Lore + Dimi | Ardennes Elopement at the Fondry des Chiens

Elopement
Written By Caroline Lismont
 
A newly married couple is standing on some rocks in their wedding attire. Only their bottom half is visible.

When Lore & Dimi asked me to photograph their elopement at Fondry des Chiens in the Ardennes in Belgium, I was stoked! Why? The Ardennes in Belgium have always fascinated me. It’s so different from Flanders where I live. It’s so lush & green, there are tiny mountains, lots of forest, it’s less crowded, … In short - it’s my kinda landscape. What made me jump up and down even more is that they chose Fondry des Chiens as their elopement spot, a place I’ve always wanted to visit. Like I said, I WAS STOKED. Let me tell you their story.

Lore & Dimi met at university in Leuven when they were both studying biology. After a year Lore went on to study to become a midwife and they kinda lost touch with each other, but a few years later they met again and to say the least - sparks flew. After dating a few years, Dimi asked Lore to marry him and she said yes.

THE END. No, I’m just kidding - haha.

Before their elopement day in the Ardennes, they had an intimate wedding in the town where they just bought a house and I was there to capture that as well :) Before you ask - yes, they had two weddings and I’l tell you why.

I spoke to them after their wedding and they told me that they had lots of fun during the entire day and it was an absolute success, but there was one thing that they missed on their wedding day: spending some time together. Eventhough their wedding was super small and intimate, they were still really busy with entertaining their guests and making sure that everything went as planned. Which is also really important and they enjoyed doing that - they love their friends and family - but they told me that it would’ve been nicer to enjoy the day together instead of on their own.

So, they came up with an idea.

On their one year anniversary they wanted to re-do their wedding day, but just with the two of them. Well, the two of them with their two new additions to their family: their dog Stella and their unborn son. A tiny celebration of love. An elopement. And they asked me to capture this special day and I accepted. LOL.

They wanted to elope somewhere in the Viroinval region in the Belgian Ardennes, because that region has a special place in their hearts. Here’s why! When they were both studying biology they used to do some education trips with their class. One of those trips took them to the Viroinval region. Apparently that was a very special day to them, because when they started dating they always went to the Viroinval. I think that is pretty damn awesome!

Because of this little backstory of theirs, I started looking for an epic elopement location in that region. And I found one: Fondry des Chiens. You would’ve thought that Lore & Dimi already knew about that place with all their dating in the Viroinval - but I was in luck, because they didn’t :) Happy camper over here!

On their elopement day they decided to get ready together, because they already knew what the other was going to look like - haha. One of Lore’s friends did her hair and the day before their elopement they went to pick out some colorful wildflowers for Lore’s wedding bouquet. Simple, but oh so meaningful.

After getting ready it was adventuring time :) Before we went to explore the Fondry des Chiens canyon, we first did a little walk in the area around the canyon. Lucky we did, because we came across a flock of sheep that were grazing the hills. We went up as close as we could without scaring them to take some pictures & they turned out damn fine. Their dog Stella was as excited as her parents about the sheep, haha. Luckily she was strapped to her leash, because otherwise she would have herd them like a real herding dog I think.

After our little sheep pit-stop we went and descended into the canyon of Fondry des Chiens. We were all in awe of how big the canyon actually is and how unusual it is to find something like this in tiny little Belgium. Lore & Dimi walked around a little bit, full of wonder & then chose a spot for reading their vows and their first dance. After that, Stella joined them again and we did a little portrait session before going back up again for their picnic that they had planned.

Walking towards their picnic spot in a meadow, we stopped again for some pictures, because honestly, the landscape and the views were that amazing! I still can’t believe this little gem can be found in Belgium?! The cliffs and especially the orange underground made me think of the desert landscapes in Moab in the USA.

After goofing of with one another, we finally made it to their picnic spot where ginger lemonade and a delicious cheesecake were waiting for them. Lore & Dimi sat down and enjoyed their little me-moment on their ‘just-us’ elopement day. I can’t express enough how important it is to actually just sit down with one another on your wedding day and enjoy each others company and take it all in without actually doing anything. To just sit and be with each other. Not only on an elopement, but even on a traditional wedding day. It’s so important, trust me on this :)

When they finished eating and drinking, we packed up all our gear - but before we each jumped back in our car and drove home, they had a lovey-dovey cuddle session on the picnic blanket and I captured all that romantic goodness.

