Civil and religious ceremonies
1. A religious ceremony cannot be performed until after the civil marriage.

2. A French civil authority (maire, adjoint or conseiller municipal), performs the civil ceremony in the town in which one of the parties to be married has resided for at least 40 days immediately preceding the marriage (marriages cannot be performed within Embassies or any consular office in France).

3. Publication of the banns in the town hall (mairie) where marriage will take place is compulsory in France. Most mairies take approximately 4 – 6 weeks to process an application. Requirements will vary for each mairie (documents may need to be issued less than 3 months prior to date of marriage or publication of banns).

Aternative ceremony: a Wedding Blessing
Because of the France’s residency requirements many couples choose to get legally married in their home country and have a blessing in France.
A blessing offers you many benefits that will customize your ceremony and allow you to share a touching moment with your guests. Some of these benefits are: you can have your ceremony in the location and setting of your choice, you can choose your own words in your native language and your performer.

For more information, please contact us.