Recipe for a Perfect Wedding

The first thing you need for a perfect wedding is a couple who are so in love with each other and with life that just seeing them together makes grumpy people grin and pessimists believe that all is right with the world.  Meet New Yorker Kerrin Feldman, whom I met a few years ago at The Chocolate Show (you meet the best people over chocolate), and Parisian Olivier Rousset, who were married on France's most important day, July 14 (14 juillet), just outside of Paris in what had to have been one of the most joyous weddings ever, ever, ever.

Then you need to plan, plan, plan!  I wish I had a picture of Kerrin's files for you.  She and Olivier planned the wedding themselves with long-distance help and encouragement from Kerrin's parents, Lani and Steve,

and Kerrin's color-coded, hand-written and Excel-ed spreadsheets are a marvel.  Here are a few of the things Kerrin and Olivier did that you might want to snatch and make your own:

• Shuttle your out-of-town guests to and from Paris in a bus and put your friend Pierre in the front seat, so he can ask the driver to crank up the a/c, hand out water and, to help keep the crowd happy in stop-and-go holiday traffic, offer Laduree macarons in eight flavors: chocolate, vanilla, coffee, pistachio, cherry, raspberry, cassis and the sublime caramel and salted butter.

• Have your wedding in the Chateau de Baronville, which looks like it was made for a fairy tale.

• And choose just the right spot on the chateau grounds for the ceremony.

• Along with Premier Cru Pierre Gimmonet Champagne and pigs and blankets (yes, they had them and yes, both the French and the Americans made quick work of them), serve an assortment of sliders, including foie gras, tarama and smoked salmon -- and make sure the bun is brioche.

• Keep the cocktail party lively with a Dixieland band.

• Don't forget to have a foie gras station.  (As the pieces of foie gras came out of the skillet, they went on small pieces of baguette and then it was up to the muncher to top the morsel with coarse salt, cracked pepper and/or onion marmalade.)

• When it's time for everyone to come into the chateau for dinner, have each of the tables named for a pastry (Kerrin is wild about everything sweet).

• Stock the restrooms with everything anybody could possibly need and toss some Carambars (France's favorite caramel candy) into the basket too.

• Sometime around midnight, get everyone outside by announcing that you've got a surprise for them and then have a spectacular fireworks show (they probably didn't have fireworks at Versailles, but as soon as the first rocket went off, I felt like i was at one of Louis' grand balls).

• Have bunches of wedding cakes and cake-cutters too.

 

• Drive off (nephew in tow) and LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

Comments

[Natalie]

What a beautiful fairy tale of a wedding! Thank you for sharing.

[Lani (MOB)]

Your story said it all. It was a magical wedding weekend! Every detail was handled with great care...We were so glad that so many of our friends were able to share in our joy!
The food, wine and all the wonderful desserts made all our guests want to come back to France for more. A wonderful fantasy wedding that was actually real.....thanks to the bride and groom....

[Paula]

Dorie
I had not read your blog in awhile. What fun and surprise to read about the magical wedding. It sounds almost as divine as my daughter Katherine's last year!! I KNOW Lani...when I saw that name, I could not believe that.

[judy]

My brother and sisterinlaw were at the wedding, thanks for sharing some of the pictures. They just got home and had a wonderful time

[Steamy Kitchen]

I don't care what the guy is carrying...he's HOT!!!

[Kelly-Jane]

Thank you for sharing this with us, such attention to detail, the board with the tables on it is amazing. Mind you it's all terrific! Best of luck to the happy couple :)

[Vanessa]

Sob!

How perfect. Weddings are great! We named our tables after beaches in the West of Ireland near the wedding location... And it was the one day this summer so far that it didn't rain!

[Tartelette]

When we got married 9 years ago, we split the difference "july 7th" right in between the 4th (his national day) and the 14th (mine)...the icing on the cake was France winning the soccer World Cup during our honeymoon!
Your friends really know how to have a good time. I love the idea of the macarons handed out on the bus...Clever!

I write this with tears in my eyes (I always cry at weddings) and joy in my heart. Yes, it looks like a beautiful fairy tale wedding. Those extra touches make the event so special for everyone.
May they have health, happiness and a lifetime of love together.

[Laura]

I love all of the sweet touches to that fairy tale wedding! What a sight. The cakes! and just as I am contemplating how to make the best 'sliders' I think I have found the ticket. Brioche buns!

[RuthWells]

Wow! Just -- wow! Incredible! (My hubby and I were also married on July 14, but our wedding was nowhere near as grand!)

[Su-Lin]

Sounds rather magical!