Interview: An American wedding planner in Paris
Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Receptions, Ceremonies, Theme weddings
This week we're thrilled to be chatting to Kimberley Petyt, of Parisian Events, a first class American wedding consultancy in Paris.How did you come to be a wedding planner in France?
Eight years ago I married a French man and after planning my own wedding in France, long-distance from San Francisco, I decided to start a wedding planning agency. I already had years of event planning experience in the USA, and I had also learnt so much about the differences between French weddings and American weddings through my own experiences, so it was almost a natural progression.
What are the major challenges of planning a wedding in Paris?
The biggest challenge for any couple is the long list of legal requirements. The main requirement is that one of the couple needs to have been a legal resident in the district in which they plan to marry for 30 – 40 consecutive days prior to their requested wedding date. And that means really living there, and being able to provide proof of residency (such as a utility bill) and not just bunking down in a hotel and being a tourist for a month!
If a couple wants a full wedding, with the civil ceremony followed by a church blessing, do you sort all the paperwork out?
I provide clients with a global road map of the documents that are needed for a civil ceremony, and the overall timing for submitting the documents. I'll also give them direction as to where they can find additional assistance, but I always recommend that a client contact their local embassy as well as the city hall in which they wish to marry directly for more information.
I provide the same type of assistance to those clients who are marrying in a religious ceremony. A lot of people in the U.S. don't realize that in order to have a wedding in a church in France, you first HAVE to have had a French civil ceremony.
Because there are SO many restrictions here in France, the majority of our clients who come from out of the country do choose to marry legally in their home country and have a symbolic ceremony or a religious blessing here in Paris.
Our specialty is combining "traditional American elements with classic Parisian elegance", which means that we work with a fairly international team of vendors.
When I start working with a new client we start with their style profile. For example, what do they want their day to look like? What are the "must-haves" on their list, what French elements do they want to incorporate? After that, I may suggest a few different vendors for a particular service that they're looking for, or I may find that I know a specific vendor who would be perfect for that element of their wedding.
What are some of the best photographic shots of Paris.
Most clients want the ubiquitous "Eiffel Tower Shot" but I also try to set up an itinerary that includes some more unusual locations. For instance, instead of a photo taken on the steps of Sacre Coeur, why not try the steep steps of Montmartre? Or, instead a classic pose at Notre Dame Cathedral, cross the river and get some shots near les bouquinistes, the famous bookstalls that line the left bank of the Seine, with Notre Dame in the background.
What do you like best about your job?Amidst all of the fuss and flurry involved in the planning, at its core a wedding is still the uniting of two people who love each other, and have chosen to publicly pledge their commitment. While I LOVE all of the creative stuff that goes along with being a wedding planner, the best thing to me is that I get to play a part in creating a once in a lifetime moment, and that my clients have chosen me to share in these moments with them.
A favourite wedding planner memory?
I once took a bride to meet her fiancé at a small chapel in the center of Paris where they were going to have their ceremony. She and I arrived a bit early, so were waiting for her fiancé outside of the gate, which surrounded a garden in front of the chapel. She decided to take a few pictures of the front while we waited, and as she was looking through the viewfinder of her camera, she realized that her fiancé had arrived earlier and was standing in the window of the chapel looking out at her over the rose garden. When she saw him, she sort of gasped and burst into tears and just looked so happy and in love. It was so beautiful and emotional and I just felt so happy for them!
What makes Parisian Events special compared to other wedding planners in Paris?
Firstly, wedding planners are quite a new concept in France.The industry has only really taken off within the past 4 or 5 years. Before that, French weddings followed a very rigid formula and embraced old traditions fiercely and there didn't appear to be a need for a consultant. Nowadays, with the concept of wedding planning becoming popular, there are quite a few French wedding planning companies that have employees who speak English, which is strides ahead of what was previously available.
But speaking the same language doesn't automatically mean that all the nuances of your needs are understood. For example, how many French wedding planners have even heard of Martha Stewart, let alone understand the impact she has on American weddings? Not many! We tailor-make all our weddings specifically with the American Bride in Paris in mind. We'll design everything to American standards and then introduce just the right amount of 'Paris' to make the event unique.
My favorite deluxe place to shop is Le Bon Marché in the 6th Arrondissement. It's always such a self-indulgent experience. The chic Parisian ambiance, the best products, the beautiful packaging. I think of it as the "Bendel's" of Paris.
My favorite shoestring place to shop is Tati in the 18th. Tati is a giant budget department store that is divided into a cluster of buildings. I love going there to look for centerpiece accessories or ambiance pieces. The place is absolute mayhem, with grumpy grandma's pushing you with their pocketbooks, and a guy with a microphone yelling out "blue light specials" but I've found some real gems there, such as great fabric for making funky pillows, and giant flower teacups for an "Alice in Wonderland" garden party. It's a totally different Parisian experience than what you'll find on Boulevard Haussman. I love it!
How can people contact you for further information?You can check out my blog, Parisian Party: Tales of an American Wedding Planner in Paris or, for more information about planning your wedding or event in Paris, visit my website, Parisian Events or drop me a line at parisianparty@parisianevents.com
