Monaco wedding ceremony followed by apéritifs in Port Hercule

There’s an expression in France which is uncharacteristically optimistic for the French: mariage pluvieux, mariage heureux, which translates that a rainy wedding will mean a happy marriage.

I’m sure it applies to this wedding at the Mairie de Monaco where not even the clouds or damp weather could take the shine off what was a beautiful ceremony in the elegant surroundings of the Mairie de Monaco. Afterwards there was a photoshoot in the nearby Jardins Saint Martin, which thanks to the weather, was empty.

The location, just a minute’s walk from the Mairie, allowed for some beautiful couple photographs against the backdrop of some beautiful foliage. With the sun diffused by the clouds, the light was beautifully white and even. Photographing with a 35mm prime allowed for some beautiful focus fall-off along the pathway that ran parallel with coast.

The plaza of the Mairie is befitting of the principality, with lots of beautiful, natural light pouring in from the giant windows and dispersed by the white marble floor. The ceremony room itself is the most beautiful civil marriage room I’ve seen, adorned with ornate, carved wood with gold-leaf embellishments, portraits, and a spectacular ornate ceiling.

The gardens of Saint Martin, which sit atop of the cliffs between the Oceanographic Museum and Port Fontvieille, are immaculately kept and is home to some amazing sculptures and artwork. I would have loved to have spent longer photographing here, but unfortunately the weather was complicating things.

After the moving ceremony and brief but amazing photoshoot, the wedding party moved onto a nearby yacht in Port Hercule for post-ceremony apéritifs. Photographing in such beautiful surroundings was a delight and made even easier by the amazing atmosphere and the warm spirits and sense of humour of everyone present.