Forget the 4th of July, the 14th is where it’s at with the French National holiday, Bastille Day. The holiday marks the storming of the Bastille back in 1789 and the start of the French Revolution, so while it’s been a hot minute since then, the partying is still going strong.
To celebrate in our own little way, we’ve turned this into a love affair, and put together a list of all the romantic French songs you can dance to at your wedding. So plug in your earphones, grab a tissue, and get listening, because these songs will have you all teary-eyed at the first note. Ah, l’amour.
Are you really pulling out the French guns if you haven’t considered this classic Édith Piaf song? La Vie en Rose is a gorgeous song for your slow dance, and it gives you the perfect opportunity to show off any of your dancing skills. Take a look at the translated lyrics to really feel all the romantic vibes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFzViYkZAz4
Charles Trenet’s La Mer is another classic that you can’t miss. If you’re after a bit of French but aren’t quite the connoisseur, this is a familiar tune that your guests will probably be able to pick up too. You’ll get your Parisian fix with this one, without making it too obscure.
If Céline Dion is your one true love that you know you need to include in your wedding, then look no further than one of her signature songs. Pour Que Tu M’aimes Encore isn’t as slow-placed and is pretty much about a woman pleading for her ex-lover, but hey, you can’t deny how romantic and passionate it is, and really, your guests probably won’t have a clue as to what she’s saying. We say go for it, it’s Céline.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB17FU1zs_g
French really is the language of love and this song by Lucienne Boyer is a testament to that. While her version of the song might sound a bit outdated, you can’t deny the beauty in this simple love ballad, and there are plenty of other singers who have covered the song. See Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy for a more contemporary, but no less beautiful take on an old classic.
For a much more current song than the previous options, French singer Christophe Mae brings you his lovely song, La Rumeur. It’s cute, fun, and catchy; at least, as catchy as can be when you can’t actually speak French.
Slow, sweet, and dreamy. Gloria Lasso’s Etrangère au Paradis is the perfect slow dance song, and honestly, we can’t get enough of it. Just imagine, you and your new husband are twirling ethereally around the dance floor while guests sip on flutes of champagne. Listen to this song, and you’ll be seeing the same image we are right now.
Look, we know we aren’t musicians, but those trumpets we think we’re hearing in Charles Aznavour’s song are giving us serious glitz and glam vibes. If this isn’t an absolute tune, then we don’t know what is. We’re swaying in our seats right now.
Written by Hanan Merheb
Cover photo by @challainchallain
