I touched the tops of the creamy roses to soak in their faint papery perfume. We had been too late to offer them at the church where other bouquets dotted the altar and so they were nestled against my knees. I smiled, thinking back to the ceremony echoing through the tiny, ancient church. How quickly it was over and our friends, Nathalie and Laurent were now married.
With a diva-worthy wave, Nathalie beckoned le cortège to follow their beribboned convertible and half of the village of Manou watched as we took our leave…
…through a countryside perfect for rolled-down windows and fingers splayed in the wind. The kind you can shout “Hello!” to for no reason.
With more than a dose of relief, we unfolded ourselves out of our lunch-box rental (a Ford!) and breathed in the open expanse of Le Moulin St. Agnes. Light shimmied through the leaves and across the lake, hinting of the evening to come.
For le vin d‘honneur, champagne flutes were presented to each new arrival…
…along with a warm welcome from the beautiful bride!
Ah, but there was also an oyster bar to tuck into…
…along with a truly impressive variety of hors d’oeurves and delicately layered verrines, spoons of smoked salmon, a mountain of crudités…
Brochettes of marinated chicken and shrimp were grilled to order à la plancha…
…and of course, this being France, there was much silky foie gras to be consumed…
…wines to be savoured…
…and even a tiny mini foie gras burger on a brioche bun to be inhaled tout d’un coup! Ah yes, thank you, don’t mind if I do.
As I am shy, I let my camera do the talking as I strolled the grounds, listening to the relaxed chatter of Nathalie and Laurent’s friends…
…and laughed as with a “Whoop! Whoop!” they took their turn for a boat ride across the lake. |
So many friends, so many loved ones, gathered to celebrate.
However, my nerves did a little twinge as we were called into dinner. Oh my, was a stuffy, more forks than you can count, prisoner of the table type of experience ahead of me? Would I be trapped next to strangers that would raise their eyebrows sky high at my accent?
I needn’t have worried. Within minutes, napkins were being twirled in the air, accompanied by boisterous hollering and pounding on the table. I knew that I was in the clear. The evening was by all accounts…really…fun…a word that is not so applicable in France most of the time! While the dinner itself was certainly excellent (émincé de veau accompagnée d’une verrine des champinons), what fascinated me the most was all of the delights sprinkled in between the courses–sing-a-longs (of which yours truly did a wee solo for the end of “Stand By Me”), musical jams (oddly called un boeuf de musique in French. A musical cow?) games, and seriously funny toasts. Unbeknownst to me, apparently weddings are where these folks really let their hair down.
Nathalie and Laurent beamed even brighter than their spectacular cake.
And then they opened le bal. Their First Song?
Now seriously, how fabulous is that?! It was exactly what I had been looking forward to dancing to (I know, I know, expectations…) and so we gave it our all. Then, I stuck to my motto as a former NYC Disco Baby–“Always Leave The Party When It Is Good”–and so that is what we did, bowing out immediately after, just past 12:30am.
At the brunch the next day (a relaxed affair sweetened by several chansons française delivered by an 80 year-old relative), we discovered that the dancing had lasted until 4 and that dawn was welcomed by many a guest.
Nathalie et Laurent, vous avez partagé votre amour et votre joie de vivre avec nous tous! And that, my friends is the Charm of a French Country Wedding. Long may they follow together on la route du bonheur…
My sincere thanks to les mariés for letting me share their big day with you all and I know that they will appreciate the lovely wishes that many of you have passed on to them.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone…
Thanks Sister–it was truly a last minute add on! What was I thinking?? Luckily our hostess had remover for my misses.
PS. And so folks are holding ceremonies/celebrations for divorces these days in the States? Wacky Americans.
David! Somehow I missed this while we were out in the woods (no that isn't a metaphor for something, we really were and the internet was sketchy, that is why I am just getting caught up now) and it made me bark with laughter. Shame on you for scaring the dogs!
I have no IDEA what Laurent and Nathalie will make of this however…
Gallivanta, sorry for the delay but you know what? I have no idea! Remi said it is the traditional thing to do. Why not? It is lovely!!
And what a gorgeous couple they made as well!!!!
I think so too, David. I know that they have been reading the comments but I will make sure they get that.
PS. I think that you know I am a Yeats fan, yes?
Love, fun and oysters! I hope they have started as they mean to carry on 🙂 Congratulations on a fine wedding and a fine wedding post!
AOTHER WEDDING ANECDOTE:
Not that this necessarily has anything specifically to do with your friends' wedding Heather,but?….
A friend of mine (he's 63) has just left to attend the funeral of his 87 year old, favorite uncle, who lived in Boston and died quite suddenly/unexpectedly of a stroke (he was mowing his front lawn at the time) a few days ago.
Apparently, the aunt died twenty-some years ago, and the uncle never re-married. My friend, in speaking of him over the telephone to me, said "Oh, no….he had a nice life… he raised parakeets, worked in the garden, and went to a wedding at least once every week".
Thinking that was a bit odd (there was a period when I seemed to go to a wedding every week, but lasted for only about two years, just after graduating from college…I wasn't in my 70's & 80's, to say the least).
Turns out the uncle just LIKED weddings. He'd read the papers, listen to neighborhood gossip, read local church bulletins, find out where the nearest wedding was….and just GO to it…sometimes two per week. Apparently, he was never turned away, and, for decades, he'd attend the receptions afterwards. I guess no one's going to tell a septuagenerian (sp?) widower that he'd better get his wrinkly-old ass out of their church, even in hard-nosed Boston.
I was told "Oh…he made a lot of young friends that way…they'd stop by to visit him later….he was the nice old guy who just showed up at their wedding…you would have liked him…"
I hope I don't need to explain why I find that a lovely, charming anecdote. I told my friend "Oh….there's a wonderful short story in there somewhere."
Best of all good wishes to your friends, Nathalie and Laurent—
david terry
http://www.davidterryart.com
Hello everyone!! For those of you checking back in wondering, "Um, where is SHE?" well were outta town and I mean so far out of town that there was no internet to be had–whoohoo! So I apologize for not responding earlier and I love all of these wonderful messages–as always! But these are especially important as I happen to know that the happy couple has been very touched by them. 🙂
More soooon!
those white r o s e s….
divine.