Loire Valley · Touraine · Chinonais
Loire Valley
elopement photographer
Two people, a ceremony, two photographers. No guest list, no timeline built around a hundred people. The Loire Valley makes this easy: the châteaux, the vineyards, the river, the medieval villages, none of it requires a reception to justify it.
We live in Lencloître, in the Vienne. Chinon is twenty minutes away, Azay-le-Rideau forty, Saumur just over an hour. We know the territory, the light, the pace at which a day unfolds here. Our approach is the same for elopements as for full weddings: invisible, attentive, no direction.
Where we work
Château de l'Islette, Azay-le-Rideau
A private château two kilometres from Azay-le-Rideau, where Rodin sculpted and Camille Claudel spent her summers. Intimate, deeply human, with a quality of light that changes completely between morning and late afternoon. One of our favourite places to spend a day.
Chinon vineyards and Forteresse Royale
The Chinon appellation runs through the Vienne and Indre valleys. Vine rows, limestone tufa walls, and the Forteresse Royale above the town. For a ceremony that feels rooted in the landscape rather than staged against it.
Saumur-Champigny and Abbaye de Fontevraud
The royal abbey where Eleanor of Aquitaine is buried: a UNESCO site with a quality of silence earned over eight centuries. The Saumur vineyards nearby offer something different, open land, the Loire visible through the vines, late light over the river.
We work across the Loire Valley on request. If you have a location in mind, write to us.
Our work
Over sixteen years and 337 weddings across Europe, we have been recognised by This Is Reportage (TOP 20 Storytellers in the World, 2022), WPJA (TOP 50 in 2021 and 2022), Fearless Photographers (13 team collections across 11 consecutive years) and others. 232 international awards in total.
We always work as two. We speak French and English fluently.
Pricing
From €3,190
Includes both photographers, the full day from preparations through to the evening, and all edited images via a private online gallery. Full pricing details →
Travel across the Loire Valley is included. For a shorter elopement session, write to us to discuss a tailored package.
We always work as a duo. This is not an option.
+33 6 22 64 98 81 · petrica@cristinaandpetrica.com
Frequently asked questions
What is a Loire Valley elopement?
An elopement with us means two people, a ceremony of your choosing, and two photographers documenting the day as it happens. No guest list, no timeline driven by a hundred people. The Loire Valley works well for this: château gardens, vineyard estates, riverbanks and medieval villages, none of which require a large reception to justify.
Do you need to marry legally in France for an elopement?
Not for a ceremony. Most couples either marry legally at home before or after, or hold a symbolic ceremony in France. A French civil ceremony requires residency documents and considerable lead time. We can recommend a bilingual officiant for symbolic ceremonies if needed.
Which Loire Valley locations work best for an elopement?
Château de l'Islette near Azay-le-Rideau for intimacy and history. The vineyards of the Chinon and Saumur-Champigny appellations for late afternoon light over the vines. The Forteresse Royale de Chinon for medieval scale without a reception. Riverbanks along the Loire and the Indre for quiet, unhurried mornings.
How long does an elopement photography session last?
Most Loire Valley elopements we cover run three to six hours: morning preparations, the ceremony, time to walk and be present in the place. We do not impose a schedule. The day moves at your pace.
How much does a Loire Valley elopement photographer cost?
Our packages start at 3,190 €. This includes both photographers, the full day from preparations through to the evening, and all edited images via a private online gallery. For shorter elopements of two to four hours, write to us to discuss a tailored package.
Do you travel to elopements outside the Loire Valley?
Yes. We have documented elopements and intimate weddings across France and Europe. The Loire Valley is our home territory, but we follow our couples wherever they choose.
Documentary elopement photographers based in Lencloître, Vienne (86). Loire Valley, Chinon, Azay-le-Rideau, Saumur. Available across France and Europe.