Step 1Set Budget & Financing▼
12-18 months before
Set Budget & Financing▼
This is the timeline we recommend for France. Treat the timings as guidance, not rules:
Phase 1: Dream & Research (12-18 months before)
- Set your vision: What type of wedding? Intimate (20-40 guests) or larger (50-100)?
- Budget overview: Set a total budget.
- Season: may-sep is ideal. Shoulder season (just before/after peak) is often cheaper and venues are more available, and the weather is often still good.
- Deposit: Book venue/planner with a deposit
Phase 2: Key Bookings (9-12 months before)
- Wedding planner: Book a local planner (they know the local suppliers and can often negotiate better terms)
- Venue: Secure your dream venue - popular ones in France book up quickly
- Main vendors: Photographer, caterer, florist, music
- Save-the-Date: Send to guests (many need to plan flights + accommodation)
Phase 3: Details & Logistics (3-6 months before)
- Formal invitation: With detailed travel info for guests
- Hotel blocks: Reserve rooms at 2-3 price levels
- Flight info: Send recommended flights and booking tips
- Guest logistics: Plan group transport for wedding day
Phase 4: Countdown (1-3 months before)
- Confirm all vendors 2 weeks before (dates, times, payments)
- Create a day-of timeline (detailed minute-by-minute)
- Travel insurance for bridal couple + review guests' insurance
- Final payment to vendors (the remaining balance)
Our Expert Tip for France:
The best tip we can give is to BOOK EARLY. Popular venues in France are often fully booked 12+ months ahead, especially during may-sep. Start your research at least 15 months before, and lean on your wedding planner's or venue's experience - they know the local process.
Step 2Choose Destination & Venue▼
12 months before
Choose Destination & Venue▼
France offers incredible variety. The right choice depends on your style, budget and guests' needs.
Choosing the Right Destination
When choosing your destination in France, consider these factors:
- Accessibility: How easy is it for guests to get there?
- Climate: What's the weather like during your preferred period?
- Budget: How do prices compare between different areas?
- Style: Does the destination match your wedding vision?
Symbolic ceremony: For symbolic ceremony it's simpler, but some areas may have specific rules.
Our Recommendation:
Visit your preferred destination before the wedding if you can. A few days on site let you see the venues with your own eyes and meet the suppliers before you sign anything.
Step 3Hire a Wedding Planner▼
10-12 months before
Hire a Wedding Planner▼
A local wedding planner is your BIGGEST investment in stress-free planning in France.
Cost & Value
Return: A good planner saves you time, helps you avoid costly mistakes and knows which suppliers deliver
Three Levels of Service
Partial Planning
- Recommends suppliers
- Negotiates contracts
- 3-4 online meetings
Best for: Couples who want local expertise but do a lot themselves
Full Planning
- Everything in Partial Planning, plus
- Draws up the timeline
- Coordinates all suppliers
- Unlimited communication
Best for: Couples who want everything coordinated but still make the decisions themselves
Concierge
- Everything in Full Planning, plus
- Visits venues for you
- Handles ALL the details
- Completely stress-free for you
Best for: Busy couples and anyone who wants zero stress
Important:
A local planner knows the venues, the suppliers and the rules on the ground. Rather than spending weeks researching suppliers yourselves, let your wedding planner do it!
Step 4Book Venue▼
10-12 months before
Book Venue▼
The venue is your MOST IMPORTANT booking - it sets the tone for the entire wedding and is often the biggest cost.
What's Included in a Venue Package?
- Space: Venue, setup, basic decoration, chairs and tables, staff, clearing up afterwards
- Catering: Welcome drink, dinner, wedding cake, drinks package
- Coordination: On-the-day coordinator (included at many venues)
Venue Checklist
- Capacity: Can it fit your number of guests?
- Accommodation: Can guests stay on site?
- Rain plan: Is there an indoor alternative?
- Sound: Are there noise restrictions (curfews)?
- Access: How do guests get there?
- Exclusivity: Will you have the whole venue to yourselves?
Our Recommendation:
Put most of the budget towards what guests EXPERIENCE (venue, food, music) and less towards what they SEE (flowers, decoration, styling). That gives the best balance between a memorable experience and a beautiful setting.
Step 5Arrange Documentation▼
6-9 months before
Arrange Documentation▼
Paperwork is one of the biggest sources of stress for a wedding abroad. Here is a complete guide for France:
Type of Ceremony
Many couples choose a symbolic ceremony in France and register the marriage legally in your home country.
