French wedding - traditions and sequence of rituals

Ancient French customs

France has always been an agricultural country, so following traditions is in the blood of its inhabitants. Family heads had to take into account many nuances in order to protect the interests of the family. Young people had many opportunities to meet - fairs, joint work, as well as carnival days and the month of May. It was in May that they began to actively court, but there were no weddings.

The wedding in France took place in the morning. Only widows got married in the evening and at night. Aristocrats also loved to hold ceremonial feasts by torchlight. It was believed that the bride should not sew her wedding dress herself; dressmakers were required to be hired.

The French began using the services of notaries when drawing up marriage contracts a long time ago. Already in the 19th century, the practice was widespread and, along with registration at the city hall and wedding, the newlyweds went to a notary.

French

All over the world, the French are seen as a very sociable/communicative nation, whose representatives are not easily embarrassed by anything. It is alleged that they were born to participate in/organize various kinds of celebrations/festivals/banquets/holidays, among which not the least are wedding ceremonies, which sometimes turn into real performances in France.

It is interesting that back in the nineteenth century, France was considered a peasant/agrarian country, being therefore a rather ardent inert exponent of cultural and, as a consequence, wedding traditions/customs. At the same time, when studying the wedding customs of that time, the complex process of finding a marriage partner in the French province is usually taken into account. After all, the farmer-father had to take into account many factors - the personal choice of his offspring/his own sympathies/preventing the fragmentation of family property...

Young people, in turn, had sufficient opportunities for acquaintances/meetings. These include fairs, gatherings, and agricultural work. Among other things, quite a significant influence on the selection of a partner was exerted by various youth unions, which controlled moral standards and courtship rituals, condemned unequal (in terms of social status/age potential) marriages, and did not encourage strangers to settle in their territories.

At the same time, there were usually (this has been preserved to this day) two main periods during the year, within which it was customary to conduct active courtship. We are talking about the time of carnival and the month of May. Moreover, it is interesting that although the French, like most representatives of other European nations, do not like to have weddings in May, they intensively use this month for the purpose of collective courtship and (after conducting an appropriate “reconnaissance operation” to probe the soil) matchmaking, an initiative that continues to this day in France it usually comes from a man. Only after achieving full confidence in the success of the event did negotiations begin, which were usually conducted through an intermediary, whose role could be a father/friend/godfather or even the groom himself.

The negotiation procedure itself was of an extremely theatrical nature, where the language of symbols was fully used, making it possible to obtain all the answers without the use of unnecessary words. For example, a joint common meal was used as a symbol of a kind of union/marriage, during which only certain dishes were served (pancakes/roasted rooster/apples). A similar meaning could be found in a simple girl’s request to light a fire in the hearth. In a similar, very allegorical way, their daughters and parents could express their agreement/disagreement with the choice. And only after absolutely all issues related to matchmaking had been resolved, they proceeded directly to the act of betrothal/engagement.

Many of the French wedding traditions we described above have been preserved here to this day (especially in certain provinces), although some certain changes, primarily in relation to the institution of marriage itself, have occurred. Thus, by the mid-twentieth century in France, such forms of marriage were considered as possible: officially unregistered, registered at the mayor's office and covered by a church institution. At the same time, the French rightfully consider the establishment of the institution of civil marriage as the only option with official/legal force as one of the main achievements of the FBR (French Bourgeois Revolution). Thanks to this, all French newlyweds who want to get married in a church are required to pre-register their marriage at the city hall. This is, perhaps, the only radical innovation in relation to wedding traditions among the French, who otherwise try to strictly adhere to customs maintained for centuries.

So, as in the past, French engagements, as a rule, are made both orally and in writing (in the form of a marriage contract signed in the presence of a lawyer/notary indicating the bride’s dowry: movable/immovable property + “bride’s basket” and the groom’s share in it) . An oral engagement is usually reinforced by the exchange of appropriate pledges between the groom (giving an engagement ring) and the bride (giving a symbolic gift as an expression of his consent). It is interesting that previously such “pledges” also had a legal meaning/meaning, and additionally, confirmation of the promises was required already in the church, and only after that a dinner party (feast) was organized in the house of the father of the bride (the betrothed girl), during which the fathers of the betrothed they had to clink glasses with their glasses, which served as a sign of the unification/bringing together of families, and the bride and groom had to drink wine from the same glass.

