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31/07/2008, 12:43 Val_2 Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 3,194 Re: Anti climax. Its the same in this village. Our last curé died some seven years ago and so one from another commune would come every so often to do the masses and funerals here and share himself about. He has now gone and the last funeral I went to a few months back, my friend the deputy maire was doing all the singing and a nun was taking the service. When an english friend here died, I organised the funeral service with the curé for the parish and we were given carte blanche to do what we wanted apart from the obligatory catholic phrases that had to be said even though none of us brits in attendance were catholic. Myself and the curé sorted out some music tapes and during the service we all just sat and listened and felt very spiritually moved by the peace and we didn't have all the paraphanalia of the incense etc. Going back to the wedding, I have to say though at least it is not something that has priced itself out of the market here compared to the sort of do's you see and hear about in the UK so everyone can afford to be legally married. Even the reception was very much a home made affair with f riends doing the cooking, the family supplying the booze from the local co-operative supplier and their children and friends acting as waiters etc. The music was provided by a computer where anyone could go up and choose from the thousands of downloads to play and everyone was asked to give a donation towards a honeymoon later on rather than presents which after 27 years they wouldn't really want.    Report

31/07/2008, 16:37 Albert the InfoGipsy Joined on 01/07/2006 Séné (56) Posts 933 Re: Anti climax.  Callie wrote: We went to one hilarious French wedding where the couple's 3 year old daughter was a bridesmaid.  The priest talked about "putting the cart before the horse" as the little girl skipped down the aisle.  In fact the groom was not the father ! ! ! My brother in law and his long-term concubine were married by their 12 year old son. Apparently he is the "children's councillor" on the conseil municipal and the maire declared him an adjoint and passed over the tricolor sash. He's a very studious, serious little boy and got the whole thing right. Albert the InfoGipsy "So welcome to the Citadel where the question is 'Am I?'"    Report

31/07/2008, 22:03 AnOther Joined on 05/12/2006 Mer du Nord/W of Cahors (46) Posts 7,394 Re: Anti climax.  Val_2 wrote: just as though we had been to hand in a Permis de Construire Nice touch of subtle humour in your metaphor When everybody is saying the same thing it's usually time to ask if they know what they are saying.    Report

01/08/2008, 8:24 Lisleoise Joined on 15/12/2005 Périgord Vert (NW Dordogne) Posts 1,068 Re: Anti climax.  Clarkkent wrote: In my village the church is owned by the commune, Just for info, all churches are owned by the commune since the 'loi du 9 décembre 1905' when the state and the church were seperated and the state took charge of the upkeep of the church buildings.  In our village we've just re-enacted the Banquet de la Paix which was held in 1908 following a few years of wrangling and arguments during the Inventaire that each commune had to do. I've been to a few Mairie weddings now, and yes the ceremony is over very quickly.  The last one, a couple of weeks ago, was taken by one of the Maire Adjoints (his first wedding ceremony) because the Maire was away on holiday.  The MA and the couple are all friends and it was a lovely ceremony because he was able to inject some personal emotion into the cermony. Rings are not necessarily exchanged at the Mairie service, usually during a following Church ceremony or as in the case of my friends last summer, during a very beautiful ceremony in the gardens where they had their reception. Susie    Report

05/08/2008, 19:47 Jura Joined on 28/11/2005 Posts 816 Re: Anti climax. I agree with Lisleoise; our friends were married here two years ago and the Maire made a wonderful event of the proceedings. I think it all comes down to attitude on the part of the Maire. Maybe this particular Maire considers wedding ceremonies as just another part of the job? which would be a shame. On the other hand some Priests, Vicars and Reverends can be incredibly boring conducting a wedding ceremony whereas others add a touch of humour and sentimentality to the occasion and make it memorable for all concerned.  A wedding ceremony should be just that...a 'memorable occasion'. Personally I think the only way to marry is through the church - a wedding should be a spiritual thing rather than a civil situation...but as a divorced Catholic I think I am out of the race for a second chance at such...so it is 'living in sin' for me for quite a while yet So I'll enjoy it while it lasts      Report

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France ForumLeisure and Pas...Getting Married...Anti climax.

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