How to Get Married in France As a U.S. Citizen?

The beautiful castles, churches, old houses, towns, and cobbled streets in France are a show of its outstanding cultural heritage that calls to tourists from across the ocean. People flock here to visit the Louvre, view Notre Dame, spend a day at one of the incredible palaces, and have dinner at the Eiffel Tower. Surrounding all these experiences is the undeniable romance that encapsulates the country’s beauty. It’s no wonder many people would love to tie the knot in a country where people have locked their love in bridges. Here is how to get married in France as a U.S. citizen:

 

How to Get Married in France As a U.S. Citizen?

Getting married in France is a dream for most couples. After all, you get to have one of the most exquisite culinary experiences, share your vows in a beautiful yet tranquil location, and say “yes” in a country where romance is the order of the day. To help you embark on this journey, we have a checklist to help you navigate your nuptials:

1. Choose a marriage type: Before getting married in France, you must decide whether you want to hold a civil, religious, or symbolic wedding, as the requirements for each differ. Moreover, you can also consider a civil partnership.
2. Find a wedding planner: Since France is a popular destination, you want to book your wedding venue and figure out the ins and outs of your event months before the wedding. Otherwise, you might have to settle for vendors you did not want since you booked too close to the date. Some couples start planning a year ahead to get everything right!
3. Establish residency: If you are both U.S. citizens planning to get married in France, one of you must establish some form of residency in France. Per France marriage laws, one person in the couple must have a lasting bond with the local area where the civil marriage will take place. While you do not need to be a resident, one of you must have lived in the town for at least 30 days before submitting a marriage application to the local town hall. Since you will need proof of address, renting a home is a good option. Alternative proofs of address include having a secondary home in France that belongs to one of you. This step is only necessary for people getting married under a civil marriage in France.
4. Prepare your papers: Every U.S. citizen getting married in France should ensure they have all the paperwork required for marriage. These often include valid passports, copies of divorce decrees and birth certificates, and prenuptial agreements. The documents differ based on the type of ceremony and the couple’s preferences. For example, people getting married in a Catholic religious wedding will likely need written permission from their local parish.
5. Get an apostille: Before using U.S.-issued documents in France, you must get them apostilled by the issuing authority. This process authenticates the seals, signatures, and stamps on foreign documents, making them acceptable to French authorities.
6. Translate the documents: While an apostille validates your documents, they will still require translation into French to enable the authorities to process them. You should get a certified translation from a professional service to ensure accurate translations.
7. Lodge a marriage application: This step depends on the type of wedding. People getting married in a civil ceremony must make a marriage application to the local mairie at least ten days before the wedding. You will need to present translated and apostilled documents. If you meet all the marriage requirements, you will get the go-ahead and can hold your wedding ten days after the approval. You can also hold on to the approval for several months as it expires a year after you get it. Religious and symbolic weddings do not require a marriage application. However, the church or event representative must liaise with the local town hall regarding the wedding details.
8. Get married: The authorization to marry for civil ceremonies allows you to tie the knot at the local mairie. You can say “I do” and take your first step into married life. After the wedding ceremony, you will get a Livret de Famille, where your marriage will have been recorded. You can use this book to record other events, such as births.
9. Obtain a marriage certificate: You should apply to the local mairie where the wedding ceremony took place to get an official marriage certificate.

Is a marriage in France recognized in the United States? Civil marriages in France constitute legal marriages in France and beyond. Thus, once you get your marriage certificate, you can use it for official reasons in the U.S., e.g., acquiring marital assets.

 

What are the Different Types of Marriage in France?

Before you learn how to get married in Paris, you should consider the kind of wedding you want, as this affects your document and legal requirements. So, what options do you have?

 

1. Civil Marriage

While there are many wedding options in France, only civil marriage in France is legally binding. This ceremony occurs in the local mairie and is overseen by the mayor or another appointed official. Since the ceremony takes place in French, having a translator is important to follow the proceedings.

All such ceremonies must take place in the local mairie as you cannot move them to another venue. On the bright side, these rooms feature beautiful traditional French decorations that will likely match your aesthetic. If you want a religious ceremony atop this ceremony, you must get married in a civil ceremony first, which you can do in France or the U.S.

 

2. Religious Ceremony

Many people getting married in France want to do it under the church. While this wedding is not legally binding, it holds much value for most couples. Options include getting married under the Roman Catholic Church, having a Muslim wedding, and performing a Jewish wedding ceremony. Each option comes with different requirements as stipulated by the church. Unlike civil marriages, which must occur in the local town hall, religious ceremonies pave the way for other venues, including vineyards and historical venues.

 

3. Symbolic Ceremony

Another type of marriage in France is the symbolic ceremony, where people exchange vows in a non-legally binding ceremony. This wedding type favors people who do not wish to establish residency or don’t want a religious wedding. Since it has no religious or civil requirements, couples are free to do as they wish and can determine the wedding process and venue.

 

4. The Civil Partnership

This wedding type is less formal than a civil wedding and is best for people who want legal recognition without all the marriage requirements. It allows couples to enjoy shared assets, tax benefits, and many other legal protections of marriage.

If you get married in France, is it legal in the U.S.? French laws only recognize civil weddings. As such, anyone who wants to enjoy wedding benefits in the U.S. should perform a civil wedding.

 

Marriage Requirements in France for U.S. Citizens

Getting married in France for foreigners is easy if you can check all the boxes. So, what are the marriage requirements in France?

