Gardian Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 Our son announced his engagement at Christmas and the two of them have been making plans for a wedding in 2007.They're over for a long weekend and have just sprung the suggestion of having the wedding over here. On face value, it seems like an idea worth pursuing: apart from anything else, the cost of a reception is likely to be significantly less than the astronomic cost in the UK.The legalities though. They are both UK citizens, work there and would remain there as UK residents. The reference book that I've got gives information on the need for a civil ceremony, posting of banns etc, but in principle, are there any issues / insurmountable legal hurdles to a wedding in France? Does Inheritance Law come in to play?For the record, they were both baptised as Roman Catholics.Apologies if this one has been covered before - if it has, a pointer to the thread concerned would be much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 Full advice on getting married in France, can be found on the [url=http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1139993196508] British Embassy website [/url].French inheritance laws will not apply unless they own property in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 I can only answer one part.As far as being Catholic goes, and if they want to be married in Church as well as at the Mairie, at least one of the couple will need their Baptismal Certificate, or another 'official' confirmation that they were baptised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted March 23, 2006 Author Share Posted March 23, 2006 Thanks to you both. Any more advice would be gratefully received.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 Ian, some English friends of mine got married here last year. They were resident, but had moved recently to a different departement.. Appppaaaarently, they should have been resident in the commune they moved to for some length of time, perhaps 3 months? but the Maire turned a blind eye, somehow. Also, you are supposed to have blood tests, but as they already had 2 enfants, the Maire said, 'Oh well, it's too late anyway'. Make of that what you will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
val douest Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 There is a thread which may be useful - if you type in 'Brits gettingmarried in France - advice sought plse' in the search box above itshould bring it up. In the thread (which I think dates fromearlier this year) there is also a link to an earlier thread though Icouldn't make this work.Our daughter will be married here in SW France next summer. Sheand her fiancé both live and work in the UK but come out here when theycan. The residence qualifications dictate that at least one ofthem should have lived here for over a month but the interpretation ofthis is very much up to the Maire of each commune. We took the intendedcouple to meet the Maire after Christmas and it appears that in thiscase our residence plus a token presence by our daughter will beacceptable. We were given a booklet on the legal requirements andthe secretary has since added a couple of extras for non-Frenchcitizens which tie in with the info on the British Embassy website.The ceremony will of course take place in our Mairie and we havereserved the adjacent Salle de Fête for the reception (which will costus a whopping €15 for the afternoon and evening!). In between thetwo we hope to have a Vin d'Honneur so we can invite everyone in thevillage to join us for an apero and nibbles. We are just about tostart collecting menus and estimates from local traiteurs who will beasked to provide a sit down meal for around 75 people. Becausemost of the guests will be coming from the UK, the wedding has beenarranged for a Tuesday. This will allow people to bookSaturday to Saturday and incorporate the Big Day into their holiday or- if they have to make a shorter trip - to take advantage of cheapermidweek flights. Save the Date cards will go out a year ahead tomost people so they can plan well in advance if they want to come.As someone pointed out elsewhere on the Forum, there is a fair amountof red tape and paperwork involved, much of which can't be done morethan three months ahead of the wedding. I gather it is a lotcheaper to have the required medical checks done in France than by oneof the few doctors licensed to do them in England so it is worthbuilding in a trip to France by the bride and groom within the threemonths immediately preceding the marriage.I know many people do the legal formalities at a registry office in theUK and then have the celebrations afterwards in France which isprobably the simplest way of doing things. It is also possible ofcourse to have a Church blessing in the local RC church, either by theresident priest or (with permission) from one of the Anglican clergy inthe region who will travel to do this. I hope everything works out well for you and the happy couple - good luck!Val Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterG Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 Having three sons myself the only advice I would give you is to tell them don't do it.Only joking apart, whatever they decide I hope they will be happy in years to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted March 23, 2006 Author Share Posted March 23, 2006 Thanks v much Val. Much to think about over the coffee & brandy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Hi, my sted-daughter announced the very same! She is getting married here next July, she lives in the UK with her fiance .. Asked at the local Marie and she said Yes no problem, neither of them have to be resident here before hand .. but this does depend on your maire. Again, they need the medical, birth certificate translated and that's about it .. Ex wife and daughter are arriving this evening for a "reccy" to look at church, and for the ex to be nosey! Our biggest problem is finding the accomodation for 40 guests from the UK, so, much searching for gites in the local area .. that is my biggest worry as decent places get booked up so far in advance. Don't think I could cope with 40 at home, house is big but not that big, plus I dread to think about the electricity and water bill! Anyway good luck, if you need any more info let me know as I'm investigating it all now.Good luckStephwww.pwb53.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted March 30, 2006 Author Share Posted March 30, 2006 Steph ...........Thanks for the info. Glad to hear that they're keeping you amused in (what I presume is) your 'leisure time'. Just thinking about it all must be a logistical nightmare.Since I placed the original post, they seem keener than ever. The local church, which we're ashamed to say we've never visited, is apparently "perfect". Imagine the problems of accommodating 100-ish guests in a rural area (their idea of numbers, not ours)? Who's going to get involved in organising it all - you guessed?Problem compounded by the fact that our local Maire has been suspended (pending appeal, I hasten to add, lest I contravene any libel laws) for some financial malpractice. Thus, the only person I can talk to is the Secretaire - whatever the opposite of charisma is ............she's got it ! One day charming, the next ..........The good news is that they're talking about 2008, not next year is we had originally understood. You never know, they might have gone off the idea by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Ian - I'd just like to wish them well. 2 of mine have taken the Big Leap, but the 3rd shows no signs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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