As much as any bride-to-be may like the sounds of jet setting off for a love ‘seine’ in which she pledges to love, honor, and cherish en français, some budgets may not be oh-so genereux. Alors, think of le Paris as yours to reinvent, a City of Lights ceremony that puts the focus on you rather than frantic airports or overbooked suites. Paris has so many facets, both past and present, that are sure to cater to all those in a quest for gorgeousness. Choose one that best suits you – the naughty tartness of the Moulin Rouge, impressionistic via water lilies and ballerinas, 1920’s Art Deco kitsch au Métro – or quite simply, a passion for life that’s bar none.
aire urbaine
For starters, send out black and pink invites in French cursive with English subtitles, then for the reception, cover round wrought iron tables with red bistro tablecloths with helpings of dusty, dripping pillar candles, little red, white, and blue flags, and of course anything Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, or Opéra-esque. Toile appliqués, fleurs-de-lis scatterings, classic hat boxes, French-milled soaps, and a single rose in a smooth glass vase are the perfect touches in homage to old gay Paris.
fou pour coco
Don’t stop at campy berets and nautical boat-neck tops, explore local ‘friperies’ for more of a vintage Coco Chanel look - tea length, A-line dresses, bolero shrugs, blusher or birdcage veils, topped off with satin pumps (think Audrey Hepburn circa ‘Funny Face’). Feel out a Palais Royale aura of a New Woman evening with Vionnet simplicity – a drape of silk here, a sheen of stocking there, and a matte lip all around. Play with a bit of color, from a vintage cream to a rustic white, and add accents of muted blue or tender lavender. Clasp a hydrangea or peony bouquet while accessories may include strands of rope pearls or drop pearl earrings.
bien manger
Wine and cheese, chocolate and champagne, crepes and crème brûlée – purely the foods of the gods, mon Dieu! Offer a patisserie selection of fresh brioche or baguette, a wheel of camembert and chevre, leading into courses of beef Bourguignon, cassoulet, or quiche, and fill your guests with satisfaction. For the more adventurous gastronome, try pate de lapin, lamb noisette, grenouilles a la Provencal, escargot beignet, and Monk fish bouillabaisse. And for dessert – macaron croquembouches are a must, followed by soufflés, éclairs, cream puffs, sorbets, mousse, with a ruby Port or Sauternes. Steaming cups of espresso served after will round out the meal and keep the convo ball rolling.
une visite virtuelle
A little mustachioed quirk and proper sleight of hand conjure up a Parisian cobblestone street awash in postcard-esque puddles and silver moonlight musk. Consider hiring a caricature artist, violinist, mime, or simply a single chanteuse robed in mystère and worldly charm, creating a hushed hole-in-the-wall ease. Set up canvases propped upon easels, flower carts shaded by striped canopies, and silver canisters bursting with bouquets for guests to mill around and explore. Offer little apothecary jars of wild herbs or paper cones filled with dragées as favours.
