Paris has so many lovely little boutiques, cafes, shops, and galleries that we feel somewhat selfish not being able to share them with you, give you our view on the best the city has to offer.
Yes, we’re wedding planners and we want to keep our topics on this blog relevant to that. But come on, we’re also living in one of the best cities in the world!
We’re truly madly deeply in love with Paris. So in the spirit of spreading the cheer, we’ll be adding a new Post Series that will be focusing on the best of paris by arrondissement, quatier and types of places and activities called PARIS JE T’AIME.
Our first post in this series is from luxury French Tea Makers Mariage Freres.
When many people think of France they imagine the French sitting on terrace at sidewalk cafes, drinking a tiny espresso, smoking a cigarette, and looking fabulous. While this is actually quite often the case, it must be said that the French love their “thé” and “tisane”. They are are among the principal tea consumers in the world, alongside the Chinese and Japanese, with the average French person drinking about 100 cups a year.
In the best high-end Cafes and Tea Shops ( salons de thé) you will see that good tea that is synonymous with the name Mariage Frères.
 Photo by Mariage Freres A little History
In the 17th century, when European traders began to venture to India and the Far East, two Frenchmen, Nicolas and Pierre Mariage, decided to join along with the expeditions. On their trips with the French East India Company, they visited India, Persia, and Madagascar. These experiences led them to be involved in the international tea trade and consequently to establish a wholesale tea shop in Paris. Tea became the family business, as Nicolas and Pierre passed on their knowledge of the trade. More than a century later, Nicolas’ grandsons, Henri and Edouard Mariage, started the company Mariage Frères in 1854, specializing in wholesale teas and doing business exclusively with hotels and teashops in France. It was only recently in the 1980s that they decided to switch over to retail.
 Source: Mariagefreres.com
Mariage Freres Today
Today, Mariage Frères boasts an international reputation for producing some of the world’s best quality teas. With over 500 different varieties of tea grown in over 35 countries, the company truly has some spectacular brews to offer. There are only a few Mariage Frères tea salons in France, and three others in Japan, with several vendors in France, Germany, and Japan. Paris’s main department stores, such as Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marche, and Printemps, carry a large selection of the teas, which are all distributed in a charming apothecary style display.
The In-store Experience
You may purchase pre-packed tins or you pick out your teas on location and have them weighed and placed into sachets.
 Mariage Freres Apothecary Display While in Paris, you may visit and enjoy a cup of tea at any of the following locations:
- LE MARAIS 30 rue du Bourg-Tibourg, Paris 4e Tel. : +33(0)1 42 72 28 11
- THÉ FRANÇAIS 35 rue du Bourg-Tibourg, Paris 4e Phone. : +33(0)1 44 54 18 54
- PARFUM DU THÉ 32 rue du Bourg-Tibourg, Paris 4e Phone. : +33(0)1 42 72 57 25 Tuesday to Sunday
- RIVE GAUCHE 13 rue des Grands-Augustins, Paris 6e Phone. : +33(0)1 40 51 82 50
- ÉTOILE 260 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris 8e Phone. : +33(0)1 46 22 18 54
- LOUVRE Carrousel du Louvre Place de la Pyramide inversée 99, rue de Rivoli, Paris 1er Phone. : +33(0)1 40 20 18 54
- MADELEINE 17, Place de la Madeleine, Paris 8e Phone. : +33(0)1 42 68 18 54
American tea aficionados can purchase a variety of Mariage Freres teas on their website or at stores such as Williams Sonoma, Barneys NY and Dean & Deluca. :
 Marco Polo Tea
Wedding TIP
Are you having a French themed wedding?
If you want to give a wedding favor that is truly French, Mariage Frères teas are the way to go. The most well known of the collection is called Marco Polo, a delicious, aromatic black tea explained on their website as “a variety of Chinese and Tibetan fruits and flowers.” It is a tea that’s pretty much perfect. The combination of the high quality black tea with sweet flowers creates a remarkable experience to be relished in the afternoon or as a dessert tea. A lesser-known and arguably more delectable variety is Pleine Lune, which is a blend of “fruits, rare spices, and the sweet taste of honey.”
Do you have Saturday Night Plans in Paris?
If you’re in Paris this weekend, you must make it to this local art event!
Saturday night, Paris and other European cities are opening the doors to their museums, offering free admission to the public.
The 8th annual La Nuit Européenne des Musées is happening this Saturday evening, May 19, 2012.
How romantic would it be to Museum-Hop and stroll by the Seine after a sunset visit to the Musée d’Orsay? Have your own Midnight in Paris, discovering the city by night.
If you’re flying solo – let your hair down, round up some friends, and enjoy a night of free concerts, workshops, and exhibits.
With around 180 events throughout the city, there is sure to be something for everyone.
For more information, check out their official website here
No amount of planning can control the weather on your wedding day. We all know that Paris is a beautiful city. The Eiffel Tower, the view from Cafe de la Paix, the Seine: what’s not to love? However if it happens to rain on your wedding day in Paris, there are ways to save the day without letting the weather rain on your parade.
 Source: Olivier Lalin @ Weddinglight Paris There Are Many Parisian Ceremony Location Options
Are you the outdoorsy kind? Why not get married by the Seine. There are plenty of bridges and overpasses. Quai de la Tournelle is the embankment underneath Pont de l’Archevêché, the bridge with the famous “love locks” is both quirky and romantic. You can also enjoy a beautiful view of both Notre Dame and the river.
