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Getting married in France as a foreigner: Requirements, costs, and planning
Thinking about getting married in France? Find out everything you need to know about civil, religious, and symbolic marriages here.
It’s easy to see why France is one of the top wedding destinations for foreigners looking to get married in Europe. From iconic cities and cozy towns to stunning mountains and coastlines of two different seas — France has it all. If you, too, dream of getting married in France, follow along for a detailed look at everything you need to know before your big day.
After looking at the types of weddings, legal requirements, and costs, we show you how to stay connected during the entire process with an unlimited data eSIM for France.
Count memories, not data
Never lose connection with unlimited data eSIMs from Holafly.
Types of weddings in France
There are several types of weddings you can hold in France. Your choice depends on whether you want a civil, religious, or symbolic ceremony. Here are the main options to consider.
Civil wedding
A civil wedding is a legally binding marriage. The French government legalized same-sex marriages in 2013, so two partners of any sex can take part in a civil wedding.
A civil ceremony typically takes place in a local town hall or a wedding venue designated by the town. The whole ceremony usually lasts around 30 minutes, after which you’ll get your French marriage certificate and will be able to legally call yourselves married.
That said, civil ceremonies aren’t very popular amongst foreigners looking to get married in France. That’s because French law requires you to live in the town or city where you’ll get married for at least 30 days before submitting your wedding application. You’ll need to provide proof of address to prove that you’ve been residing in the area.
Religious wedding
A religious wedding is a religiously binding wedding that can include the civil part in order for it to be legally binding as well. You can hold a religious ceremony without the civil part. To do so, you will need to have a separate civil wedding either in France or your home country and provide your marriage certificate before the religious ceremony takes place.
A religious wedding also takes some preparation before the ceremony, as you’ll have to attend wedding preparation classes to get permission to marry from the church.
Symbolic wedding
Symbolic weddings are among the most common for foreigners in France. It’s not legally or religiously binding in any way, so you can hold the wedding ceremony and celebration you want without having to adjust to any French wedding traditions or legal requirements.
It’s simply a celebration of love, and if you want to be legally married, you can have a civil wedding in your home country and a symbolic wedding in France.
Civil partnership
Civil partnerships were initially there to provide a way for same-sex couples to have some sort of a legal bond before same-sex marriages were legal. It’s very similar to a civil marriage but has fewer responsibilities and obligations. Nowadays, they’re used by couples that don’t want the full commitment of a marriage but want to build a life together.
Legal requirement for getting married in France
If you’re looking to get legally married in France, there are a few documents you’ll need to provide with your wedding application and have with you on your wedding day:
- A valid passport or ID card.
- Proof of address or a residency permit.
- Two witnesses and a photocopy of their IDs or passports.
- A certificate of celibacy is required to prove your single status.
- Birth certificates of both partners.
- Death or divorce certificate if one or both of the partners were previously married.
Religious ceremonies have additional requirements such as:
- Baptism, first communion, and confirmation certificates.
- A certificate for a pre-marriage course.
- Proof of civil marriage.
Keep in mind that all documents might need to be translated into French in order for them to be accepted.
How much does it cost to get married in France?
The total price of your dream French wedding depends on how you choose to celebrate it. Just filling out the documents and having a civil ceremony won’t cost more than a few hundred euros. That said, most weddings cost anywhere from €10,000 to €50,000 when you account for the venue, accommodation, food, and other expenses.
Let’s take a closer look at what you might expect for your wedding:
- Paperwork for civil marriage — ~€300-400
- Trip to France — €100-1,000+ depending on where you’re coming from
- Wedding venue — ~€1,000+ depending on your choice
- Food and drinks — ~€100-200 per person, depending on the caterer you pick
- Photographer/videographer — €500-1,000 each
- Accommodation — around €100 per person
- Wedding planner — ~€1000
- Celebrant — ~€1,000
- Entertainment — €500-2,000+ depending on the entertainers you choose
At the end of the day, the venue, food, and the number of people invited are the biggest factors for the price of your wedding. A modest wedding with close family and friends can fit into €10,000. However, a lavish celebration can easily cost more than that on the venue alone, with total costs often exceeding €100,000 or even more.
How to plan your French wedding
Getting married in France takes some preparation. And while you can get a wedding planner to help you lighten the load of planning, there are still quite a few things you’ll need to take care of yourself. Here are some of the main things to consider:
- Picking the wedding date — not only does France have four distinct seasons, the weather also often differs depending on where you want to get married. The southernmost locations typically offer good weather for longer, while mountainous regions and the North of France have a shorter window if you want good chances of warmth and sunshine during your wedding.
- Start booking early — top wedding venues, planners, entertainers, and photographers tend to get booked early. To get your dream French wedding, start looking into bookings at least a year in advance. Otherwise, you might find your favorite options booked up by the time you get to it.
- Set a fixed budget — it’s very easy to overspend on your wedding. To avoid spending more than you’d like to, set a fixed budget before doing anything and work within that budget throughout your planning process.
- Choose the wedding you want — getting a civil marriage in France isn’t as easy as it is in some other European countries. Take some time to consider if you can afford to spend the time in France that’s required to get approved for a civil marriage. If you’re looking for a simple solution, symbolic ceremonies are the way to go.
Make wedding planning a breeze with Holafly
Having mobile internet in France makes wedding planning much easier. It allows you to make VoIP calls in France, stay in touch with your wedding planner, translate any legal documents, book things for your wedding, or simply find your way around. Holafly offers some of the best eSIM plans for France, keeping you connected no matter where you go.
The Holafly eSIM for France includes unlimited data, hotspot sharing, and 24/7 customer support. This ensures that you will never lose connection, no matter how much data you use.
If you end up staying in France for a while longer, Holafly offers a monthly eSIM subscription with Holafly Connect. Choose a plan that meets your data needs, enjoy coverage in 170+ destinations worldwide, and simply cancel the subscription when you no longer need it.
Count memories, not data
Never lose connection with unlimited data eSIMs from Holafly.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
