Getting married in France: legal rules, venues and suppliers

Getting married in France is entirely possible for foreign couples, but the legal side is stricter than many expect. The only legally valid wedding is a civil ceremony at the mairie (town hall), and at least one of you must usually live in that commune, for at least a month in some cases. That's why many international couples marry legally at home and then hold a symbolic ceremony and reception in France, with no residency requirement at all.

Here's how each option works, plus practical advice on choosing a region, a venue and suppliers who speak your language.

Getting married in France legally: the civil ceremony

In France, a wedding is a civil matter. The ceremony is conducted by the mayor or a deputy at the mairie, in front of witnesses, and it is the only form of marriage French law recognises. A religious ceremony can take place, but only after the civil one: a priest, rabbi or imam cannot marry you legally on their own.

So if you dream of a chapel or a château garden, the legal part still happens at the town hall, usually on the same day or shortly before.

The information below summarises the official rules on service-public.fr, the French government's public information site. It is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change and practice varies between communes, so always check with the mairie where you plan to marry, and with your own consulate.

Where you can marry: residence and domicile

You can't simply pick any picturesque village. You can marry in the commune where:

• one of you has their domicile (main home), or
• one of you has lived continuously for at least one month before the banns are published, or
• one of your parents lives.

For a couple living abroad with no family in France, this is usually the sticking point. A few days' holiday before the wedding is not enough. If neither of you meets one of these conditions, a legal wedding in France is generally not possible, and the symbolic route (below) is the practical answer.

Banns, hearing and documents

Banns

The banns (publication des bans) are a public notice of your intention to marry, posted at the mairie at least 10 days before the wedding. Once published, the wedding must take place within a year. Before the banns can go up, the mairie has to receive and check your full file, so submit it well in advance. Ask the mairie for their deadline as soon as you have a date.

The hearing

The registrar normally holds a hearing (audition) with the couple before the wedding. It's a routine check that both of you are freely consenting.

Documents

The exact list depends on your situation and nationality, but expect to provide:

• a copy of your birth certificate, issued less than 3 months before if French, or less than 6 months if issued abroad;
• proof of identity and proof of address (domicile or residence);
• details of your witnesses;
• for foreign nationals, documents specific to your nationality, often a certificat de coutume (a certificate explaining your country's marriage law) and a certificate of celibacy or capacity to marry;
• translations by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté) for documents not in French.

Requirements vary between nationalities and communes, so confirm the list with both the mairie and your consulate before ordering anything. Some documents take weeks to obtain, and their validity window is short.

The popular alternative: legal at home, celebration in France

Many couples find the residency rules and paperwork too complicated from abroad. The common solution is simple: sign the legal papers in your home country, then hold a symbolic ceremony in France with your family and friends.

A symbolic (or laïque, secular) ceremony has no legal value, so there is no residency requirement, no banns and no mairie file. In return you get complete freedom:

• hold it wherever you like: a vineyard, a château lawn, a beach, a barn;
• write your own vows and choose who leads it (a professional celebrant, a friend or a relative);
• include readings, music and rituals in your own languages.

For your guests, it feels just like a wedding. Most couples do the legal formalities quietly a few days or weeks before, and keep the French celebration as the main event.

Choosing a region and venue

France offers very different settings, and prices vary with them. Average wedding budgets are highest in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Île-de-France and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (around €20,000–21,600 on average according to Mariages.net), the same regions that draw most international couples. Our article on the wedding budget in France breaks down typical costs.

• Bordeaux and the south-west: vineyard estates, long lunches, relaxed elegance. Start with reception venues in Bordeaux.
• Provence and the Riviera: stone bastides, lavender, sea views and reliable summer sun.
• Paris and the Île-de-France: city glamour or châteaux within easy reach of the airports.
• The Alps around Annecy: lakes and mountain views, lovely in late spring and early autumn.

When visiting venues, ask about capacity, guest accommodation on site, how late music can play, and whether you must use their approved caterers.

Hiring local suppliers who speak English

Working with suppliers you can't meet in person is the biggest worry for couples planning from abroad. A few tips:

• Hire a local planner if you can. Event planners in Nice and other cities know the venues, the suppliers and the paperwork, and can be your eyes on the ground.
• Check languages. On Eventéo, suppliers can show the languages they speak on their profile, so you can choose an English-speaking caterer, celebrant or DJ.
• Get everything in writing: what's included, timings, travel costs and cancellation terms. In France an advance payment may be called arrhes or acompte, which have different cancellation rules, so check the wording.
• Compare quotes. Post one request on Eventéo and receive up to 5 quotes, free and with no commitment. Every supplier's business registration (SIRET number) and professional liability insurance (RC Pro) is checked before their profile goes live, and their contact details stay hidden until you book.

Seasons and timing

Peak wedding season runs from May to September, with Saturdays booked furthest ahead: allow 12–18 months for the venue and caterer, and 9–12 months for the photographer and DJ. Our wedding planning checklist sets out the full timeline.

June and September are especially popular: warm, long evenings without the August heat. Fridays, Sundays and the shoulder months (April, October) offer more availability and often better prices. If you're marrying legally in France, add the mairie file to your timeline early, and remember that some documents expire after a few months.

Ready to plan?

Getting married in France means either meeting the residency rules for a civil ceremony at the mairie, or marrying at home and celebrating in France with a symbolic ceremony. Either way, start early, check the official rules with the mairie and your consulate, and surround yourself with local suppliers you can communicate with easily.

Post your wedding request on Eventéo to receive quotes from verified suppliers in the region of your choice.