Are you recently engaged and dreaming about how amazing it would be eloping to Paris? Maybe you just came back from a recent trip to Europe and found yourself attracted to the idea of having a french wedding. Or you recently watched La La Land and can’t stop thinking about how romantic it would be eloping in the City of Lights. No matter what brought you here, I am sure you will love to read these 7 tips for having a perfect Paris elopement.
1. Paris Elopement: is it legal?
The short answer is yes, you can legally get married in Paris. In France, the marriage is legally binding if it is performed by a French civil authority in the La Mairie (the City Hall). However, for foreigners, this is not as simple as it may seem. You will have to reside in France for at least 40 days before the marriage and take care of lots and lots of paperwork.
But don’t worry! There is an easy solution: you can get married in your home country, and then plan a symbolic ceremony in Paris. Not only this will save you from having a lot of headache in planning your elopement in Paris, but it will also give you the possibility of sharing this precious moment with some family and friends. I know that it is often that when couples plan eloping abroad, it usually consists of leaving beloved ones behind. So this might be a good way of having your wedding for two, but not missing the presence of your dearest ones.
2. The best locations to elope in Paris
This is probably one of the first things couples think when they start planning their elopement to Paris, and still one of the hardest ones. What are the best locations to elope to Paris? The romantic city offers so many amazing places to elope, and each one of them has a style on its own.
You might like more the idea of getting married in a famous location such as the Trocadero, the Tuileries Gardens, or even the Luxembourg Gardens with its beautiful fountains. Maybe you are looking for a more intimate venue, and eloping in a Parisian rooftop with a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower might be the best option for you. If you are more into the classical style, getting married in a Chateau or one of the gorgeous hotels like the Shangri-La are a great option.
As you can see the best location to elope to Paris will vary accordingly to your style and budget. That is why the next tip comes in handy :)
3. Should I hire a Paris elopement planner?
If planning a wedding in your home town might be overwhelming, imagine planning something in another country. Although planning a Paris elopement is definitely simpler than planning a wedding, don’t underestimate it. As one of the most important days of your life, you will want to have everything taken care of.
Hiring a Paris elopement planner will make your life easier. Insider tips such as where to get married, and which vendors to trust are always welcome! If you are on a budget, a wedding planner might also be able to help you in getting some good deals. If you are not planning a previous trip to Paris to meet vendors and see the possible wedding locations, it might be useful to have someone to be your eyes.
4. When should I elope to Paris
Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world (being behind only of London and Bangkok). Every year, almost 100 million people come to France, and almost half of this number is visiting Paris. So you can imagine my point here. With so many people around, how is it possible to have a quiet and intimate elopement in Paris? Well, I will be honest: it is not. Not really, at least.
If you want to elope in Paris, and have photos in the most famous locations, you will have tourists around you. But of course, there are times of the year when eloping to Paris might work out better. If you avoid the summer months (June to September) and December, you will already have a little less crowded city. The time of the day that you plan your elopement will also make a difference. If you want to have the perfect light, avoid sunset and go for the sunrise. It is extra work, but I promise it is completely worth it!
5. Find the perfect Paris elopement photographer
I am almost 100% sure, that you would not think about eloping to Paris if you couldn’t have wonderful photos to register this moment. Although the experience of having a Parisien elopement is worth itself, we all want to relive the moment over and over again after it is over, as well as share it with our beloved ones!
So if you are considering such an epic way of getting married, you will want to make sure it is also registered in an epical manner! No one wants to receive blurry or boring photos of their wedding day, right? And although Paris is stunning and definitely makes the work of a wedding photographer easy, investing time in finding the perfect Paris elopement photographer will be something you won’t regret. After all, the photos will be what is left of this special moment, and are responsible for creating wonderful memories!
If you like the photos and the tips you say around here, then let’s connect and start dreaming about your Paris elopement wedding!
6. Don’t forget about the honeymoon
One of the best things about eloping to Paris is that you are already in the perfect location for a honeymoon. Whether you want to spend all of your days in La Ville Lumière or also get to know other locations, you will be amazed by the possibilities.
Paris is one of the most famous honeymoon locations. From the history to the architecture, from the charming language to the delicious cuisine. But the romantic city is definitely not the only option in France. The South of the Country, the Loire Valley or the french Alps are also great options, and they will probably make you feel like you need at least 3 months of honeymoon! If you are curious to read more about it, just go to the Brides.com website for a detailed overview of french honeymoon ideas.
Want to go somewhere else? Italy, Germany, England are just a couple of hours away! Although it is a hard choice, you cannot go wrong with any of them :)
Ready to elope to Paris?
After reading all these tips, I believe you are even more excited about the idea of eloping to Paris! So if you can’t stop thinking about all the magic photos you can have of this moment, or if you just want to talk more about the whole concept, send me a message and let’s meet :)