"Don't Worry, Be Happy"

A beautiful, clear jazz voice singing, "Don't Worry, Be Happy," is not what I expected to encounter on my journey here in Paris-- neither did I expect to have the experience of a French-African wedding, but both were great surprises and boy do the French know how to celebrate!


I have attended as well as participated in many weddings throughout my life. I think it comes with my age, my work with college students and well... just that time of life. Just this summer, I sang for a wedding in Maine (congratulations Hannah and Brett) and was honored to stand as a maid-of-honor in Chicago (congratulations Anna and Jeremy). Weddings in the states are beautiful. The bride is always a princess and the flowers, decorations, and food is amazing. The difference is the time. The service of this French-African wedding began at 4:30 pm and I think we crawled into bed at around 4:00 am (which I was told was an early night for a French wedding and did not include the legal contract at the town hall).

In France, couples are married legally by the government prior to the religious service (if there is one). Unlike the states, A priest or pastor cannot pronouce a couple husband and wife only a governmental official can, so the service is a time of worship and dedication of the couple to one another and to God with friends and family standing as witnesses. This wedding was between a French man and a woman from the Ivory Coast in Africa- both beautiful and both musicians. This couple was gracious enough to let me attend their day as a friend of Summer's. Infact, my nametag read, "L'amie de Summer, Americaine."

The day was full of a variety of styles of music. The service included everything from, My Father's House--sung in English, to Lord , Your are More Precious than Silver-- translated into French, to African, hand-clapping, rhythmic, dancing music of praise to God. The evening reception included several jazz selections, including, "Don't Worry, Be Happy," sung by a very talented jazz vocalist, the humorous retelling of the groom's life, and a rendition of stomp as friends and family banged out various rhythms on pots, pans, ladders, glasses, etc... And then, there was the dancing...

We danced the evening away to French techno, African sounds, American oldies, Salsa selections and much, much more. Hands clapping, bodies jumping and hands waving, guests were completely absorbed into one large, syncronized dance. I concluded that rhythm and dance are universal languages bringing smiles and laughs to people of all tongues and nations and easily disregarding langage barriers. And, I found myself having many, "I am in France at a French wedding moments"-- laughing hysterically at myself on the dance floor.

Having been warned in advance of the length of French weddings, I was disappointed at 3:30 when our hosts said it was time to go. Finishing by dancing to Great Balls of Fire, I dragged myself off the dance floor. Maybe someday I will get the honor of attending another French wedding and an excuse (as if I need one) to return to Paris!