Say ‘France’ and people think of romance, non? And what could be more romantic than getting married high atop Le Tour Eiffel? Luckily, you don’t have to board an Air France jet to have a French-infused wedding.
From macaroons to lace flower girl outfits, we’ve fallen head over heels for the “French Style” themed weddings, and I believe Gosfield Hall is the perfect setting for every girl’s dream Parisian-inspired wedding.
To truly emulate the French, you must think about food and wine before anything else. Commence with the theme of all things Francais during the cocktail hour- Kir Royale being top of the list. This old favourite of mine honours Felix Kir, the former mayor of Dijon, France who was a heroic figure in the 1940s French Resistance. The regular Kir features white Burgundy (Chardonnay) wine and crème de cassis; the upgraded Kir Royale is always made with Champagne. Old Felix must have been an amazing man to have such an elegant and enduring cocktail named after him. This stylish concoction is a favourite for many of the stylish couples who marry at Gosfield Hall every year.
Canapés are a must! And what could match the theme better than chef’s buckwheat Blinis with smoked salmon and sour cream, sun dried tomato and pesto brochette with goat’s cheese and roasted red pepper, feta and mint crostini’s!
For a very formal affair, one must consider each and every course enjoyed in the French meal in their proper order: soup, main course, a palate-cleansing sorbet, a cheese course, dessert and coffee. The extensive menu available at Gosfield Hall allows a choice of many for each course.
During the reign of Louis XVI, the Brides handed over their old fans to bridesmaids as favours. The fans were decorated with mythological paintings. You probably don’t have a stock of fans in your closet, but you can adapt this tradition by giving new fans as gifts, or some more modern mythological decorated vanity items, like hand-held mirrors or ornate miniature boxes. We also love the idea of giving away pocket-sized French cookbooks, mini bottles of French wine tagged with a personalized wedding label, or small vials of French perfume or cologne.
Why not give your wedding some French flair? There are tons of ways to do it – and you don’t even have to be French!
Jessica at Gosfield Hall
