Some weddings begin long before the wedding day. Marine and Brian’s began in stress, six months before their big day, when their venue caught fire. A place they had genuinely fallen in love with, months of preparation, and overnight, everything had to be rebuilt from scratch. Change the date, find a new venue, start over. We tried to be there for them through that period, not just as vendors but as real support, because that kind of setback is exhausting and we knew how much this wedding meant to them.
Wedding day at La Croix des Champs ?
On the day itself, you could still feel it a little. Marine and Brian arrived carrying that tension in their shoulders that six months of anxiety inevitably leaves behind. But as the morning unfolded, something settled. Getting ready is often where it all truly begins, that suspended moment where the couple is still in their own bubble, surrounded by their closest people, before the day takes off for good. That morning was particularly beautiful to photograph.
The religious ceremony took place in a mountain village church, beneath a cold but generously sunny winter sky, exactly the kind of light we love working with. And right after, Marine and Brian did something we had never seen before: they left with their friends to a nearby bar for a drink, a toast, and a game of pool before heading to the venue. Simple, spontaneous, completely them. That little interlude broke all the tension, and they arrived at La Croix des Champs light and smiling, rejoining their guests for a reception that lasted deep into the night.
Because when Marine and Brian let go, they really let go. The celebration was more than worthy of everything they had been through to get there, and we’re genuinely glad we got to be there to capture it.
If you’re looking for a venue for a winter wedding around Lake Annecy, La Croix des Champs is a place we recommend without hesitation. And if you’re going through your own unexpected challenges while planning your wedding, we know what that feels like. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Émilie & Stéphane
