There is something special about being invited to attend a wedding in France. They even have a special locution for it. You don’t go to a wedding: On est ‘de’ mariage.
Many of our friends and family have been married for years so it had been a while since we last attended a wedding. I suppose it’s a measure of how long we’ve been in France that we are beginning to be invited to the next generation’s nuptials.
When our friends asked us if we would come to Normandy for their eldest daughter’s wedding, the answer was a resounding oui. It felt like an important milestone to share with people who were among our first friends when we arrived in Lyon. We had known Marion as a little girl and missed them since they moved to Rouen. Besides, it had been far too long since we had last visited the home town of my husband’s family who hail from neighbouring Evreux.
First there was the small matter of what to wear. We don’t often get dressed up these days and I found I had nothing suitable. Quel dommage! Off I went to Globus, my favourite Swiss department store, where I found something simple but elegant that didn’t break the bank. A rare find indeed.
ZFrenchman trotted out a rather nice suit that he hadn’t worn in years. We updated it with a new shirt and a pair of Italian leather shoes. It seems he is more adept at climbing mountains than wearing leather soles in the city. He slipped on the cobblestones and nearly broke his back going down a flight of steps to the parking lot. Thankfully only his pride was wounded.
Marion and her proud Papa, Michel
As soon as I’d dried my tears of hilarity relief, off we went to the city hall. When you get married in France, whether or not you choose to have a church wedding, the real deal takes place at la Mairie. This is where you sign on the dotted line and are officially pronounced husband and wife.
Because it is France, you can generally count upon a certain amount of atmosphere. I don’t just mean a beautiful old building with period décor and sweeping steps, I am referring to the ‘animation’ that is to be found in most big cities and public places these days. Rouen was no exception: there was a boisterous demonstration in progress with clouds of smoke, loudspeakers blaring and banners waving. The city hall was encircled by police; security guards let the wedding guests in by the side door.
The ceremony itself was simple but sweet, with about seventy guests in attendance. The bride wore a beautifully designed dress with lace that showed off her back to perfection. I thought this was rather clever given the fact that it is your back that gets the most views on your wedding day.
Marion and Gauthier made a handsome couple. They are both doctors and so were many of the guests. It felt reassuring somehow to be surrounded by medical professionals in case we had another slip on the stairs.
There was a short break between the ceremony and the reception, then it was on to a restored grange – farm building – a short drive away in Le Neubourg. They had decorated it beautifully with table arrangements that represented endangered wildlife from around the world.
Les dragées – sugar-coated almonds – were at each place setting. These little works of edible art are de rigueur at French weddings. I did not know why but Google led me to this interesting explanation and a bit of fascinating history about les dragées.
We had champagne cocktails followed by Lebanese food – rather unusual for a wedding in France but fully in keeping with our friends who have never done things by the book. Which is probably why we are friends!
After dessert – a fabulous multi-tiered wedding cake iced in traditional pâte d’amande – it was dancing and sipping until the wee hours. We, being older if not wiser, slipped away before they became too wee. We even made it around the dance floor without tripping!
And les jeunes mariés? They are off for a honeymoon trip to Sri Lanka. We wish them longue vie!
Have you been to a wedding lately? Tell me about it!
FranceSays 
Ah, a lovely French wedding tale – much enjoyed this.
Merci! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
It’s been about three years since I last went to a wedding,but it was memorable – in a huge marquee with live music and a tame emu keeping an eye on things. Weddings are fun. 🙂
Emu? I love it! Thanks for sharing the ‘souvenir’!
-grin- welcome!
Thanks a lot Mel for this very pleasant bridal story.
Kisses.
Michel (Proud papa :-))
Thanks a lot Mel for this very pleasant bridal story.
Very happy you enjoyed it.
Kisses.
Michel (Proud Papa)
Bravo to you, Michel, and Isabelle for organizing such a splendid wedding. We had a wonderful time – and it was great to see you all again! Bises xo
Love love weddings. The last one I attended was our ‘baby’ sisters, which was 4 or 5 years ago. Sigh. Your friends wedding sounded eclectic and right up my ‘wedding alley, or is that aisle.’ Glad there were medics on hand in case of another ‘slippage’. 😂
Thanks, Lisa! Indeed it was a fun affair, and right up my aisle too! All joking aside, he really took quite the tumble and landed flat on his back on hard concrete. When we got home ZF went straight to the shoemakers’ to get rubber soles put on. 😉
When I married the first time, my mother insisted that I must consider the back of my wedding dress because that is what most people will see most of. Your young bride is an exemplar of the theory.
A wise woman your mother. Hope your wedding day was all you hoped for! (And the follow-up one…) 😉
🙂
As a slight diversion, sugared almond colours (dragees) influenced the colour palette for one of my French bedrooms
Interesting….photo please! 🙂
It’s not finished, but here’s a glimpse
https://coteetcampagne.wordpress.com/2014/04/01/episode-58-further-changes-french-bedroom-chic-on-a-budget/
The walls now have a final top layer of dragee lilac & there will be little pink and lemon in the final flourish too.
It’s def the sugared almonds room!
Lovely! The problem with those low-back dresses though is what underwear to wear! Also glad the fall wasn’t too bad, I’ve fallen on my back before and hurt for days…
I think she rather cleverly worked the bra into the dress. As for the fall, he did have a few bruises but otherwise very lucky! Thanks!
Last wedding I went to was my own about seven years ago. We had bacon butties and cup cakes which were very de rigueur at the time, but are probably hideously naff now!
Cupcakes do seem to be everywhere these days but bacon butties? Very original for a wedding! Now I want one! 🙂
you’ve made my evening… 🙂 last wedding I went to was our daughter’s – 2 years ago… ❤
https://myvirtualplayground.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/amour-sans-frontieres-sous-une-pluie-de-petales-de-roses/
How joyful for you – and her! Hearts and flowers to you both 🙂
One of our granddaughter’s was married last month, in North Yorkshire. It was, like your friends’ wedding, a small and intimate civil service at a country hotel. We all went out for a meal together the evening before the wedding, giving guests an opportunity to get to know each other.
Close family females were with the bride while she was being pampered and prepared before the ceremony, which made us feel very much a part of the event rather than spectators. She has always been a wild child, but it was touching to see that at one point emotion got the better of her and tears welled up. The make-up artist urged her to lean over, so that the tears did not ruin the make-up job. 🙂
Never one to follow others, she had chosen a wedding cake iced in navy blue and gold.
The officiant was wearing a bleu, blanc, et rouge sash? That’s fantastic! Interesting history of the dragées, indeed. Thanks!