Starting from the time of engagement, the newlyweds begin the stage of preparation for the wedding (can last up to one year). Previously, at this time, the bride had to comply with certain requirements (accept gifts exclusively from her future husband, dress modestly, attend entertainment events only accompanied by the groom, behave very quietly there in accordance with the requirements of village etiquette, stay at home more often, etc.), the groom he received a kind of right of entry into the girl’s house. However, nowadays such subtleties are practically not observed.

Inviting guests to a wedding is considered an extremely important point in France. Nowadays, colorfully designed written invitations are common there in accordance with lists carefully compiled by the bride and groom; previously, such invitations were carried out by the couple themselves together with their closest friends (less often in the presence of the godfather/mother).

Also now, immediately before the appointed wedding day, there is usually a “stag party”/men’s party and a “hen party”/women’s get-together (formerly a “farewell dinner”). In France, a very interesting custom is still observed in some provinces. according to which, on the day of the wedding/the day before, the bride’s pre-inspected dowry is brought on a horse-drawn cart, on which a spindle + spinning wheel richly decorated with ribbons took pride of place, as a sign of abundance/fertility/well-being.

Extremely great attention, especially in the case of organizing a wedding ceremony in a village, in France is paid to the wedding dresses of the bride and groom, which are usually full of colors with a predominance of red + white colors and correspond to the traditional patterns of festive dresses of a particular province. In the bride's attire, special preference is given to an apron (a symbol of chastity) and a belt (a direct symbol of the wedding ceremony), which could only be removed by the husband. Also, the groom usually presents the bride with a pair of shoes for the wedding (a sign of union/unity). The bride's headdresses are very diverse (in terms of color/shape, etc.); in some regions of France, quite complex rituals of laying a wreath decorated with artificial flowers on the head of the young woman are still observed, which could then be used as a decorative element in decorating the home of the newlyweds. . And yet, since the twentieth century, classic white bridesmaid robes, complemented by an orange blossom veil/wreath, have become increasingly popular in cities. It is interesting that French women have a firmly established belief that it is a very bad omen to sew your own wedding dress, so the outfit is either bought or sewn in the appropriate salons. An important element of the wedding attire of French women is also considered to be such an important attribute as a garter, symbolizing a woman’s secret/chastity/virginity. French women here follow the Hebrew tradition of choosing white and blue garters (a sign of purity/fidelity/love).

Also, according to one of the highly revered traditions in France (the tradition itself comes from England), in order to ensure a long successful/happy marriage, the bride must have four main elements on herself on the day of the wedding ceremony: something old (usually a family heirloom - a symbol of the bride’s life before marriage); something new (usually the wedding dress itself - a symbol of future happiness, wealth), something borrowed (usually a gift from a happy married couple - a symbol of a happy/long family life); something blue (usually any decoration of this color is a symbol of purity/loyalty).

The day itself of the wedding ceremony in France, which, as a rule, falls in the first half/middle of the day (widows used to get married only in the evening/at night), is, of course, also rich in various kinds of traditions/customs. This is the custom of dressing up the bride and hiding her from the groom (to achieve her goal, you need to overcome all obstacles), and the ritual of the bride mourning the need to leave her father’s house, and the desire of the guests to receive mercy from the bride (usually in the form of a small gift), who is considered the bearer of special power, and the organization of a wedding procession that constantly stops along the way in order to receive a ransom with the indispensable “bride tree” (a sign of prosperity) in front, accompanied by music/bell ringing/screams/shots, the route of which usually runs along the following pattern: the bride’s house-city hall-church ( if there is a wedding) - the place where the gala dinner is held - the place where the first wedding night is held, and throwing rice (can be confetti, rose petals, etc.) when leaving the church as a sign of wishes for prosperity/well-being and comic auctions of personal belongings of the bride/groom, etc. .

