Getting married in Paris

You might want to check out this web site. http://www.weddings-abroad-guide.com/wedding-in-france.html It sounds like they have some realistic advice. Pam

Hopefully you are already aware that for two US citizens to get legally married in France is not simple, it's a complex process and you will need to pay for the services of a French wedding planner to facilitate all the paperwork. Countries like France have a lot of rules about who can get legally married in their country, including a residency requirement (which I think is 30 days in France). Here's a link that will get you started on the required planning: getting married in EuropeTo review all the prior discussions, search on "married" in search box upper right.

Kent hit the nail on the head. People forget sometimes that the majority of the religious population here are Catholic - and the churches typically are selective about who will be allowed to get married in the church. Marriage in France is different than in the US - because of the secularism between church and state. Typically there is a civil ceremony - at the Marie not at a church. Weddings at a church are a religious in nature and are not as "common" as in the US. Meaning - there is a significant meaning behind a weeding in a church - with God as a witness - rather than lets go to a cute chapel.

I might suggest something line the gazebo at Pont de Neuilly - it is a beautiful island in the Seine almost to La Defense. Another location would be along the lakes at Bois Bolougne.

However - follow the guide suggest by Kent - having a representative here to manage the paperwork will be essential.

I am getting married to an EU national in January in Belgium, so I have some perspective on this topic. The most complicated part will not be arranging the venue, but the paperwork. Although the rules are different in every country, in general, many EU members require each party to submit some paperwork in advanced, basically proof of citizenship and proof of eligibility to marry. The problem arises because the US government does not routinely issue documents that exactly comply with these requirements. What paperwork will be accepted is often determined by local jurisdiction. Once you obtain the necessary government statements, you will need to submit them and a notarized translation to your state's apostille office for authentication. So yes, contacting someone who arranges this stuff for a living would be very smart.

Also realize that in many EU countries, unlike the US, a religious ceremony is not sufficient to legally consecrate a marriage. Only a properly certified civil offical can declare a marriage legally valid. For your marriage to be legally valid in the US, it only needs to be legally valid in France. So, even though a religious ceremony is sufficient in the US, if the marriage ceremony occurs under French jurisdiction, it will NOT be legal in the US without the corresponding civil ceremony.

It's not just the paperwork, it's the residency requirement. From an embassy website:

"How to get married in France?
(requirements for foreign nationals)

Foreign nationals may not get married in France unless one of the couple/partners has a home or has lived a minimum of 30 days in the locality where they intend to get married.

One of them has to be able to prove that he/she has been living at a specific address within the jurisdiction of the Town Hall where they want to get married for at least a month from the date of the "public notice to marry" ("Publications des bans") at the Town Hall."

So, I guess you can see a common thread here- its much more complicated than simply eloping and picking a venue...

We will be having a "legal" civil wedding ceremony here in the states first and then be going to France for a "blessing ceremony". I had hoped not to have to spend the 1400 to 1600 euros on a planner, when it is just the two of us, but it looks like that may be the way to go. Thanks for all the tips, and keep the info on suggested sites coming!! :o)

Should be MUCH easier to arrange, then.

If you aren't actually getting married there, then what's the issue? I know someone who did a similar thing--they rented an outdoor space, brought an officiant (a friend) to conduct a ceremony, and then went to a restaurant after to celebrate. If you don't speak French of course that's harder to arrange yourself, but maybe you can find a French speaker here to help find the venues.

There is a blog by a wedding planner who lives in Paris named Kim Petyt. She organized our wedding a few years ago, and she has some very useful information on her site: http://www.parisianevents.com/parisianparty/?p=10. She was really helpful and friendly, and I'm sure she'll be able to answer any other questions you have. Getting married in Paris was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. If you can work out the details, you won't be sorry. Good luck,

Sara B.