celebrity writers

A Parisian Wedding

Articles in this Topic Discussions in this Topic

Feb 25, 2000

Ahh...a Parisian wedding. Very romantic, n'est-ce pas? Mr. Hall and I passed over our own respective countries and decided to get married here in the city where me met and are now living. Here are a few tips for giving your own wedding a Parisian touch no matter where you live, and also a few pointers if you'd like to take the leap here in the City of Light.

La Touche Parisienne One of our New York readers asked how she could create a French atmosphere at her wedding. She is on the right track with her idea to use Monet's gardens in Giverny as inspiration for her garden reception. Flowers are always the best decoration at weddings. Some of the more popular wedding flowers in Paris are Stephanotis (those pretty white flowers that smell divine, and look great in the hair), and hydrangeas, which come in beautiful shades of pink, blue and lavender. Other French inspired decorations could include good quality postcards of French monuments or French artists' works, grouped in small frames or hung in a montage or mobile. Signs and seating markers could be made with the Paris street sign design (the very district green and blue signs). For a more classic look you could use the old Belle Epoch posters and Art Deco font to decorate tables and menus. Instead of giving tables numbers, why not use the names of French cities or famous French artists and writers? The French weddings I've been to tend to be very subdued in the decor area, except for the flowers and the sugared almond favors (called dragées), of which they go all out. They come in every imaginable color, and are wrapped in matching tulle and tied with a ribbon. They also can be put in paper cones which are engraved, placed in the center of the table in a large bowl, or put in tiny individual gift baskets that little girls love (the size of a shot glass). At one wedding, the favors were the small silver frames used as place markers (each of the guests' names were hand calligraphied).

The way to a guest's heart is through... If all of this seems a bit much, you can skip it and go right for the heart and soul of the French wedding: food and wine. Nothing will make your reception more French than a good menu. You could go for the whole five-course meal including the wonderful little sorbet palate cleanser and six types of cheese. Look for a caterer who specializes in French food. If you're looking for something a bit more simple, stick to a buffet of cheeses, meats and good breads, a creative French salad, and the big topper: the Croquembouche. This is a traditional French wedding cake of profiteroles and caramel piled into a tower, available in various designs to suit the style of your wedding. Again, you may need to locate a French pastry chef for one of these, or you may have to order one on-line (Fancy That in UK, or Better Baking to try it yourself). Add the best wine and Champagne you can afford (try buying direct from a distributor), and little cups of espresso after the dessert. Another French tradition you can copy is the post-reception Onion Soup. It's a wonderful treat to end the evening with soup and bread after a long day, especially for those loyal friends who stayed to help close up!

Go To Page: 1 2 3

The copyright of the article A Parisian Wedding in Parisian Tourism is owned by . Permission to republish A Parisian Wedding in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.