You have finally received the perfect engagement ring from your groom-to-be and you have been walking among the clouds ever since. That is until the wedding planning pulled you back to solid ground. If destination weddings are not for you, but you still want to sweep your guests into another world, consider a Parisian styled wedding. Below are a few suggestions on how to make your guests feel like they are walking towards the Champs Elysees.
Colors
The ballet dancers captured in the paintings of Degas have immortalized the Parisian stage and are the perfect inspiration for your colors. Take a chapter from his book and select a pallet of pastel purples, pinks, or blues, and pair it with a soft mocha color or latte shade of brown. This will lend a romantic feel to your day, but it’s the perfect excuse to shy away from the bold colors that usually appear at autumn and winter weddings. Don’t shy away from pattern either; stripes and polka dots have always been associated with the city of lights too.
Champagne
Champagne cannot be called champagne unless it comes from France. It must be produced in the Champagne region of France, which lies just to the east of Paris, to bear the name. Otherwise it is just sparkling wine, and having authentic champagne at your wedding, which you would probably have anyway, is a fun fact to share with guests. If you also are on the fence about providing a fully stocked open bar, just offer the option of red or white wine alongside the champagne.
Edible Fare
Food is another no brainer when working with this theme; canapés, baguettes with tapenade, crudité, and a selection of cheeses are all simple, chic, and pair well with champagne and wine. And nobody escapes Paris without trying a crepe at least once. They are an easy and inexpensive staple for both locals and tourists. Transform your reception hall to the streets of Paris with a crepe bar, and let your guests mix and match ingredients to their liking.
Personal Style
Paris can rival Milan for the title of the birthplace of fashion, so any Parisian wedding worth its salt will have to make sure their wedding party is en vogue. If you and your groom to be are known to be in high style, this is the perfect look for you. Now is the perfect time for him to pull off a top hat and classic tux, and birdcage veils for her are all the rage right now. The Avant Gard style is hard to pull off anywhere but the runway, but keep in mind some of its elements when choosing your bridesmaid dresses, as long as they’re game, now’s the time to have a little fun. After all, you love your engagement ring, but you don’t want to be upstaged by it.
Iconic decoration
There is nothing more Iconic Paris than the Eiffel Tower, built in 1889 as the entrance for the World’s Fair; it has evolved into a visual representation for the entire city. Make sure not to forget it when you’re working under this theme. Buy mini towers to use as place card holders for guest seating, or have it pictured on your invitations, and if you’re not into the little bride and groom cake toppers, just use another Eiffel Tower for a little sweet decoration.
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Sweet Goodbyes After the wedding rings have been exchanged, the first dance has been danced, and the French fare has been enjoyed, the guests typically have made sure to save a little room for cake. At a Parisian wedding, you want to make sure that they saved more than a little room. Paris is legendary for its pastries, and there is almost an endless amount of choices to choose from; macaroons, petit fours, meringues, and puff pastries are easy finger food desserts. And macaroons and meringues can easily be stacked to resemble the Eiffel Tower, adding a final touch to your dessert table. The cake itself is another matter; if you want something a little more unique than just incorporating your colors, ask your bakery to decorate it with the Fleur de Lis. The Fleur de Lis is a stylized lily that has adorned French armor and flags for centuries, and was once an emblem for French royalty. Add it to your cake in your colors for the perfect finishing touch.
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