The Definitive Guide to
Venue
Romantic French chateau or bloom-filled garden
Ah… Paris, the city of love. Is it any wonder that the unique style of this mecca of romance is a common inspiration for weddings? After you read our guide to Parisian themed weddings, you’ll be ready to suffuse your big day with plenty of l’amour.
With enchanting blush palettes, delicate lace, frothy floral arrangements, and delectable desserts, your wedding guests are sure to be enchante!
What is a Parisian Wedding Style?
Parisian wedding style strikes a very careful balance between artfully simple with ornate accents. Specifically, romantic motifs are prevalent in the wedding style. Traditional symbols such as hearts, cupids, lovebirds, and romantic words and phrases.
The theme is best staged with lots of traditional florals, such as roses that drip from urns and burst from birdcages. In addition, Renaissance details that represent the ornate and luxurious history of Paris should be interspersed. This encompasses decor options such as heavy gold frames, chandeliers, and candelabras.
You can also clue your guests into the theme by emplying Eiffel Tower detailing on wedding stationery, French treats on the dessert table, and our favorite part – macaron favors!
Parisian Decor Inspiration
Renaissance accents, urns, candelabras and romantic garden touches all capture the spirit of Paris. Include lush, dripping florals with roses and romantic blush tones to capture the feel of a classic Parisian jardin, or garden. More ornate pieces truly capture the rich history of the Parisian upper class.
If you’re searching for the perfect venue to stage your Parisian wedding, this wedding style is equally at home in an elegant French chateau, or on the verandah overlooking lush gardens for more outdoorsy couples.
Parisian Stationery Inspiration
Soft, romantic invitations are the cornerstone for conveying your Parisian theme to your guests. An easy clue? Eiffel Tower detailing on your invitation suite. However, if you’re going for a more subtle feel, consider this romantic Parisian wedding invitation theme from Foil & Ink.
Delicate calligraphy is letterpressed onto cotton paper and tied with silky rose ribbons, and enclosed in soft blush envelopes. The invitation suite is reminiscent of love letters sent in the mail and perfect for a Parisian wedding theme. Channel this same feeling with calligraphy, ribbon accents, and muted colors.
Parisian Bride & Groom Attire
Bride
For a Parisian wedding theme, delicate lace details are a must. French style lends itself to long and lean silhouettes. In order to truly evoke the romance and sophistication of a Parisian bride, we recommend you select a tailored sheath dress or elegant mermaid silhouette.
A gown with backing detail, such as a scalloped cutout is also quintessentially French. If you’ve selected a strapless gown and want the same effect, pair your wedding dress with a lace bolero to capture the elegant look.
Parisian Bridal Accessories
The chic style of a Parisian bride calls for a less-is-more approach to jewelry and accessories. Remember, it was famed designer Coco Chanel who advised that a woman put on all her planned jewelry for the day, and before leaving the house she should take one item off.
Accessorizing for a Parisian wedding means the bride would be best off with one eye-catching accessory, or a fascinator. Although romantic long veils are a favorite for weddings, consider a birdcage veil for a tres chic wedding style touch. Or skip the veil completely and lead with a dazzling bejeweled hairpiece.
Another decidedly French accessory option? A parasol. Nothing is more reminiscent of an elegant Parisian garden affair than a delicate lace parasol to protect from the sun.
Pssst… if you love the look of parasols, but don’t feel like carrying one around all day, incorporate parasols into your decor. We’ve seen lace and multi-colored parasols suspended from ceremony trees and over reception sites.
Groom
The Groom should be ready to turn up the charm with dashing and debonair wedding attire. This most often translates into a tuxedo, with a crisp white undershirt. We recommend the groom and grooms party skip the ties in favor of the more formal and charming black bow tie, framed by a crisp, ironed collar.
This look is timeless and at home waltzing in the ballroom of an elegant French chateau, or dining al fresco in the gardens. The groom will cut a charming figure against the backdrop of a sensual Parisian theme.
