For An Absolute Bargain Nothing Beats Off Season Mid Week Last Minute Wedding

by Frenchie on January 22, 2009


Due to the current financial climate, more and more couples are planning winter weddings – this can be a significantly cheaper option. The summer season is peak time for wedding ceremonies, and if you plan to marry in Britain the weather can be very unpredictable. Summer Saturdays can get booked out at popular wedding venues up tothree years in advance.

To get your fairytale destination wedding at a wedding castlea bargain price in these difficult financial times think last minute and off season.

Beat the credit crunch and plan a winter wedding, what could be more romantic than getting married against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, followed by a luxury drinks reception around a warm log fire? Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy and Iceland make excellent wedding locations in winter – as they are destinations that not only encompass a magical atmosphere but also places that are guaranteed to leave you with stunning memories.

If the thought of a snowy winter wedding leaves you with a chill then don’t despair – you can still get married in winter and enjoy hot weather. Set you sights on exotic destinations such as the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India. All offer spectacular locations and sizzling temperatures.

So, if your loved one has asked for your hand in marriage, instead of opting for a summer wedding, consider the benefits of a winter ceremony and maybe a wedding castle – it is likely to be cheaper and it will give your guests something to look forward to during the long winter months.

Aside from wedding venues being more readily available (Christmas and Valentine dates not withstanding), other benefits to winter weddings include a more luxurious palette of colors and fabrics to choose from such as varying shades of red, royal blue, deep purple and hunter green. Other benefits include the ability to plan on short notice, without being told time and time again that your vendor, disc jockey, photographer or caterer of choice is booked solid.

Other bonuses include flowers that don’t wilt in the heat (as long as you take care not to let them freeze in the cold), cakes that don’t sag, and a bride that is not melting. There is a better chance that more of your invited guests will not be on holidays and therefore able to attend your wedding. Add to that the special quality that comes across in photographs.

A rustic mountain lodge with roaring fireplaces, sleigh rides, and a host of other winter-loving amenities add to the enchanting cozy ambience. For that winter wonderland effect, choose a grand ballroom with draped fabric walls filled with white, silver and crystal twinkling lights.

For wedding accessories, decorations, and favors, winter weddings offer a host of snowflake themed items in various shades of blue, white and silver.

Alternatively you could go for a wedding castle with a baroque theme with champagne and burgundy colours, velvets and chandeliers and cherubs and church candles.

Tiny candy holding mittens for favors, snowflake embossed napkins or stationary, or faux ice-sculptured cake toppers, all add to a fantasy themed setting.

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A Rocket French Review

by Frenchie on January 22, 2009


You have probably heard of Rocket Spanish, right? Now, get ready for Rocket French and it is designed for people who wants to learn how to speak, write and understand French the “conversational” way rather than the conventional way. Now, included in the series of Rocket learning languages, Rocket French, if used and followed properly, can help anyone learn this very elegant and sexy language in just a short span of time. Some even say that it will only take 8 weeks to learn French through the help of Rocket French instead of months or even years through a conventional way. If you are one of these persons who want to learn French, you can first go to this site and read a Rocket French review. This way, you will be able to see and understand this learning tool through the testimonies given by people who have greatly benefited from it. You can also read some Pro’s and Con’s of Rocket French before you decide on this product.

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Be A Princess Bride In A Georgeous Wedding Chateau

by Frenchie on January 21, 2009


A private wedding castle setting is probably the most romantic location a couple could choose for their wedding. As guests descend the long drive and entrance to a private castle they will be immediately transformed into an ancient time.

A fairytale wedding castle sets the scene for the ultimate castle experience because the location is a real wedding castle without parking lots, a front desk, tourists in shorts and the hustle and bustle of a busy hotel.

The major differences between a private castle and a luxury castle hotel are privacy, cost and service. A private castle gives a couple and their guests the most private and authentic castle wedding experience. The couple and their guests would have the exclusive run of the castle and the castle grounds whereas at a luxury castle hotel, the couple would only be allowed in public rooms, individual guest rooms and areas of the grounds open to the public.

Often luxury hotels prohibit wedding attire inside or on the grounds unless the couple has taken exclusive use of the hotel for their wedding day. A luxury castle hotel would require that a couple to take exclusive use (rent every room in the hotel) if they wish to have a private wedding. In England, a standard hotel room in a luxury castle hotel can start at $500 a room, making a single night’s fee as much as $50,000 for the hotel rooms only. A typical private castle would start at $5,000 a night. However a hotel’s fees include much more than the location itself.

