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DIY Winter Renovation Part 2

February 28, 2026 by ashleyt 2 Comments

Phew ! Are you ready for part 2 of our winter renovation? Robin is working against the clock to get this space somewhat lovable before mid-April. Didn’t see the first part of this series? See Part 1 Winter Renovation.

One project Robin has attacked recently is correcting this odd enlargement of an upstairs bedroom over the staircase. Of course it wasn’t done well and needed this metal support which is really not ideal. We’d like to open up the staircase and put the bedroom back to its original size. The reason he has to do this now is because a new concrete floor will be poured downstairs and we simply cannot have the pole here. As a side note, can you see the mould on the walls? Yuck. Robin has already added ducts for several VMCs throughout the house for ventilation. It probably doesn’t help that the roof is actually disintegrating either.

Upstairs, a complete overhaul

All the rooms upstairs are small. However, next winter Robin will be taking down most of the walls and completely reconfiguring the space. There are currently 3 small bedrooms, one separate toilet and one bathroom. Robin would like instead three larger bedrooms and three en-suite bathrooms. We can do this as we’ll include the large room that was being used to store hay and meat. Yes, this is definitely a farmhouse!

Below you can see photos of Robin starting to remove the wall and floor of the extension in the upstairs bedroom. He’s also removing all the tiles on the ground floor as we will be having it professionally re-done with a projected mousse for the insulation to make up the irregularities in levels and a liquid screed for the floor surface. Eventually we’ll add stone or tiles. Sadly we won’t get around to that this year. The staircase will remain the same.

I know these terrazzo tiles are back in fashion right now but we don’t like them. Sorry if you do! They honestly remind me of a hospital. We could have tried to sell these but the time it would take to clean and sort them unfortunately isn’t worth it.

home restoration south of france — Thinking…

All this newfound natural light unfortunately won’t remain as Robin will be building a wall here. However, the stairs feel a lot less claustrophobic.

The Kitchen

This is our current small kitchen. It received a significant improvement last summer when we were able to repurpose these units when Robin was doing a kitchen renovation for a client. It is however a basic space. The dream kitchen that was supposed to be in the large barn connected to the house is, for now, my studio. It’s serving as both a studio and gallery at the moment. It’s too useful for painting sales.

Therefore, we have decided to make this space larger. This room is on the right of the front door, after another dingy hallway. Robin has taken down this wall and we hope a mason (the roofer) will help with the other wall. Already, there is so much more light. Unfortunately, the unchanged windows you see here will remain that way this year. The other wall not yet taken down is a load bearing wall. Unfortunately some if it will remain, blocking the staircase view upon entering the house. This isn’t ideal but we have to work with what we have. Budget needs to be taken into consideration.

In the last couple weeks Robin removed all the units, took up the tiles, broke down one wall and filled countless skips. I’m really hoping his body holds out because there is currently no bathroom in the house. He needs to be careful. This type of work is punishing on his wrist which has been bothering him recently, not to mention his back and knee issues. He goes to the kiné (physio) once a week, which helps.

Insulation

Can you believe that all the below insulation is only for the ceilings downstairs. Wild! We’re using natural wood fibre. It’s more effective and a lot more agreeable to work with compared with fibreglass. It is a little more expensive. It’s best to buy direct online.

DIY Reno france — It was quite something to get all this in the house. It’s currently taking up a lot of my atelier.

Our Gate Arrived

Almost as a side note, as there’s so much going on right now, our gate arrived. We ordered this from a local blacksmith rather than a large company. There’s a big difference in quality. This is solid iron and the shape is called “chapeau de gendarme” or policemen’s hat. This refers to the top of the gate. The blacksmith still needs to come back to add a floral detail to the bottom panels. This is called a palmette in French, or rosace for a smaller gate. The gate will patina more with time.

Robin still needs to install the electrical mechanism for the gate. One of these days…

Plaster boarding (drywall)

So she does have a little character. After removing the thick white paint we briefly admired the colour and soubassement of these walls in the salon before Robin added a primer and started plaster boarding. The kitchen and room behind it are covered in hand-painted stencils. We’ve only glimpsed these details over the past few years behind the heavily flaking paint. The house was painted white in an effort to make it look more presentable for sale.

Things are starting to look like…something.

Up next, filling in the drainage channels, more plasterboarding, hopefully the floor guy and roofer will show up, a serious meeting about the bathroom layout, some pleading with the woodworker and more.

Robin has 5 weeks left before we have to move in… Wish us luck!

Help us buy a front door (and everything else)

We’re so grateful for your support!

Each stay in our rental or oil painting purchase helps us advance the renovation.

Winter Renovation in Provence Part 1

February 28, 2026 by ashleyt 6 Comments

diy home renovation in france — The house in October 2024, very much in its “before” state.

After buying this property in 2019, we spent the first few years focusing on converting the two barns on the property into useable spaces. One is now our 2 bedroom rental, and the other, which you see a little of on the left of the house here, is my artist studio. We haven’t touched the house at all since moving in other than adding a ground cable after I was electroshocked in the shower…

The first couple of winters were absolutely miserable without heating (other than a wood fire in one room). Afterwards, we were thankfully able to move into the rental during the winters. The winter months are when we have the most time to advance the renovation due welcoming guests in the summer.

The last couple years were a little slower to advance due to our wedding and the roofer not showing up last winter due to a death in the family. Robin instead constructed a auvent, or awning, made of stone pillars, wooden beams and antique roof tiles. That space will eventually be for solar panels and a shaded area for technical things such as our well equipment (moved this winter).

Winter Reno

Throughout the summer, when Robin wasn’t working for other clients, he was working on the electrics in the house. Then, in October, after our last guests left, he started on the massive travaux. On the do list: changing the very thin windows, installing stone lintels and framing and so much more.

home restoration france — These windows are from _____ . They rattle wildly in the Mistral wind! With no insolation in the house, it’s very cold in winter and hot in summer. We’re hoping to re-condition these shutters but Robin won’t be getting around to that this winter.

A Mammoth Task for One Man

As Robin is working on his own (except for the roof), due to needing to keep to a tight budget, there’s only so much he can prioritise. Other than the windows, the downstairs of the house will be the priority this winter. Above you see the salon which connects to my atelier. This is on the left of the front door.

After installing electrics this summer (the whole house runs through here- hence so many cables), he was able to get messy and remove the ceiling before insulating and adding plasterboard. Above this room was the hay storage for the house. The ceiling/floor above was only wooden planks; many things fell in between such as the below electric bill, bullets, tin cans, school workbooks etc.

Behind the salon, on the right, is a dingy back room that Robin will be converting into a bathroom and laundry room. He’s made a second opening as the rooms will be seperate.

Below you see the back room which we were using for storage and a wine cave. The floor in the house is just concrete directly placed on the earth. Therefore, it’s quite damp due to no insolation. Not to mention incredibly uneven. This winter Robin will be re-doing the floor properly. This wasn’t originally in the budget but we’d rather do it once. Below he’s cutting channels for drainage pipes and he’s moved the electrical board. The previous board was a relic and right next to the front door.

Windows

Installing the windows took a few more weeks than we originally thought due to each opening being wonky and different measurements. Robin spent a lot of time correcting these awkward openings. He also moved a few over a few centimetres to try to find a semblance of symmetry. For example, the shutters for the salon windows could not be opened correctly due to being too close together. The bathroom window was also impossible to open fully.

Wonky Everything & Lots of Concrete

This house was built by a farmer. It is unfortunately not as old at the barns which are from the 1770s. The house is from about 1930 which means there are no Provençal wood and plaster ceilings, vaulted stone ceilings or stone details. You can see here Robin is adding stone details. Although there will be no stone walls in the house, it will be clean and cosy as it will be properly insulated, contrary to many houses in this region.

