By incorporating these French-inspired touches into your wedding day, you can curate a celebration that exudes Parisian romance, leaving your guests with memories sweeter than the finest Ladurée macarons.
End the evening with a croquembouche—a masterpiece of cream-filled profiteroles, delicately held together by sweet caramel. It’s not just a dessert, but a delicious ode to French culinary artistry.
La Pièce Montée
After the ceremony, raise a toast to love with a Vin d’Honneur, featuring a grand tower of glasses filled with bubbling champagne, representing the joy and effervescence of marriage. Pair this fizzy festivity with an assortment of dainty quiches, cheese soufflés, or smoked salmon canapés.
La Fontaine de Champagne
A love lock ritual involves attaching a petite lock engraved with your initials onto a decorative structure. This symbolic tradition is a nod to the famous Pont des Arts in Paris.
Verrouillage D’Amour
For your blooms, think Parisian-garden vibes. Imagine saying your vows under a stunning arch draped with lush peonies, quaint roses, and fragrant lavender.
Fleurs de Paris
As your loved ones arrive, let the soft melodies of classic French songs set the tone. Whether you opt for an elegant string quartet or a thoughtfully curated playlist featuring pieces by composers like Debussy, Françoise Hardy, or Edith Piaf, the vibe will be gorgeous.
Un Mélange de Melodies
French weddings blend modern style with the timeless elegance of France’s romantic history, honouring heritage values such as unity, joy, and togetherness.
Ways to Add a Dash of Parisian Romance into Your Wedding
– My heart is yours.
Mon cœur est à toi.
Your wedding day is all about your love story. Whether you choose classic, trendy, or totally out-there with your veil, what truly matters is for you to feel glowing with confidence as you walk down the aisle.
If your ceremony includes religious or cultural elements, it’s essential to familiarise yourself with any veil-specific customs. Respecting these customs by adopting certain ways of wearing the veil can add a rich layer of meaning to your celebration.
Honouring Beliefs
Add a personal touch by incorporating elements that hold sentimental value. This could be a piece of delicate lace from a beloved family heirloom, or your initials elegantly embroidered into the fabric. In doing so, your veil transforms from simply a stunning accessory to a cherished memento d’amour.
Personalising Your Veil
Your bridal veil should complement the grandeur of your day and the style of your gown. For a ceremony reminiscent of a royal wedding, think cathedral or chapel-length veils for a dash of regal charm. For a more intimate, modern soirée, a veil that gently brushes your shoulders or elbows exudes an air of chic sophistication.
Choosing Your Veil
Once a non-negotiable element of bridal couture, the veil, with its timeless elegance, has gracefully danced through time, adapting to bridal trends. Modern brides now have the freedom to wear the veil in in a manner that beautifully showcases her individuality and the ambience of her wedding.
The Wedding Veil Reimagined: For the Modern Bride
– Love of my life.
Amour de ma vie.
What if there is no dress code specified? When the invitation keeps its secrets, turn to the timeless classics. Let the style cues come from the venue, the hour, and the season. A knee-length cocktail dress for women or a dark, impeccably cut suit for men is almost always a safe—and très élégant—choice.
A relaxed invitation often signals an outdoor celebration or a barefoot-on-the-beach vibe. Still, décontracté does not mean careless—jeans, shorts, and flip-flops remain off the list unless stated otherwise. Women might choose a floaty summer dress or a floral mini with dressy sandals. Men can opt for chinos or tailored trousers with a collared shirt, and perhaps a light jacket for a touch of polish.
Casual
Here, the time of day plays the leading role. For evening, darker tones and richer fabrics are ideal, for daytime affairs, lighter shades and breezier materials. Women may wear a tasteful slip dress, an elegant skirt-and-top ensemble, or a smart pantsuit with heels. Men should wear dress trousers and a shirt, with a tie as an optional flourish.
Semi-Formal
This is where elegance meets ease. Women can choose a knee-length, tea-length, or midi dress in a statement fabric or colour. Men should wear a suit and tie (tuxedos are no longer necessary). The goal? Polished, confident, and ready to dance until midnight.
Cocktail
A touch more relaxed than strict black-tie, yet still refined. Men may forgo the tuxedo in favour of a well-tailored dark suit, crisp white shirt, and understated tie. Women can mirror black-tie choices—full-length gown, très chic cocktail dress, or an elegant pantsuit. The key here is to remain formal, without feeling overdressed.
Formal or Black-Tie Optional
A step down in formality but still decidedly elegant. Women should opt for a floor-length gown—silk, satin, or organza are perfect choices. If the celebration feels slightly more relaxed, a sophisticated cocktail dress may be acceptable but always check with the hosts. Men are expected in a tuxedo with a black bow tie, waistcoat or cummerbund, and gleaming patent shoes. In summer, a white dinner jacket with black tuxedo trousers is perfectly okay—think French Riviera evenings.
Black-Tie
This is the crème de la crème of formality—imagine royal banquets and grand opera galas. For women, this means a full-length evening gown, paired with refined jewellery, heels, and a discreetly luxurious clutch. Men should don a tuxedo with tails, a formal white shirt, waistcoat, bow tie, and polished dress shoes. It’s tradition at its most magnificent.
White-Tie
Have you ever unfolded a wedding invitation and found yourself puzzled by the dress code? Black-tie optional, semi-formal... the language can be quite confusing. If the world of style etiquette has you hesitating in front of your wardrobe, this guide will help you find the ideal outfit with an effortlessly chic vibe.
Dress Codes: For Wedding Guests