In a luxury castle hotel your typical room rate would also include breakfast, maid service, turn down service, concierge, etc. In a private castle you would have to pay additional fees for a chef, servers, maid service and a personal concierge. These fees can cost as much as $2,500 a day depending on the size of the staff.

When taking a private wedding castle, my first advice to a bride is to allow the location to be the atmosphere. Rarely does a private castle need to be decorated and simplicity is the key. Large flower arrangements should be kept to the main entrance hall and large mantles in formal rooms. Doing large arrangements throughout takes away from the authentic atmosphere and makes the location look “over done.” Instead allow music to decorate. There is no better way to create an atmosphere than to hire excellent musicians.

I would recommend the following:

• For guests arrival to the castle have a harpist playing in the main formal living room of the castle.
• For the morning of the wedding have a pianist play at the entrance to the castle.
• For the ceremony I recommend a string quartet.
• For the vin d’honneur I recommend the string quartet continue.
• For the reception I recommend a band followed by a DJ in a separate room.

I usually recommend that they take a peek at the location during off-peak season when airfares are as cheap as $300 round trip. This expense is worth every penny. It will give you great peace of mind and will allow you to take very specific notes about the location. Remember to take notes, ask lots of questions and be sure to ask what was the best wedding at the location and why.

While the average American wedding can easily cost $30,000 for just one evening, our clients are finding they can spend less and celebrate for four days with their [spin]closest|close circle of[/spin} friends and family in a wedding castle including top of the line, hands on coordination.

The music you select for your castle wedding will help set the mood and tone of the ceremony. Whether you opt for a harpist, harpsichordist, pianist, live music can provide you with a wonderful atmosphere your guests are sure to remember. If your budget doesn’t include room for live musicians, there’s always the option of prerecorded music.

Ceremony music includes:
The Prelude: As the guests arrive and are seated, they’ll hear this music, designed to help create the mood and set the tone for the entire event.
Processional: An indication to the guests that the event is starting, this music usually has an even beat (you’re not looking for a beat to dance to, just walk to!) This music will continue as each of your attendants walk down the aisle. As the bride begins her walk down the aisle, the music changes again.
Ceremony: Some ceremonies are held without music; others feature a soloist, duet, or just a favorite song—whatever you like.
The Recessional: Marking the end of the ceremony, the recessional music is played as the wedding party—and the new husband and wife—leave the ceremony.
The Postlude: As the guests begin to leave, the music turns to the postlude, a background music similar to prelude music.

Pachelbel’s Canon in D for the bridesmaids is a usual request, because it consists of variations on a four measure theme, and it can go on for 20 minutes for a zillion bridesmaids or it can be cut to 30 seconds and still be beautiful; you just add or subtract variations.

Baroque music generally has a kind of dignity that will give your wedding a certain refined feel, and there’s a great wealth of it that is superb for wedding castle. String quartets are especially appropriate for Baroque music.

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How To Tie The Knot At A Wonderful French Wedding Castle

by Frenchie on January 20, 2009


Imagine the appeal of a wedding abroad, with your friends and family re-creating the traditions from home… What a new, amazing perspective- replacing the setting with the sweet oak forest, or sunflower fields, .

Imagine your wedding with the historical backdrop of significant cultural importance, or in a luxurious wedding castle which has been home to important artists and noble families in France.

A french château will enchant you with its fairytale atmosphere and dreamy environment, providing guests with a magical wedding experience. France the land of over thirty thousand castles is a spectacular country to choose to hold your wedding ceremony.

There is nothing quite like a fairytale chateau to give you beautiful surroundings both inside and outside. The advantages of using a fairytale chateau is that you will be able to house a large number of guests in a fabulous location.

A fairytale chateau in France is a magical location for your wedding vows. France is a truly incredible destination for a wedding abroad and you and your guests will be captivated by its charms. In fact if you choose to have your wedding in France one of the most challenging aspects is deciding which of the many beautiful locations and venues will set the scene for your big day.

If you or your affianced can not satisfy the 40 day residency requirement, you canhave a “secret” civil ceremony in your home country prior to your wedding day and then have a blessing or a humanist wedding ceremony.

Do not let the residency requirements discourage you from having your wedding castle in France.

Destination weddings are so incredibly popular. Over the past 10 years, destination weddings have increased over 400 percent.

Destination weddings are filling a need among the world’s affianced. Amazingly one out of every six couples getting married for the first time choose a destination wedding. Incredibly that number rises to 61% for couples getting remarried. For most couples, destination weddings offer a chance to celebrate in style. Who would not want to get married in a wedding castle.

