A Tropical Chic Wedding on the Beaches of Guadeloupe

Leslie and Gilbert's tropical chic beach wedding in Guadeloupe with ocean-front vows, steel band music, and cultural warmth captured by Smile and Shine Photography.

By Elena Moretti | Published 25 June 2020

A Tropical Chic Wedding on the Beaches of Guadeloupe

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Leslie and Gilbert celebrated on the beaches of Guadeloupe in the French West Indies, where turquoise waters and tropical blooms framed their all-white destination wedding. Captured by Smile and Shine Photography, their day blended modern sophistication with vibrant African and Caribbean heritage for a celebration full of rhythm and joy.

Photography

Smile and Shine Photography

Venue

La Résidence Départementale du Gosier

Region

Guadeloupe, France

Couple

Leslie & Gilbert

Getting Ready

A couple portrait taken outdoors on a wooden boardwalk path lined by a rustic wooden fence, with lush green grounds visible in the background. The bride wears a strapless, fitted gown with geometric lace patterning in ivory and a long cathedral-length veil, with her hair styled in an updo; the groom kisses her cheek while wearing a dark navy blazer over a checked shirt, a dark tie with a white pocket square, white trousers, and light tan loafers. The groom has a small white boutonniere on his lapel, and fallen red flamboyant tree flowers are scattered across the boardwalk. The shot is a full-length portrait with a slightly overcast bright sky, giving soft, even lighting across the scene.

A getting-ready portrait of a bride seated indoors, wearing a white satin robe with her hair styled in a high curly bun. Her makeup is complete with defined eye liner, full lashes, and a neutral lip, and she wears a small stud earring. She is gazing to the side with a composed expression. In the background, a makeup station is visible with open eyeshadow palettes, brushes, and various beauty products on a shelf. The shot is a close-up portrait with a shallow depth of field, keeping the bride sharp and the background softly blurred.

A close-up portrait of a bride shot against a warm beige studio backdrop. She wears a strapless ivory lace and satin corset-style bodice with scalloped lace trim along the sweetheart neckline. Her hair is styled in a high curly updo, and her makeup features smoky eye shadow with defined lashes and a neutral lip. She is looking downward with a calm expression. The lighting is soft and directional, creating subtle shadow definition across her collarbone and shoulders.

Leslie's preparations unfolded in a bright coastal setting where the couple posed together overlooking the turquoise waters of Le Gosier. The morning's energy was relaxed and celebratory, with family members gathering nearby. Gilbert chose a tailored suit with a navy vest for what the couple called their French Riviera look.

Ceremony

An outdoor beach wedding ceremony showing the bride and groom at the altar, with the bride seen from behind reading her vows and the groom facing the camera smiling. The bride wears a backless lace gown with a long lace-trimmed veil and her hair in an updo, while the groom wears a navy suit jacket with white trousers, a patterned tie, and a white boutonniere. The ceremony arch is decorated with tropical greenery including palm fronds and baby's breath with white fabric ribbon accents. The composition is a medium portrait shot capturing both figures at the altar with lush tropical foliage in the background.

An outdoor beach wedding ceremony taking place directly on the sand with the ocean visible in the background. The bride wears a fitted white lace gown with a long veil and holds a tropical bouquet of large green leaves, while the groom wears a dark navy suit with white trousers; an officiant dressed in white stands between them holding a clipboard or book and speaking into a microphone. The ceremony arch is a bamboo or wooden frame draped with white sheer fabric and decorated with large tropical palm fronds, banana leaves, and clusters of white flowers, with matching floral arrangements of baby's breath in glass vases lining the aisle. Seated guests on white chairs, most dressed in white or light-colored attire, flank the aisle on both sides, with approximately 15-20 visible guests. The styling is tropical and relaxed with a natural green-and-white palette, and the wide-shot portrait composition captures the full ceremony setup with the coastline as a backdrop.

A tropical floral arch framed the private beach ceremony, with the ocean and rocky coastline providing the only backdrop needed. Leslie wore an elegant champagne-hued gown that set her apart from the all-white palette of her guests. Vows were exchanged to the rhythm of the sea as Smile and Shine Photography captured each moment.

Reception

The bride and groom make their grand entrance into the reception venue, walking hand-in-hand onto a marble-tiled dance floor as approximately 30-40 guests applaud and cheer on either side. The indoor venue features a distinctive wooden ceiling with large decorative fan-shaped installations in striped cream and tan tones, recessed lighting, and a white-on-white decor palette throughout. The bride wears a strapless fitted white gown with a geometric stripe pattern and mermaid silhouette, while the groom is dressed in a navy blazer with white trousers and white shoes. Guests are dressed predominantly in white and cream attire, and the reception tables in the background are set with white linens, clear ghost chairs, and floral centerpieces with white blooms. This is a wide-angle shot capturing the full room and the energy of the entrance moment.

Close-up detail shot of a four-tier wedding cake displayed on a silver cake board over a white satin-draped table, photographed at an outdoor evening reception. The bottom tier features ivory fondant with vertical pleating, the second tier is covered in silver chunky glitter or crushed sequin texture, the third tier is smooth ivory fondant with a rhinestone band, and the top tier is smooth ivory. A cascading arrangement of white sugar flowers with rhinestone centers runs from the top to the bottom of the cake. In the blurred background, guests in formal attire are visible under pink ambient uplighting against a dark night sky.

The reception moved to La Residence Departementale du Gosier, where a garden setting opened with champagne, steel band music, and laughter drifting through the palm-shaded courtyard. Dessert service added a refined touch as the evening transitioned into dancing. The celebration carried the energy of both African and Caribbean heritages.

Flat Lays

Close-up detail shot of a ring exchange moment during an outdoor beach ceremony, with the groom in a dark navy suit and white dress shirt placing a ring on the bride's finger. A small white ceremony altar or table is visible in the background, decorated with what appears to be a sand ceremony vessel and greenery. The setting is a sandy beach with tropical foliage and a body of water visible in the soft-focus background. The composition tightly frames the couple's hands, highlighting the ring and the groom's silver watch bracelet.

Close-up detail shot of a bride's hand resting against the bodice of her ivory lace wedding dress, showcasing a halo-style diamond engagement ring alongside a thin diamond wedding band on her ring finger. The nails are painted a soft blush-nude. The dress features intricate geometric lace paneling with layered crochet-style trim details. The image is tightly framed to highlight both the rings and the dress texture.

A flat lay detail shot of a wedding stationery suite arranged on a grey linen textile background. The suite includes multiple pieces of hand-torn deckle-edge paper in ivory and blush tones, featuring hand-calligraphed text, a watercolor illustration of a building on the main invitation, and gold leaf accents. Styling accessories include loose mauve and pink pansy and sweet pea blooms, a wax seal stamp with a wooden handle, two small glass ink wells, vintage postage stamps, and a small botanical-printed card with a red wax seal. The overall palette is blush, ivory, and gold with a romantic, handcrafted aesthetic.

A close-up detail shot of a bride's back, showcasing an ivory lace wedding dress with a geometric chevron lace pattern and a column of fabric-covered buttons running down the spine. A lace-edged veil is visible along the left side of the frame. A hand — wearing silver stacked rings and a silver bangle bracelet — rests gently on the bride's waist, likely the groom's hand. The composition is tightly cropped to highlight the dress construction, accessories, and the contrast between the intricate ivory lace and the couple's skin tones.

The wedding stationery suite was arranged on a grey linen background, with hand-lettered details and tropical motifs echoing the island palette. Gold accents, shell details, and linen textures tied the flat lay collection to the couple's vision of tropical chic, each element styled with deliberate warmth and precision.