Paris Wedding Trends : Color

I just got back from the Salon du Mariage at the Carrousel du Louvre, and while I usually try not to use my own photos on my blog (I have a cheapy camera and a shaky hand…not a very pretty combo) I wanted to share some of the pix from the fashion show while the details were still fresh in my mind. I picked up on several trends at this years show, the most obvious one being color. From a delicate sprinkling of flowery pastels to electric day-glow green, color seems to be one of the hottest trends in Paris bridal fashion for 2008. More trends tomorrow…

So, you and your trend-setting betrothed have decided to have a destination wedding. More than that, you’ve decided on a “green” destination wedding. You’ve e-mailed or hand delivered your recycled paper invitations. You’ve registered with World Wildlife Fund Weddings and Celebrations instead of Pottery Barn. You’ve even offset the amount of carbon emissions used to fly you and your guests to Paris by donating money to help build wind turbines in India. But why should your eco-wedding stop there? A lot of people feel that planning a “regular” destination wedding is hard enough- the thought of trying to make it eco-friendly as well is just too much. In fact, with a locally based wedding planner and a little time online, you’ll find that there are plenty of ways that you can incorporate green or eco-conscious elements into a destination wedding. For instance, here are my Top 5 Ideas for a “Green” or Eco-Friendly wedding in Paris:

1. Purchase or have a wedding dress custom created that uses all-natural, earth friendly fibers. Elsa Gary and Aranel are two French designers who are showing natural bridal collections using materials like silk, bamboo, hemp, soya, and maize.
2. Have your wedding meal prepared by Ethiques et Toques, an organic catering company servicing Paris, Lyon and Blois.
3. Rather than tossing bird seed or blowing bubbles, why not follow a wedding tradition from the South of France and have your guests shower you with handfuls of lavender, like these sold in packets from Pluie de Lavande?
4. Thank your guests with a sweet French wedding favor: a little sachet of organic hard candy or lollipops from La Butinerie.
5. Toast your nuptials with a glass of organic champagne: Jean-Pierre Fleury and Larmandier-Bernier are two to try.
6. (I know I said 5 ideas, but who could write an entry on eco-friendly Paris without mentioning Vélib- the public bike system that’s been all the rage since they were installed all over Paris this past summer? Nothing says eco-lovin’ like your first bike ride as Mr-n-Mrs along the Seine…) 

Paris Wedding Trends : Drama

One of the biggest Paris wedding trends that I noticed at the Salon du Mariage at the Carrousel du Louvre last week was Drama. This particular Salon always seems to have a bit of Vegas glamour- and this year’s show was no exception. Besides the bold, dramatic colors that I mentioned the other day, there was also quite a bit of silver- and LOTS of Bling. Diamant Blanc lived up to their name and reputation with several over-the-top, crystal beaded gowns. But Max Chaoul stole the show with his futuristic (huh?) silver ballgown with feather accents (and gloves to match!)

I also, obviously, found professional photos of the fashion show last week. All of the above photos are copyrighted © only photos and can not be reproduced. If you would like to see more photos of the show, or have questions about reproducing any of the above photos, visit www.onlyphotos.org

Paris Wedding Trends : Chignons

Topping the list of Paris Wedding Hairstyle Trends for 2008 is the tried and true (and oh, so Parisienne) chignon, according to marieclaire.fr. But this is not your mama’s updo: The trend this year is all about sculpted drama and high glamour. One of my favorites is J Bogatti’s multi-twisted updo which is knotted with satin ribbons- if this doesn’t complete the look for a Marie-Antoinette or Versailles themed wedding, I don’t know what would.

A few months ago, I posted about the 60’s-inspired wedding dress trend in Paris, and it seems as if Paris beauty salons are following suit: J Bogatti and Claude Maxime Mondial are both featuring updos that would make Catherine Deneuve proud, while René Futerer and Eric Stipa’s styles pay homage both to honorary French girl Jean Seberg and Pop Fashion icons Twiggy and Edie Sedgwick.

For a stylishly bold Parisian wedding day look, why not try one of these contemporary chignons from Michel Dervyn, Saint Algue or Laurent Voisinet. And for a truly modern (like, BJORK modern…) trip down the aisle, try these asymmetrical updos from René Futerer, Francois Piazza and J Bogatti.

the paris haute couture wedding gown fantasy game

With Paris Fashion Week quickly approaching, I thought it would be fun to play a little game of “Let’s Pretend“. Let’s pretend that there never was any mean ole recession, and that money was no object. You’re getting married, and you could have any couturier in Paris design a wedding dress just for you. Who would you pick? Would you go for one of the “Old Masters” like Chanel or Givenchy? Or do you think you’d be willing to let one of the New Breed like Christophe Josse or Oliver Swan give it a go? hmmm….