Photographe mariage de prestige

The wedding of Gretchen & Andrew from Boston  in Monaco by PGPhotography Wedding Photographer France and Monaco. http://www.pgphotography.eu/

Gretchen first contacted me early in 2009. After that we  probably exchanged at least 300 e-mails ! We first met when they’d come to The Riviera in May 2009 in order to prepare the wedding , find a Venue meet all the suppliers and also have two weeks holiday. They had chosen a hotel in Les Issambres and we met at The Motel Van der Valk  on the little harbour of Saint Aygulf.  They had not realised when booking their hotel online that it sometimes may take several hours to drive from Les Issambres to Monaco and they had to leave before having finished with their program.

I then offered to help in some little things like making a few pictures for them at the anglican church Saint Paul in Monte Carlo or finding a DJ and some musicians. That’s how I first discovered the restaurant : Les deux Frères in Roquebrune Village upon Roquebrune Cap Martin and it’s fabulous view of Monte Carlo.

Last april I had to fly to New York City and Montreal for the preparation of another wedding and an engagement shooting.  I thought it was a good idea to suggest them the same kind of shooting in Boston and at the same time visit Boston where I had never been before.  It was quite hard to organize at that time of year and finally after many many changes in my plans I flew directly to Boston with my colleague and friend Jean Baptiste Paye whom I allready talked you about in several posts on that blog.  After two days visiting the City of Boston and also Cambridge together we met Gretchen and Andrew on James Street. We then went for a long circular walk along The Charles River and into the old Italian borrough taking amazing pictures all along the way. At the end of the day we all had dinner in Hannover Street just near where they both live.

In june they arrived in France a few days before the wedding and settled in La Turbie close to Monaco. We had dinner together at the old flower Market cours Saleya in Nice on thursday night to review all the details and the schedule of the wedding day. They left me and went to pick up Andrew’s parents at the airport of Nice Côte d’Azur.

I now realize how much Gretchen ( who did not hire a wedding planner and made it all by herself ) really did a good job. Planning that kind of event relly is a big deal because all attendees were  coming from different States of the US and even from London. None had any vehicule and they all arrived at different hours and by different means. Hiring a bus for everybody was a great idea despites the traffic problems for large vehicules in Monaco.

On the wedding day I came with Bruno Espagnol another friend, photographer in Toulouse, who had came to visit at my place. We met the girls at Jacques Dessange the famous hairdresser in Monte Carlo. The bride her bridesmaids, several friends and the sisters had booked the place for a hairdressing and make up session. An Army preparing an overseas invasion would not have been more efficient and tough the place is quite huge  it was entirely filled with a joyfull and smily troup of girls all  wearing electric blue dresses. Hey girls you’ve all been nice and smily and helpfull ! Thanks to Vanessa from Phoenix and her wonderfull smile or Heather the Californian who emigrated to NYC and did most of the make ups. To Tarra from Philly who is so talkative with a little glass of wine or Patty from Texas who dances like a pro, Jean from Chicago (Gretchen’s maid of Honnor), Shannon from Frisco and Jennifer who both appear to be bottles of Champagne  profesionnal openners !

After the compulsary picture of the group in front of the Casino we all headed to the hotel in La Turbie for the Getting Ready. I was very glad that Bruno had come for help because the hotel was so crowdy and all attendees moving from one room to an other. It was quite hard to find who we were looking for :  The Groom first, then the Bride and finnaly her dress that had dissapeared. Derek and German had self proclaimed Super Express Ironers and kidnapped the dress to give it a new life in a room on the level bellow. After a moment of panic Gretchen warmly thanked them for having “saved her day”

What to say about the ceremony ? That  it was very touching for everybody but mainly for Gretchen’s mother. That The Vicar, an english canadien, has a great sense of humour. That both violonists where absolutly amazing.

The weather had been perfect all along the day except after the ceremony when we went with the Bride and Groom to the casino for some pics. The sky had turned to cotton white, probably  an other application of Murphy’s law ? I will have to colorize all the skies in thoses pics ! Some days I am glad that photoshop exists.

