Living in France and Getting Married

Is it your lifelong dream to pack up and move to the picturesque, rolling countryside of France?  Do you maybe hope to someday fall in love with someone you meet in France and have a Parisian landscape as the backdrop for your wedding perhaps?

If so, you’ll need to know a few basics about living in France and getting married as an expatriate resident or citizen.

A fantastically romantic wedding in France is absolutely possible – after all, France is one of the most romantic locations in the world.  However the rules of the road are a bit different in terms of getting your marriage organised in France if you’re an expatriate - the fact of the matter is, if you want a religious ceremony you’re going to have to get married twice!

Whilst I’m not sure if that means you can expect two times the presents, it does mean you will have some hoops to jump through to get married as a British citizen living in France.

French regulations dictate that a civil ceremony must take place prior to a religious ceremony.  This means getting married by a French civil authority first – a Mairie (or town hall), adjoint or conseiller municipal.  To qualify for a civil ceremony you or your intended must live within the jurisdiction for at least 40 days prior to the wedding – and from here on in the laws get a little trickier still!

Most Mairies for example, will take between four and six weeks to process an application for a marriage.  The requirements do tend to vary from Mairie to Mairie as well so getting a handle on specific local regulations is advised before trying to set a timetable.

On the upside, once you do get to grips with local regulations a wedding ceremony in France is recognised in Britain as well. 

There are a few other key differences in France compared to other areas where British citizens tend to take up residence and find themselves getting married - for example: -

• Do not expect to get married in the British Embassy.  While this is possible in other countries such as Turkey for instance, it is not possible in France.  The French civil ceremony is the only option available to British citizens.

• Translation services.  Although the British Consular in other countries will often provide translation services for a ceremony it will not do so in France.  Translators are available through local Mairie or Prefecture offices however.

• Documentation.  The French government only accepts original documents or certified photocopies.  Make sure divorce decrees, birth certificates and official name change documentation are all in order.

If you plan to move to France and fall in love (!), the process of getting married is a bit different than you may experience in other countries.  Once the civil ceremony is over however, you are free to enjoy traditional religious rites at a local church.