French weddings are known for their elegance, rich traditions, and festive atmosphere. This article is for those invited to a French wedding for the first time, those planning to get married in France, the curious, and anyone looking to understand French wedding traditions better.
Discover how a French wedding differs from American weddings, what a typical French wedding looks like, the duration of the festivities, appropriate attire, and gift etiquette.
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How are French weddings different from American weddings?
Legal civil ceremony
In France, all couples must have a civil ceremony at the town hall for their marriage to be legally recognized. This ceremony is performed by a state representative (the mayor or a deputy mayor). Then the couple can have a religious ceremony.
Which is not the same in the US as there’s no distinction between religious and civil ceremony.
In the U.S., each state has its own rule, but generally the marriage ceremony can be performed by a judge, a commissioner of a court record, the county clerk or even a priest.
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What does a typical French wedding look like?
French weddings typically have a more formal and extended structure. The day begins with the civil ceremony, followed by the religious or secular ceremony, the vin d’honneur (cocktail hour), the wedding dinner, and finally the evening dance. In contrast, American weddings can vary widely in structure and duration.
Reception and meal
Wedding meals in France are often multi-course dinners accompanied by fine wines and champagne. In the U.S., meals can range from buffets to sit-down dinners, with a wide variety of food and drink options.
Traditions
French weddings include specific traditions such as the bouquet toss, the auction of the garter, and the cutting of the pièce montée (traditional wedding cake). American weddings have their own traditions, like the bouquet and garter toss, but they are often less formal and can vary widely depending on region and culture.
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How long is a French wedding?
Here is a typical French wedding schedule
A French wedding can last all day and often into the early morning hours. The civil and religious or secular ceremonies usually occupy the afternoon, while the vin d’honneur and dinner extend into the evening. The party often continues well past midnight with music and dancing.
Preparations
The day often starts with the bride and groom getting ready, surrounded by close family and friends. The bride may have a makeup and hair session, while the groom prepares with his groomsmen.
Civil ceremony
The civil ceremony takes place at the town hall and is usually an intimate affair with close family and friends. This is followed by signing the marriage registers and sometimes a short speech by the mayor.
Religious or secular wedding ceremony
Guests then move to the location of the religious or secular ceremony. This ceremony is often longer and more solemn, featuring readings, exchanged vows, and rituals specific to the couple’s religion or preferences.
Vin d’honneur
After the ceremony, a vin d’honneur (cocktail hour) is held, where a larger number of guests are invited to celebrate with cocktails, appetizers and, of course, wine.
Generally, this moment takes place at the venue and it’s the moment for all the guests to chat and see each other. Also a moment to congratulate the newlyweds.
Wedding dinner
Time to eat! You’ll find your seat on a seating chart. Wedding reception are generally on round tables of 8 to 10 people.
The wedding dinner is a gourmet multi-course meal, often accompanied by speeches, toasts, and various entertainment. It typically ends with the pièce montée or a wedding cake.
Sometimes the dinner is paused with dance or a firework.
Evening dance
Once the dinner is over, the tradition wants that the newlyweds open the dancing evening with the first dance. It’s a highlight of the evening. Some couples are very imaginative and creates choregraphy. Some others are more traditional and waltz or slow dance.
Then, let’s get the party started !
