An on-tour love story: Getting married in Paris
Traveler (and newlywed) Ashley tells us about the special day in March when she eloped along the banks of the Seine during free time on tour in Paris.
Paris, France, is the city of light and love. Just ask travelers Ashley and Kevin, who embarked on our London, Paris & Rome tour ready to make brand-new memories—and returned home to Canada as a married couple! Here, newlywed Ashley tells us about her unforgettable tour, her fellow travelers-turned-friends, and the special day this past March when she and Kevin eloped during free time on tour in Paris.
We’d love to hear all about your on-tour wedding! What was your ceremony like?
It was amazing—it was just the two of us eloping in Paris next to the Seine River with the Eiffel Tower in the background. After my hair and makeup were done and the flowers were delivered, a driver in a vintage Citroën Traction Avant car picked us up from our hotel. Our fellow travelers walked us out and our Tour Director, Tamara, took some pictures.
Then, our driver brought us to our special place where a woman was waiting to marry us. After our service we were taken all over Paris for our wedding photo shoot. Along the way so many people were honking, waving, and congratulating us.
Did you specifically book a Go Ahead Tour because you planned to get married in Paris?
My husband had the idea of getting married in Paris, so I did my research and came across the London, Paris & Rome tour and saw how it would all work out perfectly. We thought, why would we spend so much money on one day here at home when we could see the other side of the world, share new experiences together, and create long-lasting memories while also knocking off our top places to travel, too?
Why was Paris the ideal place for you to tie the knot?
The association of love and romance with Paris has such a long history! Plus, it was so nice to have our fellow travelers and Tour Director see us off and congratulate us. When we got back to our hotel after our ceremony, we found that Tamara had left a bottle of wine, chocolates, and a card in our room.
In addition to eloping in Paris, what were some of the highlights in London and Rome?
Each city had its own deep history and amazing landmarks to visit. We went to the Tower of London with some of our fellow travelers during free time, and in Rome, we went off with about half of our fellow travelers to visit the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, and Castel Sant’Angelo. On our last night in Rome, our whole group had a good laugh at our farewell dinner with the tenors.
Any suggestions for travelers going on their first guided tour (and who don’t have a wedding planned in their spare time!)?
Don’t just settle for seeing a city’s attractions from your tour bus—get up close to them during your free time! Also, spend time getting to know your fellow travelers because you’ll miss them when the trip is over. We were so lucky to have such an amazing group and Tour Director.
Which of our tours is next on your travel wish list?
We’re hoping to travel to Iceland in the next year or two. It’s a tough decision between the Iceland: Reykjavik & The Northern Lights tour and the Iceland: Reykjavik & the Golden Circle tour.
Thanks for sharing your story, Ashley! Do you have a travel story? Send us a note at social@goaheadtours.com.
It was Jamie’s homestay in Germany that made her fall in love with travel (and her studies in Florence that really sealed the deal). When she’s not writing and sharing the magic of seeing the world with others, she’s usually on the lookout for her new favorite memoir, testing out recipes at home, or visiting her family on Cape Cod.