We had to ask for planning permission to change the windows and colour of the shutters.

A Process over Several Months

These photos were taken from October 2024 to just recently. Due to the weather, having personal items in the house that need moving from room to room, and the slow process of working on one’s own, Robin, for sanity’s sake, moves around from week to week concentrating on different tasks. While he’s working away on the house, I’m in the studio working on commissions and upcoming exhibitions. Team work!

For the house, we chose to go for a more traditional feel; we had wooden windows made. In the rental and atelier we used steel. The stone is bought directly from the quarry. You’ll find many quarries in this region where stone can be sourced as well as woodworkers, blacksmiths and more traditional trades. We prefer to source these materials and use local craftsmen rather than buying cheap products from abroad. Hence, the budget problem…ha! Also, the cost of materials, similar to elsewhere, has gone up exponentially since Covid.

The Front Door

Ah…. After all these years in France we’re still lusting after French doors. We’re no longer looking for patina doors like our first house. As much as we love the character of them, the cost is prohibitive. It’s usually because of the work needed to create the frame rather than just the door itself.

The two you see below are made to order with repurposed wood. The cost, of course, is also prohibitive. Personally, I like the shape of the first option coupled with the more rustic colouring of the second. I wonder if the first is a little too chic for our funny house? Either way, we just received the quote from the facadier for the coat of hand brushed enduit on the house… It’s possible we will have to choose either between plastering the house or a front door this year.. The opening may have to remain boarded up for now..

The Mysterious Roofer

Next week, our roofer is supposed to arrive. He said he would start in November, then December, then mid January, then mid February. He actually had the gall to come by last week, when he was supposed to start, to say he’s on vacation and he’ll be starting at the beginning of March instead.

Does this sound like something out of a Peter Mayle novel? Of course you can’t be firm with him otherwise he just won’t show up at all. The rumours about French workmen are indeed true (obviously doesn’t apply to all of them). This is why Robin’s clients love him!

All to say, this delayed calendar means that the roofer will be leaving about 6 days before our first clients arrive. Can we get the roofer’s scaffolding down, get the facadier’s scaffolding up, do the facade, clean up the garden & driveway from remnants of rubble and tractor tires, all right before our first guests arrive?

Well, it’s going to have to happen. April is going to be WILD. Not that Robin isn’t already working 7 days a week. Keep your fingers crossed for us that things will go smoothly.

Next; insulation, plaster boarding, removing the tile floors downstairs, knocking a couple walls down and a rather lot of skips (dumpsters)…

Curious about our renovation in Provence? See the Curious Provence Instagram where I post daily updates.

Curious? See Part 2 Winter Renovation.

Visit an artist studio in Provence

November 4, 2025 by ashleyt 1 Comment

If you happen to be in the Alpilles area of Provence and are interested in acquiring some artwork and meeting a local artist, my studio (atelier) is open to the public via rendezvous. This is a fun way for me to meet people traveling or living in the area that have an appreciation for art. Hopefully you will also be enriched by meeting a local painter in Provence.

My muse is the landscapes of Provence. I focus specifically on the olive groves of the Alpilles regional park but am also inspired by the seasonal wildflowers and crops here such as almond blossom, sunflowers, grapevines and more.

In recent months I’ve been focusing on a sunflower series, potentially for an upcoming exhibition in 2026.

My work is comprised of oil paintings in a loose figurative impasto style often painted at dawn or dusk. For smaller works, I also create botanical series with ink and ochre from Roussillon in the Luberon, or cyanotypes with poppies.

Meet Ashley, a local painter in Provence

The Atelier / Artist Studio

Our 1770s property is in the middle of the village of Mollégès, located 5 minutes north of Eygalières and 10 minutes east of Saint Remy de Provence. On Instagram, our followers have showed a keen interest in accompanying us on our renovation journey. This is our second project in Provence; for the first in Maussane-les-Alpilles we were on Househunters International. This project will be a life project. My husband, Robin, is a professional tradesman and has completed almost all of the restoration himself. We have 2 barns and the main house (not yet touched!).

When we bought the property in 2019, our first task was to transform one of the barns into a weekly holiday rental. After that long process (actual blood and tears!) we focused on the studio. The building is 95 square meters, or just over 1000 square feet. It was mud and 4 walls when we started. We have replaced the roof, filled in the concrete wine cuves in the floor, cleared out a lot of the hunting gear, family photos, replaced the massive barn door with a glass opening and introduced another large glass opening. See some photos here. Although long from done, the space now has a proper floor and some insolation. It has perfect light for a studio.

Group visits to the Atelier

picnic in an artist studio provence frace

If you’re traveling with friends/family or are a tour guide, and believe your group would be interested in visiting an artist atelier, you’d be welcome to stop by. For tour guides, I can provide a picnic lunch, coffee or apéro for a small fee depending on the time of day you’d like to stop by. The light in the studio in the early evening is particularly beautiful. This can be a wonderful moment to share what life is like living in Provence as an artist or otherwise. I used to be a tour guide myself, so can provide extensive tips and history of the area. Depending on how many people you are, I may ask my husband, Robin, to join us.

Oil Painting Commissions

I’m often asked about the option of commissioning a provençal landscape. In the atelier gallery I have some examples of my work where you can commission something similar depending on size, if you’d like warmer or cooler tones etc. If I have time, I like to paint 2 works so that you can choose from one of them. I want my collectors to be as happy as possible so there is no pressure to buy if you’re not 100% in love !

If you’d like to commission a work you’ll have to be patient… Depending on how much demand I have, it will take me a month to do the painting and 4 months for the painting to dry to be able to send. All paintings are in oil paint, hence the wait. If you’re living in Provence, the painting can be handled after a few weeks and left to dry on your wall. Thankfully good things come to those who wait!

Sending a painting overseas

If you stop by the atelier in person, the easiest thing is to take an artwork with you. For smaller works we can of course bubble wrap etc. For paintings, we take them off the stretchers and roll them in a pvc pipe, including the wood. The painting can be easily retrenched by any professional framer back in your home country. Depending on your airline, you can put the painting in your suitcase, check it as another piece of luggage or even bring it on board as hand luggage. To send a painting directly, I use Chronopost and, just the same, send in a tube.

Ashley tinker cyanotypes — Detail of a cyanotype

Contact

If you’d like to drop by, send me an email ! It would be a pleasure.

Curiousprovence@gmail.com

To see paintings available for sale, you can also send me an email.

Barn Renovation in Provence (#2) Part 2

February 12, 2025 by ashleyt 1 Comment

The Openings, Windows, Floor, Electrics and Plumbing.

All throughout the year of 2024 Robin only worked chez nous, at our house in order to advance our Provence farmhouse renovation project. We were determined to get at least the openings and windows in for this barn, a major expense and undertaking especially as we were also planning our wedding).

See above the stone ready for the openings. We bought these directly from the quarry.

barn renovation provence france — Choosing the style of windows.

barn renovation provence france opening — Choosing the style of windows.

We ordered custom steel thermo-laquage (enamel/powder-coated) windows made by our local ironworker/ferronier. These had to be ordered months in advance and were ready only with days to spare before our first guests arrived for the rental. I should clarify here that we don’t do any messy or noisy renovations when people are staying with us!

Above : Water and electric conduits for the rental that we installed the year prior. Drain pipes for the “kitchen” to be.

On the left side of this opening we replaced the concrete blocks with stone and added a steel beam for the structural support required (not shown here).

Getting ready to create the second opening. Give me light!

