Don’t Be Discouraged…
A wedding in France is possible! You just have to be calm and a little more patient with wedding planning and vendors here.
My French friend asked me why would an American want to come to France for their wedding? It’s easy to not ‘see’ the Eiffel Tower anymore or care about the awesome bread and desserts, or the magnificent beauty filled with history here and think it isn’t special if you’re a ‘regular’ or French. But it is all these things and for couples dreaming of their wedding in France all these characteristics are new. So, how to go about it?
I recently spoke to a bride coming this summer for her wedding. Her frustrations with the wedding planner and arranging her vision was finding push back. One thing you will have to accept is the French believe that how they’ve done something is the way to do it and thinking differently is ‘pas possible’ Add this to the fact that anywhere outside of Paris moves just a little bit slower and it may seem there is lack of motivation but it is France and not the USA. Americans hustle and move. The French like to think about it a bit. Neither way is better, it is just different. And let’s not forget, too, that French is the language here and you can’t expect everyone to speak English. This is especially outside of Paris. Most small cities and towns don’t have English speaking residents.
Having the mindset of adaptability, patience and understanding will make your wedding planning a little less stressful. If you’re absolutely sure that you want your wedding in France but YOUR way, it may not be an ideal wedding planning experience.
Don’t be discouraged though. There are plenty of us expats living here and speak French who know how to help you and how to assist in creating your wedding dream.
After the bride and I spoke, she was feeling much better about the planning because she was speaking to a fellow American and in English who could just ‘get it’. So, sometimes as authentic as you may want something, there is still a cultural and language barrier that you won’t be able to break with just phone calls and emails. As is often said “C’est La France!”