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Fiona & Grant Beeming
The editor takes the Eurostar to Paris to attend a very French wedding
It was the first time I had ever been to a wedding in France. But I was quickly brushed up on French custom when I attended my cousin's wedding ceremony in Paris' St Joseph's church followed by a reception at the Chateau de Villiers Le Mahieu. “It's very French,” said the bride, when it was pointed out that she arrived at the church late. It was also 'very French' for the guests to have two outfits for the wedding ceremony - one for the day or church ceremony and one for the reception. It's French custom, or so I was told, that the groom and bride don't make a speech at their wedding. It's in fact the father of the groom and of the bride (or in our case mother of the groom) who does the speech, along with the best man. And instead of a cake, it's common to have profiteroles.
The following morning the wedding is followed up by a brunch. This includes the guests and bridal couple who do not disappear directly after the wedding reception to go on honeymoon.
Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against French weddings. In fact there are a couple of things we should admire about the way the French conduct their weddings. A quick scour on the internet shows that apparently we have the French to thank for the fact that the bride wears a white wedding gown – this tradition started in France several hundred years ago according to World Wedding Traditions.com. And if profiteroles are French tradition, I must say they were a darn bit more more fun than the bog-standard fruit wedding cake. See the picture below – my cousin even had huge sparklers on his, which, when the lights were dimmed, made quite an impressive spectacle.
Having a second outfit to wear to the wedding also added a bit of extra glamour, and of course the there was the benefit of getting out of the clothes that I'd been in since 8am that morning!
If you like the idea of getting married in France, St Joseph's Church is conveniently close to the tourist hotspot the Arc de Triumph. I've been to Paris several times, but for guests who had never been there before it was an easy couple of hops on the Metro (Paris' version of the Underground) from where the Eurostar arrived in Gare Du Nord. It is also two avenues away from the Champs Elysées, and according to its website, walking distance from the Parc Moncea.
The reception, meanwhile, was not so accessible. So I was happy to see that my cousin and his new wife had thought ahead and hired a bus to drive the wedding party out to the country. They sped away in a white stretch limo, while the guests followed - to arrive less than an hour and a half at the reception venue.
Chateau de Villiers Le Mahieu did not disappoint, however. I love it when couples choose venues that have a bit of history and character. The venue looks like a Middle-Aged fortress and, in fact is is! It was built in 1642 on the remains of a 13th century castle. It has well manicured lawns and a moat that surrounds it too. A perfect venue for getting those magazine worthy glamour shots.
There was food in abundance. We were treated to a set menu but when it came to the dessert there was choice galore. Partying till the wee hours was possible too. The rolling grounds and golf course provided a perfect barrier and there was no one in the immediate surrounds to complain about the noise. I retired to bed at 2am, but I am told that the festivities went on till about 5am!
St Joseph's Church
50 Avenue Hoch – Paris
www.stjoeparis.org
Château de Villiers-le-Mahieu
78 770 Villiers le Mahieu
Telephone: +33 (0)1 34 87 44 25
Fax: +33 (0)1 34 87 44 40
The website is both accessible in French and English and rates are also clearly displayed.
Website: www.chateauvilliers.com
Photographer:
Isabelle N é r y
Website: www.iphotographie.com
Email: isabellenery@noos.fr
The editor takes the Eurostar to Paris to attend a very French wedding
It was the first time I had ever been to a wedding in France. But I was quickly brushed up on French custom when I attended my cousin's wedding ceremony in Paris' St Joseph's church followed by a reception at the Chateau de Villiers Le Mahieu. “It's very French,” said the bride, when it was pointed out that she arrived at the church late. It was also 'very French' for the guests to have two outfits for the wedding ceremony - one for the day or church ceremony and one for the reception. It's French custom, or so I was told, that the groom and bride don't make a speech at their wedding. It's in fact the father of the groom and of the bride (or in our case mother of the groom) who does the speech, along with the best man. And instead of a cake, it's common to have profiteroles.
The following morning the wedding is followed up by a brunch. This includes the guests and bridal couple who do not disappear directly after the wedding reception to go on honeymoon.
Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against French weddings. In fact there are a couple of things we should admire about the way the French conduct their weddings. A quick scour on the internet shows that apparently we have the French to thank for the fact that the bride wears a white wedding gown – this tradition started in France several hundred years ago according to World Wedding Traditions.com. And if profiteroles are French tradition, I must say they were a darn bit more more fun than the bog-standard fruit wedding cake. See the picture below – my cousin even had huge sparklers on his, which, when the lights were dimmed, made quite an impressive spectacle.
Having a second outfit to wear to the wedding also added a bit of extra glamour, and of course the there was the benefit of getting out of the clothes that I'd been in since 8am that morning!
If you like the idea of getting married in France, St Joseph's Church is conveniently close to the tourist hotspot the Arc de Triumph. I've been to Paris several times, but for guests who had never been there before it was an easy couple of hops on the Metro (Paris' version of the Underground) from where the Eurostar arrived in Gare Du Nord. It is also two avenues away from the Champs Elysées, and according to its website, walking distance from the Parc Moncea.
The reception, meanwhile, was not so accessible. So I was happy to see that my cousin and his new wife had thought ahead and hired a bus to drive the wedding party out to the country. They sped away in a white stretch limo, while the guests followed - to arrive less than an hour and a half at the reception venue.
Chateau de Villiers Le Mahieu did not disappoint, however. I love it when couples choose venues that have a bit of history and character. The venue looks like a Middle-Aged fortress and, in fact is is! It was built in 1642 on the remains of a 13th century castle. It has well manicured lawns and a moat that surrounds it too. A perfect venue for getting those magazine worthy glamour shots.
There was food in abundance. We were treated to a set menu but when it came to the dessert there was choice galore. Partying till the wee hours was possible too. The rolling grounds and golf course provided a perfect barrier and there was no one in the immediate surrounds to complain about the noise. I retired to bed at 2am, but I am told that the festivities went on till about 5am!
St Joseph's Church
50 Avenue Hoch – Paris
www.stjoeparis.org
Château de Villiers-le-Mahieu
78 770 Villiers le Mahieu
Telephone: +33 (0)1 34 87 44 25
Fax: +33 (0)1 34 87 44 40
The website is both accessible in French and English and rates are also clearly displayed.
Website: www.chateauvilliers.com
Photographer:
Isabelle N é r y
Website: www.iphotographie.com
Email: isabellenery@noos.fr
Fiona & Grant Beeming
Chateau de Villiers Le Mahieu