A very interesting French wedding tradition is the use of almond dragees as a treat on the wedding day. The French here pay tribute to the old Greek legend, according to which a young man, in love with his beautiful bride with all his soul, was forced to leave her on the eve of the wedding due to the sudden death of his father, vowing to the girl to return exactly on time. But the young man, due to circumstances beyond his control, was unable to keep his promise, being several months late. The girl, being sure that she would no longer be destined to see her lover, committed suicide. However, the gods took pity on the unfortunate woman and turned the deceased bride into a beautiful, lushly blooming almond tree, which the returning groom stumbled upon. This is how almond dragee in France turned into a symbol of eternal love and fertility (the wish for the speedy appearance of healthy heirs for young people).

And yet, the main wedding custom in France is rightfully considered to be the exchange of wedding rings, presented to the newlyweds on a decorative velvet pillow in the crayfish of the ritual of paying tribute to the sacred rite,

being the main symbol of an eternal (until the very end in joy/sadness) family happy life. By the way, this is why in French a wedding ring will sound like alliance. The French, following the ancient Egyptian tradition, wear a wedding ring on the left hand (usually the ring finger is used - the place of the so-called “vein of love” connecting the finger to the heart).

Among other things, recently the cunning French have come up with a new interesting custom that allows them to avoid performing numerous, often very tedious, wedding/post-wedding rituals - they began to go on their honeymoon immediately after the wedding... Rating
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Dating and engagement

Previously, in the country, engagement was preceded by matchmaking. Moreover, the girl’s hand was asked by an intermediary - a relative or even a peer of the applicant. A positive answer did not have to be voiced. A shared meal consisting of pancakes, an apple or a roasted rooster meant agreement. Or the girl could ask to light a fire in the stove.

The engagement ceremony took place in the church. As a rule, an oral agreement was negotiated in the presence of witnesses or a written agreement was drawn up by a notary. In addition, families exchanged pledges, after which they held a feast, where the heads of the families were sure to be present and fraternized. The girl's dowry could include real estate and things, which was stipulated in the preliminary agreement.

Now engagements are very modest. The newlyweds invite their closest relatives to a cafe or restaurant, where the groom solemnly announces his intentions. An engagement ring is rarely purchased - such products in France are passed down from generation to generation and are a family heirloom. The loss or breakage of such a ring is considered a great misfortune for the whole family, because it is a kind of symbol of the community of generations.

Currently, there is annoying advertising that convinces young people that they should not drag the burden of the past into the future and should buy everything new for their wedding. But the commitment to tradition in France is very strong, which is good news.

To get engaged to a girl with a ring that remembers the times of the musketeers and the brilliant Sun King - isn’t that wonderful? Exchange a thing that carries the spirit and strength of the family with a new stamp? The French do not agree to this. After all, it is with such a valuable gift that a girl is given to understand without words that she is completely accepted into the family.

Preparation for wedding celebrations

A modern French-style wedding is, first of all, about careful planning. Often, at least a year passes from the engagement to the wedding itself, this time is given precisely for comprehensive, down to the smallest detail, preparation. The French have a real passion for organizing everything they can in advance. Everything must be perfect and in the best possible way - this is their slogan, which is diligently put into practice.

Organization and invitations

Nowadays, companies specializing in organizing wedding celebrations can take on a lot when preparing for a wedding. If desired, you can order a wedding and subsequent banquet in the most exotic style and in the most incredible conditions. Weddings at the Eiffel Tower or in an ancient castle are far from the limit of fantasy.

French wedding invitations are a work of art. Postcards of original design are ordered in advance; various funny little things can also be attached to them. Residents of this country have a passion for various postcards; they buy them wherever possible, collect them and send out invitations to holidays with them.

The wedding dress code must be sent to guests along with the invitation. The invited ladies and gentlemen should not stand out from the general image in which the wedding is decorated. Moreover, outshine the newlyweds with luxurious or contrasting outfits. Bridesmaids usually wear the same style of dress. Fascinators and flirty hats are very popular.

