Tag Archive for: wedding planner france

2022 is shaping up to be a banner year for weddings – according to NPR there’s a 15% increase in the number of couples tying the knot! There are of course many forward-thinking singles in the dating pool and Nancy recently had the opportunity to speak with Amber and Ashayla from DatingNews.com. They discussed destination weddings, how to go about planning a destination wedding, and of course how a wedding planner can be a huge help in creating a memorable wedding experience for couples and their guests!

With engagement season in full swing and couples starting their wedding venue search, it was the perfect time for the next installment in our series “How to plan a wedding in France”: How to find your wedding venue in France.

How to find your wedding venue in France

The wedding venue is the cornerstone of planning your wedding in France. Venue search and selection is the very first wedding planning topic we work on with our couples, and we have learned a lot about how to guide you to finding just the right setting for your celebration.

French château and gardens

We’ve planned weddings in many, many, many(!) different areas of France and we love being able to provide such a broad array of options to our couples. After all, the perfect wedding venue is only perfect if it’s right for your vision!

Paris Wedding Venues

Paris is always a good idea, and many of our couples are completely in love with the city (we can’t blame them!) Our favorite Paris wedding venues are private mansions or luxury hotels.

Private mansion in Paris wedding planned by Fête in France Paris wedding floral decoration planned by Fête in France

Pros of a Paris wedding

  • Our favorite venues in Paris offer the best of the Parisian ideal: exceptional interiors with soaring ceilings, ornate chandeliers, marble fireplaces, gilt detailing; and sophisticated, elegant food and wine.
  • Paris is a major tourist destination and many major cities offer direct flights at least once a day.
  • There are plentiful hotels and apartment rental properties, offering accommodation for all levels of budget.
  • You won’t need to worry about occupying your guests outside of the wedding festivities – Paris has an incredible variety of activities and sights to enjoy.

Cons of a Paris wedding

  • Paris is a beautiful city, but it is a city. The wedding venues we love tend to be havens of peace, but once you’re outside, there can be crowds, traffic, noise….
  • If your vision is for an outdoor or garden wedding, it’s best to look outside of Paris.
  • A Paris wedding isn’t particularly more expensive than a wedding outside of Paris, but it does tend to have fewer events & activities. If you’re interested in a wedding weekend and lots of together time with your guests, you might prefer a venue outside of Paris.
  • Our favorite Paris wedding venues tend to be best for up to 120 guests. If you’re expecting a large guestcount a château or countryside venue might be the better choice.

Château, Villa and other French countryside Wedding Venues

France is not a huge country, but it is incredibly varied in its landscapes. Scattered around the country are the famous winemaking regions of Champagne, Bordeaux, and Burgundy, as well as lesser known winemaking regions in the Loire Valley, Provence, and Côtes du Rhone just to name a few. There are some areas that are flat expanses, but much of the French countryside terrain features lovely, rolling hills. And of course there are the mountain regions of the Alps and the Pyrénées. There is extensive coastline, ranging from the rocky cliffs of Normandy and Brittany, to the surf beaches of southwestern France, to the chic boardwalks of the Cote d’Azur (French Riviera).

With all of this choice, how do you even narrow in on where to focus your search? One starting point is to think about the ambiance and feel of the day. Are you planning a formal affair, or a more laid-back atmosphere? Is dining under the stars high on your wish-list? Is there a particular type of activity you’d like to organize for your guests?

Before going into some of the specifics about the different types of countryside venues, a bit of insight into their pros and cons:

Pros of a French countryside wedding

  • French countryside wedding venues lend themselves to wedding weekend festivities. If the venue has three distinct areas for the rehearsal (or welcome) event, the wedding day, and the brunch, so much the better! If not, we suggest keeping the wedding venue a surprise for the wedding day, and finding an offsite venue for the rehearsal (or welcome) event.
  • The countryside venues we favor have accommodation on site, the more the better. That said, unless you’re having an intimate wedding, it’s unlikely that all guests will be able to stay on site.
  • Countryside wedding venues usually allow you to pick your own caterer. This give you the flexibility to pick a classic caterer or a specialty caterer, as formal or laid back as you prefer.

