A slow breakfast, time spent exploring Cannes, and a private sailboat cruise along the French Riviera. Junebug vendor Shawna Rae Photography led this Cannes elopement styled shoot to show couples that a wedding day doesn’t have to start at sunrise or follow a packed schedule.

With models Alexia and Jeremi, Shawna explored a more relaxed approach to destination weddings. From casual moments along the rocky shoreline to private vows, beachside portraits, and a sunset sail on the Mediterranean, the inspiration is all about enjoying time together and choosing experiences that feel right for the couple.

What We Love About This Cannes Elopement Inspiration

• Outfit changes captured with various backdrops, from rocky beaches to charming city streets
• A slow morning with coffee, croissants, and no rush to get ready
• A private sailboat cruise with champagne and Mediterranean sunset views

A Casual Start Along the Rocky Shoreline

For Shawna Rae, the idea was to give couples more freedom to decide what their wedding day could look like. “I wanted to show people relaxed alternatives to formal weddings and adventure elopements. I want people to truly realize that your elopement day can look however you want it to.”

Alexia and Jeremi spend time along the rocky shoreline in casual denim, sharing kisses, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. It’s an easygoing approach to wedding-day portraits, especially for couples who feel most comfortable in their everyday clothes.

The Mediterranean provides a beautiful setting, but the appeal is in how comfortable the couple is together. There’s room for affection, laughter, and simply enjoying the place they’ve chosen to celebrate.

A Slow Breakfast and Getting Ready Together

Alexia and Jeremi take their time over coffee, croissants, and fresh fruit before enjoying a few quiet moments together on the balcony. There was no rush to get dressed or head out, just time to enjoy each other’s company.

Shawna wanted to challenge the expectation that elopements need to begin with a sunrise hike or an early start. Sleeping in, having breakfast together, and taking the morning slowly can be just as worthwhile. As she put it, “Everyone’s pace is different.”

The couple also gets ready together before changing into their formal wedding attire. Rather than treating every part of the day as a scheduled activity, the idea is to leave enough room to enjoy these quieter moments together.

A Private Moment for Vows

For the more traditional wedding elements, Alexia wore an ivory gown from Louise Mariage Bruxelles with a plunging neckline, thin straps, and intricate beading across the bodice. The fitted design featured sheer panels at the waist and a long train. She wore her natural curls loose, with delicate drop earrings completing her bridal look. Jeremi paired a black tuxedo with satin lapels, a white dress shirt, and a black bow tie.

The couple shared a quiet moment by the window with handwritten notes and small vow books. Including a private exchange like this can give couples the chance to share their most meaningful words with each other, away from the rest of the celebration.

Featured Vendor:
Shawna Rae Photography

Wedding Portraits on the Sandy Beach

For the beach portraits, Jeremi changed into a light beige three-piece suit, which paired well with Alexia’s ivory gown and the sandy shoreline.

Shawna took inspiration from the colors of a beach sunset, particularly the blue water, orange sunlight, and neutral shades of the sand and rocks. She carried these colors through the wardrobe choices, keeping the focus on the couple and their surroundings.

Exploring the Streets of Cannes

Alexia and Jeremi also explored Cannes on foot, making their way through streets lined with pale buildings and along the waterfront promenade. They kept things playful with black sunglasses, sharing laughs and enjoying the chance to explore the town together.

Shawna chose Cannes partly because she found a sailboat available to rent nearby. She also loved the variety of locations, from the beaches and promenade to the town’s charming streets. Having these different settings close together gave the couple plenty to enjoy without spending too much time traveling between locations.

A Sunset Sail Along the French Riviera

The private sailboat was another highlight of the shoot. Alexia’s gown flowed across the wooden deck, while the warm sunset light added to the atmosphere.

Shawna especially loved the couple’s chemistry and how much they enjoyed being together. “I absolutely loved the energy that the couple brought. They were both so legitimately in love, and enjoying every moment of the shoot.”

The boat ride wasn’t entirely smooth sailing, though. Alexia experienced seasickness, so the team took breaks to give her time to recover. She still managed to enjoy the experience, including a champagne toast with Jeremi as the sun went down.

Shawna also suggested that couples could incorporate a private sailboat cruise into their wedding day or arrange one for the following day.

Planning Your Own Cannes Elopement

For Shawna, the most important thing was encouraging couples to plan a day around what they genuinely enjoyed doing together. “Having fun with your partner and celebrating each other should be the number one priority, and that looks a little different for everyone.”

She also shared a few practical tips for couples considering a sailboat excursion. Choose a reliable captain and boat, prepare for possible seasickness, and bring something warm to wear once the sun goes down, especially during spring and autumn.

A Cannes elopement could mean sleeping in, enjoying a long breakfast, exploring the town, or spending a few hours on the Mediterranean. Couples can choose whichever activities appeal to them and enjoy the day at their own pace.