Maison de l'Amerique Latine

Wedding Ceremony

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Welcome Party

Please stop by the Hoxton hotel on Thursday January 22nd for drinks and light dinner any time between 5:30-9:30pm. We cannot wait to welcome you to Paris. The dress code is casual.

Wedding Dress Code

Black tie is required. This is a tuxedo for men and a long gown for women.

Wedding Day Schedule

Please arrive to the Maison de l'Amerique Latine in Saint-Germain at 5pm. Note: you will enter the private courtyard at 1 Rue Saint-Dominique, as opposed to the public main entrance further east. You should see a vintage car in the courtyard. The wedding ceremony will begin upstairs promptly. After the ceremony concludes, we will begin the evening with apero and hors d'oeuvres. We will then go upstairs for a seated dinner before kicking off the dancing! We have privatized the Maison de l'Amerique Latine until 2am.

contact info

Please reach out. Mercer lived in France for many years and no question is too big or small. She is also happy to advise on where to stay. Ask her parents or the Parmenters for her phone number if you do not have it!

Info

Photos

Bridesmaids

Caroline Weber

Mary Mac Starke

Ana Finotti

Avery Palmer

Catherine O'Brien

Erin Garry

Isabella Parmenter

Lucy Parmenter

Madison Flynn

Michelle Doyle

Groomsmen

Nolan Parmenter

Hardt Peek

Jack Flynn

Brady Anderson

Carter Bradsky

Connor Karo

Jon Woodward

Matthew Rickman

Nico Dennis

Richard Benson

Wedding Party

What are the entry requirements to France?

Your passport must be valid for three months after the date of your return to the United States. For example, if you are returning Sunday January 25th, it will need to be valid through April 25th. If you need to renew/apply for a passport, we recommend you begin the process immediately - it can take a while.

How do i get to the city center from the airport?

We recommend a taxi, as they are price controlled at 56€ to the right bank and 65€ to the left bank. Taxis are required to use the official taxi queues - do not get in any other car. You can also call an Uber, but the taxi queue is easier. We do not recommend the RER B train into the city - it's slow and difficult to navigate.

where in the city should i stay?

The reception is in St Germain, in the 6th. We recommend staying here if you plan to be at the reception late. It’s a great area to hang out, go to museums, eat, and drink. Also, it’s where we met! The wedding ceremony is in the 8th arrondissement near the Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe. There are lots of hotels here, though it is a walk or a metro to most other tourist attractions. Other areas we recommend : the 1st arrondissement by the Louvre; the 7th near Rue St Dominique and the Eiffel Tower; the 3rd in the Marais. The Marais is young, fun, and gets busy and loud on the weekends. Please reach out to Mercer if you would like help.

how should i get around?

Paris is very walkable, and it’s our favorite way to get places! If you are looking to explore Paris on foot, we recommend staying near the Louvre (1st arrondissement) or in St Germain (6th arrondissement). Taxis are faster than Uber, though Uber is also easy. The metro is safe and efficient. Pickpocketing happens, so keep an eye on your bags.

Safety

Paris is safe for a big city, but a big city nonetheless. The only area we really recommend avoiding is Boulevard Rochechouart/the base of Montmartre at night. Violent crime is rare, but theft is rampant. Keep a hand on your belongings, especially on the metro and in crowded areas. French doors "lock" when you pull them closed, but they can be popped open easily, and thieves know it. You must turn the key and bolt your front door when you leave. (That said, since they latch when closed, make sure you are holding your key when you leave). There is a fair amount of fraud, even within platforms like Airbnb. Trust your gut and do not rebook if the host cancels. Please feel free to contact Mercer for a second opinion if anything feels out of the ordinary.

hotel or airbnb?

Both are great - it's personal preference. You will have more options in the sub-$300 range renting a place, though fair warning that European apartments can be quirky! Do not assume you will have an elevator, washing machine, dryer, air conditioning, or dishwasher. Airbnb hosts are less responsive than in the U.S. For this reason we have had better luck with Marriott Homes and Villas properties than Airbnb/VRBO.&nbsp;If modern amenities are your priority, we recommend a hotel. We have included some suggestions below.

Lovely and traditional hotel in St. Germain, a 5-minute walk from the reception. Our parents and many guests are staying here.

Hotel Pont Royal

Elegant hotel in Saint Germain, also a 5-minute walk from the reception. We have had friends' parents stay here and enjoy.

Le Grand Hôtel Cayré

Boutique hotel in the centrally located 2nd arrondissement. Lots of Parisian charm while still offering spacious rooms and modern amenities. We stay here often and adore it.

Hôtel Bachaumont

We love the Hoxton so much that we are having our welcome party here! Great energy and communal spaces. Worth the price if you need a home base or somewhere to work remotely.

The Hoxton, Paris

Travel/Hotels

The building was a train station before being converted into one of our favorite museums. They're best known for their Impressionist collection, though they have plenty of other media and genres. Worth going just for the architecture and views over the Seine!

Musée d'Orsay

The Bon Marche was the world's first department store! Today it is owned by LVMH and has an fun and eclectic selection of fashion, home goods, cosmetics, etc. We really like the paper goods area in the back corner of the top floor.

Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche

The Grand Epicerie is our favorite place in the city. It's a giant fancy grocery store/food market with pretty much everything you could ever want to eat. Their cheese counter, bakery, and produce section are notable. They also have a pre-prepared area that's great for an easy lunch. They're part of and next door to the Bon Marche. Excellent for souvenirs to bring home. Last fact - their wine cave is the largest in Paris!

