This is usually the first question a couple planning a wedding in France asks, and understandably so: how does the paperwork actually work when neither of you is French? Here's a practical, plain-English breakdown of how it works, and why most international couples take an easier route than you might expect.

Only a civil ceremony is legally recognised in France

Under French law, the civil ceremony performed at the town hall (mairie), officiated by the mayor or a deputy, is the only form of marriage that is legally binding. A religious or symbolic ceremony, wherever it takes place, has no legal standing on its own in France. This surprises a lot of couples, but it also opens up the option below, which is what most of our international couples choose.

The path most destination-wedding couples take

Because only the civil ceremony counts legally, and because that ceremony comes with a residency requirement (more on that shortly), the large majority of international couples getting married in Bordeaux marry legally in their home country, quietly, often with no guests at all, and then hold their religious, symbolic or celebratory ceremony in France, exactly as they envisioned it. Legally, you are already married; in every other sense, your Bordeaux ceremony is your wedding day. This route sidesteps almost all of the requirements below.

If you do want to marry legally in France

Some couples prefer to complete the full legal process in France itself. If that's you, here's what to expect:

  • Residency requirement. At least one of you must have lived continuously in the commune where you'll marry for a minimum of 40 days immediately before the wedding.
  • The dossier de mariage. A file of documents submitted to the mairie, generally 30 to 40 days before the ceremony date.
  • Publication of banns. The mairie publicly posts your intent to marry for a minimum of 10 days before the ceremony can take place.
  • Documents required. A full birth certificate (issued within the last 6 months for most non-EU nationals, 3 months for those born in France), a valid passport, proof of address, and a certificat de coutume or equivalent confirming you are legally free to marry.
  • Certified translations. Any document not originally in French must be accompanied by a sworn French translation (traduction assermentée).
  • Witnesses. Two to four witnesses, each over 18, of any nationality, present at the ceremony with valid photo ID.

"For most couples, the paperwork happens quietly at home. The wedding you're picturing still happens exactly where, and how, you imagined it."

What this means for your planning timeline

If you're marrying legally at home, your France-side planning timeline is essentially unaffected by any of the above; you're free to plan your ceremony and celebration around your venue, your season, and your guests, the same way you would anywhere else. If you're pursuing the full French legal process, build the 40-day residency and document lead times into your planning calendar early, ideally a year or more out, since availability at your chosen mairie and the translation process can both take longer than expected.

This article is general, informational guidance based on the process as commonly described for civil marriages in France, and is not legal advice. Requirements can vary by commune and change over time. Always confirm current requirements directly with the mairie where you plan to marry, or with the French consulate in your home country, before finalising your plans.

Once the legal side is settled, the more enjoyable part of planning begins: choosing where in Bordeaux you'll say your vows. The guide to Bordeaux's finest wedding châteaux is a good next stop, followed by the wedding portfolio for complete visual stories.