THE CONTEXT
Hiroki contacted us with a dream his partner had held for years: visiting Mont Saint-Michel. She had always imagined standing before the medieval island abbey, watching it rise from the misty tidal waters. We arranged more than a visit. Photographer, guide who spoke Japanese, lunch at the crêperie she’d read about, abbey tour, and the proposal timed to the island’s quietest hour.
Two days at Mont Saint-Michel. The goal was simple: give her the visit she’d dreamed of, keep the proposal hidden until the moment, capture everything.
THE SETTING
2 days / 1 night:
• Mont Saint-Michel: 1 night at Relais Saint-Michel (views of the illuminated abbey, Normandy cuisine)
• Timing: Afternoon arrival via Rennes, abbey tour, proposal at dusk, celebration dinner
KEY MOMENTS
The arrival. They met Christèle, their guide, who spoke both English and Japanese. First stop: drop luggage , then head to the Mont.
Lunch at La Sirène. The crêperie she’d read about. Hidden up a narrow staircase in the medieval village. Galettes, cider, the smell of butter and buckwheat. She didn’t know the photographer would join them after.
The abbey tour. Christèle guided them through the Gothic halls and cloisters. Standing on the abbey terrace, the bay stretched endlessly below. The photographer, Pauline, started capturing moments as they explored.
The proposal. Christèle and Pauline led them to a bridge with Mont Saint-Michel in full view. Sunset light, the abbey glowing, tide retreating. Champagne and flowers waited. Hiroki took her hands, knelt. She nodded, tears streaming. Pauline captured her face, the moment she realized, the embrace.
They toasted as the light faded. More photos across the bay, different angles of the illuminated Mont behind them.
Dinner that evening. Restaurant with a view on the Mont. Window table facing the lit abbey. Agneau de pré-salé, local wines. Three hours watching the Mont glow against the night sky.
Morning departure after breakfast with one last view of the abbey at sunrise.
LOGISTICS
We handled:
• Train coordination from Rennes, bus transfers to Mont Saint-Michel
• Bilingual guide (Japanese/English) for seamless communication
• Crêperie reservation , abbey tour access
• Photographer coordination: lunch presence, abbey shots, proposal timing, evening portraits
• Proposal setup: champagne, flowers, optimal viewing spot with abbey backdrop
• Restaurant reservation with abbey view, overnight
• Weather contingency: backup proposal locations prepared
THE OUTCOME
Complete surprise. She got the Mont Saint-Michel visit she’d dreamed about for years. The proposal happened at the perfect moment, right light, right backdrop. Photographer captured everything from the lunch through the proposal to the evening portraits.
“Marie-San from exclusive France tours has been very kind from her first contact, she was flexible on the schedule and the budget to best meet my requirements. In the preparation phase, we were able to communicate with you immediately… Mrs. Christèle, our guide, and the photographer Mrs Pauline were also professional and very kind, and I was able to make a proposal that was very satisfying as a result.”
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