According to French tradition, most guests are invited to a certain stage of the celebration. Someone is sent invitations to participate in the wedding ceremony, after which they will have to leave. Some people are invited only to a festive feast. Some are given the privilege of being with the newlyweds from the beginning to the end of the celebrations. It sounds strange to us, but the French obey the established order in a disciplined manner and without offense.

Choosing a wedding venue

For residents of France, this is a very important moment. The location is chosen carefully, based on the preferences and financial capabilities of the newlyweds and their families. It is generally accepted that the French try to conclude all marriages in the famous Paris. However, this is not the case. Most try to go out of town, into nature, into the most remote wilderness. For the French, a wedding in the capital is luxury, and all other options are romance.

For a wedding, an old castle or house is usually rented, always with history and its own ghosts. If the wedding takes place in the city, then a banquet hall in a restaurant is booked. Also, even such a small thing as the convenient location of the guests is taken into account - there should be a comfortable hotel nearby where they can stay.

Bachelor and bachelorette parties

These events in France are held on a grand scale, about a month before the wedding, because you need to say goodbye to single life. Moreover, drinking to the point of inadequacy is very rare. Everything is organized and carried out in a sober mind and solid memory. Strippers are invited, groups of girls and boys occupy bars and discos, dance and have fun.

They organize a wide variety of competitions and pranks, and with such imagination that these pranks are remembered for a long time. For example, poor newlyweds may be asked to dance in public, walk through the streets in a ridiculous outfit, climb a tree and crow, or force an ordinary passerby to take part in the next quest from good friends and girlfriends. All this is usually filmed and then carefully stored in the family archive. Apparently, so that the grandchildren have something to brag about.

Traditional outfits

French wedding attire is all about high style, grace and attention to detail. It is impossible to buy suits and dresses ready-made; you just have to choose the desired style and color. Robes are sewn exactly to your measurements, ordering at least six months before the wedding day. Even such a small thing as a garter or tie will be sewn individually.

The groom does not have to wear black - the main thing is that the couple’s outfits harmoniously complement each other.

His suit can be white, black and white, sand and cream. It is allowed to add a watch on a chain, gloves, or a tie. A boutonniere in the same design as the bride's bouquet is required.

All the bride’s outfits, no matter what style they are made in, agree on one thing – femininity. The girl should look like a goddess descended from heaven, inaccessible to mere mortals. Too frivolous, revealing dresses, make-up in the style of “Indian on the warpath” and too elaborate jewelry are unacceptable.

The shoes chosen are as comfortable as possible, because she will have to spend a lot of time on her feet. Carefully thought out accessories and hairstyle complete the look. A French veil in a large or fine mesh looks charming. It is pinned on the hair with a feather, a flower or a beautiful large brooch.

Wedding celebrations in France

This country has a centuries-old drinking culture. The French are very sensitive to winemaking and the drinks themselves. They do not have the habit of getting drunk, although they quite often allow themselves to drink a glass of good wine. So, a wedding in France does not involve excessive libations, and the food, as a rule, is calculated according to the number of guests, quite economically.

Sending wedding invitations according to French customs

For wedding invitations, the French use written notices that indicate the location of the ceremony and its start time. Such letters are placed in holiday envelopes. For special guests invited to a gala dinner or cocktail party at City Hall, an extra insert is made. According to French custom, guests are invited to the wedding by the mothers of the newlyweds. The letters sent out indicate the date by which guests must give an accurate response to the parents of the bride and groom to the invitation.

According to French customs, before the wedding, the bride and groom make a list of gifts that they would like to receive for their holiday. The newlyweds leave this list in a large store. Gifts in the form of cash for a wedding in France are also no exception.

Legal nuances

A serious attitude towards all legal issues is reflected in wedding traditions. The French understand perfectly well that a wedding lasts a few days, but living together lasts for years. Therefore, preparation for marriage includes a comprehensive discussion of all issues related to future family life.

