French Wedding Traditions – Flowers and Hope Chests

The idea of the bridal hope chest had its origins in France and comes from the word “trousseau” or bundle. This bundle was actually the pack of clothes the bride took to the new home that she was to share with her husband. Modern day hope chests are used to collect any manner of items, from linens to Sunday clothes that the bride saves for her wedding day.
In many French towns it is customary for the groom to meet the bride at her house and escort her to the church. On the way, cuttings of white ribbons are thrown at them, usually by children. The bride usually wore orange blossom; a symbol of virginity and it is still customary to wear fragrant flowers, which are also used in decorations and bouquets, in order for the scent to chase away evil spirits.
The couple stands beneath a silk canopy, called a carrel, during the vows. This is to protect the pair from bad luck and is kept for the baptism of the couple’s future children. As the newly wed couple leave the church, Laurel leaves are scattered outside the door. Particularly in southern France, it is traditional for coins to be thrown at children after the ceremony.
A two handed cup, called the Coupe de Marriage is used for the couple’s toast at the reception. Often this is handed down through several generations within the same family. The traditional wedding cake or croquembouche is made of tiny round pastry puffs, filled with cream, which are stacked in the shape of a pyramid and then glazed. At one time it was the norm for guests to bring small cakes to the reception and stack them on a table. The couple would then kiss over the top of them, bringing assurance of a long and happy life.