EN 
FR 
As the 2017 season draws to a close,
and the wedding fair season has begun,
the film ‘Le sens de la fête’ has been released in cinemas.
It is not the first French film of the year to be set at a wedding, as I had already seen ‘D-Day’ in the spring. I was struck by the lack of knowledge of secular ceremonies in this film and the way they were portrayed, but I did have a good laugh.
As I love my job, weddings and laughing, I naturally went to see this film (with another wedding service provider, of course!), with the following questions in mind:
- Will we see a series of clichés?
- Will the organiser end up going out with the bride or groom?
- Will I recognise the behind-the-scenes of the wedding?
- Will I like this film?
As a great reporter, here is my debrief 😉
Will we see a series of clichés?
The film is interesting because it plays with certain clichés, sometimes emphasising them, but it also shows aspects of the organisation that are not necessarily discussed :
- The number of undeclared service providers: the film launches the debate on the (administrative and financial) difficulties of hiring extras for small organisations. I am not concerned because I do not hire and I am always declared, but among all the wedding service providers, some are not declared: that many? I don't think so. I think it is also up to the bride and groom to take an interest in the working conditions of the people they hire. For example, constantly driving prices downwards sometimes leads service providers to try to circumvent the law, and this is not healthy either for the economy or for the market because prices are levelled downwards, nor for the workers because they are not protected.
- The character of wedding service providers: no, DJs and bands are not necessarily megalomaniacs and photographers are not moon-faced characters. As in life, there are all kinds of personalities in these professions and it is up to the bride and groom to choose the service providers that suit them.
- Still on the photographer: I have never seen a photographer work as little as in this film and it made me laugh. At a wedding, the photographer is the person who runs around carrying heavy equipment, with no time to sit down or enjoy the buffet!
- I liked the little glimpse of the caterers's meal platters: the bride and groom don't necessarily imagine what the caterers’ meal is like or haven't thought about this logistical and invisible detail of their wedding. However, on long days like weddings, the meal is important because you have to keep up the pace. According to the caterers, the service packages are more or less well organised: dear bride and groom, please consider this aspect of your wedding so that everyone can work in good conditions.
- The guest behaviour can be difficult for service providers:
- guests who take the DJ or the band for a jukebox: the service providers are professionals and the atmosphere of the evening depends on them: they cannot play anything and everything, in any order and at any time!
- Guests taking photos (with their camera or phone) , it's so true! A photographer is paid for this, the photos will be put online and the bride and groom want beautiful photos: Please do not disturb the photographer, do not call out to the bride and groom to look at you when the photographer is already taking the photo, do not stand in the photographer's frame.
Will the organiser go out with the bride or groom?
This question may seem shocking, but films love to do this to my greatest despair, because it really gives a bad image of wedding service providers - see ‘A Perfect Wedding’ (2001), ‘Jour J’ (2017).
In this film, I had a moment of fright but everything is fine and the ethics are emphasised.
On the other hand, I also wanted to clarify: no, wedding service providers do not necessarily date each other. Some are already married and work together, I imagine there are also encounters sometimes, as in any job sinceone in four French people already fell in love at work ( 2015 study) but during the wedding, it's quite intense, not necessarily time to fool around.
Will I recognise the behind-the-scenes of the wedding?
At first, I was shocked to see so much animosity and tension between the service providers. No, I didn't recognise at all what I saw at weddings, and fortunately so!
In fact, the film starts like that to show a progression, to make the film earthy and less smooth than reality (oh yes, if everything went well, there wouldn't be a film!).
In all my years of working in weddings, I have mainly seen mutual support, it is a real teamwork in the service of the bride and groom..
Thanks to all the service providers with whom I work, who help me and work by my side:
- The decorators and florists for their creativity
- The service providers who naturally give me a hand carrying my equipment
- The DJs and bands who accompany the speeches and create the atmosphere
- The caterers and managers of nearby venues who help out with the unexpected in the middle of the night (that's when I was an organiser, but I will be eternally grateful to them)
- The photographers and videographers who always have an eye and advice on how to make a scene even more beautiful
- The wedding planners who work to ensure that the bride and groom are happy AND that the service providers are fulfilled
- The owners or managers of reception venues who try to adapt to the most original requests
Will I like "Le sens de la fête"
Definitely yeeees! I honestly had a good laugh, I loved the actors, especially Bacri's accuracy. Even though we are sometimes far from reality, at the end of the film we retain the essential: the passion and the sense of teamwork to make this day unforgettable for the bride and groom and their loved ones.
To conclude, I won't give too much away so that you can enjoy the film and be surprised. Whether you are service providers, married or about to get married, go and see the film and have fun!!
And you, have you seen it? Feel free to give me your opinion in the comments.