Second opening in progress while blocking off the hay shoot.

A worrisome crack in the stone that was quickly dealt with.

Oeil du Boeuf

A “beef/bull’s eye” is a circular window you often see on older buildings here in Provence. We wanted to take out the original one we had and replace it with two larger ones. This was always part of our original plan… It almost didn’t work out due to the expense of the circular glass. However, we managed to get it done! Slaves to beauty.

Below: digging trenches by hand for supplies for underfloor heating. The cables were installed and the energy source will be solar panels (that won’t be installed for some time). Digging by hand was unfortunately necessary as it was so difficult to get someone with a digger to actually show up. (Yes, I know Peter Mayle warned us). A constant problem.

Ashley Tinker's artist studio — Provence Farmhouse Renovation

barn renovation provence windows — Measuring for the glass

Mas Provençal renovation — Measuring for the glass

French barn renovation steel windows — Chiseling out the mortar

Ashley tinker's artist studio renovation — Chiseling out the mortar

Robin painted the ceiling first with an undercoat and then 2 layers chaux (lime wash).

Layers of the flooring

20 cm of medium size pebbles (to allow airflow)
Plastic membrane
12cm of concrete
10cm of extruded polystyrene
Underfloor heating cables
5 cm of self-levelling concrete

The final layer of stone tiles will not be for some time. I’ll get the concrete messy with paint first…

Ready for re-pointing. We use a local that applies the textured enduit (mortar) with a machine and then brushes it by hand.

A Crazy Summer

Throughout the summer we were receiving guests that were interested in my artworks, while I was running around for photoshoots, planning the wedding, as well as having apéro with our guests staying in our rental. It was a crazy time. Above you see me heading to the post office with paintings.

You may see Robin doing all the construction work but someone has to finance the renovation and support the workman extraordinaire!

Et voilà! This is the barn atelier just after the mortar was applied. We did it! We had the official artist atelier opening in October, barely catching our breath after moving all the paintings and furniture in there as well as welcoming friends and family from all over for our wedding at the end of August.

This may eventually be a kitchen and living room. We will see who gets their way with that one…

The atelier today :

(coming soon)

See here : for Part 1 of our barn renovation in Provence

And here for our vacation rental and the mammoth renovation that was: La Picholine Renovation

Barn Renovation in Provence (#2!) Part 1

February 12, 2025 by ashleyt Leave a Comment

I recently realised that I have not shared the progress on our second barn renovation in Provence (except on instagram). This is most likely because progress has been so slow and we’ve only been working on this building as and when we had a bit of money. All previous resources were put into our first barn renovation, which is now La Picholine, our finished vacation rental.

Are you confused? If so, I don’t blame you!

A Reno Recap

In 2019 we bought a property in Mollégès, Provence. The property has 2 barns, both were untouched with a roof, 4 walls and that’s about it (oh, and lots of horse hair, hay, and other treasures). There’s also a main house that is not as old as the 250 year old barns. Previously, we had renovated a tiny historic house in Maussane-les-Alpilles in the space of 9 months. You may have caught us on a re-run of Househunters International. The episode was called “Pricey in Provence” (S99.E11).

DIY Reno in Provence

Because we love restoring using traditional techniques and reclaimed materials, the process is painstakingly slow as well as expensive. To keep the costs down, Robin is doing most of the work himself; another reason for the lengthy process. Thankfully, he’s been working on worksites for many years as a licensed plumber. He now works as a project manager here in Provence.

Priorities First

The main house has still not been touched (allow me to shed a tear for our faulty electrics, no heat or air conditioning, peeling paint and mold). It looks just the same as when we bought it except for the fact that the roof is now REALLY falling down.

As I mentioned, all our resources went into our lovely vacation rental. In between, we would work on this second barn here that you can see is attached to the main house. Originally, this was supposed to be our large (dream) kitchen and living area. However, with the success of my Provence oil paintings over the last few years, it has morphed into my atelier, or artist studio. Robin has still put in all the plumbing and electric for a kitchen… just in case. Last year, we had an enormous push to get the openings, windows, floor, and electrics installed so that I can use it to welcome guests to see my work. The following photos are all the stages before 2024.

2020

In 2020, we found ourselves in a strict lockdown with dwindling economic prospects. However, the sun was shining and we could easily find things to do. The first task we tackled was to sort through the piles of junk left in this barn, as well as tearing down the auvent that was badly built. To the left of this building there used to be several small dwellings. There were remnants of walls that we pulled down with our hands as the mortar was composed of mud and horse hair. We kept the stone for future projects and have been living with piles of stones as well as river rock (galets- this area used to be marshland) in the garden ever since.

On a Tight Budget

There were also concrete foundations in the garden and next to this building where hunting dog kennels and a chicken shed were kept. Robin broke up the concrete with a large hammer. We didn’t even want to spend money on renting tools with the Covid situation being so uncertain.

I can’t believe it, but we don’t have a photo of the front of this building from when we bought the house. See the auvent (awning/car port- no good word for this in English) below.

renovation in provence france — So many rabbit hutches..

There was a feeble second floor on one side of the barn that was used to store hay, as well as sadly family photographs, letters, rabbit hutches, hunting equipment, rusted tin cans, and more. The first thing we did was drive about a thousand times to the déchetterie (dump) where Robin became friendly with the workers (out of necessity).

You can see the roof tiles directly on the roof here that are from the 1960s when the roof was last redone. The building is from the late 1770s and we wanted to redo the roof to reflect what it would have originally have been (antique roof tiles).

The roof, as all of the roofs on the property, was not watertight. One of the first thankless tasks was digging out the stone wine cuves in the floor that were full of rubble but also water. Then, re-filling them back in once they’d dried.

provence renovation — Evening apéros in the worksite

provence farmhouse — Evening apéros in the worksite

Destroying the Bathroom

Below is a hastily made bathroom that was made later and connected onto the house. We wanted to start from scratch. That had to go too. Again, without power tools!

An Architect and Permissions

By law in France if your property is over 140 square meters you have to consult an architect. You also have to submit a demande d’un permis de construire (planning permission application) to the town hall to request changes to the property such as the changing of openings, the colour of shutters you’d like to have, the type of windows and if you’ll be increasing the inhabitable space of your property. We had the right to add 30% to the footprint of the property (as inhabitable space) by extending; but all we had to do was request a change of use for the 2 barns.

A New Roof

We could not do the roof ourselves but we did as much as possible ourselves to keep the price down. Robin removed all the old roof tiles himself. We bought roof tiles online and went to pick them up over several trips with Robin’s van. Moving these large tiles 2 by 2 was backbreaking. The roof was not done immediately so these tiles lived here in front of the house for some time. All of a sudden, in 2022, we had news that the roofers could fit us in. This meant that we had to start cleaning the tiles in freezing weather. Each tile had to be brushed and jet washed. One morning, the hose was frozen so you can see Robin thawing it..ha! Miserable!

barn renovation provence france roof — Now this is romance..

Layers of Roof and Insulation

Insulation is a priority in these old buildings if you’re able to start from the beginning. In La Picholine, our vacation rental, we chose to use a hemp insulation that was pricier than your usual fibreglass, but very effective, cleaner to work with and better for the environment.

For this roof, we chose to use PST panels (pre-fabricated moisture-resisitant sandwich boards) that include 15cm of extruded polystyrene insulation. These are more expensive but cost effective when you factor in insulating then installing a suspended (drywall/ plasterboard) ceiling.

Roof Details

The roof was fitted with corrugated cement board then antique times are placed on top.

Antique Roof Tiles

The roof tiles we used were from reclaimed buildings and are about 200 years old. They vary in colour and even shape as it is said that they reflect the different thighs they were made on by various women.