I really loved how cozy, intimate, romantic and intentional this elopement was. But is was also adventurous in a way. Maybe I shall call this elopement crazy, stupid, love with a touch of Indiana Jones ;)

And with that I’ll leave you.
I hope you like the pictures as much as I do.

Love,

Caro x

 
A hairdresser is busy putting daisies in the bride’s braid.
Groom is standing on a hill with his dog, waiting on his bride.
The bride & groom are getting ready together overlooking the cliffs of Fondry des Chiens in the Belgian Ardennes.
The bride’s shoes are standing next to the flowers on a patch of grass.
Bride and groom are standing on some rocks looking intensely at each other before they get married.
Bride and groom are walking down a hill together with their dog. The groom has his backpack on and the bride is carrying her flowers.
Sheep are grazing on a lush green hill between the trees.
Bride and groom are looking intensely into each others eyes on a hill with a flock of sheep in the background. The groom is carrying their dog. Their elopement was captured by Caro from the Wild, a Europe elopement photographer based in Belgium.
Bride & groom are looking at their dog that is looking at the flock of sheep that are grazing on the hill between the trees.
Bottom half of the bride and groom while they are standing on a hill.
Bottom half of the bride and groom while they are standing on a hill. Their dog is walking in between them.
Bride & groom are walking towards the camera while the bride has trouble balancing herself on the hill.
Fondry des Chiens in the Belgian Ardennes.
Bride and groom are standing opposite each other on their descend into the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens. Their elopement was captures by Caro from the Wild, a Belgium based elopement photographer.
Bride, groom and their dog are standing on the bottom of the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens, while the bride is tidying up her dress.
Bride, groom and their dog are standing on the bottom of the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens in the Belgian Ardennes, while the bride is tidying her dress.
Bride and groom are looking towards the top of the cliffs of Fondry des Chiens while they are standing in the sinkhole.
Groom is standing behind his bride while they are kissing.
Groom is embracing his bride from behind while their faces are touching and they are smiling with their eyes closed. This adventurous elopement was captures by Caro from the Wild, a Europe elopement photographer based in Belgium/
Bride and groom are dancing on the bottom of the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens. The bride is laughing.
Groom embraces his bride while she is laughing and has her chin on his left shoulder.
Bride and groom are walking towards a little alcove on the bottom of the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens.
Bride and groom are bending over so they can greet their dog that is coming towards them. They are standing in a little alcove on the bottom of Fondry des Chiens in the Belgian Ardennes.
Bride and groom are standing next to each other in a little alcove on the bottom of Fondry des Chiens while the groom has their little dog on his arm and his bride is kissing the dogs head.
Groom is standing in front of a rock covered in green plants while he is carrying the bride’s flowers and her heels. He is smiling big with his eyes closed.
Bride is standing in front of a big rock covered in green plants while she is looking to her left and holding her bouquet of flowers in front of her.
Bride is standing in front of a big rock covered in green plants while she is smiling towards the camera and holding her bouquet of flowers.
Groom is standing in front of a big rock covered in green plants while he is looking to his left. He is fixing the collar of his suit.
Newly eloped couple in wedding attire in standing on the bottom of the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens while they are waving at the photographer who is standing on top on the cliffs.
Bride and groom are standing between the trees of the treeline in the Belgian Ardennes while their dog is standing in front of them.
Bride is standing in the forest between two trees while she is smiling towards the ground. She is wearing a hat and has her bouquet in front of her.
Bride is walking towards some trees in the forest. She is wearing a hat and has her bouquet in het left hand.
Smiling bride is standing in the forest while she is looking to her left and has her bouquet of wildflowers in front of her.
Bride is looking down towards her bouquet of wildflowers that she has in her hands. She is wearing a hat.
Bride is walking towards the cliffside of the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens. She is wearing a hat and has her dress in her left hand and her bouquet in her right hand.
Bride is standing on the cliffside of the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens. She is smiling towards the camera. She is wearing a hat and is carrying her bouquet of wildflowers in her right hand.
