonstrates that eloping doesn’t mean excluding your loved ones—it’s about crafting a day that’s entirely your own. Whether it’s splitting your day into private and shared moments, or combining the intimacy of a vow exchange with group celebrations, there are endless ways to make your love story unique. Check out another elopement where my couple splitted the day: Michelle and Carley did the same in Portugal: click here
Annecy offered more than just a stunning backdrop. It provided quiet mountain corners for private vows, sparkling waters for celebrations, and unforgettable French hospitality for everyone attending. It blended adventure, elegance, and sentiment seamlessly—the perfect mix for an elopement.
If you’re picturing a day like Milan and Austin’s—filled with breathtaking views, laughter, and heartwarming moments—get in touch. Together, we can create a wedding day that reflects your love story. 💕
Vendors:
wedding planner: HEDHERA
flowers: maru_floraldesign
Violiniste: Lara Pouget
WOW!!! Working with Way Up High Elopements was worth every penny. Truly.
No words can describe how speechless I was when my (now) husband and I received the final photos from our elopement in the French Alps.
We can't thank Thijsiena and her business partner, Marina, enough for the unforgettable day they've coordinated for us. They were extremely flexible with our constantly evolving plans and did their due diligence to heavily research the location we took photos in. So much so, that they visited our shooting location the day before and timed what time the sunrise hit certain peaks of the mountains on our elopement hike. Needless to say, we were very impressed with their level of knowledge and confidence in the location we've picked (especially since they had never visited the location themselves before our elopement.)
What's even better, is that the photos they captured are stunning. Their candid / documentary-like photos tell a story that we can easily share with loved ones that weren't able to join us and (most importantly) make us feel like we're reliving the moment all over again each time we look at them... something that is priceless. I will definitely be holding on to these memories and the insanely beautiful photos Thijsiena and Marina took for the rest of my existence.
Plan your Mountain elopement with me
Contact me with your ideas and dreams. Can’t wait to meet you