The reception was fantastic. I  must tell you about the restaurant Les deux frères. I absolutly recommend it for small and intimate weddings. Besides it’s fabulous view, the food was a wonder and I am sure that Pascal my friend of Promusique will agree as he tasted everything with delight. The owner of the place who had been a little distant the first time I came to visit revealed to be a perfect host, nice,  funny, cheerful with a great  sense of humour. Everydody danced all along the night and I want another time to underline how american and english weddings in general are different, more lively and dynamic than the average french wedding.

Also I admire the abillity of anglo saxon people to prepare and recite wonderful, smart and humourous speaches.  That was the case again this time and I want to tell about Jon’s speach. He recited a poem from Paul Valery : The Footsteps

———-

The Footsteps

Your footsteps, children of my silence,
With gradual and saintly pace
Towards the bed of my watchfulness,
Muted and frozen, approach.

Pure one, divine shadow,
How gentle are your cautious steps!
Gods! …all the gifts that I can guess
Come to me on those naked feet!

If, with your lips advancing,
You are preparing to appease
The inhabitant of my thoughts
With the sustenance of a kiss,

Do not hasten the tender act,
Bliss of being and not being,
For I have lived on waiting for you,
And my heart was only your footsteps.

——————-

Gretchen and Andrew from Boston (MA)

When, where and how did you first met? We met freshman year of college at Boston University. We lived in the same dorm. Neither of us can agree when and where exactly.
Did you hit it off from the get go? No–we were friends first and then dated on and off toward the end of college.

However, it did not get serious until a year after we graduated when Gretchen was living in Chicago and Andrew was living in Boston.
Transportation: Carnia Express
The Venue: Les Deux Frères, Roquebrune Cap Martin, France
How did you find your venue and why did you choose it? We Googled like mad and then went with our gut and chose the place

. We placed a deposit in the winter of 2009 and visited that May. Luckily it was perfect–the view and food–5-stars.

The Church: St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Monaco
Wedding Planner: No wedding planner–we did it ourselves.

Menu: Guests were offered a choice of the following:

Cocktail hour: aperitifs and marbled duck foie gras hordoerves

Appetizer Course:

Duck breast on an arugula salad with creamy morel mushrooms sauce

A trio of lobster, fresh green beans, cream sauce and basil

Main Course:

Grilled beef fillet, sauted vegetables with herbs in a Barnaise sauce

Sea bream stuffed with spinach, sundried tomatoes, cebette onion and Parmesan cheese in virgin olive oil

Bresse chicken with pistachios, spaghetti squash, in Port wine

Dessert:

Tart apples with cinnamon and bourbon vanilla ice cream

Fresh pears served warm with almonds in creamy caramel sauce

And wedding cake

Cake:Les Deux Frres – Three layers, three different flavors: strawberries and cream, chocolate with chocolate cream and lemon chiffon with lemon curd

Engagement Ring: Tavit’s Settings, Boston, MA
Wedding Rings: Tavit’s Settings, Boston, MA
Hairdresser: Dessange, Monaco
Make up: The lovely Heather.
Shoes: Christian Louboutin (bride) and Allen Edmonds (groom)
Brides underwear: Some shop in Courmayer, Italy!
DJ: Pascal Serri at Promusique Animation (he was great, highly recommended)
The dress: Harper Della-Piana at SEAMS in Wenham, Massachusetts (design from a dress shown in the movie “The Black Book“)

She created it strictly from screenshots I sent her via email–fabulous.

Grooms attire: Tommy Hilfiger

Florist: Florazur, 9 Rue des Combattants en Afrique du Nord, La Turbie, France–They were so nice and made beautiful arrangements–two days before the wedding!

Very affordable and highly recommended.

Best man: Jonathan Salois (Andrew’s brother)

What to say about him: Jonathan is pretty much the coolest guy on earth and dominates at ice hockey. He’d say “Go Bruins!”

About his speech: It came from left field–totally amazing!

Maid of Honor: Jean Mattes
What to say about her: They met freshman year of high school at Loyola Academy during gym class.

About her speech: Heartfelt sincerity–beautiful!

First Dance Song: “I Will,” by the Beatles
When, where and how did Andrew proposed: The day after Gretchen ran the 2008 Chicago Marathon: October 13, 2008–he did it at her parent’s home in Chicago in front of her family.

Best moment of the day

For Gretchen: From morning until evening and into the early morning–it was a perfect dream! I was elated to see Andrew at the ceremony after a chaotic weekend; I was instantly calmed.

