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French Wedding Style

Modern Paris Engagement Shoot with a Vintage Twist

Andy and Apollo's Paris engagement at the Eiffel Tower, Palais Royal, and Arc de Triomphe with sailor-chic style, shot by David Bacher.

By Elena Moretti | Published 17 April 2012
Modern Paris Engagement Shoot with a Vintage Twist

Andy and Apollo brought California cool to the streets of Paris for an engagement session that spanned the Eiffel Tower, Palais Royal, and the Arc de Triomphe. Photographer David Bacher captured four hours of effortless movement and genuine connection across the most iconic wedding and engagement locations in Paris and Ile-de-France.

Photography
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Venue
Paris City Streets
Region
Paris, France
Couple
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Couple Portraits

A couple poses together on a stone balustrade terrace with the Eiffel Tower prominently visible in the soft-focus background, suggesting an engagement or pre-wedding portrait session in Paris. The man wears a tan blazer, khaki trousers, and a light blue tie, while the woman wears a fitted teal/turquoise knee-length dress with black platform heels and long dark wavy hair. They are standing close together, his arm around her waist and her hand resting on his chest, both smiling. The shot is a full-length portrait taken at street level with a clean, bright exposure.
A couple sits together at a small bistro table inside what appears to be a Parisian-style café, in a relaxed engagement or pre-wedding portrait session. The woman, facing the camera, wears a navy blue and white short-sleeve dress with a pearl necklace and sips from a glass coffee cup containing a layered latte. The man, shown from behind, wears a white dress shirt with a grey vest. The café setting features wicker bistro chairs, a chalkboard menu on the wall, and warm ambient lighting visible in the background. Medium close-up portrait shot with a shallow depth of field.
A couple poses facing each other in an intimate portrait in front of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris at night. The man wears a white dress shirt with a dark tie and dark trousers, while the woman wears a dark dress. The shot uses a slow shutter speed, creating motion blur from passing vehicle headlights and taillights that form streaks of warm orange and red light on either side of the couple, who remain sharp against the illuminated monument. This appears to be an engagement or pre-wedding portrait session rather than a wedding day shoot. The wide shot frames the couple centrally with the Arc de Triomphe lit up directly behind them against a black night sky.
A couples portrait session shown as a two-image side-by-side composite, taken outdoors in front of the Palais Royal in Paris. In both shots, a man and woman pose together — the man wears a white dress shirt, dark grey vest, and dark trousers, while the woman wears a fitted navy blue and white striped cap-sleeve dress with red heels. On the left, the couple walks hand in hand on the cobblestone pavement in front of the Palais Royal entrance, smiling at each other in a candid mid-shot. On the right, they pose together near a wrought-iron railing and a classic Parisian street lamp, with the Palais Royal sign visible behind them, in a closer portrait composition. The styling has a classic, Parisian retro feel coordinated through the navy-and-white color palette.

Andy and Apollo moved through the streets of Paris with the confidence of a couple completely at home in the city, pausing on Pont Alexandre III as the Seine caught the late afternoon light. David Bacher kept the mood loose, letting them walk, laugh, and lean into each other while he shot from a distance. A wardrobe change halfway through added a second chapter to the afternoon: her in a navy dress with red heels, him in a sharp jacket, both of them grinning as they ducked beneath the Arc de Triomphe at dusk.

More from the Day

Detail shot of a woman seated on a stone ledge near water, wearing red patent leather stiletto heels and a teal or navy blue dress or skirt, with her legs crossed. In the foreground, a bottle of rosé champagne or sparkling wine with a pink label is placed on the ledge, intentionally out of focus. The composition uses shallow depth of field to draw focus to the red heels as a styling detail, with the water visible in the background. The bold red shoes against the teal dress and pink-labeled bottle suggest a deliberate color-coordinated styling choice.
A woman stands in a doorway of what appears to be an ornate interior room, leaning against a set of tall French doors that open to a street outside. She is wearing a fitted navy blue pencil dress with white sailor-collar detailing, double-breasted button accents, and a thin white belt at the waist, paired with red peep-toe heels. The interior setting features dark wood paneling, a patterned carpet in deep red tones, and a small lamp visible on a surface in the background, suggesting a classic or vintage-styled interior such as a boutique or historic hotel. This is a portrait-style, full-length shot with a retro, vintage aesthetic defined by the 1950s-inspired silhouette of the dress.
A couple is reflected in an oval gold-framed mirror inside what appears to be a classic French interior with large multi-pane windows and dark curtains. The groom wears a white dress shirt with a grey waistcoat and dark trousers, while the bride wears a fitted navy blue dress with white contrast detailing, giving the overall styling a vintage 1940s-inspired aesthetic. The couple stands close together, facing the camera with serious expressions, with bright window light backlighting them from behind. The shot is a creative portrait composed entirely within the oval mirror reflection, with the dark foreground framing adding depth and contrast.
A couple poses together at an ornate bar counter inside what appears to be a formal interior venue, likely during an engagement shoot or wedding reception. The man wears a white dress shirt with a dark charcoal vest, while the woman wears a fitted navy blue dress with white trim detail and red heels, holding hands across the bar top. The indoor setting features warm amber lighting, dark red patterned carpet, wood-paneled walls, a framed portrait painting, and a decorative globe in the background, giving the scene a classic, vintage aesthetic. This is a mid-length portrait shot with the couple as the central focus.
Aesthetic
Modern, Vintage
Guest Count
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Budget Range
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Bride's Dress
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