Wedded Bliss
Have you ever seen games played at a wedding reception?
I'm not talking about cute photos you've seen on Pinterest with fancy homemade corn hole games at a picturesque backyard wedding. I'm talking about the entire group of wedding guests participating in large group games along with the bride and groom. I'm talking about entertainment and full participation.
I have not.
Jordan says he has. [But it was in Canada. Does that really count?]
A few weeks ago we celebrated the marriage of our friends, Matthieu and Alexandra. It was the first wedding we've experienced in France, and it was a reminder that life in France is often very similar to life in the United States and yet oh so different.
I suppose I could say he was waiting for his wife, as they were already married. You see, in France, the official marriage happens at the mayor's office. The church ceremony means nothing in the eyes of the government; however, most Christians view the ceremony before God, with a pastor and their families and friends as the true marriage.
A few minutes later, after the rest of the family was seated and the church quieted, the bride entered with her father. He kissed her, placed her hand in the groom's, and we all promptly sat down. There were no bridesmaids or groomsmen or wayward flower girls. There was no "Who gives this woman to this man?"
The rest of the ceremony was similar to that of one in the US. The bride and groom read their vows. They kissed. They exchanged rings, though in silence, and then, the pastor of the groom's church stood to present the newlyweds with a Bible (also a French tradition in the Christian faith). After a prayer by the groom's father, the guests left, with the bride and groom still at the front of the church. We blew bubbles when they exited the small church then followed them, on foot, down the street where we enjoyed appetizers for several hours. We then caravanned to the reception hall with streamers hanging from each of our cars, blaring our horns, as is French tradition, with the bride and groom bringing up the rear.
The reception was to have started at 8pm but no one arrived until after 8:30. We feasted on delicious meats, tomatoes, cheeses, wines, fruits and breads beginning at about 9pm. And then the entertainment began.
Friends, not DJs, prepare games and MC the entire evening - the friends of Matthieu and Alexandra did a fantastic job!
Jordan and I left as the dancing began, but it was a fun party! We are excited for our friends to experience the adventure of marriage and are thankful to have been at their wedding!
I'm not talking about cute photos you've seen on Pinterest with fancy homemade corn hole games at a picturesque backyard wedding. I'm talking about the entire group of wedding guests participating in large group games along with the bride and groom. I'm talking about entertainment and full participation.
I have not.
Jordan says he has. [But it was in Canada. Does that really count?]
A few weeks ago we celebrated the marriage of our friends, Matthieu and Alexandra. It was the first wedding we've experienced in France, and it was a reminder that life in France is often very similar to life in the United States and yet oh so different.
The old catholic church, built in the 900s, was like that of a movie. The last guests of the previous wedding left as we arrived. There were no ushers; the front rows were simply left for family while the rest of us sat as we pleased. Though most people arrive 30 minutes before 4:30pm ceremony, there was no music, no ceremonial seating of the grandparents or parents. At the appointed time (though not at 4:30), the groom walked down the aisle with his mother, kissed her on either cheek, and calmly waited for his bride.
A few minutes later, after the rest of the family was seated and the church quieted, the bride entered with her father. He kissed her, placed her hand in the groom's, and we all promptly sat down. There were no bridesmaids or groomsmen or wayward flower girls. There was no "Who gives this woman to this man?"
The rest of the ceremony was similar to that of one in the US. The bride and groom read their vows. They kissed. They exchanged rings, though in silence, and then, the pastor of the groom's church stood to present the newlyweds with a Bible (also a French tradition in the Christian faith). After a prayer by the groom's father, the guests left, with the bride and groom still at the front of the church. We blew bubbles when they exited the small church then followed them, on foot, down the street where we enjoyed appetizers for several hours. We then caravanned to the reception hall with streamers hanging from each of our cars, blaring our horns, as is French tradition, with the bride and groom bringing up the rear.
Friends, not DJs, prepare games and MC the entire evening - the friends of Matthieu and Alexandra did a fantastic job!
- Guests were given comic strips of the bride and groom and asked to fill in the thought bubbles.
- Under each plate was a tea bag with a plain piece of paper attached for each person to write a note of encouragement to the bride or groom to read at a later date.
- The bride and groom were seated back to back and given two signs, one reading "him/her" and the other reading "me"; they were then asked questions such as, "Who spends more time on the computer?" or "Who has the nicest mother-in-law?" to see if their answers matched or not.
- Guests were given a list of statements such as, "I have a cat" or "I was not born in France" or "I have seen the bride or groom naked"; the MC would give a number that corresponded to the statements in front of the guests and if the statement applied to the guest they were asked to stand up in order for the bride and groom to guess the common denominator.
- Guests were also asked to be creative, crazy, and generous and write on a post-it note a gift for the newlyweds; the post-it notes were arranged on a target and the bride and groom threw darts at the notes to win the special gifts such as breakfast in bed, a weekend getaway at a house in the south of France, a personal song, etc.
- Six guests were chosen to participate in a dance competition. It was hilarious.
- A well-stocked photo booth was set up for the guests.
At midnight the cake was cut, which, according to our sources, is the earliest that someone may consider leaving a wedding in France. After cutting the cake, the entire party moved outside to release dozens of lanterns - it was beautiful with the super moon! Returning inside after releasing the lanterns, the dancing began. It was 2am.
Jordan and I left as the dancing began, but it was a fun party! We are excited for our friends to experience the adventure of marriage and are thankful to have been at their wedding!
And yesterday, we celebrated our own (4th) wedding anniversary.... :)
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