Cons of a French countryside wedding

  • Logistics are the main downside of a countryside wedding. We tend to recommend venues that are reasonably easy to get to, but even “easy” can mean multiple means of transport (planes, trains and automobiles!)
  • Even if there is accommodation on site, in most cases some guests will have to stay off site. So there are also the logistics between the wedding venue and local accommodations to think about.
  • A countryside wedding usually means there’s more thought that goes into what happens outside the wedding festivities. Some couples feel more of an obligation to plan additional meals and events to keep guests occupied and entertained.

French Château Wedding Venues

Classic Loire Valley château

Château wedding venues can range from exceptional venues such as the Château Vaux-le-Vicomte, to other historic properties such as this former Cistercian Abbey, to classic venues such as this Loire Valley château. Château venues come in different shapes and sizes, from different periods in history, with different amounts of accommodation on site.

French château venues are usually located on extensive grounds. The setting is perfect for a beautiful outdoor ceremony followed by a cocktail hour in the gardens. French châteaux also have large indoor reception spaces with beautiful high ceilings and other lovely architectural details.

If there is a particular historical period you prefer, your search may lead you to certain areas of France. For example, the romantic châteaux of the Loire Valley date from the Renaissance onwards. If you prefer the medieval period, you might like the château fortresses of the Rhone Valley.

French Villa Wedding Venues

Historic provence villa French wedding venue

French villa wedding venues are typically located in what we broadly refer to as “the South of France”. The villa style can be very elegant but tends to be more of a laid-back refinement. One example is this lovely villa near Aix-en-Provence.

Villa venues usuall have up to 10 guestrooms on property. This allows the immediate family or your wedding party to stay on site with you. Villa venues also have lovely green spaces, however they often do not have indoor reception spaces. In this case, a tent is usually required as a backup in case of inclement weather.

French Countryside Wedding Venues

French countryside wedding venues can be located anywhere in France, and can loosely be described as manors or estates. They can be located in the middle of vineyards in the Southwest such as this wine estate in Gascony, or amid the rolling pastures of Normandy such as this Normandy manor.

The properties can range in size, accommodation capacity, and reception configuration. They can offer great value for money, but in general these venues can be considered “off the beaten path”. That said, they are worth the trouble of getting to!

How to find your wedding venue in France

For more tips on how to find your wedding venue in France get in touch! We’d love to help you find your French wedding venue!

Looking for a wedding planner in France to guide you through your wedding planning journey? Tell us about your vision!

Postscript:  I was delighted to have a recent chat with our past bride, Leslie. Her personal blog has gotten traction among couples embarking on their own wedding planning journeys. A recent post of hers gave a bit of insight on planning a wedding in France, with input from yours truly.

The beautiful countryside of the Southwest of France was the setting for Emmie & Jon’s French château wedding. The globe-trotting couple has lived in Beijing, Montreal and San Fransisco, but their true love is for France. The first time they visited our beautiful country together, there was an immediate connection. They kept coming back, and each time it felt more magical. It felt natural for them to host their wedding in the country they loved so much.The relaxed yet elegant château wedding venue they chose is located in a region known for it’s food and wine. The rambling property is surrounded by vineyards which produce wine as well as the region’s famous Armagnac. The château also has the feel of a family home with plenty of accommodations on site, so friends and family were able to stay together and enjoy the grounds for the four days of festivities.The château and grounds have several spaces perfect for a wedding weekend of festivities, which allowed us to create a different ambiance for each event: beautiful ivy-covered courtyards, a rehabilitated barn with two big high-ceilinged rooms, a swimming pool, and a massive garden.The bride was stunning in an elegant strapless Vera Wang gown and loose chignon updo, and the groom dapper in a black tuxedo and velvet slippers. After the “I dos” the bride added chic accessories for her reception look, donning puffy tulle sleeves, golden dangly earrings and letting her hair down.