La Génoise

Génoise is the detail overhang. We were able to keep the original genoise detail on one side of the building (pictured above). There are many versions of this type of detail.

Rive

We chose to do a double layer of tiles you see on the edges of the facade of the building.

Porte-chouette

If you look at the apex of the roof you’ll see a trident cut tile sticking out. This is a porte-chouette; many masons have their preferred design. Our trident was because of our approximity to the Camargue region. This detail is meant to bring you luck if an owl sits on it. Another traditional detail we wanted to incorporate.

Et voilà ! The roof is complete. Isn’t Sterling, our Austin Mini, handsome?

The barn will remain like this until 2024 when we had a big push to open the atelier to the public.
See the new stages of our renovation here: Barn Renovation in Provence Part 2.

Our Wedding in Provence

February 11, 2025 by ashleyt 6 Comments

Forgive me this indulgence but when you have so many photos of such a special day, one cannot help but share them. This is for anyone curious about our wedding in Provence.

When Robin Proposed with a thyme sprig in December of 2023 while we were on a walk in the Alpilles, the first thing we thought about was that the perfect, dreamiest location would be to get married in an olive grove. These trees are such a large part of our lives, I paint them, we planted 7 in the garden last year (which is fitting because at Provençal weddings an olive tree is often planted), we hike between their rows on the weekend and dream about making our own oil. That night, we asked our friends William and Prune at Les Terres de Pierre if they would allow us to get married amongst their oliviers. Thankfully, they whole-heartedly agreed. It also helps that William is an excellent chef!

A DIY Wedding in Provence

In many ways this was a DIY wedding. This was obviously for budget reasons; also, we felt it was more meaningful to do things ourselves (despite the running around and stress this created on the day of).

A Garden Rose Dream

I used to work in a upmarket florist during my university years in Montréal. I absolutely loved the experience and daily creativity it offered. So, I could have made large floral arrangements if I wanted. However, we were going for a more country feel appropriate to our Provençal farmhouse venue. The original plan was to have masses of garden roses from a local producer in the region. The price was amazing, the roses spectacular (the same roses used by royal member of the Monaco family Charlotte Casiraghi) and quite frankly it was all too good to be true. A month before our wedding we experienced rainstorms that wiped out the roses.

When reality sets in

We ended up ordering the flowers directly through a contact of mine on the Saint Remy de Provence market (I worked there for a few years). That was another tricky hurdle as the flowers, though “wild” looking, are uncommonly sold on the market and considered “noble” flowers. They had to be ordered in specially. Despite my desire for David Austin roses (at such a price even if just for the bouquet) my friend on the market refused to get them and replaced them instead with local gorgeous varieties. I didn’t get the exact colours I ordered but alas, it didn’t matter. At the last minute we had to embrace the colour yellow. The macaroons we ordered were supposed to be peach but came out yellow, the peach roses were yellow, extra tablecloths came from the back of cupboards in the colour yellow, it just seemed like that colour was meant to be!

Flowers (in addition to some wild fennel we picked) : Camomile Matricaire, French garden roses, Thlaspi, Scabiosa, some Cosmos from our garden, and Ammi.

Making the Ceramic Vases

I lovingly made all the ceramic vases for the tables myself. We bought an iron arch and decorated it simply with olive branches with the intention of installing the arch in our garden on a permanent basis. All of the olive oil labels were hand-written and we bought all the drinks ourselves from our favourite local wineries (Deves, Domaine des Blaquières) and fruit juice producers.

provence wedding — Dried flowers for the aisle were perfect instead of rose petals in the August heat

The Rehearsal Dinner

We had a dinner the evening before the wedding where we invited only the people from out of town. Which, was just about everyone! My bachelorette was two nights before the wedding with people coming to the party straight from the airport. There were so many nationalities. It was blissful chaos.

Bonsaï olive trees from the market and Poterie Not ceramics were (we thought) a perfect rustic table setting under the fig trees for the night before. I wore a daisy crown that I made with dried daisies (a surprise for Robin, he likes daisies) and he wore a Souleiado shirt (of course!).

private vows — Private sunrise vows in the olive grove

diy wedding provence olive grove — Private sunrise vows in the olive grove

Community

provence countryside wedding — Robin and all the ladies !

We were so grateful for our friends that crossed oceans to be with us on our special day. We tried to keep the wedding as small as possible, with only 45 people. It felt meaningful that everyone chipped in to help decorate, move chairs, etc. Each person had a different role. My oldest friend officiated, my childhood hairdresser from Canada did my hair, my friend Loretta did my makeup, our witnesses were different from the best man and woman, my stepfather walked me down the aisle and my mom tied the knot for our hand fasting.

Creating Meaning with details

In France, in order for your marriage to be legally binding you have to get married at your local town hall. This disappointed me a little. In France, people often go to the town hall first and then the church. I would have preferred a secular ceremony to be both legally binding and in the outdoors.

Our families are small and don’t have strong wedding traditions. Robin and I both like to make decisions based on what we really want rather than just going with a precedent. This can be exhausting, constantly evaluation your intentions, but it’s worth it. We made a conscious decision to create meaning through details, and even create potential family heirlooms.

A Feather Boutonnière

Robin’s boutonnière was made by Prune, owner of the property with William but also an artist plumassière. This is the trade of feather worker, of which there are only 7 left in France. She has worked for the big fashion houses in Paris as well as the army (high-ranking officers have feathers details on their uniforms) but she now works for herself from her home atelier (studio) and boutique in Maussane les Alpilles. This is a boutonnière to keep.

A Nod to French History & a Vintage Tiara

Another detail was the crown I wore. This is something I hope to pass down eventually. It was made by Lizeron in Paris. The detailed ceramic designs are based on vintage French wedding tiaras that were originally made of wax.

A Sense of Place & Terroir

The wedding favours were peppery olive oil made on the property as well as native wildflower seeds. We were so grateful to be married in the regional Park of the Alpilles. Our hearts and lives are here. This was also reflected in the food, all local ingredients and organic wine made by small producers.

Imperfect Rings

We searched all over for wedding rings that had an organic form. We wanted them reflect nature, the imperfection of a life tied to someone else, how things ebb and flow. Something that reminded us of roots, growing together and knobbly olive tree bark. We found them in England (Cumbrian Designs).
The vintage (1910) daisy Marguerite engagement ring was found after a lot of research and a subsequent mission in Paris where we spent a weekend visiting antique jewellery shops.

A Bespoke Suit

My late father spent his career designing the patterns of suits. All throughout my childhood I would flick through the swatches he carefully pinned together on large sheets of paper. In addition to this, Robin’s complexion and my pickiness of colour meant that finding a suit was tricky. I went to 2 stores for my wedding dress, but we went to several for his suit! In the end, he had it custom made in Paris (by Chris von Martial). If you’re only going to have one bespoke suit made, it might as well be for your wedding!

*Apparently in France the men go suit shopping together. We didn’t know this and Robin was teased by his French friends for going with me instead. Ha!

