Un mariage à la française? I didn’t know what to think, how it could be, how I should behave. The questions that rolled around my head made me slightly nervous until Remi reminded me that I was not, actually, the one getting married but simply a guest.
How excited I was to have been invited, for Nathalie is one of the very first people that I had met in France. Remi and I both watched as she climbed up and up the corporate ladder, all while keeping her truly radiant personality intact.
When she first told us about Laurent, she couldn’t contain her smile. We understood why after having met him and jumped for joy–literally–when she announced her engagement to him. Would we come to the wedding? Mais bien sûr!!
Up to Paris by plane, down through Burgundy wine country to see family, tracing the Loire and over to Chartres…all under a cold rain. And yet, within mere hours before we were to meet at the church in the tiny village of Manou (while Natalie is an urbanite, her parents live in this bucolic corner of the Perche region), the sun broke through, victorious.
We arrived just in time to see the couple emerge from le Mairie or town hall, where the mandatory civil ceremony was performed.
It was only a quick dash across the street to the churchyard…
…where friends and family took turns giving bisous and saying hello.
I felt the energy of anticipation gather as the priest emerged to call everyone into the church…
…and a flutter of my heart as Nathalie entered it graciously on her Father’s arm.
As Remi was the official photographer for the ceremony, I sat in the back and took it all in…the warm and steady voice of the priest, the silvery notes of a flute, the helpless fit of giggles of three parisiens in the pew beside me.
It was simple, genuine and deeply moving.
Afterwards, we gathered at the entry to wait, each with a fistful or rose petals or rice to throw…
…the bells rang out…
…and the Newlyweds did not disappoint.
A circuit of happiness…
…shined through us all…
…zapping in celebration…
…for the inherent hope of Love.
Félicitations, Nathalie et Laurent! I wish you many, many great years together ahead.
I hope you will join me for my next post as the wedding dinner was surprising and wonderful…
Have a wonderful week everyone.
oh!!
those p e o n i es……
what an elegant bouquet choice.
lovely pix!
There is nothing more lovely than a wedding… in any country… Romance… it's the best… xv
Whats wrong with HIM???I do get the feeling its HIM and NOT YOU!
Good grief……your GORGEOUS,have a way with words,can take a photograph NO PROBLEMO!So, what more does he need?Plus, you can cook!!!!!!!!And you know your cocktails!
XOXOXO
YOUR PERFECT!
Oh the simplicity of it all…my favourite kind of weddings…where it isn't designed to within a centimetre of its life….just love, and flowers, and happy people…what more does one need?
(can't help wincing at the glamorous high heels on that gravel though….eeeks…..must have been a few damaged heels by day's end methinks…???)
"finding me" on facebook is easy, Heather…..I'm David Charles Terry. Everyone in my family (and most of my longtime friends) has called me "David Charles"….forever. there are all too many "David"s inmy family…including my paternal grandmother, two uncles, and God knows how many others. We're big on using middle names, since we're short on coming up with new first-names.
There's also a nasty, wildly-convservative (he's apparently contributed a number of his "portraits" of Republican texan Supreme Court Justices…and they hang in the statehouse down there) "David Terry" who somehow happens to be an artist down in TEX-ASS (google him; you'll also find a photographer in Denver). I do my best to maintain a distinction between the lawyer/artist's fat ass and my skinny one
( he really must outweigh me by at least 100 pounds…I've seen a photograph of him, which was oddly comforting).
He's "DavidTerry.com" (which I regard as stretching the term…but who's in charge these days?)
Sincerely,
David Terry
http://www.davidterryart.com
Oooh, not looking good David. Not looking good! I just went to see Vicki and Sharon Satorini's fb pages and they work at it! And I could not even find you…I don't know…
"Daaaaviiid." (Head thrown back, whining)
Really? I listen to you so if you think that is right…well, can I just get away with saying "hello" with each new post? Sigh. You really, really think it would make a difference? (pouting, thinking, considering)
Well, I love this post so if I do, I might as well jump in…
But how?
Oh, don't think I don't know how lucky I am, Jackie. I do. I would move earth and water for David (is that the expression? My poor franglaised brain) plus, Remi and I are the proud owner of three of his amazing pieces. And proud of that.
David keeps me at the top of what I am capable of too.
And Jackie? Lots of folks out there are so delighted to be your internet friend too…
xo,
H
My goodness David, that truly made my day, you knew that it would–all of it. Just tickled pink, I am…Will listen to the song in a bit. I still can't get over the Leonard Cohen song from your recent email. I played Joan of Arc and that last moment of giving over is quite…Quite…
Wasn't that gorgeous?? I know that a lot of us love peonies and it was just the most perfect bouquet.