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Say "France," and people
think romance, non? And what could be more romantic than getting married
high atop Le Tour Eiffel? Fortunately, you don't have to board an Air
France jet (or even be French) to have a chic affair. Plan a French-style
wedding on your home turf -- let your creativity soar. Here are some
suggestions for a fabulous French-style fete:
FOOD
To truly emulate the French, you must think about food and wine
before all else. Start your onslaught of all things francais during
the cocktail hour. Have five or six different French wines available,
with a wine expert (or wine-buff friend) on hand to pour and explain
the different vintages to your guests.
If you're marrying in November, make it a Beaujolais Nouveau night
-- the light French red wine introduced each November with great
fanfare. Get yourself some of the festive posters that are printed for
the occasion to hang on the walls. And best of all, Beaujolais Nouveau
is relatively inexpensive -- ask your local wine store for details and
instructions on making a special order.
It's an old French custom for the couple to drink their reception
toasts from an engraved, two-handled cup called the "coupe de
mariage." They then save the cup to pass on to their children.
Follow this tradition with your own two-handled toast. You can buy
two-handled cups from a fine furnishings store, or see if a local
glass-maker sells or can create one for you.
For hors d'oeuvres, pass
canapes, miniature croissants and quiches,
escargot, and various spreads on French bread.
Fill a table with a variety of pates and tureens, cornishon pickles,
Brie, apples, grapes and, of course, baguettes.
For dinner, serve French dishes such as onion soup, beef burgundy,
and coq au vin. For dessert, serve mousse au chocolat, creme brulee
and a Poire Belle Helene -- poached pear served with vanilla ice cream
and drenched with melted chocolate.
Serve hot chocolate and, of course, cafe au lait.
For a very formal affair, consider a truly French meal served "mise
en place" (everything in its place). Each course is served, in
proper order: appetizer, soup, main course, palate-cleansing sorbet,
salad, cheese, dessert and coffee, and a cordial. This will require
true culinary skill and may work best if you're holding the affair at
a French restaurant, or you're using a caterer whose specialty is
French food.
At the post-wedding brunch -- or for an afternoon wedding -- serve
mimosas -- a blend of champagne and orange juice. And how about a
make-your-own crepe bar? For a summer picnic, you could install
several crepe stations on the lawn, drape large pink (or
blue-and-white check) picnic blankets all around, and let guests order
their own fillings and then carry the steaming crepes with them to
their blanket.
LOCATION, DECORATION, AND ENTERTAINMENT
Have the party at a French restaurant, French-inspired reception
hall, a borrowed chateau, or even a pretty French bakery, with the
scent of baking bread infusing the party.
No chateau in the neighborhood? No problem. Go with an ordinary home
or hall and create a cafe environment. Use small,
ice-cream-parlor-style tables topped with bottles of wine, Dijon
mustard, and Perrier. Hang Toulouse-Lautrec, Monet, Cezanne, and Manet
posters on the walls. Place huge baskets of baguettes on the
sideboards.
Recreate the Seine by hiring portrait artists to set up easels and
paint portraits for your guests during the reception.
Have a few strolling musicians playing romantic tunes.
Erect a postcard stand filled with pictures of Paris for people to
take home.
Set up a continuous slide show of images of Paris.
Have your waiters wear berets to make the scene complete.
For your first dance, why not chose Edith Piaf's bittersweet
classic, "La Vie en Rose?" Or how about Gershwin's "An
American in Paris." If you're having a DJ, have him play Piaf,
Jacques Brel and all the great American jazz greats who made their
name in France.
FRENCH FAVORS/ATTENDANT GIFTS
During the reign of Louis XVI, brides handed over their old fans to
bridesmaids as favors. The fans were decorated with mythological
paintings. You probably don't have a stock of fans in your closet, but
you can adapt this tradition by giving new fans as gifts, or some more
modern, mythologically decorated vanity items, like hand-held mirrors
or ornate miniature boxes. Check out your local crystal shop or
another new-age venue for myth-inspired options.
If the fan idea doesn't fit you, there are a number of French
fashion houses that should make the gift-giving easy. Give Izod
shirts, Hermes scarves, or Chanel makeup compacts. Head to your local
department store for ideas, or call the French consulate or Alliance
Francaise in your area for a list of "Comite Colbert"
members -- France's top luxury-goods manufacturers.
Give copies of the children's book "Madeline" or French
cookbooks.
Framed posters of works by your favorite French artist or
photographer.
Give half bottles of French wine.
Put miniature bottles of French perfume on each guests'
plate.
YOUR LOOK
For the dress, why not go Marie Antoinette -- huge skirt, tight top
(or bustier), lots of lace. You might want to check out costume shops
for something authentic-looking!
If you want to go couture, check out the Paris-based wedding-dress
designer Kastine (011/331-4548-6147).
For a more modern affair, consider the sleek,
Givenchy,
"Breakfast at Tiffany's" look.
Set your hair to match. "Describe the time period of your
dress, or bring along a picture and let your hairdresser create
something that will complement it," recommends Damian Miano of
Miano Viel Salon in New York City. "As long as it matches your
dress -- you wouldn't want a Louis XIV hairstyle with a '20s-style
dress." But hey, a classic chignon would fit right in to a
French-themed wedding.
Grooms -- either go the Louis XVI costume route to your bride's
Marie Antoinette, or pick a gorgeous suit by a French designers Pierre
Cardin or Yves St. Laurent.
THE HONEYMOON
Ou est-ce que vous irez? (Where will you go?) Paris, but of course...
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