Honeymoon in Paris- Help me build an itinerary

Ariel, it looks like you have included a lot of the high points. My biggest suggestion is to leave open times in your schedule to wander and explore places that do not make the guide books. Have a wonderful time.

Depends how you feel about jet lag, but sitting in an theater might put me to sleep on the day you arrive. I might also leave some flexibility regarding weather. If you look to have a cold rainy day then do museums if it looks to be dry and sunny more outdoor walking things.

It appears you're hitting all the "biggies", but try not to do too much. After the stress associated with most weddings you will probably need time to relax and unwind. Agree with the poster who said "...leave open times in your schedule to wander and explore...". Paris is a great place to spend unstructured time. Love long and prosper.

I was remembering a honeymoon trip to Paris (many years ago) which included a lot of wandering around, one day trip to Versailles, sitting at cafes, lazy late mornings, evenings in little Left Bank restaurants ... Not that much scheduled "touring" but it was a great honeymoon.
You might be interested in the deportation memorial behind Notre Dame -- no lines, and thought-provoking. The cathedral itself is gorgeous.
Happy honeymoon!!

I strongly suggest that you include one or two cathedrals. The best cathedral in all the world is Cathedral Sainte-Chapelle - it is almost no structure, all windows. It is small, but amazing. The cathedral Notre Dame du Chartres is also quite nice - if you can stay after dark, there are many buildings in the town that are illuminated and fun to see after dark. Cathedral Sacre Coeur in Paris also great. I am not that enthraled with Notre Dame du Paris. Sainte-Chapelle is my choice for the one church to visit in France. A fun restaurant is Le Piet du Cochon - I remember an evening there in 1986 when we ate at 3 AM with sailors from the Russian Navy.

I echo the comment about sitting in the ballet on the day of arrival - I'd be sleeping. I would instead walk around.

You don't say if you have ever been to Paris. If you have not, drop Chartres, and see churches in Paris. We were in Chartres for 4 days this year. It was quite nice, but really Sainte-Chapelle, Sacre-Coeur, and other Paris churches are as good or better. Your trip is so short that the travel time to Chartres would possibly be better spent in Paris.

One other pleasure of France - the selection of the dinner restaurant. In this process, nothing is more fun than finding a restaurant district, and browsing menus. You want to find a restaurant with an menu at the price you want (a menu is a 3-4 course dinner, where you choose from a limited selection). Every restaurant in Paris has several menus at different price points. We love to start in such areas, and go from restaurant to restaurant. It is always fun to watch the maitre-d'. If you are outside looking at the menu, the maitre-d' from the restaurant next door will sometimes come and seat you, but in the next door restaurant!! A little bit of "customer larceny"!! The advice of Rick and any knowledgeable tourist - go off the main streets, and onto the side streets.

You are all set. In Paris you never know also what you may pop into or tour unplanned.

Saint-Sylvestre, Reveillon and menus in hotels and restaurants will be posted normally in mid-November, and you will have to reserve.

You'd be wise to look for them, because many restaurants will close for New Year's Eve and even the period between Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Just so you know, there are no fireworks on New Year's Eve, but many people like to walk the Champs-Elysees. Security will be tight and you might not want to bring too much with you.

For our Parisian friend, what would be the best thing to do on Christmas Day itself?

Have to agree with some of the posters before me- allow time to just wander around in Paris. Also, if you've never been before, consider not doing Chartres. So much to see and do in Paris. Consider it an excuse to plan a future trip to Paris.

Normally, some people go to Mass at one of the churches, or just walk around, the parks and so forth.
The Christmas market on the Champs-Elysees will open around noon, so I might suggest that you go on this day, instead.

I, too, recommend dropping Chartres. One day trip -- Versailles -- is enough in one week. Stay in Paris.

I would also not do more than one major art museum in a day. Perhaps move the Orangerie to a different day from the Louvre.

If you are going to the ballet in the middle of Sunday afternoon, your subsequent shopping will be mostly through windows. Many smaller stores don't open Sunday anyhow and by the end of the show it will be near closing time for the rest.

Is this website inaccurate in saying that the Christmas market on the Champs-Elysees is closed this year?

https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-show-exhibition/142388/christmas-market-on-the-champs-elysees

There was an article in Le Parisien stating that it was "iffy", due to the dissatisfaction of the Mayor's Office and the attitudes of tourists, who didn't bring in that much money. There is also the question of Security. And something about the "Grande Roue" (ferris wheel) being illegal.
So I guess it is a "no go".

I don't know if any of the other markets will run, either.

EDIT: This ran in the paper over the weekend.

Make sure to check at the tourist information center. IMO the French are great at developing special exhibitions or other things to do, and Paris is the best place in France for that. I've only been to Paris in May, September and October but every time I've been, there seems to be some special exhibition or celebration that isn't in a guidebook.

I agree on Cathedrals. Much depends on your personal tastes. Notre Dame is a must see, the line goes quickly so don't be deterred if there is a long one. I liked climbing the towers but I think I'd pick a sunny day without a lot of wind. I also think you would really like Sainte Chappelle. It's ideal when light is coming through the windows, so a sunny afternoon would be perfect. They have musical performances there in the evenings. Around Christmas, they may be after dark. The stained glass (and naturally lit interior) really need to be seen with some sun behind them. For me (a history buff), the third one to see is St. Denis because of the crypt where hundreds and hundreds of French royals were buried.