The French are convinced that a correctly drawn up marriage contract only connects two people more tightly - unlike Russians who are unaccustomed to this procedure. After all, the girl and the boy first discuss everything that worries them. Senior relatives and lawyers give recommendations based on their own experience. At the end of the negotiations, the newlyweds clearly understand what they should expect from marriage, what to expect and what their obligations are.

For example, in this country there is a practice of separate ownership of property, even if it was acquired during marriage. Spouses simply purchase something in their own name and assign it to themselves. Also, there is the usual common ownership of jointly acquired property, or ownership of some share. This may be real estate received as a dowry or purchased with donated money, and assigned to only one of the spouses.

A thoughtful choice of the desired form of property ownership eliminates the lion's share of family conflicts. Spouses know exactly what they own and what they will receive in the event of the death of one of them or divorce. Typically, such contracts are drawn up by hired specialists who professionally draw up the wishes of the newlyweds on paper.

Interesting customs and beliefs

France is rich in ancient signs and folk beliefs. How can you get by at a wedding without the customs absorbed with your mother’s milk?

In France they looked at the bride as a bearer of the highest grace, and tried to touch her.
On the wedding day, the cortege was stopped all the time, blocking the road with ropes, ribbons and chains - they demanded payments.
On the way down the aisle, the bride had to try to run away - she was demonstrating her virtue. The harder she tried, the higher her reputation as a decent girl in the eyes of others.
If the groom stepped on the hem of the bride’s dress in church, he will be the leader in the family.
The mother-in-law was waiting for the bride at the entrance to the new house. She put an apron on the girl as a sign that she was now also a mistress. She handed over a broom and other household supplies.
At the feast, one of the older relatives sat between the young people. Kissing and touching were not allowed at the wedding.
Gifts and huge pies were solemnly brought out. There were pranks and jokes.
At the wedding there was an auction of items. Since everyone wanted to take possession of a piece of the bride’s dress, ribbons and bows were sewn onto it in advance, which could be cut off in pieces.
During their wedding night, the young people became rowdy, staged concerts under the bedroom window and tried to break into their place.
The bride must follow a ritual on her wedding day: wear something old, for example, a family heirloom; something completely new; something borrowed from a friend; something blue where it won't be noticeable. It is believed that this ritual will ensure a calm, happy life.
There is a cute tradition of making wedding decor elements with your own hands. All the bride's friends and relatives come to her house and make various decorations for furniture, the wedding procession, and decorations.
Marriage witnesses in France are officials who undertake considerable obligations and are responsible before the law.
After the wedding, the newlyweds are required to be assigned a new family account, with equal rights for both spouses.
The dance of the young people takes place under an umbrella, onto which joyful guests sprinkle paper streamers, so that by the end they are not visible behind a heap of multi-colored stripes. Probably, in this way they give the newlyweds the opportunity to spend a couple of minutes without prying eyes.
Brioche is a delicious sweet bun with cream that the French love to eat for breakfast. At the end of the evening, such a dessert is literally carried out on a stretcher - the confectionery product is truly enormous in size. The guests are delighted and the sweets are a hit.

Wedding rings at the ceremony are presented by the children chosen for this occasion - they are called “children of happiness.” It is believed that a union sealed in such an unusual way will be fruitful and serene.

Wedding traditions of modern France.
Wedding traditions of modern France.
France, like many European countries, has long had its own traditions. Over time, something goes away, and something remains or transforms. In modern France, weddings are most often held during the period of the most favorable weather for such events: the end of spring and all summer until September. The usual day of the week is Saturday. Preparation begins at least six months, or even a year, in advance. After all, the wedding season occurs at a certain time and there are a lot of people interested, so you should choose in advance, for example, a suitable restaurant for a banquet, set a time for the wedding at the city hall if civil registration of the marriage is planned, and negotiate with the church when a religious wedding is also planned.

There is no special engagement tradition today. A young couple usually announces their decision to get married at an engagement party, which is held in a restaurant or at the bride's home, with all expenses covered by the bride's family. Usually this is not unexpected for others, since most often the couple has been living together for some time, sometimes for several years.

