Dreaming of a luxurious French wedding? France is quickly becoming a popular overseas wedding destination for brides seeking a classic wedding with a twist. Whether you want a chic Parisian city wedding, or a rustic countryside event, check out the pros and cons of getting married in France. So, if you're dreaming of a gorgeous French-inspired wedding oozing with elegance and class, then from traditions to trends, we've got you covered.
Before starting the search for your dream French wedding venue, you'll have to think about the kind of wedding you want. Are you looking for the ultimate city wedding in the heart of Paris? Or is a historic countryside mansion more your style? Whatever you want, there are plenty of amazing options in France, but you'll have to do your research first. French venues tend to rely on word of mouth and referrals from previous vendor partners, so when looking for venues from abroad you'll need to do a bit of digging. Depending on the region, you'll find completely different styles of venue. If you're getting married in the UK, but still want a little bit of French elegance for your big day, there are plenty of UK venues to choose from that fit this theme perfectly.
Food is a big part of any wedding, but it's even more important than usual in a French wedding. More often than not, the wedding breakfast can last up to three hours including speeches and entertainment. This is great news for a foodie couple, but if you get bored with long meals, this is something to consider before you plan your French wedding. Like in the typical English wedding, there are at least three courses: a starter, main course, and dessert - however sometimes there is a cheese course served before dessert. The traditional French wedding cake, Croquembouche, is usually served as a dessert however, some brides prefer to have a more modern alternative.
Understated Glamour
Unlike in traditional English weddings, French wedding traditions entail keeping things simple. Because such a large proportion of the budget is spent on the wedding breakfast, decor usually takes a back seat. It's not uncommon to see cheap plastic garden chairs being used during the ceremony, and the tables rarely have centrepieces. This means that more attention is placed on the wedding itself, rather than on the details. If you like to keep things understated and minimal, then this French style of a wedding could be for you.
Drinks!
In French weddings, there is usually a vin d'honneur after the marriage ceremony to celebrate. This is simply a celebratory drink or toast. After the vin d'honneur, there is a break where the wedding guests can mingle, before moving to the reception venue to continue the celebrations.
Wedding Entertainment
In the French tradition, it is typically the mother and father of the bride and groom who make the speeches, instead of a best-man or maid-of-honour speech. As entertainment between the courses of the lengthy wedding breakfast, friends of the newlywed couple usually plan a surprise for them. This ranges from a slideshow of embarrassing photos, a skit, a video, or some kind of game. After the meal, there is usually a dance which goes on until at least 2 in the morning. Most French venue rentals don't have an official ending time, so your party can go on until dawn!
Pros and Cons
One huge advantage of getting married in France is that you'll most likely get more for your money. Because there isn't so much of a wedding industry in France, a gorgeous countryside mansion would most likely be significantly cheaper to hire than one of a similar size and style in the English countryside. However, planning a wedding from abroad can be difficult, and you'll need to consider that some friends and family members may not be able to afford a trip to France for your wedding! If this doesn't bother you and you have your heart set on a stylish French wedding, then you can start planning your big day now.
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