Wedding in France
Having your wedding in France is bound to add an extra touch of romance to your day.
If anyone asked me for my number one choice for a wedding destination abroad, the honours would have to go to France. Okay…there may be a slight bias here as it was the setting for my own wedding abroad. However that aside, I am certain if you have your wedding in France you will be guaranteed stunning scenery, fine wine and food, impeccable service, style, sophistication and an extra sprinkling of romance!
France is a truly wonderful destination for a wedding abroad and I know you and your guests will be captivated by its charms. In fact if you choose to have your wedding in France one of the most challenging aspects is deciding which of the many beautiful locations and venues will set the scene for your big day.
Unfortunately France has some of the most stringent residency requirements of all the European countries, as such, many couples who would have otherwise chosen to get married in France choose an alternative destination.
My advice is that you don’t have to let the residency requirements stand in the way of having your dream wedding in France. My husband and I certainly didn’t, we opted to have a “secret” civil ceremony in the United Kingdom prior to our wedding day and then had a highly personalised humanist wedding ceremony on the day of our wedding.
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Real Experiences! Here’s why other couples chose to have their wedding in France.
We wanted our wedding to be different to a traditional UK wedding and we certainly succeeded in our aim. There were so many special little things that happened that made our day unique. Things we felt made our wedding better; weather, cost, venue, civil ceremony and being able to buy our own local wine!
Jane & Graham, United Kingdom, September 2005
I used to live in France and my parents still do. The financial aspect (getting more for your money and of a better quality) also played a role, as did the location and flexibility of service.
Lydia & David, United Kingdom, July 2005
Sentimental reasons. We have a family home there and really wanted to hold a blessing there. I think it may have been easier to organise our wedding in the UK but I would have not have been as inspired to make it as brilliant.
Charlotte & Christian, United Kingdom, June 2005
We love the French countryside, wine, food and culture and wanted our wedding to be truly unique. Our wedding ceremony was conducted in the roof space of a 13th century Chateau, we would have never been able to do at home! It also gave us the opportunity to spend more time with our guests and extend our celebrations over three days.
Natalie & Simon, United Kingdom, September 2004
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The following pages have been designed to provide advice and information on getting married in France.
The Legal Requirements for Getting Married in France
The legal requirements and documentation required for your marriage to be legally binding are outlined here.
Wedding Ceremonies in France
The details of the different types of wedding ceremonies you can have in France are outlined here.
Recommended Wedding Planners in France
Are you looking for a great wedding planner to help you organise your wedding in France? Listed here are planners who offer a very tailored and personalised service.
Real Weddings in France
Couples who got married in France have kindly volunteered to share their stories and photographs of their wedding days. I’m sure their beautiful weddings abroad will provide you with inspiration and ideas for your own wedding in France.
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Real Advice! Advice from couples who had their weddings in France.
- Make an effort to learn the language – it is very flattering to the people you will get involved with and it helps a lot. In France a wedding is a community project and it was really important for us to involve as many local people as possible.
- Get the legalities right – it could be disastrous if you find 3 weeks before the wedding that you can’t get married and people have booked flights and accommodation.
- Send out a list of potential properties to guests as soon as possible (go and view them if possible first) and get flight details from all your home airports.
- Don’t expect things to work the same way as they do in your home country. Ask as many questions as many times as you need to in order to make sure you get the answers you need.
- Don’t let the residency requirements discourage you from having your wedding in France. Consider alternative options such as a blessing or a humanist wedding ceremony before settling on a different location.
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