Your love, your story – A wedding ceremony that truly reflects you
Elopement in France
A symbolic ceremony, intimate and tailor-made
Key Information - Elopement in France
✦ An elopement is an intimate celebration, just the two of you or with a small group, focused on what matters most: love, the moment, the place.
✦ France offers a variety of poetic and scenic backdrops, perfect for a personalized ceremony, far from traditional standards.
✦ Most non-resident couples choose a civil marriage in their home country, followed by a symbolic ceremony in France — no legal paperwork required.
✦ An elopement can be bilingual or trilingual (FR / EN / DE), so every word resonates with meaning and intention.
✦ The budget depends on the venue, vendors and ambiance, starting from €1200 for my celebrant services.
✦ An elopement is a true, free, and deeply personal moment suspended in time.
Pictures by Barbara Lyzynska
Imagine just the two of you…
Maybe a few close ones, on a cliff, in a lavender field, or by a lake... A suspended moment, a whispered “yes” in total intimacy, a ceremony that reflects you and your love.
That’s an elopement in France: a wedding for two (or almost), free from constraints, focused on the essentials. What if it’s exactly what you’ve been dreaming of?
Why choose France for your elopement?
France is a land of contrasts and charm. From Burgundy’s vineyards to hidden Mediterranean coves, from Loire castles to hilltop villages in Provence – France offers breathtaking backdrops.
For couples from around the world, France symbolizes romance, elegance, gastronomy, and art de vivre. It’s an ideal destination for an intimate union, shaped by your story.
An intimate elopement, just the two of you, in a poetic and vibrant natural setting
Who is an elopement for?
For couples wanting to focus on the essentials: just the two of you. For mixed, bilingual, or expat couples who want a ceremony in multiple languages. For those escaping XXL weddings, choosing authenticity over spectacle. For remarried couples, or anyone wishing to celebrate their love freely.
Why choose a bilingual celebrant?
An elopement is more than a beautiful setting. It’s a symbolic rite of passage where every word counts. As a trilingual celebrant (FR / EN / DE), I create and lead your ceremony:
✦ Tailor-made
✦ Crafted from your unique journey, values, and cultural roots
✦ Bilingual or trilingual, to ensure your union is voiced with words that truly resonate with you both
✦ Natural, fluid, sensitive — never cliché or stiff
An intimate forest elopement, filled with laughter, ritual, and the quiet presence of nature
What’s included in an elopement ceremony?
Every ceremony is unique. We can include:
✦ A warm welcome, rooted in the moment and place
✦ Your story, gently interwoven into the entire ceremony
✦ Vow exchange — written or spontaneous, spoken or read
✦ Symbolic rituals (traditional or invented for you), reflecting your values and connection
✦ Readings, personalized texts, carefully chosen music
✦ And always, genuine emotion
Two, four, or six – what’s the right size?
An elopement can be just the two of you — but feel free to invite your witnesses, two close friends, your parents or your children. The number isn’t what matters most: it’s your intention.
Together, we’ll create a sacred bubble, whether it’s for two or a few loved ones you couldn’t imagine the moment without.
What does an elopement day in France look like?
Imagine... a peaceful place, maybe a charming guesthouse nestled in nature, bathed in soft light. You get ready in silence, music playing faintly. You discover each other just before the ceremony.
In a flower circle, a forest clearing, on a cliff, or facing the horizon, you exchange vows — surrounded by silence, wind, or two dear friends. A discreet photographer captures what matters: looks, tears, smiles.
Then comes celebration — a picnic in the forest, a dinner in a hilltop village, a night in a treehouse… Every detail is chosen to reflect your uniqueness.
What to plan:
✦ An inspiring, poetic, or wild location
✦ Your celebrant (that’s me!)
✦ A sensitive photographer or videographer
✦ An outfit in which you feel truly yourself
✦ A touch of flowers, a hint of decoration
✦ Some music, chosen texts
✦ And above all… joy
What budget to plan for an elopement in France?
An elopement isn’t a “discount wedding” — it’s a wedding refocused on what matters. Prices vary depending on location and vendors.
✦ Ceremony + celebrant: €1200 to €1400 (if I’m your celebrant)
✦ Photo/video: €900 to €3000 depending on style and duration
✦ Venue & lodging: €300 to €1500 (one-day rental, guesthouse…)
✦ Food, flowers, décor, music: adjust to your vision (simple or refined)
Most elopements fall between €1500 and €8000, depending on your choices.
Where to elope in France?
✦ Provence: olive groves, lavender fields, stone farmhouses
✦ Brittany: dramatic cliffs, hidden coves
✦ Alps & Pyrenees: mountain lakes, peaceful forests
✦ Loire Valley: romantic castles, French-style gardens
✦ Dordogne & Landes: raw nature, wooden cabins, rivers
✦ Southwest (Bordeaux & Gers): vineyards, charming villages, warm ambiance
Why choose an elopement over a traditional wedding?
Because you want to…
✦ Live a genuine celebration, centered on just the two of you
✦ Share what truly matters, without the stress of a big event
✦ Say “yes” in a place that makes your heart beat
✦ Create a unique memory, your way, in complete freedom
Getting legally married in France: what to know for foreign couples
In France, only civil marriages at the town hall are legally recognized. But for non-residents, getting married at the mairie can be difficult:
✦ You must live in the commune for at least 30 consecutive days
✦ Or have a parent living there
✦ Several official documents are required — often to be translated, legalized, and apostilled
✦ Some town halls refuse to marry foreigners without local ties
The solution many international couples choose?
✦ Get legally married in your home country
✦ Enjoy a symbolic ceremony in France, at your dream location
✦ Celebrate without administrative stress
✦ Create a personalized, bilingual or trilingual elopement, totally free and meaningful
Un premier regard plein d’émotion, juste avant de se dire oui
Un moment suspendu, centré sur l’essentiel : l’amour, l’instant, le lieu.
A sensitive and bespoke support for your elopement in France
I’ve created a special formula just for small weddings: A chapter for two.
It includes everything to make your elopement an intimate, sincere, and deeply personal experience:
✦ Attentive and kind listening to your story
✦ A bespoke ceremony crafted with care
✦ A celebration in the place of your choice
✦ Symbolic, bilingual or trilingual options for a ceremony that feels truly yours.
A breath in the rush of time – just you, your love, and the present
Ready to write your own chapter?
Make your elopement a unique adventure — a moment out of time.
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