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French Connection: Jana & Doug in Lupiac, France

The day Doug Canfield proposed to Jana Kolpen, he suggested the perfect place for them to marry: Lupiac, in the Gascony region of France. “I had never dreamed of getting married in France but when Doug mentioned it, I knew it was right,” says Jana.
 

French Connection: Jana & Doug in Lupiac, France
To plan their French fete from their home in New York City, Jana and Doug called for some assistance. Their friends Claudia and Régis Meyer own an inn, the Domaine de Hongrie, not far from Pistoulet, and they agreed not only to host the reception but also to arrange local food and entertainment.
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French Connection: Jana & Doug in Lupiac, France
The day Doug Canfield proposed to Jana Kolpen, he suggested the perfect place for them to marry: Lupiac, in the Gascony region of France. “I had never dreamed of getting married in France but when Doug mentioned it, I knew it was right,” says Jana.  
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French Connection: Jana & Doug in Lupiac, France
After all, the village had played a big role in Jana’s life. There, in a friend’s farmhouse called Pistoulet, she had written a book called The Secrets of Pistoulet (Stewart, Tabori and Chang), inspired by the region.  
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French Connection: Jana & Doug in Lupiac, France
Domaine de Hongrie, a quaint country inn in southern France.
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French Connection: Jana & Doug in Lupiac, France
Together, Jana and Claudia came up with some creative décor ideas. Among them—using Pistoulet dishes throughout the celebration.
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French Connection: Jana & Doug in Lupiac, France

Jana and Doug’s biggest obstacle was dealing with the red tape involved in holding their nuptials in France. “For Americans, there’s an extreme amount of paperwork, and you have to get special approval from the French Consulate,” explains Jana.

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French Connection: Jana & Doug in Lupiac, France

On the wedding day, Jana and Doug arrived at the mayor’s office in a chauffeured Citroën, a classic French car.

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French Connection: Jana & Doug in Lupiac, France
Guests then traveled to Domaine de Hongrie, where a brass band of local young musicians played on the lawn. Everyone enjoyed champagne and foie gras on toast—and Jana and Doug shared their first dance to traditional marching-band-style music.
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French Connection: Jana & Doug in Lupiac, France

Afterward, the guests went to the inn’s terrace, helped themselves to a bountiful buffet of hors d’oeuvres and took their seats at tables covered with gingham tablecloths.

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