Ashley Tinker wedding — Ice from La Glacière in Saint Remy- a must for any Provençal party

Une Cérémonie Entre les Oliviers

How do you create new traditions? How do you bring meaning without precedent? How do you make something unique to you? How do you honour people that couldn’t make it? Neither of us are religious but we are absolute romantics…

Here’s how we added meaning :

Private vows just for each other at sunrise on the morning of the wedding (Robin’s idea)
Songs that nodded to my late father and Robin’s late mother horribly passed away 5 months before the wedding (we didn’t tell anyone- made a couple people cry- it was a if you know you know kind of situation)
A ring warming ceremony where everyone present passes the rings from person to person, each silently offering a wish, hope or blessing for our couple.
We had quite a few vows, the more traditional ones were said separately, the second, more personal set were said together, at the same time, which somehow felt magical
Handfasting as a symbol of our union ; “as the hands are joined, they form an infinity symbol, representing eternal union—a continuous circle of love, trust, and respect.”
Group declaration of support. We wanted to include everyone there as a witness : “As part of this esteemed group, I invite everyone to join me in expressing your support for the couple. So, if you are able, please answer the following question with “we will.” As Ashley and Robin’s blood and chosen family, will you share their joys, help them to bear their burdens, and do everything in your power to uphold them in their life together?”

“Olive trees are a symbol of peace and resilience—qualities deeply embodied in this
relationship. Just as the olive tree thrives in all seasons, Ashley and Robin’s union has
and will continue to be nourished by their mutual respect and enduring commitment to
one another.” – our celebrant & my childhood friend

provence wedding food — Pétanque – of course !

We asked Leonard to play for us during the apéritif. Our French friends laughed that our menu was more Provençal than any they’ve ever seen!

Vows

In addition to the usual “to have and to hold…” we added these :

I promise to respect and appreciate you for who you are and who you wish to become.
I promise to seek a deep understanding of your wishes, your desires, your fears, and
your dreams.
I promise to be your safe haven when you need me, whenever you need me.
I promise to nurture your goals and ambitions; to support you through misfortune and
celebrate your victories.
I promise to keep our lives exciting, adventurous, and full of passion.
I promise to treat you with compassion over fairness, because we are a team.
I promise to persevere when times get tough, knowing that no matter how many
challenges we might face, we will always overcome them together.
I promise to show you, every day, that I know exactly how lucky I am to have you in my
life.

A Cake for England, A Cake for France

We had 2 takes to acknowledge both Britain and France (sadly had not many ideas for Canada).

We actually decided to go very old fashioned for both cakes. Traditional British fruit cake (there’s an excellent boozy one made by a lady in Saint Remy- all proceeds go to charity- contact me if you want her number) and a traditional Pièce Montée (choux buns with nougatine). Delicious!

diy wedding provence — Robin’s amazing speech where he apologised for waiting 16 years to ask me…ha!

the second wedding dress — Our photos were taken by Nicolas Elsen.

And Afterwards…

After dinner we danced until 4am..
*tip : one way to get absolutely everyone to dance is to get everyone to stand around you during the first dance then throw on some upbeat tunes right afterwards.

After a wedding week of celebrations, trying to make the most of our time with everyone, dealing with other people’s emotions, we collapsed in content exhaustion. It took months to process everything.

Robin declared last week on our honeymoon in Sri Lanka (5 months later) “Let’s do it all again” !

With pleasure love. xo

“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love,
my trust in our strength together,
and my promise to learn and grow with you.”

Vegetarian Restaurants in Provence

January 16, 2023 by ashleyt 2 Comments

food photography provence curiousprovence

I am not a vegetarian myself but am often asked where to find veggie-based meals in a country that is still very much in love with meat and potatoes. Here is a list of vegetarian restaurants or restaurants with vegetarian options in Provence focusing on Saint Rémy de Provence and Aix en Provence. There are of course more in Salon de Provence, Marseille etc. Post your favourites in the comments!

Although we have some of the best veggies & fruits I’ve seen anywhere, it can be difficult to find a vegetarian meal here in Provence. We do have more choices than regional cuisines in other parts of France as many of the specialities here are indeed veggie based such as tomato tart, tapenades (of all types- some have anchovies), crème d’artichaut à l’ail, Soupe à la Pistou, Papeton d’Aubergines etc. However, these are the types of dishes that people cook at home, not necessarily those they eat in restaurants.

If you’re pescatarian you’ll have no worries and will be able to try regional specialities such as Pissaladière, Bouillabaisse, local oysters (from Bouzigues) and mussels, Salad Niçoise (Côte d’Azur area), Pan Bagnat etc.

I once worked in a French restaurant where the chef believed that vegetarians need therapy.. Ha! Thankfully, things are beginning to change even here in the countryside where you’ll often find the staples of lamb, pig trotters and bull on the menu.

In this land of excellent cheese you may still be hard pressed to find vegan food in particular. I’ve included a few options here. When making a reservation you can ask if a vegan option is available; the chef will usually accommodate you.

Here is a list (helped by your suggestions via Instagram) of restaurants with vegetarian options in Provence (other than Pizza).

Saint Rémy de Provence

Terre et Blé
Open for breakfast and lunch, this bakery/restaurant focuses on organic vegetarian dishes every day except Friday where you can have a fish option and Wednesday where there’s a meat option.

Chapeau de Paille
In the summer they have a Soupe au Pistou (beans, courgettes, provençal pesto) option. Otherwise, ask for vegetarian options. All organic.

Edu
This restaurant specialises in small plates. You can find something for everyone here.

Le Roma
Fresh pasta and ice cream

Bistrot Steak House
Yes crazy but a few people have told me that their vegan burger is delicious!

Bienbon Café
Excellent coffee, very fresh ingredients from local producers
(usually have vegetarian options but best to ask in advance)

Aix en Provence

MANA
Many vegetarian and vegan options here! Popular for brunch.

La Cabane en Ville
Vegan

Café du Temps
Vegetarian food with outside terrace

Chez Ama
Ethiopian Cuisine
(I have not tried this one myself but hear good things)

La Plume Vegetale
Popular Vegan restaurant

Tita
Falafel in Aix !

Hotel Gallifet
Fresh local ingredients on the terrace and a new pop-up chef every year (open during the summer)

Other Places in Provence

La Terasse (Goult)
Bistro with a terrace, menu changes often

Le Saint Hubert (Saint Saturnin les Apt)
Vegetarian friendly with a beautiful view!

Tulipe (Avignon)
Excellent coffee and vegetarian meals

L’Epicerie (Beaucaire)
Simple menu, family-owned, vegetarian friendly (though sometimes the special of the day isn’t vegetarian- can call in advance)

BEAM ! (Toulon)
Fresh ingredients, beautiful presentation.

Le Jardin Secret (Cotignac)
Vegan friendly (just ask!)

L’Émulsion (Villeneuve-les-Avignon)
Healthy, refined cuisine (with vegetarian options)

Renting an Electric Car in Provence

January 11, 2023 by ashleyt 2 Comments

A personal account of renting an electric car in rural Provence

Having access to a car is essential in Provence as some of the best sights you’ll see are the stunning countryside between hilltop towns.

cucuron village Luberon — Exploring small villages, and the countryside around them, is the best thing about visiting Provence (other than eating of course).

I’ve had quite a few people ask me recently if renting an electric car in Provence would be a good idea. As I have no personal experience with this, I asked someone that I knew had just completed an extensive trip to Provence focusing on small villages in the Luberon.

For anyone that might find this useful, here is her personal account:

Renting an Electric Car in Provence

“These are the opinions of one 50 year old, reasonably intelligent American woman who drives an automatic at home and is comfortable in all driving settings in the U.S. – inner city (e.g., NYC) and rural. Take the below advice with a grain of salt.

I do not recommend renting an electric car for a vacation through Provence, especially if you don’t have extensive experience at home driving electric cars.. I discovered that electric cars are better for keeping at home to toot around town, short distances, doing errands, where you have a charger at home. EVs are not good for extensive travel in a foreign country, for a condensed period of time where every hour and even minute is precious.

