❦ Ceremony
❧ Bans are usually posted two weeks prior at the city hall and/ or church. Close family and two witnesses of the bride and groom attend the civil ceremony, where there is a signing of the marriage certificate, the registry, and creation of a family book.
❧ Forming a procession to the church, the wedding party, in this case, walk across the village square to the front of the church entry. The wedding couple then greet arriving guests and enter the church. At the church, the procession down the aisle consists of mixed pairings of the two families.
❧ Regarding dress formality, close male family members and groomsmen wear clothing in the same color family. The groom is disallowed viewing of the bridal dress prior to the wedding; however, the bride is unable to see the bouquet, of which the groom chooses. With respect to the bride, women wear non-white clothing; and with the bride likely wearing a hat for the daytime celebration, they also follow suit.
❧ Mothers of the wedding couple are given bouquets and the male family members are given bouttonnières.
❧ For the religious ceremony, married friends will often take part by saying a few words on love, marriage, or family.
❧ Fresh flowers decorate the church interior and adorn the wedding couple's automobile. Laurel leaves and rose petals are scattered on the path to walk over and wedding bells are heard as the couple depart from the church. Guests toss rose petals and tie ribbons to their automobiles. Photographs of guests are also taken upon their leaving the church, their signing the guest book and entering the reception site.
❦ Reception
❧Vin d'honneur
Guests arrive at the reception site to the mellow sounds of a jazz (or classical) ensemble. Here, they can enjoy aperitifs and appetizers while mingling with friends and family.
❧ Tossing of the bridal bouquet
Single females gather below a balcony from which the wedding couple stand. The bride tosses a bouquet over her shoulder. The girl who catches the bouquet is said to be the next to wed.
❧ Dinner
Local cuisine of the Champagne-Ardennes is on the menu (with the freshest, seasonal ingredients, how much more traditional can you get?) -- we are in France after all! And we shall eat cake!
❧ Auctioning of the bridal garter
According to the bid amount, the bridal skirt level is moved incrementally. Bids by the men raises the skirt and bids by the women lowers the skirt. The bid that reveals the bridal garter wins. The man who receives the bridal garter may then present it to the girl who caught the bouquet.
❧ Entertainment
❧ Soiree
Typically, with the D.J.'s huge collection of top tracks, dancing continues through the night and into the early morning hours.