Getting married in France — a destination wedding guide for UK couples

If you've spent countless hours lost in the charm of French chateaux and vineyards (guilty!), you'll understand why so many couples are drawn to the idea of getting married in France. For those dreaming of an unforgettable beginning to their married adventure, France offers a truly magical backdrop, from rolling hills and vineyards to that certain je ne sais quoi — it's basically a land of romance. To help you plan your wedding in France, we've tapped into the expertise of Emma Reeve, a seasoned wedding planner who not only specialises in creating epic celebrations in the UK but also holds a special place in her heart (and professional portfolio) for all things France weddings.

Emma's wedding planning story started with a coffee morning at The Savoy — turns out, her love for craft, hosting, and running a business was a total fit for weddings! Since kicking off Emma Reeve Weddings in November 2019, she's been busy with tonnes of weddings, both here and overseas. But it's her personal history with France that makes her the go-to for destination weddings there. "My grandparents moved to France back in the early 2000s, so I spent loads of summers visiting them, travelling all over the Loire and Brittany," Emma explains. "I'm a big fan of French culture, and even now, I go every year to check out the antique markets, wander around old towns, and hit up the vineyards."

So, if you're dreaming of saying "oui" in France, Emma's guide to destination weddings, including tips for getting ready in France, is here to help. From untangling the local legal requirements before you tie the knot to understanding how a wedding registry can really simplify things for a celebration abroad — consider this your go-to resource for making your wedding in France dreams come true.

We recommend planning your destination wedding in France 12 to 18 months in advance, as this gives you and your guests ample time to plan your wedding in their diary and book their travel and accommodation.

Essentially, there are two options to make your destination wedding in France legal, with the first one being the easiest:

1. Marry legally in the UK & have a symbolic wedding in France

Firstly, as part of your wedding planning checklist, you'd need to complete your legal wedding in the UK — either at your local registry office or at a registered wedding venue. All legal registry office wedding ceremonies in the UK need to be arranged via your county's office, where you’ll need to book an appointment and attend together and provide relevant identification documents. Depending on how busy your local registry office is, we would recommend adding a booking of your appointment 3-6 months prior to the date you’d like to marry. Your registry office will talk you through all the information you need to provide and the choices you need to make for your ceremony. You’ll then be able to hire a celebrant, family friend or humanist to create a personalised wedding ceremony in France.

2. Marry legally in France

To have a legal wedding in France, you, your partner, or one of your parents must have lived in France for at least 40 days before your wedding ceremony. You’ll then need to contact the Mayor of the village and complete some forms via the British Consulate. To be legally married by the Mayor, you'll need to provide a selection of certified ID documents to the local Maire (town hall) and may also be required to provide a certificat de célibat (certificate of celibacy) and certificat de costume (certificate of custom). Any non-French documents will need to be officially translated. Afterwards, you’ll be able to arrange a separate humanist or celebrant ceremony for your wedding day. It's important to note that your marriage in France will be recognised in the UK only if it follows the correct processes according to the law in France, and would be allowed under UK law.

Pro Tip: The UK Government website is the best place to check for all the most up-to-date information on what is required when planning a wedding in France.

Yes! A gay marriage was officially legalised in France in 2013. The fact that this law extends beyond the mainland to include all of France's overseas departments and territories means that same-sex couples have the right to marry anywhere in the French Republic!

Set up a wedding website

Wedding websites are a must for destination weddings, providing a one-stop shop for all your guests to access the information they need to plan their travel and accommodation without needing to message you. This will make the guest experience smoother and reduce the admin hours you’ll spend as the couple providing information to your guests. At Emma Reeve Weddings, we provide a bespoke website service for our couples which includes integrated accommodation booking, RSVP function, and all logistical information guests need, such as airport locations, taxi phone numbers, maps, gift registry, venue information, and an itinerary.

Hire a wedding planner

To make planning smoother, consider hiring a wedding planner with local knowledge of the best wedding venues in France. Often, your planner will have visited venues themselves previously and can provide you with a shortlist that aligns with your vision.

Another common challenge couples face when planning a destination wedding in France, or any other country abroad, is the language barrier. Ensuring you get exactly what you want from suppliers at the best price can be tricky in another country if you're not aware of the market and cultural differences. For example, if you're planning a summer wedding in France or other European countries, it's recommended to schedule it later in the day to avoid the midday heat. Hiring a wedding planner with local knowledge can be invaluable in overcoming these challenges. They can also assist with more logistical considerations for on-the-day delivery and advise on different/more complex legal requirements if you would like to legally marry in the country of your choice.

Create a wedding registry

To make things super easy for your guests (and avoid anyone having to lug gifts or cash around!) We’d recommend an online wedding registry like Prezola so guests don’t need to travel with their gifts, or any sums of money on their person, and couples can return home to their gifts delivered in the post, prolonging the wedding bubble. You can even pop the Prezola link on your wedding website to keep everything in one place for your guests – make sure to check Prezola's handy tips on how to politely ask for money as a wedding gift if that's something you're considering.

If I were to create my gift list again, my top wedding registry recommendations would be:

• Aspinal of London Luxury goods: For timeless wedding gifts, Aspinal of London offers a collection of luxury leather goods, crafted to celebrate enduring marriages. Consider adding an elegant Weekend Travel Bag, perfect for your romantic honeymoons or future getaways, or the beautifully designed Wedding Album, ideal for preserving the precious memories of your special day.
• Fortnum & Mason French Wine Quartet: Return home to a taste of your honeymoon and relive memories of your French wedding escape with this exclusive case of wines.
• OKA home decor: Whether you are already living together or will be joining homes after your nuptials, anything from Oka is the perfect addition to your house. Uplift and refresh your space with luxury, handcrafted home decor. I love the patterns and shapes in the Talasa Mirror, Salvador Cushion Cover and Isphahan dinner plates.
• Pet bed from Scruffs: We are pet lovers at Emma Reeve Weddings, and if you are a dog lover, then we love you. Treat all members of your family with a premium bed from Scruffs — I know my dachshund has his eyes on the Supersoft Alpine Box Bed.
• Luxury linen: For the ultimate luxury sleeping experience, it’s time to upgrade your bed linen with Piglet in Bed. I love their beautiful fabrics and colours that only get better with time, wash after wash. Mix and match your patterns — for me, I'd choose the mushroom gingham duvet cover for a serene and peaceful sleeping space.
• Barista-style coffee machine: The world revolves around when the next great cup of coffee is being served. Start your marriage the right way with a cup of coffee in bed, perfect for slow Sunday mornings. I love the Sage machines and have all my Sage appliances in sleek, stylish Black Truffle.

So, there you have it, a guide to getting married in France as told by the expert. While you’re in wedding planning mode, why not make a start on your wedding registry with Prezola? Mix and match epic honeymoon funds, stylish homeware, and exciting experience days to make your wedding present list truly yours.

Still on the fence about whether the gift list is the right move for you? Our guide explaining what a wedding registry is can help clear things up (and put those 'Are wedding registries tacky?' worries to rest!). Especially for destination weddings, a registry like Prezola is a win-win: no more guesswork or logistical headaches for guests, just a straightforward way to give you something you'll truly love. And with Prezola handling delivery, it's stress-free for everyone involved.

Emma Reeve is an award-winning UK & Surrey-based wedding planner, specialising in marquee, country and destination weddings. Follow her wedding planning studio, Emma Reeve Wedding, on Instagram. The main image is Villa et Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild. Images courtesy of Emma Reeve and credited wedding venues.