Symbolic Ceremony (the Simpler Option)
- No legal requirements - complete freedom
- Choose your own officiant (a friend, a professional or a religious celebrant)
- Write your own vows
- Register the marriage legally in your home country before or after (a simple process)
For ALL Types:
- Valid passports (at least 6 months beyond the wedding date)
- Travel insurance for you, and a reminder to guests to take out their own
- Copies of all important documents stored in the cloud
Important:
A symbolic ceremony abroad plus a legal registration in your home country is the EASIEST and SAFEST option - no risk of delays caused by paperwork!
Step 6Book Vendors▼
6-9 months before
Book Vendors▼
After the venue, the next focus is the photographer, catering, music and flowers. These shape your wedding day.
Photographer & Videographer
- Full-day photographer (8-12 hours)
- Highlights video (3-5 minute edit)
- Engagement shoot (1-2 hours, often included)
- Album and online gallery
Tip: Photography is the ONLY thing that lasts forever. Don't cut corners here!
Catering & Drinks
- Welcome drinks (1 hour before the ceremony)
- 3-5 course dinner (local cuisine recommended!)
- Wedding cake
- Open bar (4-6 hours)
Flowers & Styling
- Bridal bouquet and buttonholes
- Table centrepieces
- Ceremony arch or backdrop
- Tip: Use local seasonal flowers - more beautiful AND cheaper!
Budget Priority:
Ask your wedding planner which suppliers they recommend. Planners know which local suppliers are reliable and can often negotiate better terms.
Step 7Plan Guest Logistics▼
4-6 months before
Plan Guest Logistics▼
Guest logistics are critical for a wedding abroad. Smooth transport and good accommodation = happy guests.
Flight Information
- Flight time: 2-2.5 hours (depending on your departure airport)
- Best time to book: 4-6 months before for the best fares
- Tip: Create a shared spreadsheet with recommended flights
Accommodation Strategy
- Room block: Reserve rooms at 2-3 price levels
- Negotiate: Ask for a group rate when you book 10+ rooms
- Deadline: Set a booking deadline 3 months before
Transport on the Wedding Day
- Group bus hotel → venue → hotel
- Book 2 departures (before the ceremony and late evening)
- Consider a shuttle service for larger groups
Guest Communication
A clear guest guide (PDF) sent about 5 months before answers most logistics questions before anyone asks them.
- Weather information and packing list
- Recommended flights and hotels
- Local tips (restaurants, activities)
- Wedding schedule and dress code
- Emergency contacts
Our Recommendation:
Spend a few hours on a thorough guide - it saves you answering the same questions from guests over and over!
Step 8Finalize & Travel▼
1-3 months before
Finalize & Travel▼
The last months are about confirming the details, settling the payments and getting ready for the big day.
3 Months Before
- Confirm final numbers with hotels and transport (1 month before)
- Send a detailed schedule to all guests
- Final fitting of your wedding outfits
- Confirm the menu with the caterer
1 Month Before
- Final payment to all suppliers
- Confirm all bookings (venue, photographer, florist, music)
- Draw up the seating plan
- Prepare tips for the staff
1 Week Before
- Write a "day-before checklist" and go through it with your wedding planner the day before
- Pack the ceremony items (rings, vows, marriage certificate)
- Confirm arrival times with all suppliers
- Leave time for a venue walk-through, supplier meetings, getting over jet lag and relaxing
Wedding Day Timeline
- Morning: Hair and make-up, getting-ready photos
- Ceremony: Usually 16:00-17:00 (the best light for photos)
- Drinks reception: 17:00-18:00
- Dinner: 18:00-20:00
- First dance and party: 20:00-02:00
Budget: Final Costs
- Tips for the service staff
- Last-minute additions
- Welcome dinner for arriving guests
- After-party or brunch the day after
Our Final Advice:
What truly matters is that you marry the love of your life, surrounded by the people you love most. The planning may feel overwhelming at times, but France will give you an unforgettable setting. Trust your planner, enjoy the process, and remember: every wedding is perfect when the couple is happy!
Important Tips to Keep in Mind
💡Legal Wedding
In France, one of you, or a parent of one of you, must have lived in the commune for at least one month when the banns are published. The banns are then posted for 10 days. Most choose a symbolic ceremony.
💡Best Time
June-September in Provence, lavender blooms in July.
💡Regions
Provence for rustic charm, Loire for châteaux, Paris for city weddings, Côte d'Azur for glamour.
💡Food Culture
French gastronomy is an experience - expect 4-5 course dinners.
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