Take a look at this beautiful French Country-inspired wedding design from Dallas-based photographer Catie Ranquillo in the current issue of Nonpareil magazine. A card-carrying Francophile, Catie tapped into her two biggest passions- France and sweets (!!)- for her inspiration for this “South of France meets the South” shoot.
She and her Dallas-based entourage, including Erin of Red Sole Events (flower arrangements), Nicole of the Left Handed Calligrapher, Enjolik of Low Country Quisine (yummy Southern treats) and Jessica Goldfarb and Lucy Williams of The Gallery Events (additional styling) put together a lavender and rustic tablescape that will make you swoon- the perfect mix of sophisticated French champêtre and whimsical Southern charm.
One of the many things that I love about Nonpareil are the simple yet stylish DIY tips and downloads included in every issue. This months issue includes templates for the menu and placecards used in this shoot, as well as instructions on making the cute lavender and craft-paper favor boxes. Be sure to check out www.catieronquillo.com for even more images of this scrumptious photo shoot.
south of france celebration
french country centerpiece
french country wedding favors
french theme wedding menu
south of france meets the south wedding details
If you’ve ever been to the South of France, I’m sure you were as impressed as I was with the starring role that the humble olive plays in the culture down there. Olive trees seem to grow wherever you look- not just in groves and gardens, but in schoolyards, along roads and even in supermarket parking lots. The markets in Provence are literally overflowing with hundreds of varieties of olives, olive oils, savory cakes and tapenade, as well as rich soaps and fragrant body creams. For generations, the olive tree has been an enduring emblem of the South of France, possessing a wealth of symbolism like peace, fruitfulness and purification.
Besides the super-romantic significance of the olive tree, their modern silvery gray-green color and fresh scent are also great reasons to consider incorporating them into your French themed or eco-friendly destination wedding or reception. Take a look at a few of these easy “green wedding” deco ideas from Marie-Claire Idées:
a warm welcome for out of town guests: a market basket with a bouquet of olive branches and luxurious soaps and creams from the South of France
chunky pillar candles tied with olive leaves and white ribbon to decorate an alter or mantlepiece.
delicate paper cones filled with olive leaves and lavender to scent the ceremony space and decorate the aisle.
diy french wedding decoration idea: small olive branches and paper hearts to decorate a sweetheart table.
french wedding favor: wire-strung olive leaves and white ribbon tied around a porcelain saucer of French lemon cookies (or macarons!)
a string of white party lights intertwined with olive branches for a simple, DIY French centerpiece idea.
All images © Frédéric Lucano, Marie Claire Idées
Many of my Paris-based wedding clients are Franco-American couples, and in planning their multi-cultural weddings, one sort of tricky topic that invariably comes up is the issue of the money box. In the U.S., while money boxes (or card boxes, as they are now more delicately called) can still be found at lots of weddings, there are still many couples who don’t feel comfortable “asking their guests for cash”. In France, on the other hand, it’s expected to have a tirelire de mariage set up for guests to deposit les enveloppes during the cocktail hour or reception. To keep the peace, I usually suggest that they set one up in an out-of-the way spot, and direct French guests to it when they ask.
If you’ve decided to have a tirelire de mariage at your French or Paris themed wedding, here are some great ideas from Fanny at Mains et Merveilles. She specializes in scrapbook-style wedding decorations, and has created some really cute money boxes with French quotes like, “ Quand j’ouvre les yeux je te voie, quand je les ferme, je rêve de toi et quand je pense, je pense à nous” (OK, if THAT doesn’t have Uncle Arthur reaching for the old checkbook- I don’t know what will!) While on Fanny’s blog, be sure to check out her guestbooks (livres d’or) and invitation ideas as well!
je rêve de toi
le plus beau voyage
le tourbillon de notre vie
french wedding cardbox
paris themed money box
