Hi,
My fiance and I want to have a French themed wedding reception. I am getting a minor in French and we are planning on spending our honeymoon in Provence.
We will probably have a dessert/ hors d'oeuvres reception with a croquembouche (french wedding cake), other fabulous desserts, cheese, french bread, croissants, crepes and other French snacky foods. We want to decorate like a cafe/park with small tables that seat 4, trees, lampposts, etc. Any other ideas?
Thanks
Katie and Bart

That's great already, if you take on more decor, it will be very expensive. If you are sticking to provençal decor, you may want to rent dinner service in green or saffron or terra cotta colors.
I can send you a cd of cigales singing away. But some people donot enjoy their sound.

Get some Piaf CD's and Aznavour

Congratulations from one Scarlett to another..may your marriage last forever ~
(*today is our anniversary *

or Johnny Holiday!, Patricia Kass,
Scarlett, hope you had a lovely anniversery!!

Don't forget the Champagne Fountain. Also, at my wife's cousin's wedding in Corsica, they had a "tree" of gifts for the guests. The gifts were little candies wrapped in lacy fabric. It was a nice gesture, and I am told very French (or at least very Corsican).

As for the music, no offense Cigale, but I'd opt for Aznavour and Piaf any day - somehow more romantic than those infernal bugs! Maybe some modern French stuff thrown in...

-Kevin

A Croquembouche is not a cake.

no, a Croquembouche is more of a little cream puff..but I believe they are traditionally served for weddings in France.

Various styles can be seen by entering "Croquembouche" at www.google.com and clicking "images".

The food part sounds the least thought-out part of your plan, frankly. Croissants with baguettes and desserts? -- it sounds like you have mixed together bits from breakfast, lunch and dinner. The parts are French but the ensemble is not. This bit needs work.

At our wedding reception this summer, we used the local outpost of the Cordon Bleu school, whose dessert menu you will find at:
http://www.restaurantsignature.com/E...ures/index.cfm

But this is a little fancier perhaps than the charming cafe theme you propose.

Literally meaning ?crack in one?s mouth? a croquembouche is a traditional French wedding cake consisting of puffs of choux pastry filled with a vanilla creme patissiere, held together with a delicious cobweb of caramel.

I know what a croquembouche is...I just meant that instead of cake that is what is traditionally served at french weddings. Tedgale, I will look at the menu, but I'm guessing in our petites villages in Iowa (combined population of 1200 people) no one will know better.
As for music, we're going against what you have all suggested...it will be a combination of Elvis and country. We don't want to get too engrossed in the theme! Sorry!

I love the idea of a gift tree...but all I can picture is a Christmas tree...can you describe it more?
Thanks!

Hi KS

Will the groom be wearing a beret and a horizontally striped boat-neck sweater?

What cigarettes will you offer?

You might find some additional ideas at
www.southshoreweddings.com/topic/188.htm

.....in September we stayed in both
St.Jean de Luz and Collioure on weekends. Both towns are very popular
wedding sites - perfect weather and
charming churches. After watching
four wedding parties it is my humble
opinion that the guests 'make' the
French wedding - I have never seen
such wonderfully dressed and coiffed
people! From the m-o-t-b down to the
darling flower girls everyone was
so chic! Without exception the
attendant's outfits were absolutely
amazing and utterly feminine. And
the men were just as fashionable!

It was so obvious everyone had gone
out of their way to make the day as
special as it could be.......unlike
the past few weddings we've gone to
where the 'dress code' ranged from
formal overkill down to scruffy 'who
cares'......but I admit imposing a dress
code on your guests 'might' be taken the
wrong way! <g>

I think I'd skip the croissants/baguette
and go for stations serving both savory
and sweet filled crepes. Keep it as
simple as possible to avoid a mish-mash.

How about a strolling accordian player?

Most important of all - include dogs
in the invitation. Nothing more French
than canines among the tables!

Don't forget to decorate with fleur de lis!

...what about a mime ha ha !
...or an art student sketching the scene in French garb....Eiffel Tower shaped desserts or candy or decor.....

I would skip the croissants, that is breakfast food. A cut up baguette is often served with cheese, however.

I don't think this will work if you play Elvis and country museic in the background. Your guests may not even understand it if you do that.

Katie -

Elvis and country at a French-themed wedding? Pourqoui pas? Après tout, c'est vous qui devez danser devant la foule!

I'll ask my cousin for more details on the "gift tree" and post back to you.

Bonne chance et surtout, bon courage!

-Kevin

Don't forget the skits! People in France generally do skits at the wedding reception.
As for the croissants, etc. Do as you wish. Most people in the USA have no clue that croissants are only for breakfast. And I can't think of any reason NOT to have Elvis!
If you REALLY want to be French, your reception must go till about 3 or 4 am! And pour the champagne into the 'fountain' at midnight.

Katie -

So on further investigation (I asked my wife) - the candies were in fact dragées wrapped in a very pretty pretty fabric. This is not only traditional in France for weddings but also for baptisms. Her cousin had the sacs hanging from a metal frame which was shaped like a tree. It was very well done.

-Kevin