In recent years, the age of French couples getting married has moved significantly upward. Most French people prefer to officially register their relationships at a slightly later age than before. For a woman, this is on average 26-27 years old, and men get married at about 28-30 years old. Modern French society favors young people living together before marriage, so that they get to know and understand each other better before taking the most important step in their lives - official marriage. Since the future spouses are at a fairly mature age and have reached a certain financial position at this point, they bear most of the expenses for preparing for the wedding celebration. Parents, relatives and friends can help them.

A standard French wedding is planned according to a similar scenario: on Saturday, the newlyweds sign in the municipality. Although you can register a marriage at the city hall or in a church on any day except Sunday, most French people prefer to do this on Saturday. The registration itself happens quite quickly, about twenty minutes, because there are many marriages in one day. After the official part, they invite their relatives to celebrate this event with light cocktails. The next day, the bride and groom get married in the church. The young people decide for themselves whether they need this ceremony or not; it is not necessary. After this, the real celebration begins - lunch or dinner, to which all relatives and friends are invited.

Traditions.

Those getting married make it easier for guests to find gifts with the help of a wedding list. They make a list of gifts they would like for their wedding and take it to a specialty store or several stores. Those invited will find out from the parents of the young couple which store contains the desired gifts. Moreover, gifts can be given both before and after the wedding, but guests come to the wedding itself without them. It is not customary to give gifts for a wedding that are not on the list;
At the reception in their honor, the newlyweds must drink wine from a goblet with two handles, which is called “a coupe de marriage.” Typically, such a cup is passed down from generation to generation, like a precious family heirloom;
A French bride's wedding dress must have 4 details: something old (for example, inherited), something new, something borrowed (usually from a friend) and something blue.
Mothers of future spouses (mother-in-law and mother-in-law) certainly wear big hats. Sometimes a kind of rivalry arises between two mothers for the biggest hat.
In small villages, an ancient custom is preserved, according to which the groom takes the bride from home in the morning. In advance, the children pull on white ribbons, which the bride must cut when she walks with the groom on the way to church. The ceremony site is strewn with laurel leaves;
For several centuries in France, the tradition of decorating weddings with original compositions of fresh flowers has been observed. Each flower has its own symbolism and special meaning for those getting married;
The wedding dinner begins with an aperitif, at which the most French drink is always offered - champagne;
There is no host at a French wedding, and there are no toasts, but after the first part of the dinner, the newlyweds must go around all the guests and express their gratitude to them for coming to share their joy;
The bride and groom prepare small gifts in advance especially for those invited. These are multi-colored jelly beans in beautiful bags for good luck;
At the end of the dinner, witnesses or close friends of the young couple show funny theatrical scenes from the life of the bride and groom;
After the mini-performance, dancing begins and lasts until dessert. They are opened by two couples: the groom with his mother and the bride with her father. The second dance is for the newlyweds. Then several couples dance at the same time: mother-in-law with the groom, father-in-law with the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law with the father-in-law. After this, the guests come out to dance.
In addition to showering the young hover with rice, it is customary to release live exotic butterflies.

Other traditions:

— Iranian wedding

— Italian wedding

— Ukrainian wedding

— Greek wedding

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Related materials:

History of wedding traditions around the world.
Wedding traditions of old and new Germany.
Wedding traditions in India

Wedding festivities

Marriage in France, since the time of Emperor Bonaparte, who abolished church weddings, takes place in the mayor's office. Those getting married submit an application and a notice about the upcoming event is posted at the entrance to the building, which remains there for a month so that everyone can see it. The painting takes place on a daily basis: an entry is made in the book, the newlyweds are congratulated.

After registration, the newlyweds can go to the church for the wedding. In France there are both Catholic and Orthodox churches. Newlyweds, if they belong to different faiths, will have to decide according to which particular rite they will get married. After the sacrament of wedding has been completed, it is time for the banquet.

