Eloping to France

If you are referring to a legal marriage and not just a ceremonial reenactment, you may want to confirm the residency requirements which I believe are some months. All marriages are performed at the city hall or the Hôtel de Ville, so a good grasp of the language is very useful.

France is not typically a destination for those who elope. Have you considered a Caribbean Island?

It is very complicated for noncitizens to get married in France. Most advise 1st getting legally married in the US and having a symbolic ceremony in France. It may be done if one of your parents resides in France. Or a lawyer who is licensed in US and France draws up a Marriage Contract. Or one article says you reside in France for 40 days, and then can post your intentions 10 days before with a Civil Office which agrees to your request. Etc. This is not counting any Covid conditions.

Friends with a second home in Brittany had ideas of doing this, but gave up after they learned about all the red tape required. All documents must have certified translations in French, including previous divorce decrees, birth certificates, etc. Instead they opted to get married by a judge in Hot Sulphur Springs, CO.

Get legally married in your city and honeymoon in France. You can call it an elopement to family and friends. You don't need to announce you did it this way. But the legal hassles of non residents doing it in France are daunting.

If at some later time you need further documentation of the marriage, it will be a lot easier if the records are US records.

My first general comment is that it is difficult for a US citizen to get married in a country that they are NOT legal residents. I know it sounds romantic but you do want to be legal. Lots of red tape and hoops so it is just not worth the hassle. Both sons had wedding ceremonies in foreign countries. Red tape for an actual wedding was impossible. So both were married by local justice of the peace - one married just prior to the ceremony and the other after they returned. Both had grand weddings with all the trappings of flowers, white gown, flower girls, photos, etc. Sure looked and sounded like any weddings in the states and we all consider that to be "the" wedding. And in some countries that is the standard practice.

Does either US citizen have a home in France or is from France? Theoretically, two foreigners can get legally married in France but there are some considerations to think about before the wedding ceremony can take place, namely proofs of residency and the translation of any documents (such as birth certificates, which have to be apostilled) written in a language other than French. In addition, in order to have the legally binding civil ceremony in France, the couple must have resided there for 30 days prior to the wedding. A friend and her husband got legally married in Brittany but he has a strong connection with the commune where the marriage took place. The commune is where his father was raised and the family owns and maintains a second home there. They spend the summer months and many holidays there so they had proof of residency. I just don't see how two US citizens with no connection to France could make the legal ceremony happen there. Maybe get married in Italy, it is a lot easier. That's one of the reasons a lot of celebrities get married in Italy. I have another friend who got married there and both lived in New York at the time of the wedding and they really had no connection to Italy but wanted a small destination wedding in Florence.

My first thought was , you might have better luck in a bar then at the embassy ... twopffenig

Is the word eloping one of many word that has a different meaning to a Brit? Over here, to elope is to run away to get married because your family does not approve, generally you head to Gretna Green in Scotland.

Is the word eloping one of many word that has a different meaning to a Brit?

To elope means the same thing in the USA as it does to a Brit. Maybe the OP's family does not approve of the marriage.

Thank you all very much for the helpful comments! I can see they will need to make changes to the idea. The initial wedding venue was Laguna Beach, CA, but learned quickly that few friends come travel out there! The idea to elope is supported by both sets of parents!
Again thanks much,
Andi

Around here, elope has become a common way of saying "destination wedding".

If "[t]he idea to elope is supported by both sets of parents," it's a destination wedding not eloping.
If possible guests are unwilling to travel to Laguna Beach, will they be willing to travel to France?

Agree! If both parents agree then you arent eloping!!! Sorry

Elope
to run off secretly to be married, usually without the consent or knowledge of one's parents.
to run away with a lover.
to leave without permission or notification;

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/elope

In the US it extends to cover courthouse weddings or JP weddings without guests and festivities. 50 years ago my husband and I eloped to French Lick Indiana and were married by a JP -- we did let our parents know so they wouldn't feel insulted to be left out and took my husband's 4 brothers and a friend of mine with us as witnesses.

My wife and I lived in Germany in the late 80s, early 90s and wanted to marry. We discovered that getting married in Germany was going to cost us over $1200 in fees for lawyers, etc. Also, just driving down to Italy, France or Spain was not feasible.

After some research, we discovered that Denmark was the place to go to marry. They keep it simple, show up three days in advance, register at the courthouse, come back in three days and you get married and are provided with marriage documents in English. We did that and it was cheaper than doing it in Germany and we had a vacation as well.

Good luck and best wishes whatever you call it.