Petals, rice, wheat, seeds, confetti, glitter, soap bubbles... You see it all at a wedding. But in my experience, the more it flies, the better.
Ah, the age-old question of what to throw out at the end of the church, the town hall or at the end of the secular ceremony... I have to admit, I'd never really thought about what I preferred until one fine day in September, a week before his wedding to Korean bride Suwan at Château de la Roche Courbon, when Quentin called me to ask for my advice on the subject. Fresh from Hong Kong (where they live), the couple's first thought was lavender. Not too keen on the idea, which I'd tried out at Bérénice and Tupac's wedding a week before, I steered them towards bubbles. A mountain of bubbles.
On the big day, each guest was equipped with tubes, swords and even bubble guns. The result was everything I'd hoped for: magical. I still have fond memories of the event, not only because it was so much fun to see all the guests getting excited and producing bubbles, but above all because I was able to get some great photos in the idyllic setting of La Roche Courbon, under the majestic avenue of lime trees.
While I'm particularly fond of bubbles for their cheerful, childlike, colorful and nebulous side, which fits in particularly well with what I like to do in photos (expressions with big bokehs in the foreground or background), this doesn't stop me from appreciating a whole host of other ideas, which I'll detail in a moment.
- Flower petals
The great thing about flowers is that they come in all shapes and colors during the peak wedding seasons. In our latitudes, spring, summer and even autumn, all kinds of flowers can brighten up your ceremony. And fill the basket with petals to throw. Tulips, peonies, daffodils and gerberas come to mind. But the champion of the basket is, of course, the rose, which ticks all the boxes in the "flowers to throw" category.
"Rose petals have a very interesting volume, with this wavy side, but also a perfect size that allows them to be clearly visible without hiding the subject. They're a real eye-catcher. Another advantage: they hold up particularly well in the air (and over time, too, as they fade more slowly) compared with other species, which fade more quickly. Last but not least, you can mix different colors to achieve the mood you want," says Camille, a florist who guides brides and grooms better than anyone at her Atelier de Camille in Quinçay. To all these qualities, we can also add the symbolism of the rose, which has inspired so many poems about love.
As for flowers to avoid, I'd mention lavender. "It's a bit of a bad idea. On the surface, it's very pretty with its mauve-toned color, and what's more, it smells terribly good. But feedback has been rather disappointing," says Camille. The little grains get into your hair, your dress and your underwear. And sometimes it itches. For the photographer in me, lavender isn't particularly interesting because it's often thrown in too small quantities and not high enough, forming a swarm of spots on photos that I personally don't like.
CAMILLE'S TIP: If you don't feel like using fresh flowers during your wedding, you can always opt for dried flowers.
- Confetti
I've never been to a wedding where confetti was thrown. This practice, it seems to me, belongs to a bygone era when people were less concerned about respecting the planet. Not very refined, they have the enormous disadvantage of being tenacious, both in the hair and on the asphalt. So much so that many town halls have issued by-laws banning their use on wedding days. And if you suggest the idea to the landowner who welcomes you to his estate, it's doubtful he'll grant you the favor. In short, it's best to save confetti and glitter for the dancefloor!
- Rice, wheat
A symbol of life, prosperity and fertility, rice is a staple in the European collective imagination, as well as in certain countries where the cereal is the staple diet (India, Pakistan, Indonesia). But today, it is less and less present at weddings in Europe. Perhaps because, like confetti, many communes have banned its use. Apart from the obvious waste of food, many of them want to avoid the hordes of pigeons that love rice.
In the case of another cereal, like wheat for example, the problem is much the same.
- Candles
Seen on the blog greenpompon.com, the idea of candles at the end of a mass or secular ceremony can be excellent. In my opinion, it all depends on the weather conditions, because if the sun is shining brightly, the flames and their halo may not stand out. On the other hand, on a greyish overcast day, there's a good chance that a large number of candles will produce their wahoo effect. In the same vein, you can opt for torches with larger flames.
- The bubbles
As I said at the beginning of this article, soap bubbles are my favorite. I love the round, childlike look and the prism of colors they exude. Another advantage is that, unlike a heavy body like petals or seeds, they float in the air long enough for the photographer to frame the image. Play with different depths of field. But be careful, you'll need to brief your witnesses so that they pass on the word to the guests: when the time comes, we produce in industrial quantities! Too many weddings have three or four bubbles floating in the air. But if you want to get splendid photos of the moment, it's the mass effect that counts. If you want to save your lungs, I suggest you invest in one or more bubble machines, a kind of bubble gun.
- Balloons
At the end of the ceremony, why not give each guest a balloon? Today, balloons come in all sizes and colors, especially for weddings. More than just a decorative touch, they're a real eye-catcher, bringing joy and good cheer to the occasion. And, of course, they're a big hit with children, who can play with them for hours. What's more, they can be reused to decorate cocktail venues and dining rooms. But be careful not to let them fly away, or you'll never see them again... and pollute the environment.
How about a guard of honor?
It's a ritual often seen at weddings of firefighters, sailors, gendarmes or military personnel. The guard of honor is a solemn moment, and one whose codes and principles you can make your own. As I wrote above, I attended a hurdle of ski poles in honor of the mountaineer Olivier. The same thing could be done with roses, fleur-de-lys, torches or magic candles. Just be careful not to set fire to the bride's dress. However, it's important to remember that a bridal shower can't be improvised - it has to be prepared. If you don't want to make a flop of it, make sure it's well organized and that all the protagonists play their part.
Les Noces de Florent, your wedding photographer
A former journalist, I immortalize the biggest day of your life in photo or video. An enthusiast of reportage, I like to freeze for eternity the expressions and details that make up the most beautiful memories of a wedding. The ones that, caught on the spot, reveal a feeling, betray an emotion. As unique as it is fleeting, a wedding is a suspended moment in the story of a lifetime. So don't miss out on the memories that will last a lifetime. Les Noces de Florent is an experience. A unique vision for a unique day: yours.
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