The usual luxurious festivities are not practiced in France. Everything proceeds with decorum and nobility, with strict adherence to table etiquette and the order in which dishes are served. Strong alcoholic drinks are not served; only a limited amount of wine and champagne is on the tables. For dessert, a huge cake is ceremonially brought out. The bride and groom cut the delicacy together and present it to each guest.

It is not customary here to call or appoint a wedding host. Guests take turns going on stage and congratulating the newlyweds with small, independently prepared numbers, singing or dancing, and telling something interesting. Something like presentations is customary, where relatives and friends tell stories from the life of the bride or groom with colorful photographs or posters.

The banquet does not last the whole evening. A few hours later, the tables are cleared, a hired musical group appears and the dancing begins. At the end of the evening, guests are served a dessert - brioche, after which the evening ends.

Registration and wedding

The registration ceremony at the French city hall is not much different from the Russian one. The application is also submitted one month in advance. True, in France, a statement of desire to get married is also accompanied by a doctor’s certificate confirming that the young person has no serious illnesses.

After receiving the application and certificate, representatives of the mayor's office post an announcement about the upcoming marriage. This is done so that everyone can find out about the event and report any incriminating facts that impede the wedding, if any.

The registration itself is quite simple and quick. The mayor reads to the newlyweds about their legal rights and responsibilities, solemnly presents the marriage certificate, and the newlyweds kiss. This is where the official part ends.

From the mayor's office, the newlyweds, accompanied by guests, head to the church. First of all, the invitees enter inside, taking places on the sides of the entrance. Then the groom, accompanied by his mother, walks to the altar, then the father brings the bride. During the ceremony, the organ is played, and Mendelssohn's march is performed on it as the newlyweds leave the church.

Second wedding day

The celebrations are not limited to a banquet on the wedding day. After the first wedding night, the guests gather again - in the same place where the celebration was held or in the house of the newlyweds. This venerable meeting, to which only those closest are invited, is called retur.

The guests communicate and once again congratulate the newlyweds. A full lunch or dinatur is served - a long aperitif with many snacks. At the end of the wedding celebrations, the newlyweds usually go on a honeymoon. This tradition became widespread at the beginning of the 20th century, and before that this privilege belonged to wealthy people.

A French wedding is a strict adherence to ancient traditions and an elusive touch of elegance and truly French elegance in everything.

Customs, features and signs of a French wedding

The most beautiful day in life for many women and men is their wedding day. Each nationality has its own customs, characteristics and signs related to the wedding, and the French are no exception. Their wedding ceremonies are beautiful and gorgeous and very different from our events, you might be interested in knowing how!

The wedding date is preferably set for the warm season: late spring, summer or early autumn. Modern newlyweds of the French Republic begin preparations a year before the planned event, which includes many points and details.

Order a banquet hall, club, castle.
Very often the ceremony itself takes place outdoors: in a beautiful park or outside the city, so it is necessary to order a “travel registry office”, or rather, the French put their signatures on documents not in the registry office, but in the mayor’s office.
Creation of design and text for invitation cards, printing and mailing.
Preparing costumes taking into account signs and traditions; if you sew to order, you can wait up to six months, taking into account all the fittings.
It is important to think about the wedding theme and color scheme.

The engagement should traditionally take place in the bride's home, and her party also makes a material contribution for this event. And the groom is obliged to give his beloved the most beautiful and expensive ring with a stone.

Traditions require careful selection of an outfit for the bride, which must include a belt, an apron and a garter, as well as shoes. Not boots or sandals, but shoes. At the same time, some item for a costume is borrowed from a friend, some item must be very old from someone else’s shoulder, for example, from a grandmother or great-grandmother. Something should be blue-blue shades, and, of course, something new and snow-white.

For a French woman, a belt is a symbol of chastity, which can only be removed by the husband, an apron is a symbol of the bride’s purity and housekeeping, a pair of shoes is the unity of the young couple, so the shoes should not be the bride’s purchase, but a gift from the groom on the eve of the event. There are many interesting stories about the garter and belt, as well as humorous games and sayings during the feast.

