Getting legally married in France
June 16, 2014
We get a lot of emails asking about how to marry in France. So I wanted to talk today about what it’s like and the ways to have a wedding in Paris and other cities in France.
Ok, so lets start off with the not so nice stuff:
French bureaucracy is known to be rigid, and there are many stipulations for getting legally married in France. For couples visiting from abroad, the most problematic is that you have to be a legal resident for 40 consecutive days before you can marry.
Gasp!
Yes Yes I know – lots and lots of red tape – but getting married in France can be done.
The nicer stuff:
Most couples get around this by getting legally married at home, before having their wedding – with a symbolic ceremony – here in France. And even among the French themselves, this is not uncommon. Not only do most couples wed here – they make a wholesome celebration of love, travel and fun! Making a European honeymoon and vacation out of it.
What is a symbolic ceremony?:
Traditionally, you can only get legally married at the town hall in France (Le Mairie) – church weddings can only be symbolic – so many French couples choose to do the civil ceremony beforehand, and then have friends and family attend their symbolic wedding later.
With a symbolic ceremony, you would receive a certificate stating that you had your wedding in Paris, and they can take place in any location – you’re not confined to the Mairie.
photo by Thierry Joubert. Calligraphy by Melissa Zehner