A civil wedding in France requires advance planning, as well as a minimum stay of 4 weeks to complete the necessary documentation. As this is usually complicated, many couples opt to have a legal wedding in their own country, before flying to France for a religious ceremony held at a spectacular location and they then honeymoon in France.

A civil marriage is mandatory in France and religious ceremonies are not legally binding in any way and can only be performed after the civil ceremony. In France to be legal, a marriage must be performed by a French civil authority. This means that the mayor performs the marriage ceremony.

For a civil ceremony there is a 30 day requirement of residency in France which one of the parties to be married must comply with. One of the parties must reside in the town or the arrondissement if in Paris, prior to the marriage for 30 days. Additionally French law requires the publication of the marriage banns at City Hall for ten days. This gives a total residency requirement of 40 days.

As the legal requirements for getting married in France are complex and may be reviewed or amended at any time, it is recommended that you enrol a competent wedding planner if you wish to get married in France.

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Staying In France’s Capital!

by Frenchie on November 20, 2008


This park comprises glasshouses, computerized fountains, waterfalls, a wilderness and themed gardens featuring different coloured plants and sounds. An impressive park for far off, it gets better the closer you get to it, and if you plan to spend a weekend away in Paris, make sure you rent Paris accommodation or Paris apartments nearby.

The paved area by the fountains is perfect for walking around the park and really getting a feel for the postmodern design which is so characteristic of this park. The South edge of the lawn is bounded by a monumental canal — the “Jardin des Métamorphoses” — composed of an elevated reflecting pool that reaches through granite guard houses, lined by a suspended walkway. On the North side are two sets of small gardens: the six “Serial Gardens”, each with a distinct landscape and architectural design, and a “Garden in Movement” that presents wild grasses selected to respond at different rates to wind velocity. A 630-meter diagonal path cuts through the park, which constantly changes in its nature.

In addition to this, the park is home to a moored gas balloon operated by the Eutelsat company, which allows visitors to rise above the Parisian skyline. The balloon is filled with 5,500 cubic meters of helium. It is 32 meters high and has a diameter of 22 meters. It is moored to the ground with a hydroelectrically-activated cable. It can rise to an altitude of 150 meters and has a carrying capacity of 30 adults, or 60 children. The balloon provides a view of the Champ de Mars, the River Seine, Basilica of the Sacré Cœur and the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.

Finally, a bit of history. The park was created on the site of the old Citroën factory, built in 1915 by André Citroën on the banks of the Seine, operating it until it closed in the 1970s.

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Lets Go To Paris

by Frenchie on November 13, 2008


Everyone knows about France’s rich and colourful history with regards to the monarchy. The bloody decapitation in 1793 of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, infamous for her line “Let them eat cake” and of course, the proclamation of the French revolution in 1789.

Central to the French revolution was the city of Paris. The place where the hunger was epidemic, people were angry, and the symbol of power and wealth of the few, poverty for the masses. The King and Queen were safe in their Palace in Versailles, and as you can imagine, with the power, wealth and well documented greed of Marie Antoinette in particular, Versailles was the height of luxury. So much so in fact, that Versailles has become, over the centuries, the most sumptuously clad château in the world, absurdly over the top, but a definite must see on a trip to Paris.

This beautiful place is perfect for a weekend trip if you are staying in Paris accommodation, as it is not far away (roughly an hours drive) and means you can get away from the hustle and bustle of inner city Paris. Ostentatious does not really describe the luxury of the palace and gardens, with beautifully decorated rooms inside, walls embellished with tapestries and gold leaf and the “Hall of Mirrors” – a dazzling 73 metre gallery overlooking the garden, hung with chandeliers. Commissioned in 1678 by Louis XVI and decorated by Le Brun with scenes from the emperor’s reign, it has a staggering 357 mirrors lining its walls.

Another interesting sight to see in Versaille is the Grand Trianon, Petit Trainon and Domaine de Marie-Antionette. This is where in 1678 Hardouin-Mansart built the pink marble Grand Trianon in the north of the park, away from the court. Louis XVI took his mistress and secret second wife here. As well as this, The Petit Trainon, built for Louis XVI’s second mistress, is beautiful and definitely worth seeing. Finally, and perhaps most interestingly is Marie Antoinette’s Domaine. This hide away given as a wedding present to Marie Antoinette by the King in 1774, was where Marie Antoinette escaped from court to play in her little model village and included a chapel, a theatre and a farm and dairy where she pretended to be a humble milkmaid. This is now open to the public and iPod guides are available.

So, make sure you leave your apartment in Paris or hotels Paris for the day and take a trip to this fantastic place!