The floral decor was inspired by fall colors with warm tones mixed with greenery. The bouquets, arch and flower arrangements all had a lot of texture, with an elegant combination of fresh and dried flowers.For the cocktail, we invited guests to another part of the garden, where they could spread out between the trees and relax on lounge furniture set up on the grass. A live band played folk and pop music to add to the perfect late summer ambiance as the sun set on the vines behind the domain.

The dinner took place in the main courtyard, under garlands of lights which created a warm and intimate ambiance. The couple enjoyed their meal surrounded by friends and family and their moving speeches. After champagne flowed for dessert, the bride and groom surprised their guests with fireworks, before leading them to dance late into the night.

Contact us to see how we can help plan your own French countryside château wedding!

As seen on Magnolia Rouge.

Planning & design: @feteinfrance
Venue: @chateaudemalliac
Flowers: @fleurs-de-mars
Photographer: @marionhweddings
Videographer: @moonandbackco
Hair stylist: @ciaracoiffure
Makeup artist: @sannimakeupartist
Caterer: @lacostetraiteur
Tableware and rentals: @maison_options
Band: @chelseychantelle

It’s always a treat when we hear from past clients. Our bride Leslie, whose wedding in Normandy took place in a beautiful garden (pictured above), recently got in touch. She has created some excellent content about her own wedding planning journey on her personal blog. The idea was to recount her experience of planning a wedding in France to share with family and friends. But she’s actually been contacted by brides and grooms embarking on their own planning journey who have come across her posts.

Leslie reached out to see if we would be interested to share some insight on planning a wedding in France. We’ll be contributing to a future post on her blog, and it was also just the motivation we needed to start up a series on our blog we’re calling “How to plan a wedding in France”. To kick things off, we’ll start with how to plan a wedding ceremony in France.

Planning a wedding ceremony in France: Can foreigners get married in France?

If you’re thinking about planning your wedding in France, one of the first questions will be about your wedding ceremony. But can foreigners get married in France? The short answer is “yes”! There is of course a “but” to think about.

When first speaking with our couples, we usually draw a distinction between getting married in France and having a wedding in France. It may seem romantic to have the “official” wedding take place in France. Or you may be accustomed to having one ceremony that fulfills your wish for a religious wedding and at the same time makes your marriage official in the eyes of the state. However it’s important to know that in France, the civil ceremony is always separate from any other type of symbolic ceremony. With all that in mind, how do you go about planning your wedding ceremony in France?

Planning a civil ceremony in France

The civil ceremony in France refers to the ceremony celebrated by the maire (mayor) or adjoint-maire (deputy mayor) which officializes your marriage in the eyes of the state.

The location of the civil ceremony is determined by where you reside in France, or in case of foreign couples, where you can establish a local tie in France. If one of the members of the couple is French, the local mairie (city hall) where their parents or family member lives could be an option. Otherwise, one member of the couple must establish residency in France and show they have been a resident for at least 1 month.

In addition to the residency question, as with most administrative processes in France, compiling the necessary documents is a cumbersome endeavor. If you are not French, there’s the added layer of complexity to obtain recent versions of documents (birth certificate, etc) and have them translated into French by an approved translator.

Given the time and effort required to pulling this off, if you are both citizens of another country we strongly advise you to have the civil ceremony in your home country.

Planning a symbolic ceremony in France

The symbolic ceremony in France refers to any religious ceremony held in a place of worship, or a secular ceremony held in a garden, ballroom, or other space. The symbolic ceremony can be conducted by a member of the clergy, a friend, or family member, and has no legal bearing.

Religious wedding ceremonies

Different faith traditions have different rules around marriage preparation, and often couples are surprised to learn the requirements that their (or their family’s) faith has around wedding ceremonies.

France is a country where all religions are freely practiced, but it has a long history with the Catholic faith, and a majority of the churches in France are Catholic churches. The Catholic Church in particular has a lengthy administrative process that rivals the process for the French civil ceremony. If you are interested in marrying in the Catholic Church, we advise you to start by reaching out to your home parish to get their blessing to marry in another parish. From there, you’ll need to find a Catholic parish in France who is open to celebrating a marriage ceremony for a non-parishoner couple. Once that is established, the remainder of the process involves compiling the different religious documents (baptismal certificate, etc) and completing your marriage preparation course.