Bridesmaids
Because the groom and his groomsmen will be wearing their finest for the event, we recommend that bridesmaids mirror their formality with a few key touches. The bridesmaid gowns should be long and formally cut. A soft blush palette to match the event colors would be best. A cool contrast of dove grey or gentle mauve would also make for a refined yet light palette.
The bridesmaid’s dresses should also mirror the brides in coverage and silhouette, opting for long and sleek with lace detailing or sleeves like this David’s Bridal dress. The sash waist adds another element of sophistication and slim silhouette to the gown, making for a chic French silhouette.
Parisian Wedding Floral Inspiration
One of the most important aspects of a Parisian theme is lots and lots of florals. Sumptuous bouquets and frothy garden centerpieces will deliver the soft ambiance of Parisian romance to your event.
- Peony
- Lily of the Valley
- Dahlia
- David Austin Rose
- Garden Rose
- Hydrangea
- Snapdragons
- Calla Lily
- Babies Breath
- Lavender
- Carnation
- Filler- Moss, Ivy
Decor pieces should be unstructured, bountiful and flowy. Stay away from heavy, shaped floral pieces such as flower ball arrangements. Your florals should look as though they were just picked by the armful from the garden and artfully placed in the center of your table.
Burnished gold urns and wide-mouthed vases, lanterns and bird cages make for wonderful containers. For visual interest, steer clear of basic clear glass vases in favor of vintage pieces and antiques!
Parisian Tablescape Inspiration
Crisp white or rich royal blue table linens will offset flatware and place settings nicely. When possible, china flatware should be used, showcased on patterned or gold chargers. We’re loving the use of mathing gold cutlery sets in a lot of real wedding features!
Most wedding supply companies have caught wise to the trend of golden utensils, and renting sets for your big day shouldn’t be too much of a headache.
For your Parisian theme, it’s important to make sure each place setting is set formally, with the range of utensils needed to enjoy a gourmet meal. You’ll want to bring the French experience to your Parisian themed wedding, which means a focus on quality style as well as food and drink.
- Each place setting should also have a wine glass to enjoy libations with the meal.
- Napkins should be elegantly folded at each setting and we recommend including tasteful elegance with gold or silver charger plates under each place setting.
- Menu cards will clue your guests into what to expect for the upcoming meal and get their taste buds excited!
- A loose, garden-inspired centerpiece of romantic florals should crown each table.
Rather than a long formal head table featuring all the wedding party, a lovers table just for the bride and groom would be perfect for a Parisian affair and would highlight the romance of the evening. Set apart the sweetheart table with a luscious floral arrangement (often taken from the ceremony site) and contrasting linens to capture the full effect.
Parisian Inspired Wedding Cake & Desserts
Although a wedding cake is a traditional element of the big day, a Parisian theme is best expressed by an accompanying dessert bar. The French are known for their bite-sized pastries, tarts and delectable desserts. Who can forget the airy meringue macaron cookies that make for a delicious wedding treat? Here are some tips for delivering a delectable Parisian wedding dessert display:
- Skip the overly structured fondant on your cake in favor of French Buttercream, graced with a few florals like David Austin roses and filler for a rustic French appearance.
- Include an assortment of bite-sized desserts on different levels, trays, and displays.
- If you don’t have the budget for grandiose dessert displays and favors, double up by boxing up two macarons as favors at each place setting.
Parisian Wedding Venue Ideas
There are a ton of venue options when it comes to staging your perfect Parisian themed wedding. Furthermore, you don’t even have to visit France to do it! After you see these North American chateaus and resplendent gardens, you’ll be sure to swoon.
These venues are absolutely perfect for a wedding a la Francaise!
Rosecliff located in Newport, RI
Magnolia Plantation located in Charleston, South Carolina
The Edsel & Eleanor Ford House located in Michigan.
More Parisian Wedding Inspiration
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