For Andrew: Seeing Gretchen in her dress for the first timeand watching my parents cut a rug in the dance circle.

Honeymoon: Our European excursion was one huge honeymoon where we managed to hit: France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Iceland!
Advice for future couples who want to get married: Don’t be pressured by anyone to do anything you don’t want to do. It’s your day and no one else’s–completely worth it.
Anything you would like to say about preparing for this day: A LOT went into planning this day. A lot of patience and a few moments of panic but it all worked out beautifully.

If you get organized, it’s not so daunting.

————————–

Some of the best pics of the day

Engagement Session in London by PGPhotography wedding Photographer France and England. http://www.pgphotography.eu/

Manon and Niraj will get married in Menton on the French Riviera after so many problems with the french administration. Not very fair and honnorable from th Human rights conutry. We first met in an italian Café in Nice and decided to plan an engagement shooting in London a few week later. As i was in Liverpool the day before it took me only two hours with the train to arrive in Victoria stationwher they awaited me.

We left the station for a long walk around Westminter, big ben and the parliament. Then following the Thames river to the London Towers. After an amazing Karaoké in a warm and cheerful pub in the City near bond street We continue taking a few pictures at night before saying goodbye because tommorow is a working day and Manon and Niraj live quite far away south in Croydon.

A few samples of the pics I took with them.

Wedding in France at Château Ste Roseline Photo session in Liverpool by PG Wedding Photographer France.  http://www.pgphotography.eu/

Arriving by plane upon Liverpool’s John Lennon airport is a kind of exotic experience. I had never seen such green surroundings  near any Airport. Nothing to do with the urban surroundings of  Roissy or the blues of Nice Côte d’Azur or the Browns and Ochers near Marrakech Menara. From the landing area the building looks old and out of date but after the custom’s it turns out to be brand new, modern and practical a temple dedicated to the divinities of the consumer society.

Less than ten minutes with a real cheap bus are enough to join the Albert docks one of the most mythical places in town . I met Graeme and Mel (Melina) on the docks at the Terrace of a famous Pub located in an old building that used to be the machinery of the Lock.

Graeme is a great fan of his City and knows its geography and history by heart. I had of Liverpool an image of an old sleepy mining city that had been built with the years by a couple of wonderful films that the  British movie industry delivers to the world around once a year. I am thinking of the Full Monty, Billy Elliot, Brassed off, or more recently : Looking for Eric all amazing and touching films where  life seems so tough and at the same time so warm, cordial and cheerfull.

In fact I discovered a brand new and modern town center so colored, noisy and crowdy. In the streets,  buildings of all kind of architectural styles are mixed up in an incredible “Pot Pourri”. Makes you believe that no state service take care of this. But at night they’re all lit up like for a fireworks contest and the skies are burning in a mystical rainbow of psychedelic lights.

The old headquarters of the Cunard cruise line, the railway station, The museum and even the central police station are shining even brighter than all  the neon lights in broadway. none of our police officers would even dare imagine working there and not in old barracks as ugly as the concrete bunkers of second world war.

the highlights of the day were definitly the old pubs. wher taking a few shots of our lovers was a brilliant idea. Then I must absolutely tell you about the Superlambbananas. They are amazing statues of a lamb with a banana shaped tail. Almost as big as a real cow they are covered with paintings telling stories about the geography , the history or any cultural subject about the city of  Liverpool.  they have been spread of all over the town in 2008  when Liverpool was European Capital of Culture.  Ever since, ordinary people or corporations or business men have bought them sometimes in public auctions in order to keep them in town. they are so ugly and at the same time so odd and akward that at the end you like them.

I only have one regret. I had no time to visit Anfield road and the stadium the heart of the city beats. For a french man not really keen on football it is really hard to understand the mystery of  the sentimental link between the Liverpool FC and its fans. But I lived two years in Marseille the only place in France where you can find such phenomenom and maybe understand the “you’ll never walk alone”.

And in fact i never did walk alone in the streets of Liverpool thanks to Graeme and Mel and that was fun and highly interesting. On the other hand I will prey and hope that Graeme won’t fill the church or the Castle on the wedding day with flags of his favorite football team though I know damn well he could do it.

In case you had not yet understood I adorrrre Liverpool.