If earlier all these attributes were important and necessary, in which their deep meaning was invested, now, someone believes that by using all this, they give back to tradition, and for some it is a kind of bright, memorable game.

Previously, the wedding took place in the bride’s house, and her father covered the expenses, but now families divide the expenses in half or the young people themselves pay for everything. The groom's witnesses have a bachelor party, as a rule, this is a trip to a striptease, the bride's witnesses have a bachelorette party, here everything takes place more modestly: in a restaurant or swimming pool, perhaps at home.

You can submit an application and register on the same day, any day of the week except Sunday. The same applies to weddings. A wedding is usually played out in one of two ways:

In two days. The first painting and a limited number of invited guests, mainly the closest friends and relatives. Cocktail. On the second day there is a wedding and banquet.
One day. The painting began, then the wedding. Cocktail and later dinner. Two types of invitations are sent out, because someone will attend the painting, and someone will come to the church, and then to the banquet

The newlyweds come to the painting separately, because the groom is not allowed to see the dress! The entry is made not in our passport, but in the birth certificate. A kind of marriage certificate is issued, called a “Family Book,” and children are entered into it.

Wedding processions are bright and beautiful, decorated with multi-colored ribbons, driving around the city, constantly honking that the same thing is happening here. Games and competitions during dinner are not necessary, because the French are already cheerful people, they will not be bored without competitions. They also do not have a toastmaster or similar leader.

During the wedding celebration itself, there is a tradition of drinking from a huge bowl with two symmetrically placed handles, which otherwise in French sounds like “a coupe de marriage!” Not a single French wedding is complete without this, just as no Russian event is complete without shouts of “bitter!”

At the table, the French do not give out loud toasts, endlessly raising their glasses, but it is customary for them not only to joke about various topics, but even to use foul language. The rudest jokes mainly concern magic and fertility, and their very presence is an integral part of the wedding ritual.

The most important and long-awaited moment of a French wedding celebration is the bringing out of trays with various huge pies, pieces of which go to all guests. And the general menu of any French wedding includes apples, pancakes, and roasted rooster.

The French have one interesting and peculiar custom. The newlyweds are presented with a large loaf of bread, which they treat to all invited guests, and then throw grain at them.

As an entertainment program, relatives and friends can show small parodies of the newlyweds, after which a dance with the parents is announced, then a dance of the newlyweds, and then cheerful, modern and dance music. All guests join. Very often a musical ensemble is invited to have live music or a DJ.

It is believed that it was the hot French ladies and their emotional natures who came up with the idea of going on honeymoon trips immediately after the end of the banquet. Firstly, it is very inventive, which avoids many burdensome post-wedding customs. Secondly, this is an opportunity to extend the candy-bouquet period, youth and desire for movement and freedom. Young people choose the country they want to visit, get away from the hustle and bustle, a large number of relatives and friends, to relax culturally or physically on the shore under the rays of the bright sun. In this, many newlyweds from most countries of the world are similar to the French.

Every guest, as everywhere else, must come with a gift, but the French do not usually give them on their wedding day - this is a bad omen. They must be presented before or after the celebration. In order to please the newlyweds and give a worthy gift, there is such a thing as a “Wedding List”, which lists the wishes of the newlyweds. Guests can call the parents of the bride or groom in advance and find out the names from this list, as well as where they can purchase this or that item.

If we consider all the details, details of traditions and the quality of events, then, having witnessed several similar celebrations in different regions of the country, we can conclude that there are not so many general traditions, but there are much more traditions of a specific area. Some traditions are optional, for example, competitions and show programs, in some places rings are put on the left hand, in others on the right hand. It should also be noted that in France there are many representatives of different nationalities, as well as different religions, and against the backdrop of past incest, customs, traditions, morals and preferences are mixed.

Sometimes you have to deal with very interesting wedding celebrations, because in France there are many wonderful places where you can celebrate the event in a very original way, and in recent years many agencies have appeared that are ready to allow a French wedding to everyone, taking into account all the requirements of traditions and the wishes of the newlyweds, so France can get closer.