At Haute Wedding, we pride ourselves on the relationship we create with our couples. The planning journey is one of trust and communication, just like a marriage! It is important that beyond being professional, we take it a step further and you can really count on us to be there for you 100% of the time. We are good at what we do and our passion and energy radiate in the connection we create with our couples and the final outcome on your wedding day is proof of this!

Our goal is that your wedding is an experience of a lifetime for you and your guests. Blending travel, emotion, exquisite detail, quality and lots and lots of fun, are key elements we find are essential in a destination wedding.

We also believe that because we are of American and multi-cultural backgrounds living permanently in France, this is an advantage and reassurance to our couples. We understand Anglo-Saxon expectations, cultural backgrounds and ways of doing business that may sometimes be a challenge when navigating in a foreign language and country for our couples. We liaise with a clear understanding of our clients’ expectations to produce seamless results thanks to our fluency in French,  local expertise, and cultural awareness.

What are the legalities in France?

Getting married in France is usually a two-stage process. If you are French, you have to get married at the local mairie (town hall). This is the legally binding part of your wedding and many French couples then follow this with a blessing – either in a church or at a special location of their choice. This may or may not be religious.

The ‘mairie’ wedding is a very dry affair – it’s a legally binding agreement, with not much reference to love or romance. You can invite guests, but the ceremony will normally only be conducted in French and most mairies are very strict on numbers (and confetti). In reality, for most couples, the ‘real’ wedding takes place afterward. 

For non-French residents, getting agreement to get married at the mairie may be complicated. There are usually 40-day residency requirements to comply with, to marry legally in the municipality where you’d like to have your wedding. We’re not trying to put you off – we’re here to help – but it’s good to be prepared… issues may include getting documents translated, medical certificates and blood tests, as well as having an ‘official address’ in France. Plus you may need to be flexible on dates – the mairie won’t usually confirm the date until 3 months before – making planning ahead harder. 

In our experience, most couples choose to by-pass the French paperwork by getting married in a registry office in their home country first. They have a ‘low-key’ civil ceremony at home and then the important ceremony which they choose to celebrate with the exchange of rings, vows and music in the presence of family and friends here in France. And the guests have no idea it is not legal… and don’t care! 

What kind of ceremony can I have for my destination wedding?

Religious Ceremonies

For our couples choosing to marry religiously, we help choose the church depending on the faith and proximity to the reception location. We organize Catholic, Protestant, Christian, Jewish and even Sikh ceremonies! Marrying religiously in France does require showing proof of the legal marriage. We can help advise you on the legal paperwork that needs to be submitted to the religious affiliation of your choice. Many of our couples choose to have a bilingual ceremony in both French and English.

Symbolic Ceremonies

A large majority of our couples choose to marry symbolically. This means they design their ceremony 100% to reflect their personalities and outlook on marriage and life. With the guidance of a celebrant, our couples incorporate readings that are true to their beliefs, music that is unique and meaningful to them, as well as other personalized touches, such as candle lightings, one-word wishes, blessing their rings by each individual of the congregation, writing their own wedding contract and having everyone sign as a witness during the cocktail hour, having their dog as the ring bearer – and many, many more ideas that have importance to them as a couple.

Outdoor Ceremonies
Many of our couples opt for an outdoor ceremony in a stunning setting. Whether it be on a mountaintop in the Alps, on the beach overlooking the Mediterranean, in a chateau garden, or getting dropped off by a helicopter onto a glacier, the possibilities for outdoor ceremonies are endless… Let us help you create a ceremony that will stay in your hearts for eternity!

Imagine being pronounced as man and wife and then paragliding in your wedding attire off the mountain to meet your guests at the reception location down in the valley…

Or saying “I do” on a yacht, followed by champagne cocktails as the sun sets and the stars appear glittering like diamonds over the sea.

Being whisked away in a hot-air balloon for a short flight as a newlywed couple, while your guests linger in the beautiful gardens of a chateau for drinks and canapés…

We absolutely love advising couples on how to design a truly incredible ceremony!! 

Do you work exclusively with a set of suppliers, or is there freedom to choose?

We are not limited to an exclusive list of suppliers. We do the legwork by selecting an assortment of hand-picked vendors based on your budget, style, and personal needs. We have screened them prior to presenting them to you as a relevant potential choice. It is ultimately up to you to choose the vendor you’d like to work your wedding, we do not impose anyone upon you. You are 100% in control to decide upon each and every supplier involved in your wedding. We give you our personal insight and expertise so that you may choose the one that is a perfect fit for you.

We are always writing blogs with tips on how to navigate your way through the destination wedding planning process in France. Take a look a some of our blogs below for more information on dream wedding locations, planning practicalities, travel tips, timelines & more. 

Still have questions? Contact us! We would love to send you more information & inspiration.