The bride, groom and their dog are overlooking the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens and the surrounding forests of the Belgian Ardennes. This adventure wedding was captured by Belgium based photographer Caro from the Wild.
Bride is standing at the top of the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens while she is gently touching her pregnant belly. She is looking towards her husband and dog that are standing next to the photographer.
Bride and groom are overlooking the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens and the surrounding forests. The bride is wearing a green hat with a feather.
The bride and groom are looking towards the camera, smiling, while behind them lies the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens.
Bride and groom are kissing each other on the top of the cliffs of the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens. Caro from the Wild captured their adventure elopement. She is a photographer based in Belgium, Europe.
Bride and groom are standing on top of the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens. They are looking at each other. This elopement was photographed by Caro from the Wild, a wedding photographer based in Belgium.
Bride and groom are kissing each other at the top of the sinkhole of Fondry des Chiens while the bride is holding up the bouquet in front of their faces.
Bride is putting the hat from her head on her husband’s head.
Bride is putting the hat from her head on her husband’s head.
Bride is putting the hat from her head on her husband’s head.
Bride is putting the hat that was on her head onto her husband’s head.
Bride and groom are standing on top of the cliffs of Fondry des Chiens. The bride is casually leaning on her husband while she is also looking at him.
Bride and groom are hugging each other while they are standing on top of the cliffs. The bride has her eyes closed.
Bride and groom are hugging each other. The groom is wearing a hat and he is smiling.
Groom is kissing and holding his bride while they are standing on top of the cliffs of Fondry des Chiens.
Bride and groom are standing on top of the cliffs of Fondry des Chiens. They are smiling towards the camera. The groom is holding his Bride.
Groom is standing on top of the cliffs of Fondry des Chiens and overlooking the sinkhole and the surrounding forests. He is wearing his hat.
The bride, the groom and their dog are having a picnic. They are sitting on top of a grey blanket and between them stands a basket with two plates of cheesecake & two glasses of ginger lemonade. This elopement was captured by Caro from the Wild,…
The bride and groom are having a little picnic while seated on a grey blanket. The groom is pouring the lemonade into their glasses.
The bride and groom are sitting on a grey picnic blanker while they are clinking on their their marriage.
The bride and groom are sitting on a grey blanket, having their picnic. The groom is eating the cheescake from his plate, while the bride is looking at him and their dog is sitting beside them on the grass looking into the distance.
Sheep grazing between the trees of Fondry des Chiens.
A dog is looking at the sheep that are grazing between the trees.
Bride and groom are eating cheesecake while sitting on the ground on a grey picnic blanket.
Bride and groom are enjoying a picnic. They are sitting on a grey blanket and have a basket in between them. The groom is eating his cheesecake while the bride is looking into the distance.
The bride, the groom and their dog are sitting on a grey blanket with their picnic basket between them. They are all looking into the distance. Their elopement was captured by Belgium based adventure wedding photographer Caro from the Wild .
The bride is holding her bouquet in front of her while she is looking towards her husband who is standing next to the photographer.
Bride, groom and their dog are sitting on a grey picnic blanket. The dog is looking towards something in the distance and the newly married couple is looking to their dog. They are both smiling.
Bride, groom and their dog are sitting on a grey picnic blanket. The dog is looking towards the photographer while the couple is looking at their dog. They are gently stroking it.
Bride and groom are sitting on a grey picnic blanket while the groom is looking in the distance while his bride is looking at him.
Bride is kissing the groom. She gently caresses his cheek with her finger. The groom has his eyes closed.
The bride and groom are sitting down while the groom gently strokes the hair out of his bride’s face.
Bride and groom sitting down on the ground on a grey picnic blanket. The bride got her hand on the groom’s knee.
Bride and groom are kissing each other intensely while sitting on a grey picnic blanket with the forest of Fondry des Chiens behind them. Their elopement was captured by Europe elopement photographer Caro from the Wild, based in Belgium.
A bouquet of wildflowers laying on the ground on a rock.
The bride’s dirty veil laying on the ground with the forest behind it.
 

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