La Grande Épicerie de Paris

Charles Garnier won the commission to design this opera and ballet venue in 1858. If you want to see the Opera or Ballet, we highly recommend you book at this venue (they also perform at Bastille). You can also buy a ticket to just walk around - doesn't take more than half an hour and so beautiful to see. CoCo is a fun bar and restaurant in the building for lunch or a drink afterwards.

Palais Garnier

This is a classic Parisian market street with all the shops - cheese store, wine store, bakery, fruit store, seafood store, etc. There are great restaurants and boutiques on the side streets connecting it to Rue Montmartre. A lovely area to stroll and have a meal or drink. It's not far from the Louvre and a nice change of pace when you finish with the museum.

Rue Montorgueil

This is another fun area with lots of restaurants, boutiques, and museums. We love to shop and explore here. Places des Voges is a historic square with a lovely little park (Victor Hugo lived here). Flux is a cool concept store with a bunch of little shops concentrated on one street. The Picasso museum is great if you're a fan of his work. The Marche des Enfants Rouges is an outdoor food market with lots of excellent restaurant stalls. The falafel place on Rue des Rosiers is worth the hype.

Le Marais

Sylvia Beach founded this bookstore in 1919 and it became a gathering spot for the Lost Generation - Hemingway, Fitzgerald, James Joyce, Gertrude Stein, and more. It closed in WWII and was reopened after the war by American bookseller George Whitman. He instituted the "tumbleweed" policy still in place today - young artists are welcome to sleep in the beds upstairs in exchange for help around the store. A rare spot to buy English books (Galignani and Smith &amp; Sons sell them as well).

Shakespeare and Company

Activities in Paris

DINNER

1. Willi's Wine Bar : (confusingly, a restaurant). Owned by a British expat and easy for English-speakers to navigate. They serve classic European food and have an extensive and reasonably priced wine list. The roasted guinea fowl is excellent, if it's in season. <a href="https://www.williswinebar.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.williswinebar.com/</a> 2. Le Bon Georges : The quintessential French restaurant. All their ingredients come from local producers and the menu changes daily based on whatever is available at the market. Their wine selection is unparalleled. Make a reservation 2+ weeks in advance. <a href="https://www.lebongeorges.paris/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.lebongeorges.paris/</a> 3. La Boissonnerie : A great local bistro in Saint Germain with a small and constantly changing menu. The logo is confusing - they are not a seafood restaurant. <a href="https://www.fishlaboissonnerie.com/en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.fishlaboissonnerie.com/en</a> 4. Les Philosophes : Old-school, classic French food done well and for a reasonable price. Their owner was the first to ensure 100% of their food was made in house and pioneered an official certification for restaurants who do the same. Look for the "Fait Maison" icon on menus! <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/nation/restaurants/les-philosophes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/nation/restaurants/les-philosophes</a> 5. Gigi : Fancy Italian with incredible views of the Eiffel tower. You cannot get in without a reservation, and booking opens online two weeks in advance. Great atmosphere for a treat dinner. <a href="https://gigi-restaurant.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://gigi-restaurant.com/</a> 6. Restaurant le 122 : Local place with lighter, more modern French food. Very reasonably priced with an interesting wine list. <a href="https://www.restaurant-le122.fr/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.restaurant-le122.fr/en/</a>

Wine and cocktails

1. O'Chateau : Wine bar near the Louvre with heavy small plates. They do wine tastings in English that our friends have really enjoyed. 2. Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels : Vibey wine bar in St Germain. Reservations recommended. 3. Experimental Cocktail Club : Speakeasy-type vibe - the entrance is unmarked but you'll see a doorman in the street. Great craft cocktails. 4. L'avant Comptoir du Marche : Casual wine bar in the corner of a food market. You order at the bar and hang out outside. Great music and small plates, always a happening scene. 5. Le Bar du Marche : An institution on the corner of rue de Seine and rue Buci. The ultimate Parisian sidewalk cafe, perfect for a glass of wine and people watching.

LUNCH/CAFES

1. Cafe Varenne : Go for the roasted chicken, in Saint Germain2. Les Antiquaires : Sidewalk cafe, in Saint Germain3. Lezard Cafe : Sidewalk cafe, near rue Montorgueil4. Au 35 : Little spot with French classics, in Saint Germain5. Le d'Argout : Organic bowls/soup for when you need a break from the butter! near rue Montergueil6. Florence Kahn : Jewish deli, the Marais7. Capri Saint Honore : Honorable mention for the Ceasar salad and gorgonzola fries, near the Louvre

COFFEE SHOPS

1. Strada Cafe : 24 Rue Monge, in the 5th2. Cafe Kitsune : multiple locations near the Louvre3. Noir : 9 rue des Luynes, in St Germain4. Matamata : 58 rue d'Argout, near rue Montorgueil5. Terres de Cafe : One in the Marais, one by the Eiffel Tower

Notes

If you want to visit a particular restaurant, make a reservation. Parisian restaurants are small and fill up quickly. It is normal for kitchens to close in between lunch and dinner, so plan accordingly. Lunch service ends around 2:30pm and dinner service starts around 7pm. French waiters earn a living wage and do not need tips. Therefore, service is often slower - which gives you time to soak it all in!

Mercer & Rowan

Mercer & Rowan

Photos