Absolutely, positively do not rent an EV in Provence for vacation unless your French is excellent. My French is superb and I still had a massively difficult time. You will want to speak French for reading the charging station instructions and most importantly, asking for help from fellow car chargers that you might see at the charging stations.

Rental car company may leave you with the impression that it will be super easy to deal with your EV. Do not believe them.

Charging Station Map Apps

In my experience, none of the many charging station map apps available (and I tried them all) were helpful in Provence. Problems included lack of signal, slow/stalled response, map can’t find your location, map is difficult to read and inaccuracies as to location of the charging station (e.g. map says there’s a charging station at such and such place but there’s actually none anywhere in the vicinity). I was counting on charging my car at a charging station supposedly walking distance from Les Baux de Provence. In fact, when I got there, I learned that the charging station did not exist. The parking attendant told me that he had met others who had encountered the same mystery. The charging apps make it seem like there are more charging stations than there actually are.

Forget trying to “plan a trip” using the charging apps.

You cannot count on being able to charge your car from where you’re staying, e.g., an airbnb house or apartment. This is a major disadvantage to using an EV while traveling/sightseeing.

I found that charging stations in Provence were not numerous and always out of the way. If you are going to go ahead and rent an EV anyway, large grocery stores like Aldi or the French version of Costco are good places to try.

Wasting Precious Vacation Time

I wasted too much of my vacation time figuring out how to charge my car at each charging station I encountered (they’re all slightly different.) Instructions are not user-friendly, intuitive or comprehensive. They assume you know a lot more than you will (unless you’re an experienced EV driver). For some stations it may seem like you need to have a special charging card for that particular vendor but you probably don’t. Usually you can use your credit card, if you can figure out how.

I wasted too much time sitting around waiting for my car to charge once I had already wasted excessive time figuring out how to use the charging station.

It was stressful having to plan how far you could drive (distance or time) before you had to charge again. The first half of a full charge seems to drip down slowly, but the second seems to rapidly vanish.

Some charging stations don’t accept certain credit cards; you should have multiple cards available to try.

Getting Used to Electric Cars & Navigating

It is tricky getting used to driving an electric car; there are many differences from driving an automatic or manual transmission. Once you get used to it, it’s ok, but it took me a week to get used to it. There are lots of beeps for which you don’t know the cause, it’s not easy to figure out how to turn them off, and they’re super annoying when you’re trying to concentrate on navigating.

Speaking of navigating, the GPS map in my EV was not always, but frequently wrong.. Very wrong. For instance, the map would say exit right on the fourth exit of the roundabout but there are only three exits. Or the map will tell you to drive right when you were really supposed to make a left. You must have your phone GPS on as well so that you can compare the two. Sometimes they’re both wrong, sometimes one is wrong and the other is right. If the map contradicts a road sign, follow the road sign (e.g., a sign pointing to town center)..

I would highly recommend that whatever car you decide to rent in France, have a travel partner who can help you look for signs and generally help you navigate so that you can concentrate on the road and the INSANE (read: reckless).French drivers that will be threatening your existence at every turn (especially on those Provençale mountain roads).”

My Experience Driving in Provence

In response to this personal account I have to just comment on how the French drive. I personally do not find the French drive more wildly than others (though I did live in Italy for a time so my perspective is probably skewed- growing up in Montréal may not have helped either…ha!). However, I do find that on small roads where visitors are less common locals can understandably become impatient if you’re going much slower than the speed limit or seem to be dawdling. I have a lot of experience with this as the Austin Mini pictured above was my car for seven years. I got used to veering to the side of the road when I was aware the car was going too slow (sometimes hills were tricky) or even stopping completely to let others pass if I wanted to take in some scenery.

Some Tips

Don’t rent a manual car if you haven’t driven one in many years. Provence is hilly! You’re supposed to make your life more easy on vacation, not more difficult.

Rent the smallest car possible.

Have another credit card other than American Express if you’re going on the motorway (for tolls). Or, even better, have some euros on you. Cash is still king in France.

Pay for a good phone plan that allows you to use Maps on your phone. GPS in cars, I’ve noticed, is often not updated.

If you’re not used to roundabouts the joy is that you can keep going around them until you’ve made your decision of which direction to take. Take your time. (Your numberplate will usually indicate that you’re driving a rental car; locals know to be more patient).

Familiarise yourself with a few village/town names to get your bearings. Road signs often indicate these towns rather than direction of North etc. I actually find this easier once you have a general idea that Avignon is north, Aix is South East from where you are etc.

I would recommend against driving on back country roads at night here in Provence if you’re unfamiliar with the area. There are few road lights and locals sometimes take these roads too quickly (especially after a glass of wine).

Also, avoid driving around Avignon- quite tricky. Oh, and don’t put in your GPS the town hall of somewhere like Aix or Provence or Avignon. Put in a parking lot. I’ve heard of people that have done this and they’ve ended up in medieval city centres that are often tricky to navigate or pedestrianised. These were of course people not familiar with Europe. Keep in mind most old towns have winding small streets.

Rent that car!

Do not let this deter you! I have had countless clients (for my photoshoots and itineraries) that have encountered no problems at all (with non-electric cars).

If budget allows, you could also hire a chauffeur for your time in Provence. If this is something that interests you, send me an email and I can recommend a couple.

–Ashley

curiousprovence@gmail.com

Engagement Photoshoots in Provence

October 13, 2022 by ashleyt 2 Comments

Tips and locations for proposals from a professional photographer in Provence

Proposal Photoshoots in Provence

Provence is a romantic and beautiful place. Over the past few years I’ve noticed more and more demand for engagement photoshoots with stunning backdrops. To be honest, romantic photoshoots are my absolute favourite so I’m more than happy to oblige! It’s become a little bit of a niche of mine.

Engagement Photography

An engagement photoshoot can be the same as any romantic or anniversary photoshoot. The only difference is that if you like we can include a bottle of bubbly to celebrate as well as pictures of the ring. There are lots of fun cheesy poses we can play with as well, though from my work you can hopefully see that I prefer natural photos. Photoshoots are from 60 minutes to an entire morning or afternoon. The length of the photoshoot depends on the amount of locations you’d like to explore. The longer the shoot, the more people tend to relax into the process, and the better the photos.

Photographing the Real Proposal

Photographing the real proposal is possible! There are a few things to keep in mind.

How private would you like your proposal to be?

If I’m photographing your proposal I can do it from some distance where I don’t hear what you’re saying and you feel like you’re really in the moment. However, what about other people? Are you really private and would prefer an olive grove or to take a small hike to a secluded location? (The fact that I’m the only other person there may be conspicuous). Or are you happy to go to the top of the village at sunset and risk a couple other people being there? It’s possible to have many beautiful locations, like Gordes village, all to yourself if you go for sunrise. The only tricky thing is being inconspicuous about getting your partner to wake up at the crack of dawn!

Making them Comfortable

If your partner is being photographed would they prefer to be dressed up? If so, it’s often a good idea to say that you’re going to a nice restaurant. Then, on your way to the restaurant, I can suggest a beautiful spot for you to stop for the excuse of a sunset selfie. If the spot is a bit touristy that’s actually an easy option for me as I can pretend to be a tourist. If you really want to make sure your partner is comfortable with being photographed, there is also the option of telling them that you’ve booked me for a photoshoot. Then, I can meet them, make them feel comfortable, and place you in a gorgeous spot for you to surprise them. You can always say you were gifted the photoshoot by a friend or family to make it a little less suspicious.