Whatever your faith tradition, you will likely want the ceremony performed in a language you speak! It’s helpful to see if your rabbi, priest, pastor or faith leader would be open to coming to France with you.

Finally, if you plan on having a religious ceremony in a place of worship in France you will need to provide proof that your civil marriage has already taken place.

Secular wedding ceremonies

If a religious ceremony is not the right fit for you, a secular wedding ceremony will be the best route. The secular ceremony allows you to create a ceremony in your image, with readings and music that are meaningful to you. You may choose to have a non-religious celebrant create a text and officiate your ceremony, or you may prefer to have a friend or family member in this role.

The good news is that if you plan on having a secular ceremony in France, you have the choice of officializing your marriage either before or after your wedding in France.

Additional resources

For a first-hand account of the trials and tribulations of planning a civil ceremony in France, click here to read about Leslie and her French husband Arnaud’s experience.

And if you’re considering working with a wedding planner in France who can help you navigate this and all of your other questions about planning a wedding in France, we’d love to hear from you!

There’s nothing dreamier than getting married in France. However, figuring out how to style your French wedding can be quite challenging. After all, when its capital is known as The City of Love, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the wonder that France has to offer.

To help your wedding find its je ne sais quoi, here are the top three wedding styles to consider for your French fête!

Parisian Wedding

Apart from being associated with all things love and romance, Paris is a city that prides itself for its undeniably chic way of life. From hosting the world’s top fashion shows to housing some of the most illustrious artworks, the French capital is the perfect setting for couples with a sophisticated sense of style.

In this regard, hosting a Parisian wedding calls for a venue that focuses on classic and refined interior design — think grand ballrooms with gold detailing that’s filled with gorgeous flower displays. It’s important to note though this wedding style refrains from going over-the-top, with décor effortlessly complementing the elegant setting.

Parisienne brides prefer figure-hugging, floor-length wedding dresses that are either made from silk or lace fabric. Bridal makeup and hair is polished and chic whether it’s full-on glam or a more subtle look. But whether wearing the bride’s hair down or in a chignon, bridal looks are usually completed with a stunning headband like this floral gold one featured on Elle. And given the elegant setting, grooms in Parisian weddings go for a classic tuxedo and bowtie.

French Countryside Wedding

If you prefer something that’s more laid-back, then you should consider having a wedding in the French countryside in regions like Normandy or Provence. Instead of being surrounded by ornate details, this wedding style will have you and your spouse tie the knot embraced by nature in the gardens of the venue.

French countryside wedding rehearsal dinner planned by Fête in France

Photo: 2 Brides

Not to mention, a French countryside wedding incorporates a lot of rustic elegance in its styling. When it comes to the reception, for instance, your guests can enjoy a lovely dinner outdoors with long banquet tables. Plus, they’re typically adorned with multi-coloured floral arrangements and glass candleholders to highlight the beauty of the countryside.

French countryside wedding bridal style

Photo: 2 Brides

For bridal looks, it’s best to choose a dress that evokes French nonchalance. To this end, a feature on Brides about French bridal designers points out that a simple crepe de chine sheath dress meets understated sophistication. What’s more, a guide to dresses for petites by Pretty Me highlights how sheath dresses have a fitted silhouette that will accentuate every inch of the bride’s body. This way, she’ll feel comfortable and confident on her big day. Hair and makeup are simple, as a long veil is a key accessory. Meanwhile, grooms can go for suits in earth tones to complement the venue.

French Château Wedding

Last but not least, if you’re planning to go all out for your fête in France, then a château wedding is the right style for you. From breathtaking façades and perfectly polished gardens, it’s the ideal venue for couples who envision a wedding that’s filled with weekend festivities. The vast (and impressive) space is great if you have guests coming from different parts of the world.

château wedding is a weekend-long affair with its happenings, such as a welcome event, rehearsal dinner, and next-day brunch, in addition to the wedding ceremony and reception. But what really sets this style apart is that it maximises French elegance with lavish elements everywhere. Case in point: Instead of using traditional paper for a wedding at the Château de Villette, the team opted for marble coasters in gold calligraphy.

