Marrying French In France

Hi Kemy1123,

Welcome to Expat.com

Please feel free to have a look at the topics under the Formalities and procedures in France section, you might find some information.

Thanks,

Priscilla
Expat.com team 

Thank you Priscilla 😘

Hello - I can't tell you a lot but I know it is possible, even if you are not citizens or residents, because I saw a news item about the  Japanese, who are crazy about all things French, coming frequently to France to get married here. Non-religious weddings take place at the mairie, the town hall, so I suggest that you simply go there and ask them! Where ever you are....Good luck!

jeanscene wrote:

Hello - I can't tell you a lot but I know it is possible, even if you are not citizens or residents, because I saw a news item about the  Japanese, who are crazy about all things French, coming frequently to France to get married here. Non-religious weddings take place at the mairie, the town hall, so I suggest that you simply go there and ask them! Where ever you are....Good luck!

All church weddings are not legal, so you have to get married at the town hall. But if you chose to you can still have a church wedding as well, that's just simply a blessing by the priest.

Well, to be blessed by a Catholic priest I think you need to be Catholic, go to confession, get counselling for a good marriage, etc. I doubt if a priest would just marry anyone religiously without inquiry and propre procedure. As for Protestants, etc, I don't know; that might depend on the individual. But I am sure that in any case one would have to demonstrate a certain religious interest and sincerity. However, without those traits, why would one organize a religious ceremony in the first place?

I am just stating that a church wedding does not have any legal standing.

OK. I imagine that at the mairie they will explain the legal procedure.

Also...

Two foreigners can get married in France just as two French nationals can get married there. However, in order to have the legally binding civil ceremony in France, the couple must have resided there for 30 days.

The civil ceremony at the mairie must be in a commune (town or village) that you or your future spouse is linked to where one or both of you live, or (since 2013) where one of your parents live. Find the address and other details of your local mairie online.Most mairies are so small they only have one receptionist (and many have quirky opening hours as a result) so simply saying you want to get married is enough to start procedures. In larger towns, you can ask for the office des mariages (office of marriages) although this may cause some confusion if they don't have a separate department.

You must apply together to the mairie in question, and prove that you are are both free to wed. This may include a face-to-face interview, either together or separately. The mairie will then publish the bans for a fixed period. This is a formality where your intent to marry is publically announced, to allow anyone with knowledge of a legal impediment (eg. an existing marriage) time to notify the registrar.

This process typically takes at least four weeks, longer if one or both of you are not French. You may have a limited choice as to which day you can get married. Be prepared to be flexible.

You must be over 18 and not already married to get married.

Sorce: French Weddings

Hmmm - I doubt if this can apply to those Japanese tourists unless there is an association that helps them get around the requirements. Maybe they just come for the religious ceremony and the festive hoopla around it, without worrying about the legal aspect? After all, they can get legally married in their own country.