Tips for having your proposal photographed: (there’s a lot to think about here but try to keep these in mind)

Once you get to the agreed location, don’t hesitate too much or they’ll start to be suspicious. At the same time, if there are other people there feel free to wait until they leave. At most viewpoints people take a quick photo and move on.
Take your time with the actual proposal (contradictory I know!) What I mean by this is say a few words to build up to the big question. I’ve noticed that this is really appreciated and makes the special moment a little longer. It’s also great for reactions. I won’t hear anything as I’ll be a bit further away.
Stand in such a way that I can see both of you from the side. Ideally, the person who is standing should be in the sun/light.
If you’re proposing to a lady and she has her hair down, tuck it behind her ear before you go down on one knee. Or, suggest she put her hair half-up or up. This is because if you’re on your knee and she’s looking down, her hair may block her face!
Stay on your knee until the ring is on her finger so I can get the shot!
I will be at the location 15 minutes early just in case. If you’re running late, let me know only if it’ll be longer than 15 minutes from the agreed time.

Photoshoot Options

I am very flexible in making your proposal as bespoke to you as possible. I can bring a bottle of chilled local bubbly and some vintage glasses. As a foodie, I’m passionate about food so can bring a picnic which is fun for photos. I can bring some flowers that your partner particularly loves. If you’d like to coordinate that your family arrives during the photoshoot, I can coordinate that with them.

Combined Photoshoot & Market Tour

It’s possible to have a combined photoshoot, market tour and picnic. This is possible in Saint Remy de Provence, Eygalières or Gordes every month except July & August.

Proposal Locations

I generally cover the Alpilles and Luberon regional park areas. These areas are full of stunning hiking locations, hilltop villages and viewpoints. Depending on where you’re staying, I can suggest a spot. You can also let me know if there’s something specific that you have in mind. I’ve included a couple “how to make a day of it” options but feel free to ask me about more options.

Here are some provence proposal location suggestions :

Gordes Viewpoint

This is iconic provence. An absolutely stunning location, the viewpoint over Gordes is convenient for many reasons:

Parking on the side of the road, so easy excuse for a stop before dinner or on your way to the village.
Ideal sunrise location
Close to many other locations for combined photoshoots of village, olive groves and lavender.
A tourist spot, so inconspicuous that I would be there with a camera

Cons :

Can be busy during the summer season so you’d have to wait until you have the lookout to yourselves

Gordes in the evening :

Make a day of it:

Visit other hilltop towns nearby such as Roussillon, Goult, Bonnieux and Menerbes.

Gordes Engagement photoshoot ideas:

60 Minutes : Lookout & village / Lookout & olive groves or lavender
90 Minutes: Lookout, village and olive groves/lavender
2 hours : Lookout, village, olives and lavender
Full morning (on Tuesdays) : Lookout, lavender, olives, village & market
Full morning or evening: lookout, village, olives, nearby village of Roussillon (for more colourful backdrop)

Gordes in the morning:

proposal photographer provence — It actually rained during this photoshoot but this couple embraced it and made it fun!

Lavender Fields in Provence (limited season)

Lavender fields are perfect for photos. I do not offer photoshoots in the expansive fields of Valensole as there are too many people; I prefer the smaller fields in the Luberon (near Oppède, Goult, Bonnieux) where there are less people. Depending on the week, I can suggest a field in full bloom. The light is really important for lavender fields as they are generally flat so photoshoots need to be at the very beginning or end of the day. As the days are long in June/July this would mean start time of 6:15am or 8pm depending on the location and length of the photoshoot.

Pros :

I can suggest a field that is easy to park next to, so it would make sense to stop to take a few photos or admire the scenery
You can easily feel like the moment is all yours as you can distance yourself from anyone else that may be around
Stunning light and lots of fun poses to try
Sunflowers bloom at the same time, so it’s possible to combine the two if we can find a sunflower field nearby

Cons :

Lavender has a very short season! It lasts from the last week of June to through the first 2 weeks of July
If it’s a particularly hot season, it’s possible the flowers will be cut early. I will have to make sure they’re still there before the photoshoot.
There are lots of honey bees in the lavender. I’ve never had an issue as they tend to be busy doing their thing but something to keep in mind if someone has an issue with bees.
You’ll most likely get your shoes a little dirty! But it’s absolutely worth it…

Make a day of it

Visit local hilltop towns in the Luberon during the afternoon or after a morning photoshoot go to a morning market such as Gordes (Tuesday) or Isle sur la Sorgue (Sunday).

Lavender Engagement Photoshoot ideas:

60 minutes : lavender field
90 minutes: lavender field & hilltop town or Gordes lookout
2 hours: lavender, sunflowers, hilltop town (Oppède-le-Vieux is an off-the-beaten track option)
Full morning/evening: lavender, hilltop town(s), olive groves

Eygalières Village

engagement photographer provence — Eygalières in the evening

For the authentic. This chic town isn’t touristy compared to the other hilltop towns I’m suggesting here. It’s perfect for a combined countryside and architecture photoshoot. The market on Friday mornings is also particularly beautiful and a fun backdrop for photos.

Pros :

Lesser known village, most likely will have the location to yourselves, especially in the morning
Many local restaurant options in town or nearby Saint Remy de Provence
Beautiful!
possibility to drive to nearby Chapelle Sainte Sixte

Cons :

There may be people watching the sunset from the viewpoint (usually only during the summer)
You have a 10 minute uphill walk to the viewpoint

Make a day of it

Go wine tasting in the stunning area between this town and Maussane-les-Alpilles. Go to Les Baux or Saint Remy de Provence for shopping and Van Gogh sites.

Eygalières engagement photoshoot ideas:

60 minutes : village ruins & café
90 minutes: village ruins, olive grove
2 hours: village ruins, café, olive groves, vineyard
Full morning: village ruins, café, olive groves, vineyard & market

Market day: Friday morning

Les Baux de Provence Castle Ruins

From the top of Les Baux you have a view over the Alpilles regional park. You can make a day of it by going to the Carrières des Lumiéres light show in the quarry at the bottom of the hill.

Pros :

Stunning view with lots of interesting architecture and nearby olive groves for different backdrops
A tourist site, so unsuspecting
Close to many restaurant options

Cons :

You can to walk to the top of the village; it’s best to wear sturdy shoes as the ground is uneven at the castle (she may want to wear heels but you can bring them or change after the castle).
The castle ruins site is open to only certain hours depending on the month. This means the proposal itself may not be in the ideal light but we can make use of the light later on in the olive groves.
Parking can be a bit of a pain during the high season
Touristy during the summer months (unless at the beginning of the day)

Les Baux engagement photoshoot ideas:

60 minutes: castle ruins
90 minutes: castle ruins & village
2 hours: castle ruins, village & olive grove
Full morning/evening: castle ruins, village, olive groves, market or nearby hotel Baumaniere

Market day (in Maussane) : Thursday morning

Les Baux de Provence hike & viewpoint

Ideal for nature-lovers and a morning hike, this viewpoint is stunning. It overlooks both the Les Baux castle and valley.

Pros :

Secluded location
A bit of an adventure!
Beautiful sunrise location

Cons :

15 minute uphill hike (I can leave ribbons on the trees for you to follow)
Not for people afraid of heights (cliff drop)
Not advisable on days with wind

Make a day of it

Visit Les Baux village, castle ruins and Carrières des Lumiéres light show. Visit saint Rémy de Provence (15 minutes away) for the market and/or great boutique shopping and Van Gogh sites.

Les Baux hike engagement photoshoot ideas:

60 minutes: Viewpoint & nearby forest paths
90 minutes: viewpoint, paths & olive groves
2 hours: Viewpoint, paths, olive groves & Les Baux village
Morning : viewpoint, paths, olive groves, Les Baux village & castle ruins

Montagne Sainte Victoire

Use this mountain, so beloved by Cézanne, as a backdrop for your proposal. Best for sunset.