1. Age: All the spouses must be at least 18 years old. However, French marriage laws allow people under 18 to get married if their parents consent.
2. Relationship: You cannot marry your immediate family member. Familial relations are decided through blood, adoption, and alliance.
3. Consent: Besides meeting the minimum age requirement, you must be willing to enter the marriage. Marriages as a result of coercion are null and void.
4. Residency: While you do not have to live in France, at least one of you must have lived in the country for at least 30 days to establish a connection to the local area where you will get married.
5. Witnesses: All civil weddings require at least two witnesses. These can be friends or family who have valid IDs. They will also need to provide their details, including their addresses, professions, place of birth, and date of birth.

Additionally, people getting married in religious ceremonies may need extra requirements. For example, people getting married in Roman Catholic Weddings must be baptized and should have gone through pre-marital classes.

 

What Documents Do I Need to Get Married in France?

When you make your marriage application at the local mairie, you must present documents that comply with the marriage requirements. So, what do you need to get married in France?

1. A valid U.S. passport: You will use your passport to verify your identity when making a marriage application. You will also need it to enter and leave France. As such, the passport must be valid beyond three months past your departure date, be in good condition, and have enough blank pages for stamps.
2. A certified birth certificate copy: You can contact the vital records office in the state where your birth was recorded to get one.
3. A divorce decree: Previously married people must present a certified divorce decree copy.
4. A death certificate: People whose previous spouses are deceased require a certified death certificate copy to prove they are free to marry.
5. An apostille: French authorities will only accept U.S.-issued documents if they have an apostille, as this validates them for foreign use. You can get the apostille done by the state that issued the document. For example, if your birth certificate is from Texas, the Texas Secretary of State can issue the apostille.
6. A prenuptial marriage contract: Couples who want a prenuptial arrangement must accompany the document with a notary’s certificate. The town hall will need this during the ceremony.
7. Certified translation: The official language in France is French. As such, submitting English documents is not acceptable, and you must thus have them translated into French by a professional certified translator.
8. Proof of address: People getting married in a civil ceremony must have established residency in France and should prove this through proof of address. You can use your utility bills, e.g., water bills, as proof.
9. An attestation in lieu of certificate of custom and celibacy: You can only marry in France if you are single. People who have never married must state so, and those whose marriages have ended in death or divorce must ascertain this by signing this document. Notarization is not necessary in most cases. However, the local town hall where you get married may request such notarization, which you can get done at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate General in France.
10. A list of witnesses: You must note the people who will witness the marriage, including their addresses and job titles. They will also need to present valid IDs during the ceremony.

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How Old Do You Have to Be to Get Married in France?

In the past, the marriage age for women was 15, but that has since changed. So, how old do you have to be to get married in France? Generally, all spouses should be at least 18 years old. However, the law makes exceptions for people with consent from at least one of their parents. Even so, the spouse must prove they are entering the marriage willingly and meet all the other requirements to get married.

 

How Much Does It Cost to Get Married in France?

Many people envision a beautiful destination wedding with exquisite cuisines, awe-inspiring decorations, and the perfect weather. But how much does it cost to get married in France? The cost depends on the following factors:

• The costs of getting licenses, apostilles, translations, passports, and other necessary documents,
• The overall venue costs, and
• The price of additional wedding requirements, e.g., videography, food, drinks, decorations, entertainment, accommodation, and transport.

As a result, a wedding can cost anything from $10,000 to $50,000 on average. Of course, there are many ways to cut back on the costs, e.g., getting married in the local mairie, having a small guest list, and getting married in the low season.

 

How to Choose a City and Wedding Venue in France?

Your venue dictates a lot and sets the pace for your wedding atmosphere. Here are the factors to consider when choosing one:

1. Location: Think about how easy it is to get to the venue. For example, if your guests will stay in France for only three days, it’s best to get a venue that is easy to access from the airport.
2. Style: Does your wedding theme match the venue? While a venue might be popular and beautiful, it might not align with your vision for the big day.
3. Capacity: The key to a perfect wedding is a venue that can comfortably hold all your guests without feeling roomy or cramped. As such, starting with a solid guest list before finding a venue is best.
4. Inclusions: Some venues offer just space. Others come with food, drinks, seating, decorations, and other integral wedding components. Figure out if these are part of the packages, as this reduces your workload.
5. Restrictions: You don’t want to start blasting music on the big day only to learn that loud music is not allowed. The best time for surprises is before they happen. Understand the terms of booking the venue and decide if they augur well with your plans.
6. Budget: Hiring a venue is one part of the wedding. You will also pay for other things, especially if they are not part of the inclusions. Consider this when booking any venue to avoid straining your pockets.

It’s also advisable to tour the venue before booking it. Once you are there and can picture your wedding, you will know whether it is the right choice before you make any big decisions.

 

How to Find a Wedding Planner in France?

Wedding planners are the best partners for your wedding countdown. They understand marriage requirements, know all the good venues, have experience with vendors, and boast the connections you need to have the perfect wedding. So, how do you find a good one?

1. Bank on reviews: The best way to narrow your search is to go with a planner that someone close to you has used. For example, if your aunt got married in Paris and still raves about her planner, that’s a sign.
2. Consider style: A planner might have an excellent reputation, but if her style does not match yours, there could be issues going forward. Find someone who understands and can implement what you want.
3. Award experience: Another great tip is to find someone who has spent years working with foreign couples. They will know how to deal with the legal requirements and will handle most of your paperwork.

Your gut feeling also counts – if a wedding planner feels right for you, they probably are! Of course, you must consider their costs and availability too!