The colour palette for this style normally focuses on neutrals with pops of color, greenery, and touches of gold. Brides can wear whatever their heart desires, but intricate lace or embellishments make an exquisite touch. For grooms, they take their cue from the venue, opting for black tie at formal château venues or suit and tie for rustic châteaux

Article written for feteinfrance.com
Author: Renee Jordan

This pink and blue elegant château wedding near Paris took place inside the grounds of the Domaine de Chantilly. Located just an hour away from Paris and dating back to the 14th century, the château and grounds feature beautiful French gardens, breathtaking backdrops for couple photos and a large selection of spaces for both the rehearsal dinner and their wedding day.


A romantic wedding venue near Paris

The rehearsal dinner took place in the former grand kitchen of the château, now transformed into a restaurant with vaulted ceilings and copper pots on the walls. For the ceremony and reception, the couple chose the Maison de Sylvie, an intimate reception venue hidden in the park of the Château.





A very French wedding, with a modern touch

The sunset ceremony took place in front of the arch opening to the garden which was gracefully decorated with roses of various pink shades. The wedding design revolved around a beautiful palette of pinks with touches of pale blue and blue & white chinoiserie style vases. Keeping with the decor theme, the bridesmaids wore light blue dresses and the groom wore a chic navy tuxedo. The bouquets were made with soft pink flowers, with added touches of purple orchids for the bridal bouquet.





The cocktail centered around café tables and high tables covered with light pink linens. The couple’s entrepreneurial project, Little Fancy, was of course a part of the drinks on offer. Guests were entertained by a jazz band and an illustrator painting their fashionable outfits.





The dinner took place in the main ballroom of the venue, with the head table in the middle below the grand chandelier. The table decor carried on the wedding design with blue linen tablecloths set with blue and white plates and low centerpieces with roses in shades of pink and a few orchids for a modern touch. The tables numbers and printed menus, printed in pink on pale pink cardstock, carried through the crest the couple had used on their invitations. Even the wedding cake perfectly matched the palette: pink on the inside but a white, blue and gold design on the outside inspired by the plates.





The evening continued with first dances and then the band got everyone on the dancefloor. The bride changed into a light pink tea-length dress and danced the night away with her groom, their friends and family.


Contact us to see how we can help plan your elegant French château wedding!

As seen on Carats & Cake

Planning & design: @feteinfrance
Flowers: @madameartisanfleuriste
Photographer: @eliaskordelakos
Videographer: Micka Films
Hair stylist: @ciaracoiffure
Makeup artist: @sannimakeupartist
Wedding cake: @synies
Tableware and rentals: @maison_options
Day-of paper : @studiofrenchblue
Entertainement: Swing It
Illustrator: @yohannpropin
Live Band: @fourkicksband

Sara and Jack’s romantic French countryside wedding took place on a private estate near Paris, on a very hot summer day in July. The couple met in law school and after a year and a half of dating, Jack organized a weekend with Sara’s family. After receiving her father’s blessing, Jack proposed on a walk with their French bulldog, Ladybird, at the arboretum. They spent the rest of the evening and weekend celebrating with family and friends.

For their wedding, they wanted to keep the same easy and relaxed atmosphere. Sara grew up near Paris and her family’s house in the countryside near the French capital her favorite place on Earth. It felt natural to the couple to host their wedding there, even though Jack had never set foot in Europe before!

The ambiance they looked for was a chic backyard wedding, a family garden party and a lovely evening with their loved ones. A little eclectic and not too fussy. Sara wanted a dress with a long train (because if there is really one occasion to wear a train, it was on her wedding day!), and she also wanted color. She had been eyeing a special Monique Lhuillier gown, and when she got the chance to put it on, she knew right away it was the one. It had drama with a 10 ft long train and embroidered flowers in purple, red and blue that would perfectly tie in with the wildflowers of the French countryside.

