Let guests sample delicious French
cheeses.

Cheese & Champagne

Say fromage! You'll want to have a variety of French cheeses and champagnes at a Parisian wedding reception, and the choices are many. There are more than 400 local cheese varieties, and the same is true of France's famous export, wine. Myriad choices from 10 wine-producing regions include those from such areas as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, and Champagne, which have become popular worldwide.

If you can't visit a fromagerie, or French cheese shop, go to a local cheese store or a deli or supermarket specializing in cheese. There you can see beautiful wheels of cheese and get some expert advice. Choose a variety of cheese types and flavors. Order cheeses from a Web site.

 

Get the party started with fine
French wines.

There's an art to preparing cheeses for serving. The flavor of French cheese isn't always uniform, and it gets stronger the closer it is to the rind. No matter the shape -- small round or square, cylindrical, or cone-shape -- cut the slices or chunks to include a bit of rind. Label the choices with signs. Your guests will have fun exploring the subtleties of the cheeses.

Select a variety of champagnes for toasting your special day. Include a mix of brut (dry), extra dry (medium dry), sec (slightly sweet), demi-sec (fairly sweet), and doux (sweet) selections for your guests. Also offer bottled water and a nonalcoholic punch.