The Importance of a Great Wedding Photography On a Rainy Day
Luckily, Paris has many iconic and romantic backdrops for wedding photos. The typical Parisian architecture such as the Haussmann-style buildings lends a majestic look to even the gloomiest of days. If you are using one of our more experienced photographers, you’ll be whisked to the quaintest hidden areas that make for lovely photography regardless of weather.
 Passage du Grand Cerf - Rue Montorgeuil The lobbies of the most elegant hotels also create excellent backdrops, as most have marble floors, beautiful details, and high ceilings. There are a few hotels, centrally located in Paris that offer a picturesque backdrop, from their lobbies, staircases, and courtyards to their rooms.
 Source: Olivier Lalin @ Weddinglight Paris
TIPS
Paris is such an artisanal city that you will have no problems finding speciality umbrella makers. These handmade umbrellas are also picture perfect and make a great keepsake for you big day.
 Paris, France, 1959 by Elliott Erwin
Don’t be afraid of the rain, with a little help from your wedding planner and photographer your big day can still be smashing. Some of the best photos come from spontaneous shots. Be prepared to get wet, instead of fighting with mother nature let it work for you, play with the rain!
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What a better way to say I love you and propose than with a French engagement ring?
We ladies know that “A kiss on the hand may be quite continental but diamonds are a girl’s best friend…” and wouldn’t we all want to be swept off our feet with a luxurious Cartier engagement ring? Yes, please!
Today we wanted to continue with our TOP 5 PARIS picks and talk about some of the major names in the French jewelry (specifically engagement and wedding rings) industry. We’ve dug up some historical facts, recent news and thrown in a fun pronunciation guide that should have you sounding like a true Parisian in no time!
1. Cartier (pronounced Car-tee-eh)
Louis-Francois Cartier founded this luxury jewelry company Cartier in 1847 after taking over the workshop of Adolphe Picard. Established at 29, Rue Montorgueil in the 2nd arrondisment of Paris, the headquarters are still in the city, with an address on the elegant Rue de la Paix.
Since its beginning, Cartier has attracted high-profile clientele and royalty. The jewelry house became the official purveyor to the kings and heads of state of England, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Belgium, Serbia, and Siam.
 Evalyn Walsh McLean wearing the now famous HOPE diamond Cartier is also the maker of the famous Blue Hope Diamond, sold to American mining heiress and socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean in 1910. Harry Winston later purchased the necklace from Evalyn Walsh McLean in 1949 and donated to the Smithsonian Institution on November 10, 1958.
The creation of the Trinity in 1924, a “three-band ring and bracelet combining gold in three colors,” brought fame to Cartier once again. The style became very popular in Parisian society after Jean Cocteau adopted the design and is still one of the most popular statement of understated luxury.
Cartier’s history allows it to have an elaborate spread of stores around the world, plus historic collections of the pieces that are in metropolises like Paris, London, and New York. Their survival through world wars and economic crises have guaranteed them a place in the jewelry market forever, plus some of the best real estate in the city. One of their most famous boutiques is located at Place Vendome, a boutique they have had since 1899, which shares the plaza with the Ritz Paris (link back to other article), a Chanel boutique, Dior Jewelry, and Van Cleef & Arpels, another top French ring designer, two of which also made it to our list of Top French Wedding Ring Designers.
Cartier is the French power player in the jewelry world, whose elegance and style are matched by few.
2. Van Cleef & Arpels ( pronounced Von cleef eh Ar – pel)
Messieurs Alfred Van Cleef and Charles Arpels founded their namesake company, Van Cleef & Arpels, in 1896, opening their first store a decade later in the famed place Vendome in Paris. While Cartier has a patent on the “invisible mount,” Van Cleef & Arpels pioneered their own gem-setting technique, christened the “Mystery Setting.” The firm is known for their remarkable work with rare stones; their designs strive to enhance the gems themselves.
Those looking for an engagement ring from Paris, look no further.
One of their standout pieces include the engagement ring John F. Kennedy presented to Jacqueline Bouvier: one 2.88 carat diamond mounted next to a 2.84 carat cut emerald with tapered baguettes.
Van Cleef & Arpels boasts not only sophistication, like its neighbor Cartier, but also revolutionary designs and techniques.
Not to mention they are a staple on every single red carpet. Who remembers that green emerald necklace by Ginnifer Goodwin?
 Preparation photo of real wedding at the Ritz by Weddinglight Paris French Elegance at the Hotel Ritz Paris
When deciding on a wedding venue location, one of the most important elements is the romance factor. For some couples, it has to be a grandiose fairy tale wedding with all of the bells and whistles. Others wish for an intimate setting for only the two of them to revel in the magic of their day.
For both sides of the spectrum – and everything in between – the Hotel Ritz in Paris is the perfect setting for the most romantic day of your life.
Located near the Opéra Garnier, arguably one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, and in front of elegant column of Place Vendôme, the Hotel Ritz Paris is the perfect backdrop for your wedding and, of course, your wedding pictures.
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Closing and Renovation
However, for those wishing to indulge in this paradise, time is limited. The Hotel Ritz in Paris will be closing for two years beginning in August 2012 for some much-needed renovations. The last upgrades took place in 1979, and the owner, Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, has planned to make many changes, while maintaining the integrity of the architecture and style of the Ritz. Winner of the €140-million bid on the project, Bouygues Construction will be spearheading the remodeling, working with designer Thierry W. Despont.
According to Forbes.com, refurbishments include a full technological upgrade, an extension of the ballroom, additional suites, and a new summer restaurant with a retractable glass roof. During the restorations, the hotel’s restaurant and prestigious culinary school will also be closed. The new-and-improved Hotel Ritz Paris will reopen in 2014.
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by patricia
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