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Festivals and events not to miss on your holiday in France

by admin on September 19, 2008


events festivals france paris mont martre

No matter what time of year you go, where in France you find yourself, you will undoubtedly run into a myriad of festivals, fairs and events. It’s what France loves.

Big cultural cities and small rural villages all enjoy year round festivities, each specialising in their own favorites. Some of the ones you definitely do not want to miss are the Tour de France, one of the key festivities of France.

The Cannes Film Festival is a must see, the biggest names in movies and art films will all be there as they parade and mingle with you while you sip drink café au lait on the beach.

The Beaujolais Nouveau begins at the coming of midnight in celebration of this regions wine.

The Carnaval of Nice is a ten day event with street theatre, parades, concerts and more. Basitille Day is perhaps one of Frances most famous events; it may need to top your list.

However, if you can be in France for during New Year’s Eve, be rewarded whether you’re in Paris celebrating among the club scenes or in the countryside and any of France’s premier vineyards, perhaps at Loire Castle or the Pyrenees.

But find yourself in France, anywhere, any time and you will be bountiful with jazz festivals, theatre celebrations, fairs and parades to help you enjoy your holiday.

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How to get around French Cities

by admin on September 18, 2008


champs elyses paris

From city to city there is always a plane. It can be expensive but it is quick and convenient. Paris has flights in and out of most all cities and villages you would want to visit.

One of the most common ways to get around France is by rail. Highly recommended. On the schedules, you will commonly see a bicycle symbol, this means that you can carry a bicycle on board the railway with you. Bicycling is still one of the most popular ways to travel in France and many commute long distances by bicycling the short distances to the railways to take the longer journeys by. In countryside areas of France, you may find the railway doesn’t go that far.

However do not despair, there will be buses to aid you in your journey. You can always hire a car. It will be more convenient, giving you exclusive freedom, but it will be expensive and finding a car park may not always be that easy to obtain.

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Best ways to get to France

by admin on September 17, 2008


st tropez france

The quickest and easiest way is always by air. No matter where you are in the world or which part of France you desire to go to, there is always a plane travelling to and from. But if you can, and you’re coming from abroad, take more time to travel to France and cruise.

If you are coming from the UK, there is no better way to get to France than by Eurostar, or Euro tunnel. Departing from Kings Cross St Pancraas, the Eurostar takes just over two hours to get to the center of Paris.

From other european destinations, its easy to get to France by rail and coach.

There are a lot of really fine cruise ships and lower key affordable cruise ships to choose from. Whichever your flavor, a cruise is a holiday in itself with the reward of France at the end. However if you are already in Europe or choose to fly to some other part of Europe before entering France, then by all means take a slower journey to France by rail.

Yes it will take longer and add days to your holiday but there is nothing more rewarding than the countryside by rail.

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How to visit France in a week

by admin on September 15, 2008


france in a week paris louvre

Doing France in a week can seem intimidated, 2500KM, but it will be eventful without missing the golden coasts, the spectacular views or the fine cuisine.

Begin your week in Calais where you will become mesmerised by the picturesque countryside that stretches between you and Dover on the Cote dOpale, do not feel ashamed to fall in love. You will then journey southwest to the Rouen Cathedral, a majestic and awe-inspiring tour.

Do not neglect the opportunity to lunch on some of the finest seafood in France in Dieppe and stop for a comforting stroll in Etretat on the Cote dAlbatre with your favorite French wine.Your first evening will be spent at Honfleur, Deauville or Trouville resort; either of these sea-side beauties will enchant your dreams in the most luxurious night ever.

Begin day two with a bit of history and tour the beaches of Normandy reliving D-Day but do not neglect the Mont St Michel abbey. Time yourself so that you do not miss a brief sail to Ile dOusessant from Brest or Camaret. Or if you prefer, find yourself climbing and exploring on the quaintly remote Belle Ile, beautiful.

Then have yourself a convertible for a long drive south along the coast, passing through La Rochelle on the Bay of Biscayne don’t miss La Rochelle’s main feature, the Vieux Por. Enjoy an evening meal here and remember that here is where you can feast on the finest seafood and oyster in the world.

Then find yourself in Royan, ferry to the Soulac-sur-Mer and discover all its secrets before moving on to Bordeaux where you will stay the night. While in Bordeaux do not forget about the 350 historical museums, take in its 18th century architecture, its vineyards and night life.

The next day you will continue on to Toulouse and Carcassonne onward to the Mediterranean Sea. The Camargue is home to more than 400 species of birds including hordes of beautiful Flamingoes awaiting your camera, but do not neglect the wild bulls and horses. Explore the natural park area between Camargue and Marseille where you can take in the world reknown music Marseille has to offer.

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