Preparations for the wedding day took place directly on the family estate. The ceremony was set in front of an old pool, with the rest of the garden in the background. The arch blended in seamlessly with the scenery and was adorned of beautiful purple flowers, the bride’s favorite color. The bridal party walked down the aisle to Sara’s uncle singing Ave Maria, just like he did for her parents’ wedding, and her grandfather officiated the ceremony, as he had done before for the bride’s parents. It was a true family affair.

The festivities continued with a cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres, and guests enjoyed signature drinks while listening a gypsy jazz trio play. At sunset, guests were invited under a tent set on the main lawn in front of the house: long wooden tables were decorated with wild purple flower arrangements and lilac candles. A sprig of lavender on the menus added an extra touch at each seat.

 

After a delicious spit roasted lamb diner and moving speeches, the bride and groom had their first dance to Beyond by Leon Bridges.  They held the song dear to their heart as they had danced to it on the night they got engaged. The bride had previously changed into a purple Badgley Mischka dress so she could dance all night.

A cigar bar and a desert buffet were set up with couches for guests to relax after dinner, but the dance floor was never empty, and everyone danced until 2am!

 

Contact us to see how we can help plan your romantic French countryside wedding!

To read more about this wedding, check out the full post on Over the Moon. 

 

Planning & design: @feteinfrance
Flowers: @lilypalomaflowers
Caterer: @entre_mets_et_fragrances
Photographer: @capturelifeandlovers
Hair stylist: @ciaracoiffure
Makeup artist: @allisondepmuah
Macaroon tower: @maisonladuree
Rentals : @be_lounge
Tableware : @maison_options
Day-of paper : @studiofrenchblue
Invitations : @tiethatbinds
Bridal salon : @carinesbridal
Wedding dress : @moniquelhuillierbride

 

 

 

Steph & Mike gathered an intimate group for their microwedding in the South of France. There may have been a petit number of guests – and the bride and groom’s sweet dog Peanut – but the wedding featured all of the fabulous details of a grand celebration!

The Château Saint Georges is located up in the hills of Grasse and offers spectacular views from the grounds. The wedding took place in early September, which is an ideal time of year in the South of France – the peak vacation period of July and August is over but the weather is still fabulous. The perfectly named Temple of Love was the setting for the exchange of vows and the warm South of France summer climate made for a wonderful outdoor reception. The design of the event was carefully thought out, with beautiful florals from Miss Rose by Perrine, and featured a palette of pale tones of blush and pink. The pale, ethereal feel was carried through to the wedding cake design, with delicate ricepaper flowers adorning the 2-tier confection by Made In Cake. The bride was stunning in her Vera Wang gown, with hair & makeup expertly done by Trine Juel. And just because you have a small number of guests doesn’t mean you can’t party! Benjamin of Discotecnik helped create a festive post-dinner atmosphere.

We loved creating this beautiful and intimate celebration for Steph & Mike. Intimate weddings allow the bride and groom to have real quality time with their guests, and the added benefit is that we also get to know guests better. Need help planning your microwedding in the South of France, Provence or another region of France? We would love to hear from you!

Featured on Carats & Cake | Photography: Le Secret d’Audrey | Cinematography: MG Image

South of France château wedding planned by Fête in France

Château Saint Georges in Grasse, France

South of France wedding designer American Wedding planner in France Intimate wedding in the South of France planned by Fête in France South of France wedding planner

Vaux-le-Vicomte is a XVIIth century château built by the architect of Louis the XIV, Louis Le Vau, with traditional French gardens designed by André Le Nôtre and interiors by Charles Le Brun. It was built for Louis XIV’s finance minister, Nicolas Fouquet and served as a model for the Château de Versailles. The main ballroom, as wide as it is high (18m or 60 feet high), is a unique oval shape, with a black and white tiled floor and a painting on the ceiling that depicts a beautiful blue sky with white clouds.

With all these elements together in a room, our inspiration was quickly found. Madame Artisan Fleuriste worked with a base of astilbes to create a textured romantic cloud, into which she incorporated roses in varying shades of pink. The floral arrangement was set atop modern see-through gold stands, as if it were floating above the table.