Pros :

Beautiful location close to Aix en Provence

Cons :

Winding road from Aix, drive slowly!
Less options for combined architecture and landscape options nearby

Make a day of it

Spend the day wandering Aix en Provence then head out to the mountain for a picnic. Or, spend the day wine tasting at some of the local wineries here such as Château Gassier.

60 minutes: mountain backdrop

How to Book

Send me, Ashley, an email !

curiousprovence@gmail.com

Even if you have a last minute request I will do my best to pick a beautiful location and make your moment as special as possible. Provence is beautiful year-round so I’m available year-round.

Let me know :

The name of your partner
Where you’ll be staying
If any of the above options interest you or if you have another idea
If you prefer sunrise or sunset
How long of a photoshoot you’d like
If you’ll be actually proposing or if they’ve already said yes

I will then send you my availabilities and pricing information. If you like we can also share a phone call to go over details. I will send you a gps location via text if we’re meeting in a field a few days before the photoshoot.

If you’d like to see more of my professional work, my photography website is: photographerinprovence.com

If you’d like to see more location ideas, check out the CuriousProvence Instagram.

You can see more reviews for my work on Google or TripAdvisor.

provence engagement photography Gordes — Gordes Village

Reviews from TripAdvisor for CuriousProvence / Photographer in Provence Engagement Photoshoots :

Surprise proposal photoshoot in Lea Baux en Provence

“I connected with Ashley a few months prior to my trip to Provence to help plan my surprise engagement and photoshoot. I had a excellent experience working with Ashley. She was able to provide me with plenty of information to help me choose the perfect spot to pop the question remotely from Canada. On the big day, after asking the famous four words and my fiancé saying yes, we had a wonderful two-hour photoshoot across various picturesque sites in Les Baux en Provence. It was a truly a special occasion and we’re so glad to have booked with Ashley to be there to take our engagement photos! The pictures truly captured the moment and the natural beauty of the Provence countryside. I highly recommend working with Ashley and would certainly book with her again!“

Memorable market tour in Eygalieres & spectacular engagement photos

“Ashley helped me plan and execute a fairy tale day in Provence. Ashley led my girlfriend and I on a beautiful market tour in Eygalieres, which included a delicious “picnic” of foods she made and bought for us during the market. She helped us buy some beautiful products from great vendors. Later that day, Ashley led us to a beautiful location in Les Baux and captured our engagement at sunset. Ashley was a pleasure to work with, has a wonderful personality, and was very responsive to all my questions & requests. I can’t recommend her enough!”

Surprise Proposal/Engagement Photoshoot in Eygalières

“Ashley was the easiest person to work with!

All I knew was that I wanted to propose in Provence, but I had no idea where to begin. That’s where Ashley came in. She found an amazing overlook a short walk from where we were staying. All I had to do was bring my future fiancé there for a sunset. After she said yes, she had a bottle of champagne for us to open and set up a picnic for us!

Not only did Ashley create my ideal proposal, but the impromptu engagement photoshoot that followed was amazing. The photos came out better than we could have ever imagined!

I am very grateful for Ashley, especially because she made me look so good!”

Provence Surprise Proposal Photoshoot

“I worked with Ashley to capture our proposal and she did an unbelievable job. She is very kind and was extremely helpful throughout the process — from selecting the right location to helping arrange champagne. It was a pleasure to work with her and we would highly recommend her for any of the services she offers!”

Perfect proposal surprise and photo shooting in Gordes!

“Ashley helped me with my wedding proposal and we also had a wonderful photo shooting! The photos were amazing, the proposal was unbelievable! She brought us also some amazing local products to taste and a bottle of champagne to enjoy after the photo shooting with an amazing Gordes view! We definitely recommend her 200%!!! Thank you Ashley!”

The Most Memorable Experience of our Lives (I don’t think I can live up to this one!!…blushing…)

“This is NOT an exaggeration.

I booked a couple of tickets from the United States to propose in southern France six months ago at a specific place in Marseille – the plans fell through 3 days before the proposal!! I scoured the internet for anyone who could help and Ashley, from Curious Provence, went above and beyond. Working with her should have been the original plan – she set up a proposal, in action, photo shoot in the beautiful village at Gordes.

– Professional – Ashley answered right away and knew right questions to ask so that we can have the perfect proposal. Also offered tips that would get us the best photos of the moment.
– Knowledgeable: She knew just what we were looking for based on the information she gathered. In less than 24 hours we had a plan laid out. She knew the perfect time to meet, sent directions and it all worked perfectly.
– Outstanding Work – Ashley arrived early and was there to capture the moment and brought a bottle of outstanding Rose for us to share. The photos we received were jaw dropping (attached)….

I hope she reads this to know that her customer service alone put me at ease in a very stressful situation and her quality of work and attention to detail is what has made this the best moment of our lives. Thank you.”

Best Photographer in Provence

“I hired Ashley as a photographer for my proposal. She captured the actual moment while posing as a tourist and subsequently took pictures of us for another hour. First of all, the photos she took are amazing! She also did an amazing job editing them. But she also spent time in advance communicating with me and finding the perfect lavender field to propose in. I would definitely hire her again!”

Absolutely Fantastic

“Ashley helped me plan my surprise proposal in the lavender fields and took absolutely wonderful photos of the morning! The tour and photos of Gordes and the market was very personal and authentic and she even prepared a lovely morning brunch for us to celebrate the occasion. Could not recommend enough 11/10!”

Photographer in Provence – proposal shoot

“Imagine you’re planning a proposal for which you’d like high quality pictures to be taken – this is already a stressful endeavor. Add into consideration that you live 6000 miles away (thats 9650 km) and somehow have to coordinate logistics and details with someone that you can trust to ensure that the event goes down without any issues. Good luck finding someone who can handle all of this and speak the same language that you do.

Enter Ashley, photographer and tour guide at Curious Provence/Photographer in Provence. Ashley gets it – not only does she understand the complications of logistics planning across continents, she demonstrated from the very beginning that she understands the magnitude of the event I was planning. Ashley requested that we do a preliminary meeting over zoom to hammer out the details so that we can be on the same page. She was patient, thorough, and extremely helpful in planning the details of our photo shoot in Oppede and Gordes.

On the day of the shoot, we went out to meet Ashley in the lavender fields and had communicated using WhatsApp to make sure all was set. Ashley was even kind enough to pick up some champagne and fruit for the shoot.

The shoot itself was great. Ashely took amazing pictures and was able to capture the surprise of the proposal and then used the remaining time of the photo shoot to create some incredible memories. Ashley will do everything she can to make sure that the pictures turn out great so as long as you listen to her instructions, you can’t go wrong.

If you’re looking for someone who will make your life easier and provide a very high quality product, you’ll be hard pressed to find someone better than Ashley.”

Barn Renovation August Update

August 12, 2022 by ashleyt 2 Comments

Five week countdown before we hope to finish our rental !

renovation provence — Still very much a worksite- but getting somewhere.

It’s the five week countdown to when we hope our barn renovation will be near completion! Since I last posted here Robin has been working 7 days a week while I’ve been crazy busy with photoshoots in the local hilltop towns, lavender fields, sunflower fields, olive groves and more. I’ve been sharing daily updates on plaster boarding, tiling etc on Instagram but things are really going to start to come together in the next couple weeks. Well, that’s the plan anyways..

This will be a weekly vacation rental from May-September. Once things start looking less like a construction site, hopefully at the beginning of September, we’ll start taking reservations for next year. If you’d like to see more about the amenities this 2 bed/2 bath will have, see Our Barn Renovation Update from June.

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