France is one of the most romantic places to get married, and despite all the documentation many people still tie the knot with a civil ceremony. Sure, some people still wish to have a religious ceremony after their civil ceremony, however, some choose the alternative ceremony (also a legitimate one). Here is everything you need to know about the different types of weddings, and the required documentation.

Civil ceremony
In France, only a civil ceremony is legally binding. Civil ceremonies take place at the Mairie (Town Hall) and will be performed by the mayor or his legally authorised representative.

The ceremony will be conducted in French, and you are not required to have a translator present. However, if you wish to have your ceremony translated into English, it is recommended to speak with the mayor to make the necessary arrangements.

Religious ceremony
In France, a religious wedding ceremony is not legally binding. If you would like to have a religious ceremony, you must first have a civil ceremony. The religious official performing your ceremony must be given your marriage certificate, as proof that your civil ceremony has taken place, before they can conduct your ceremony.

Many couples choose to have their civil ceremony the day before their religious ceremony, or have their civil ceremony in their home country of residence prior to arriving in France.

Alternative ceremony
Because of France's residency requirements, many couples choose to get legally married in their home country and have a blessing in France. A very popular type of blessing is a Humanist wedding ceremony. The advantage is that you can have it at any location of your choice, and take advantage of the many beautiful settings that France has to offer.

Required documentation for a civil ceremony
All documentation must be original and endorsed with an apostille stamp. Any documentation that is not in French must be accompanied by official translations, translated by an agency verified by the French Consulate. Here are the documents you will need:

• A valid passport.
• Long form birth certificate, fully translated into French by a sworn translator and issued within three months of your marriage date.
• Certificat de Celibat, a certificate that states you are not already married. This certificate does not exist under British law, so you need to obtain an official attestation from the consulate.
• Certificat de Coutume, an affidavit of law which is a notarised statement by an attorney who is licensed to practice in both France and your home country. The Certificate de Coutume certifes that you are both free to marry and your marriage will be recognised in your country of residence.
• Medical certificate. Blood tests and a medical examination must be undertaken by a French doctor or by a doctor who is approved by your local French Embassy or Consulate. Your marriage application cannot be published until you have submitted your medical certificates to your local Mairie.
• Justificatifs de Domicile - Proof of Domicile. You will need to show proof of residence. This can take the form of two documents, such as gas and electricity bills.
• Certificat du Notaire - Prenupital agreement. If you are planning to have a prenuptial agreement this must be presented to the Mairie.

For citizens of most countries, your consulate in France will be able to help with issuing a Certificat de Celibat and a Certificat de Coutume. If you are a British citizen, try contacting the Foreign Commonwealth Office for further details.

The marriage certificate
If you get married in France, you will receive a "livret de famille" which is an official document used for all events relating to your "new" family, such as births, deaths, divorce or name changes.

If you would like to obtain further copies of your marriage certificate, you will need to write to the Mairie where the marriage took place, stating the following details:

• The date and place of your marriage.
• Your full names (including maiden name).
• Religious ceremonies.

Teodora Todorova / Expatica