We layered different fabrics, mixing the colors and the texture of the linens to recreate the complexity of the sky painted above. Texture and color continued in the tableware selection, with scallopped charger plates and smoky blue cutlery for contrast. Gold accents kept the design elevated and château-worthy, and dashes of dark burgundy in the florals added a special dramatic touch. We brought in black and white medallion chairs and tall black taper candles to tie in the gorgeous flooring.

We used the same accent colors for the invitation suite: Crimson Letters pulled in a black envelope to contrast with her beautiful handtorn white paper inside. She drew gold leaf motifs and added strokes of light pink watercolor in the same shade as our roses.

Type A Society brought their A-game for the bridal styling. The most fashion-forward of the looks was a Said Kobeissy gown. The dress was the perfect mix of modern fashion and romance: the intricate design of flowers and sparkle fit so well with the ballgown skirt on top. The second look, by Chana Marelus, was beautiful and ethereal; our model bride looked like she could fly away with the light breeze coming through the château’s French windows. The third look, also by Chana Marelus, was a sparkly gown that reflected the light beautifully with a train worthy of a princess.

The talented Harold James ensured that our models were looking fresh and cool, despite the record-breaking heat wave.

 

Vendors :

Styling & Production: Fête in France & Fête Event Planning | Photo & Video: Mon Soleil (Marissa & Devin) | Hair & Makeup: Harold James | Venue: Vaux-le-Vicomte & @valerielafourcade_vlvevents | Wardrobe stylist: Type A Society | Florals: Madame Artisan Fleuriste | Rentals & tableware: Maison Options | Table linen: Nuage Designs | Table runner : Daucus Tinctura  | Paper goods : Crimson Letters | Tableware – bread plates: Canigueral Mesas con Esencia | Macarons: Ladurée | Ring boxes: Voeu du Cœur | Models: Lynn & Fred Via Mademoiselle Agency | Dresses 1: Said Kobeissy | Dress 2 & 3: Chana Marelus

 

          

Updated on April 14, 2020

Greetings from (continued) confinement in France! I am riding out the lockdown in the countryside of Brittany, grateful to be in a house with a lawn as opposed to my Parisian apartment.

We’re going through a scary and uncertain time and there’s unfortunately very little we can control right now, but there is a lot of information we can gather to arm ourselves as best possible once the situation gets a bit clearer.

The news cycle is spinning so fast that it’s not easy to make heads or tails of what to do. At this point we’re looking at each of our upcoming weddings and evaluating on a case-by-case basis. We’re here providing support to all of our couples, collecting as much information as we can and updating as the situation changes.

If you’ve been planning your own wedding and have been in direct contact with your vendors, I wanted to share some advice on how we’ve gone about things:

1. Review your venue and vendor’s postponement and force majeure policy as stated in their contract. Review your wedding insurance policy (if you have one). *It’s not entirely clear on how insurers are viewing the pandemic, and it may not fall under force majeure, so it’s always best to contact them directly to clarify.

2. Reach out to your venue and vendors to understand what adjustments are being made to their policy in light of the COVID-19 emergency. If you have a wedding planner, they are here to help facilitate these discussions. Here at Fête in France, our standard contract has a penalty clause in the event of a change in date or venue, however given the extraordinary circumstances we are waiving any change fees.

Once you’ve collected the above information:

3. If your wedding is between now and early July, you are likely in decision-making mode vs. wait-and-see mode. Time is of the essence, especially if any guests will be travelling, so you may choose to send out communication to your guests without yet having a date rescheduled. That said, if at all possible, have your new date set before communicating with guests – it will save you a step down the line and will be appreciated by any guests who need to rebook travel!

4. If your wedding is in mid-July or later, we recommend waiting until mid-May to understand how the situation evolves and reassessing then. If you still feel strongly about postponing, the same advice applies: if possible have your new date set before communicating with guests.

We know this is a stressful moment and it can be difficult to keep emotions at bay. The people surrounding you – your fiancé(e), your wedding party, your family and your key wedding vendors – are here to support you and guide you, and can’t wait to be part of your wedding, whenever it may be.

Tag Archive for: wedding planner france