Photo credit: One and Only Paris
Back in May, I attended a stunning wedding, seamlessly planned and organized by Kim Petyt right down to the last flower petal and champagne bottle. Kim is yet another ambitious expat entrepreneur in Paris who began her career in Chicago and successfully brought her burgeoning event planning to France ten years ago. Two children later and a feature in both the print and digital version of the New York Times T-Magazine, Kim continues to build her brand and get noticed. Her experience, professionalism and creativity shine in each of her events and I was thrilled to have gotten the chance to see her in action. Her business caters primarily to the English-speaking community in Paris (expats, short term residents, vistiors, etc.) and brings together traditional American party elements with Parisian elegance.
{If you’re interested in getting married in France, be sure to read her overview first.}
Photo credit: Studio Cabrelli
Describe what you love about France in three words.
Great health care.
Greatest difficulty and advantage of raising children in France?
The greatest difficulty for me is that they don’t share the connection I have to America – they are Franco-American but besides a few weeks in summer, plus occasional holidays where I force them to eat (and enjoy, damnit!) colorful, sweet foods containing large amounts of cinnamon – I think they think of America in the same way other French kids: a fantasy land like what they see in films and on television.
One of the greatest advantages is the level of education they receive for the amount of money that we pay. I’m constantly amazed at the depth and variety of our dinner conversations. They can go from color theory to Norse mythology and the Valkyries in a heartbeat – it’s hilarious!
Photo credit: Milos Horvat
Most unusual or amusing request from a couple planning to marry in France?
I receive a lot of very, very last minute requests from people, many of which happen to be pretty outlandish. People will say that they’ll be in Paris in two weeks and they’d like something “really simple” on the Eiffel Tower- with a golden arch and a violinist! A lot of the more bizarre requests tend to be from people who just aren’t familiar with the culture in France – people who want to rent out a restaurant but bring in their own chef. Or there was the couple that wanted to privatize the Jules Verne (editor’s note: Michelin starred restaurant in the Eiffel Tower with famed chef Alain Ducasse) but bring their own wine!
Photo credits (left, right): Photos Zhou, Arman Molavi
Favorite French film or novel?
I’d like to say Diva or Betty Blue are my absolute favorite French films but I have to admit that I haven’t seen either in something like twenty years! I love quirky French films –The City of Lost Children is the one that’s always stayed with me.
Recommended restaurant for a romantic outing?
For an “old world” romantic dinner in Paris, I’d say something like the Pré-Catalan or Le Grand Vefour. For the ultimate chic and modern romantic Paris restaurant, it must be Apicius, hands down!
