Hello, all!

My husband and I would like to celebrate our first anniversary with a long weekend in Paris. We'd probably leave from Atlanta on a Thursday evening and return either that Monday or Tuesday. We're thinking of going anytime between mid-September (our anniv. is Sept. 21) and the end of the year. With the exception of the first two weekends in October already reserved for friends' weddings and a family visit over Thanksgiving, our schedules are pretty wide open.

Obviously, the earlier we go, the warmer the weather and the longer the daylight hours. But the later we go, the more time we have to plan ahead, shop around for deals, etc. Any advice on when you would choose to go? Are there any major events during that time that I'm unaware of? I'd love to hear any thoughts.

(By the way, I'm a frequent reader and infrequent poster on this board. But I'm sure you'll hear a lot from me as we plan for this trip!)

Meredith

I'd stick with the end of September - it's a great time to visit the city.

I agree with m_k.

Not only is it an optimal time of year, but might as well spend your actual anniversary there if you can.

I've done long weekends in Paris. With a direct flight from the East Coast, it's very enjoyable.

Thanks for the quick replies! My only reservation with going the last weekend in September is that we will be travelling out of town the next two consecutive weekends for those weddings. That certainly doesn't rule out the last weekend in September - and it would be nice to go actually on or near our anniversary, rather than a couple of months later - but I just worry that we'll be so stretching ourselves too thin with all that travel. I guess it's ultimately up to us to decide if we can handle that. (But it's so much easier to decide when other people tell us what to do!)

I note there are an awful lot of "trades shows" geared toward the fashion industry in Paris the week including 9/21...I couldn't find a site where they mention the haute coutour shows (sometime in September I think)

the point is, if I were you, I'd decide and reserve.

I'd go for any of your open week-ends in October. we are usually there for our aniversary( Oct 21)..I cannot say it has ever been too cold or too rainy..cool yes, but by Oct we floridians relish the cooler weather. It does not get dark that early and even if if did, Paris lights up after dark. We've not been there after the middle of November so I can't comment on that.
As a previous poster said , September is a busy time for trade and fashion shows. It might even bee too late to book a desirable hotel

Could you leave on the 16th and return on the 23? That way you could be in Paris for your anniversary and then have the weekend of the 25th to relax before your 2 weddings. It would be so much more romantic to be there on the actual day as Elle suggested.

Oh and another reason to go on the actual date - the hotel will usually give you a complimentary upgrade or a bottle of champagne at the very least.

Free upgrade or champagne for an anniversary? Verrrrry interesting... We got some of those perks on our honeymoon, but I never thought about it for an anniversary...

Thanks again for all this wonderful input! I can't wait to discuss all this with my husband over dinner - he's taking me out for my birthday tonight, and of course I chose a French restaurant!